The David Spoon Experience 10-6-23 part 1

A) From James 1:3…“You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” This is equated to what trials are. In other words, the testing of our faith is the same thing as the trials that we go through. If we could think of our trials as a time of testing, pruning, and refining,  and not a time of judgment, we would do much better throughout the process.

B) The testing of our faith develops perseverance. This is one of the key components that Jesus taught us to prevail in. We must never give up, quit, bail, or say, “I can’t do this,” because we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. The testing of our faith gives us the muscles of endurance. Jesus talked about this not only from the point of view of character but also from the point of view of prayer.

C) The scripture then tells us to allow perseverance to finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. This is extraordinary because it means that we will persevere by persevering. A more modern way of saying this is that we need to keep on in order to be keeping on. And at some point, we will grow up and produce the most important aspect of our walk.

D) So, what is it that these things will produce in us? The trials, the testing of our faith, and the requirement to persevere all produce a position of us not lacking anything. That’s right. When we grow up, we recognize that we have everything and nothing at the same time. We have nothing of ourselves but everything in the Lord. You own everything. But you own nothing.