James 1:12-18
Notes
Transcript
Announcements
Announcements
There is no small group on Wednesday! Our Midweek Gathering will be meeting in people’s homes. We’ll be back at the church for small groups on October 4th.
Review
Review
We read James 1:1-11 last week. He was addressing a specific theme we looked at. What was that?
Trials
What were some things we looked at with trials?
The Divine Purpose of Trials
Producing endurance and steadfastness.
Trials prove our faith
The Wisdom necessary to view trials rightly.
When we don’t know what to do in trials, we should ask God.
God can provide wisdom through those around us.
The Trials of Poverty and Wealth. Rags abd Riches.
Money and wealth is a big deal to James. Did you know that only 20% of the world’s wealthy own 76.6% of the world’s resources? Crazy how we handle our money.
Introduction
Introduction
We’re going to press on here in James tonight. He’s still talking about trials in this passage.
AJames 1:12–18 (ESV)
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 asdFather 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.
Before we get into it let’s pray
Pray
Pray
The End Reward for Enduring Trials
The End Reward for Enduring Trials
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.
Read Psalm 1
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
All of life’s trials can be lumped together and spoken of ads a proving ground or test.
True believers will persevere through difficulties, showing that they belong to GOd. 1 John 2:19
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
If we read this verse just by itself, without the other verses, it sounds like Christians earn eternal life through their own perseverance. This is not the case.
God promises the crown of eternal life not on the basis of our performance, but on the relationship “those who love him.” But our true love is evident in our work.
The True Nature of Temptation in Fallen Humans
The True Nature of Temptation in Fallen Humans
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.
Every trial also confronts Christians with a potential temptation–will we sin by lashing out in anger and unbelief?
God is sovereign over all things and appoints trials. Yet, he doesn’t appoint temptation. Temptation is our fleshly desire that turns toward sin. A sinless being is incapable of inciting others to sin.
Instead of blaming God when we are tempted, we should admit we are wrong, and repent. Our hearts are deceived. Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
We should not allow sinful inclinations to chart our course in life.
There is a downward spiral here
Evil desires trap their victim. The victim is complicit in their being trapped.
This evil runs unchecked. Since we want the evil, we remove its filters and let it run its course. It then gives birth to sin.
Just like water runs downhill, so does evil desire. But sin isn’t the end.
Once sin has grown, it matures, it becomes even more vile. Sin leads to death.
There are two paths in this life. One is easy, which is unchecked. That path leads to eternal death. The hard one leads to eternal life. Few choose this path.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
“As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
We should not follow our passions when that passion is unchecked and fueled by our fallen human nature.
The True Nature of God as Gift-Giver
The True Nature of God as Gift-Giver
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.
How does James address these people? Beloved brothers. He loves these guys. In contrast to accusing God of our trials and temptations, we should see God as bringing trials as a gift. It is the way we respond that needs turned around.
When Christian’s think of God’s gift, they think of salvation. God chose to give us that gift. We didn’t choose it ourselves.
Application
Application
If we overemphasize God’s sovereignty, we may fail to take responsibility for our own sin, which God places on us.
We should push forward in gratitude and confidence in our trials. It is through God’s indwelling Spirit and Word that we will continue to endure to the end. This task of transformation through trials should cause us to long for being made new in the new heavens and new earth.
Your trials are a gift, your salvation is a gift. Seek good mentors who want you to increase your faith in God and not in the circumstances of this world.
Pray
Pray