Trials & Tempations
Notes
Transcript
Order of Service
Order of Service
Welcome
Welcome
Prayer
Prayer
Hymn -
Hymn -
Notices
Notices
Prayer Meeting - 7:30pm
Friday 7pm - Online
Sunday Morning 11am & 6pm
Tithes & Offerings - £
Main Prayer
Main Prayer
Hymn -
Hymn -
Reading
Reading
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Sermon
Sermon
Testing of our Faith
Asking for Wisdom
Asking in Faith
Sustaining the Test
Sustaining the Test
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Blessed - Assurance from God of His Acceptance
Is the one who remains steadfast under trial (the trial is our entire life)
For they have stood the test (remained faithful till the end)
They will receive the crown of life
Which God has promised to those who love him
Being tempted to Desire
Being tempted to Desire
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
The believer who passes the test is blessed
The one who fails it is filled with remorse
Remorse....
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
The one who failed refuses to admit that he lacks faith in God
Adam fell into sin
Adam blamed Eve, & Eve blamed the serpent
They ultimately blamed God
The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Return...
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
“God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one”
God is not the cause of evil and cannot be influenced by it
God is Perfect
God hates evil
‘Let no one say “I am being tempted by God”’
Jesus teaches us to pray that the Lord will lead us away from temptation & from falling into temptation
Satan successfully leads people into temptation
And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Mankind is responsible for his own sin
We cannot blame Satan (e.g. “The Devil made me do it”)
Our own desires lead us into temptation
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Jesus said...
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
Paul reminds us...
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Desires are not themselves sinful
They have been given so that we may live a balanced life
We have desire to eat and drink so that we look after our bodies.
When we properly control our desires we live normal lives
When we discard the checks and blances, desires get out of hand (conceive)
James refrains from speling out jow desire conceives
Desire is able to conceive when man’s will no longer objects but yields
Sin leads to death (Physical > Spiritual > Eternal)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Check Time!
Receiving Perfect Gifts
Receiving Perfect Gifts
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
My beloved brothers, Stop deceiving yourselves!
James knows the hearts of people, and their nature to complain against God
God does not send his Children sorrow and grief to drive them from him!
He allows the adversities so that they may come to him and rely fully on him
Some Christians who are tested lose perspective and question the providence of God
So often people ask false questions
if God is almighty does he not prvent tragedy and calamity?
They seek to blame God for their problems
We always assume what we experience is the worst that could happen
This world is corrupted by sin
You cannot experience what is perfect within it
They are full of Self importance, not humility/meekness
We should be seeing what God gives & does and who He is
Check Time!
God’s Goodness
God’s Goodness
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
God is goodness personified
he is a fountain of all that is Good
Goodness originates with God
He created the universe
He sent his Son
He out pours his Spirit
The gifts he gives are good an perfect (spiritual & material)
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
We should desire those good gifts
not desire that which he has not given to us (they will lead us away from him)
God’s Character
God’s Character
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
God - The Eternal Creator
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
God displays his holiness, goodness, love, integrity and unchangeableness
God does not change like shifting shadows
Nature is subject to variation and change - God is not!
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
God is our father
We are born of his saving will (born again)
His Graceous Will cannot be overthrown
We did not choose him, rather He chose us and saved us from Death. Giving us new life in Christ Jesus
Through the Word of Truth
When the gospel is proclaimed, God regenerates the sinner and reformes him into a new creation
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
return..
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
That we might be a kind of firstfruits
God created, regenerated and renewed us
Old Testament: First fruits were holy (unique & set apart) and belonged to God
Cattle, vineyard, orchard & field
Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who ate of it incurred guilt; disaster came upon them, declares the Lord.”
Paul also uses analogy ...
If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
The elect...
It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,
We are God’s first fruits
We are holy
We belong to God
Therefore, let no one ever thing that God can lead us astray!
It’s impossible for He is holu and we share in his holiness
Hymn -
Hymn -
Q&A
Q&A
Hymn -
Hymn -
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
Doxology
Doxology