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Rejoice when you meet the test!

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[James 1:2-3]

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

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There are several people in the Bible named James. There are two Jamess among Jesus' disciples. One is John's brother, <the son of Zebedee> James, and the other is James, <the son of Alphaeus.>

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The book of James was not written by any of Jesus' disciples, James.

The writer of the book of James was written by James, one of the younger brothers born between Jesus' father Joseph and mother Mary.

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The book of James tells us how people who believe in Jesus and are saved must live, speak, act, and live specifically. Today we are instructing you on how to act when you first meet the test.

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The word test means 'to be tried because of difficulty.' At the time James was written, believing in Jesus required great determination. Because they had been waiting for them from the moment they believed in Jesus.

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After Deacon Stephen preached the gospel of Jesus and was martyred by stone, believers in Jerusalem were in great trouble. They were forced to leave Jerusalem and to be scattered to other places.

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But there were also those who bothered and troubled those who believed in Jesus. Keeping faith in suffering was a great test. James wrote a letter to believers who were being tested.

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In the letter, James exhorts them: “Brethren, be glad when you have various tests.” James tells us not to lose joy in our hearts when it is difficult to meet the test.

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Why can God's children be happy in the midst of difficulties? It may be because of true faith in God who will be able to overcome the test. If you have this faith, your test will strengthen your faith. That faith gives us valuable patience to endure the test.

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Tests and trials make the believer difficult and difficult, but because of such tests, his faith has been strengthened and patience has been gained. That's why James, who had this faith, encouraged us to be happy when we faced trials.

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David, a great king, was tested for a long time by King Saul. King Saul was jealous of David's popularity and tried to kill him. So David, who did nothing wrong, hid from King Saul.

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David had two chances to kill Saul. But he saved Saul without killing him both times. David patiently waited until the end, believing that God would protect him.

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God exalted David, who did not sin when endured, endured by faith. David, who was from the shepherds of Bethlehem, became king over Israel. And God kept the king from breaking in King David's family. A more wonderful blessing was the blessing of Jesus coming through King David's family.

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Paul and Silas, too, met a great test at Philippi and were imprisoned in prison. Like the words of the Bible today, they exclaimed with joy, even when they were in prison. And God opened the gates by the earthquake.

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There was a prison guard who thought the prisoners had fled and tried to commit suicide. Paul and Silas saved the jailer's life and preached Jesus to him. That night, an amazing thing happened that all the guards' families received Jesus and were saved.

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No power in this world can beat a person who has faith in Jesus. Even with all the powers of this world, God's people of faith cannot be easily destroyed. A person of faith who knows this is not embarrassed to meet the test. Through faith in God who will overcome the test, that person will be established as a more mature and brave man of faith.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)