Why am I able to persevere through my trials?
Yesterday
We LOOKED @ the brother of ‘humble circumstances’ in contrast to the ‘rich’ man.
What is the brother of humble circumstances to do?
What are the rich to do?
Today
We want to understand ‘persevering under trial’.
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
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Let’s Begin With Prayer
Lord, we come today into Your presence and ask You to instruct us and teach us in the way which we should go; We ask that You will counsel us with Your eye upon us, (Psa 32:8). Thank you!
LOOK at What God Says
Let GODcha usher us into Truth.
Where will you begin?
Begin By READING
Read James 1:9-11 again, with a questioning mindset to put you in context.
Keep training yourself.
This is so critical to see God’s Word correctly.
Let’s focus specifically on verse 12.
v12 Blessed is WHO?
Blessed is a man (a person)
who WHAT?
who perseveres under trial;
WHY is a man blessed for persevering?
for once he has been
WHAT?
approved,
(Remember trials come to prove our faith.)
WHAT happens?
he will receive
receive WHAT?
the crown of life
the crown of life
which WHO?
which the Lord
the Lord has WHAT?
has promised
promised to WHO?
to those who love Him.
Great!
James closes this paragraph with a great encouragement.
Who is blessed?
Why are they blessed?
Let’s Unlock the Meaning 
I’m eager to check out blessed, perseveres, and crown that are 
Key to this verse!
Understand God’s Words
Check Out the Meaning
Dictionary Tutorial >Blessed, makários; by extension fortunate, well off; possessing the favor of God, that state of being marked by fullness from God; fully satisfied no matter the circumstances.
Persevere, hupoménō; to stay under; to remain under; have fortitude:— abide, to be patient, to endure.
Crown, stéphanos; not used of the kingly crown. Woven of oak, ivy, myrtle, olive leaves or flowers. Used as a wreath or garland.
(I) As the emblem of royal dignity.
(II) As the prize conferred on victors in public games and elsewhere, a wreath (1Co 9:25). Figuratively, a symbol of the reward of eternal life (2Ti 4:8; Jas 1:12; 1Pe 5:4; Rev 2:10; 3:11).
(III) Figuratively, an ornament, honour, glory.
TIP: Remember to take the definitions back to the text.
“Blessed [fully satisfied] is a man who perseveres [remains under, endures] under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown [reward] of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
We see: A person is rewarded by persevering, enduring trials.
Now THINK: What motivates us to persevere?
Wouldn’t it be our love for God?
Our love for Him pushes us to press on through our trials.
Truth Explains Truth
CR-Cross References-Word Search Tutorial >
Let’s check out the Cross References GODcha suggests for these Key Words.
Don’t be lax, they are just a tap away and will help you in your understanding.
Remember to REASON and THINK as you read, by asking the 5W’s and H.
Let’s LOOK at what else James says about being blessed.
1. What are those who are blessed doing?
The one who looks intently at the perfect law, the perfect law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. (Jam 1:25)
THINK: If we love God (v12), we have no problem then obeying the commands James is giving.
THINK: Being ‘effectual doers’ of His Word means we are:
‘considering,’
‘knowing’,
‘letting’, and
‘asking’.
Understand: We are blessed when we persevere ‘doing’, obeying, the commands James is giving us in our trials!
2. According to Psalms and Matthew, what are those who are blessed ‘doing’?
a. Those whose way is blameless (who are righteous); who walk in the Lord’s ways; and seek Him with all their heart are blessed. (Psa 119:1-3)
Are you connecting the dots?
We see: Those who are ‘doers of the Word‘ means they walk in the Lord’s ways; and they seek Him…
The result: They are blessed!
b. Those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, because of Jesus are blessed. They can rejoice because there is a reward in heaven. (Mat 5:10-12)
Understand: Those who ‘do the Word’, walk in the Lord’s ways, means they are walking in righteousness, and Jesus said they will be persecuted, but they are blessed!
3. Why are those who persevere under trial blessed?
a. They are approved (proving our faith) when they persevere under trials.
We see: Blessing (full satisfaction) comes because we prove our faith is real when we persevere!
b. Tribulations bring perseverance, then proven character, then hope. (Rom 5:3-5)
We see: The only way the Lord can develop perseverance and character is through TRIALS.
UNDERSTAND: Perseverance [remaining under, endurance, patience] is not attained by:
reading a book,
listening to a sermon, or
even praying a prayer.
Understand: We must go through difficulties, trials.
We persevere in our faith and trust in God.
We persevere in our belief in Jesus.
We cling to God no matter what!
Remember God’s purpose in trials is that we lack nothing; to bring us to maturity!
The trials are to build us up; grow us; perfect us to Christlikeness.
All is for our good and His glory!
4. When one’s faith is approved, what do they receive?
a. The crown of life is given to those who love God and are approved through perseverance. (Jam 1:12)
b. The Crown of life is given to those who are faithful when tested, even to death. (Rev 2:10)
We see: James shows us the principle of the cross before the crown; the suffering before the glory.
5. What did Jesus say to the persecuted church in Philadelphia about their crown?
If you hold fast to what you have, (v8 and v10 say they have a little power and the word) no one will take your crown. (Rev 3:11)
6. What will those in heaven do with their crowns?
The twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne. (Rev 4:10)
7. What other crowns do you learn about?
a. The Imperishable Crown is given to those who victoriously run the race exercising discipline and self-control, to persevere.
They run in self denial and perseverance, faithfully following Jesus.
If there is no self-control, no perseverance, then we are disqualified (unapproved, worthless). (1Co 9:24-27)
b. The Crown of Exaltation is a crown of joy, given to those who proclaim the truth, leading others to Christ, building them up. (1Th 2:19-20)
c. The Crown of Righteousness is to all who lived each day loving, longing for and anticipating Christ’s return. (2Ti 4:8)
d. The Crown of Glory is given to shepherds, pastors, and elders – those who faithfully shepherd the flock unselfishly and as a good example to others. (1Pe 5:4)
What Have We LEARNED?
Let’s Sum It Up!
We LEARN:
Blessedness means full satisfaction.
The Crown of Life is the reward for those who persevere thru trials.
Blessedness and the crown of life belong to those who:
love God,
are approved, and
persevere through the trials.
One’s love for God pushes them to persevere through their trials.
Blessedness is for those who are:
blameless,
walk in the Lord’s ways, and
seek Him with all their heart.
We LEARN:
The persecuted, rich or poor, are blessed.
The persecuted, rich or poor, are to hold to His Word and persevere, so no one can take his or her crown.
Are you beginning to see the value of knowing and understanding God’s Word?
View GODcha’s #4d LIVE Question
LISTEN…
How will I hold fast to God’s Word and persevere through my trials?
Respond to God…LIVE it out!
Great Job!
That’s It For today!
Meditate on all the Lord is teaching you, “for the one who meditates on God’s Word is blessed,” (Psa 1:1-2).
What caught your attention?
How were you encouraged?
What are you going through at this time?
Are you currently facing some sort of persecution for your faith in Christ?
Are you suffering from an illness?
Is a lack of money causing you to doubt?
Or,
Is the fact that you lack nothing causing you to rely more on yourself than on God?
Whatever your trials may be, go to the Lord in prayer, and ask Him for the courage to stand firm in the midst of your trial.
Cling to the Lord and the Truths you have learned thus far.
Do NOT give up. Hold on!
A Crown will be waiting for you, because The Ruler of your life has promised it to you!
Oh, go chat with your loving Father, He is waiting!
Journal in Your Notes 
What would you like to remember? Record your insights and chats with God!
Video Tutorial > Notes Tutorial>
Turn What We Have Learned Into Prayer
Perhaps…
FATHER GOD, who but You could bring blessing out of our trials? Father, again I would ask that You help us to have Your perspective no matter if we are of humble circumstances or rich. Father, please help us to be blameless, walk in Your ways and seek You with all our heart. Father, may we hold to Your Word and love You. Oh Father, may our love for You help us to press forward and push through our trials with perseverance proving our faith. May we be encouraged by Your truths. May we know that we know blessedness and the crown of life awaits us. Oh, thank you Father! In Jesus name we ask these things. Amen!
Join us next time as we pull everything that we have learned together.
Next: We’ll Wrap it all Up with a Review of James 1:9-12.
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