TEXT:  James 1:12

INTRODUCTION:

A.      ENDURE, hupomeno, "to abide under, to bear up courageously (under suffering)."

B.      CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED ON TO SUFFER MANY THINGS.

C.      THERE IS A BLESSING IF WE WILL SEE IT.

I.      TEMPTATION.

A.      WHAT IS TEMPTATION?( James 1:13-15 ).

B.      TEMPTATION WORKS PATIENCE/STRENGTH( James 1:2-4 ).

C.      TEMPTATION HELPS TO PURIFY( 1 Pet. 1:6-9 ).

D.      THE RESULT OF ENDURING( 1 Pet. 1:9;  James 1:12 ).

II.     CHASTENING.

A.      SOME SIN HAS IMMEDIATE TEMPORAL CONSEQUENCE.

B.      CHASTENING IS A PRODUCT OF LOVE( Heb. 3:4-6 ).

C.      WHAT DOES CHASTENING PRODUCE?

          1.       Respect( vs. 7-9 ).

          2.       Righteousness( vs. 10-11 ).

          2.       Joy( vs. 12-13 ).

III.    AFFLICTIONS - HARDSHIPS.

A.      kakopatheo, "to suffer evil." Seems to apply to evil of circumstance or persecution.

B       2 Tim. 1:8;  2:3;  2:9;  4:5;  James 5:13.

C.      ADMONITIONS POINT TO THIS PROMISE( 2 Tim. 4:6-8 ).

IV.   PERSECUTIONS.

A.      WE ALL WILL BE PERSECUTED LIKE PAUL( 2 Tim. 3:10-12 ).

B.      GOD WILL AVENGE( 2 Thess. 1:5-9 ).

C.      MORE IMPORTANT GOD WILL REWARD( Matt. 5:11-12 ).

V.    SOUND DOCTRINE.

A.      IT'S SOMETIME TOUGH.

          1.       The cost of obedience( Luke 14:26;  9:23 ).

          2.       Repentance, a change of life( Col. 3:5 ).

B.      SOME WILL NOT ENDURE EVEN THIS( 2 Tim. 4:3-4 ).

VI.   THE SECRET OF ENDURING.

A.      PRAY( James 5:13 ).

B.      STUDY( Eph. 6:16; Rom. 10:17;  Matt. 4:1-11 - "it is written." ).

C.      LOOK TO JESUS( Heb. 11:27;  12:1-2 ).

CONCLUSION:  WE MUST ENDURE!