Levant urges Southwestern community to endure trials with joy

Christians can experience pure joy in the midst of difficulties preached Philip Levant, pastor of Iglesia Agape and trustee at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, during his Sept. 28 chapel message at the Fort Worth institution.

Before Levant’s chapel message, as a surprise presentation, President David S. Dockery received a framed resolution of appreciation adopted by the faculty in honor of his one-anniversary  of leadership at Southwestern Seminary. Dockery was named interim president Sept. 27, 2022, and later elected president April 19. The entire resolution can be read here.

“We are very appreciative to you, your leadership, and your love for our seminary,” said W. Madison Grace II, provost and vice president for academic administration and dean of the School of Theology, in his presentation of the resolution to Dockery on behalf of the faculty.

David S. Dockery, president of Southwestern Seminary, was honored one year anniversary as president with a resolution of appreciation adopted by the institution’s faculty. Dockery began serving as interim president of Southwestern Seminary on Sept. 27, 2022, and was elected president by the board of trustees on April 19.

Levant preached from James 1:2-4.

Levant provided historical context to the passage of Scripture. He explained Stephen had been martyred, and the entire church was being persecuted. Levant said James, who was the lead elder, or pastor, of the Jerusalem church, “wanted to encourage the dispersed church.”

“He writes this epistle, this letter, and the first thing he says is ‘consider it joy,’” Levant said. “Is Pastor James here out of touch with his people? James understood that the trials these believers were encountering were due to their loyalty to God.”

Levant said these trials were multifaceted and that the believers would have preferred an inconvenience like bad Wi-Fi over their life-and-death situation.

“Don’t confuse inconveniences with trials,” Levant warned the congregation. “I know our culture easily confuses the two, just like needs and wants. If you want a little help discerning the difference, go to a third-world country that persecutes Christians for a season. You’ll see that your first-world problems aren’t problems at all.”

Levant reminded the congregation of what Jesus said in Matthew 5: “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil to you because of me. Rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven is great.”

“To the followers of Christ, life’s troubles are not an impediment to joy,” Levant exclaimed. “Because trials are a confirmation of our identity with Christ.”

Levant further stated to the congregation that Jesus told His disciples what they did to Him, they would do to believers.

“To be identified with Christ, especially in suffering, is not only a recurring theme in the New Testament but also a source of joy for the believer,” he said.

Levant then referred to James 1:3, “knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

“We need to understand that trials are a necessary part of the Christian’s refinement process,” Levant said.

Levant expressed to the congregation to think of the word “testing” not as exams of what they might know, but rather along the lines of testing the purity of gold under extreme heat. He also stated the word “endurance,” should be thought of as being steadfast under trials.

“Trials reveal the pureness and the quality of our faith,” Levant said. “Trials refine and shape our knowledge of God. Trials reveal our answers to the questions, do I really know Christ, and will I truly trust Him?”

In reference to verse four of the passage, Levant said it is imperative to keep the Christian goal in mind.

“There is purpose in our suffering,” he expressed. “Perfection. The goal is to be complete; to be whole.”

Levant referenced back to Matthew 5:48, that “if we’re going to follow Jesus, we have to become like His Father.”

“We are not going to become God or become a god,” he stated. “That is the wrong interpretation of that. The idea is to become complete in character; to be free from moral defects to reach spiritual maturity.”

Levant drew attention to James 1:12.

“As we await Christ’s return and reward, trials are the means by which not only are we conformed to the image of Christ but also how we increase our reward,” Levant said. “That is another reason to consider trials as joy. Trials help us be who God wants us to be, and when that happens, the floodgates of joy open up.”

Levant provided application based on the passage of Scripture which included the adoption of God’s perspective on trials, staying until the trial is done, remembering it is faith that is being tested, and not to chase after joy.

“Joy is a byproduct of Christlikeness. Joy is a byproduct of fulfilling God’s will,” he expressed. “Chasing joy apart from Jesus Christ is idolatry. The only correct response, if that’s you, is to repent of your sin, turn back, stop chasing joy, and start chasing after Jesus.”

In closing, Levant urged the Southwestern community to endure trials with joy.

“Trials are a means of becoming like Christ, a fulfilling of our purpose and receiving our reward,” he stated.

After Levant’s chapel message, three Southwestern Seminary mission teams were prayed over before they left to serve during fall semester break. Through the World Missions Center, teams will serve in Cambodia and Boston, and the Southwestern A Cappella ensemble from the School of Church Music and Worship will serve in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Since August 2009, Levant has served as pastor of Iglesia Bautista La Vid in Fort Worth. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Dartmouth College. He holds a Master of Music in conducting from Southwestern and a Master of Divinity from Criswell College. Levant is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Southwestern and anticipates graduating in December.

Levant’s entire message can be viewed here.

Chapel is held every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 10 a.m. (CT) in MacGorman Chapel on the campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and TBC. Chapel may be viewed live at swbts.live.