Trials vs Temptations (James 1:12-18)

James 1:12-18

Trials vs Temptations

Sunday, August 21, 2022

Pastoral Prayer

Nations: James & Sonya Herron; recent discipleship training

Eternity Baptist (Karl Barnfield)

Teachers & students

Rec of the Word

Introduction

In C.S. Lewis’s work of the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, we have Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy who find the world of Narnia through an old wardrobe found in the spare bedroom. Lucy finds Narnia first, but none believe her. Then Edmund finds Narnia, but continues to refuse to acknowledge its truth with Peter and Susan. However the four together finally make it into Narnia. They are oblivious to the land and all that is happening there. But as they are learning about Narnia and the nasty spell the White Witch has on Narnia where it is always winter, but never Christmas, they learn that Aslan is on the move. And as they are learning about Aslan, the question arises about this lion, is he safe? Mrs. Beaver then says, “Of course he isn’t safe, but he is good I tell you, he is the king.”

The counter to Aslan’s not being safe, was to appeal to his character, his goodness as a means of comfort. And the same is true about how we appeal to God’s character in the midst of wrestling with God’s sovereignty this morning in James 1:12-18.

Before we pick back up our study in the Letter of James this morning, just a few reminders as we get started: this letter is written by the half-brother of Jesus who calls himself a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he is writing to new Christians under mass persecution who have been forced out of Jerusalem and are now dispersed across the region. They are living as exiles in the midst of ongoing hostility from the people groups around them. And in the midst of all of this, he calls them to count all these various trials as all or pure joy. They do this by remembering the purpose of trials are to work in perfecting them through wisdom and setting their only boast in Christ. Yet in that, there are many questions still, and that is where we pick up this morning. James anticipates those questions and addresses them head-on.

Main Idea: In his sovereignty, the Father uses trials as a good gift to lead us to life. But it is the evil of our own hearts that lead us to temptation and sin and death.

The Sovereignty of God and external conflict

The Sovereignty of God and internal conflict

The Sovereignty of God and his goodness

The Sovereignty of God and external conflict

In what is probably the most famous sermon in the history of the church, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus starts with 9 beatitudes, all beginning with “Blessed”. Each of these beatitudes starts with a shocking overturning of expectations. Here is the start of each of these from Matthew 5:3-11: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who hunger and thirst, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are those who are persecuted, blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”

The beatitudes in their shocking claims are showing how the world is being overturned by the King of Glory. For he is not so concerned with this life, but the life to come. Likewise, so is James as he gives us his on little beatitude in verse 12. He aims to shock us, as well as stir us onward in continuing to persevere under trials. For verses 5-11 had gone to some more practical ways of how to grow in steadfastness. But verse 12 returns to the theme of verse 4 of the call to let steadfastness have its full effect.

And it says those who remain steadfast under trial are the blessed. It is this statement here in the opening of verse 12 that is almost as shocking as the call to count it all joy when we meet trials of various kinds. The reason it is shocking, we are tempted to think blessing in the here and the now. We expect, even if sometimes we are unwilling to admit, that God’s people are going to have peace, to have Shalom if they are being faithful. And that only if they go astray will trials come. But that is not true.

As we have seen trials come for both the Christian and the non-Christian alike. Trials are part of living in a world filled with sin. But more importantly, trials are being used by God as they work to make us perfect and complete. Therefore, blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, because by his endurance he finishes the race and where there he is made complete and perfect.

Completeness and perfection are not achieved in this life. Growth is. While we live this life in these mortal bodies, we continue to struggle with sin. We will shortly see the extent of this struggle as we shift into our second point this morning, but for now, we need to see the big picture. The blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial.

The phrasing isn’t blessed is the man who avoids trial. Blessed is the man who moves past facing trials. It is, blessed is the man who remains steadfast, that is who endures under trial. For this enduring one is one who ultimately passes the test of God in exposing his true heart.

The external conflict of trials are being used not only to complete us and make us perfect, they are a work of God to expose our hearts as we see there in the last part of verse 12. For the crown of life is promised to those who love God. But God has not called us to a divided love. God has called us to love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. That is, he has called us to a whole love for him alone. A love that is undivided, a love that is pure.

The external conflict of trials labors to run our hearts throught the fire and purify our hearts. Each trial is intended to remove the impurities of our heart in our love for the things of the world and to strengthen our love for God.

External conflict of trials dealing with money are aimed to show us that earthly treasures are fading, but God is the one trustworthy for our daily needs. The external conflict of relational trials are working to show us that our trust is not to be in any other person except the LORD himself. Now, I love my wife. I love my daughters. I pray that this is evident to any and all who know me. But, my wife and my daughters are not the ones my ultimate satisfaction and joy is to be in. In fact, if they are, I do a greater harm to them in putting all my expectations and hopes on them in ways they cannot carry out. For they, like me are sinners. Each of us at various times and in various ways are going to let one another down and are unfortunately going to do harm to one another. Yet these trials of relational conflict are meant to drive us to the one who is consistent, who doesn’t fail, the LORD, our God. For he alone is to be our ultimate love, joy, and satisfaction. And we actually love others better when we love God first.

So what are these external conflicts of trial revealing about your heart and mine this morning? Is it showing that we love God or that there is still a great deal of love for the world in us?

And we pass the test and remain steadfast under trial, not by being perfect in the here and now, but by continuing to repent, that is to turn from allegiance to our sin and run closer to the LORD through his Son Jesus. For it is in our ongoing dependence in Jesus that helps us endure under trials until the moment we complete the race and receive the crown of life.

This crown of life is like the crown of leaves given to an Olympic competitor when they win their event when they finish the race. The crown of life is that of eternal life which we are blessed to receive after having endured in the faith until the end.

And this is why the beatitude is given by James, blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial. The blessing is the reward of eternal life because we loved God through our continued faith in his means of salvation, Jesus.

It is this promise of eternal life that the Christian keeps marching through trials until they draw their last breath. Though the going might get tough, they persevere as their love for God deepens through trials. And though they grow weary, they hold onto the promises of God by faith until that faith becomes sight. Brothers and sisters, keep fighting the fight for faith in loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength in the midst of external conflict. For God is sovereignly at work in the external conflict to make us complete and perfect.

However, even as we rejoice in this truth, there is an expected response of doubt that begins to arise. If God is sovereign and gives external conflict through trials, is he the cause of our temptation and sin. And that is where we turn now in our second point this morning.

The Sovereignty of God and internal conflict

As the pressures of external conflict of trials mount up, there is the great danger to be tempted to blame shift our temptations and our sin towards God. For again, the audience is Christians who have been scattered about by persecution and who are now living in exile away from home, family, and resources. They are now trying to figure out how to live the Christian life. But the temptation would be to shift the blame for when they stumble into sin. They would have been tempted to take the blame of themselves and put it on God, since he is sovereign over their external conflict in the giving of trials. And we do the same today.

Maybe for many of you, you have never considered this thought about shifting blame to God when sin enters. And yet, we do it when we begin to use phrases like, I was in a moment of weakness and sinned from pressing circumstances. Or the devil made me do it. These are the moments that we are beginning to shift the blame of our sin to another. And if we are not careful, we will be like those who are being tempted to say that we are being tempted by God.

Thankfully James gives us a strong rebuttal here in verse 13, giving us the command, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.”

The internal conflict of temptation is told that it does and cannot come from God. And the given reason for this turns and appeals to the character of God, in that he himself is unable to be tempted. God has no interest in evil. It is not appealing to him, it has no persuasion on him. Psalm 5:4 says, “For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.” Evil has no sway on God. And therefore he is not going to sway our hearts toward sin, he will not tempt us to delight in evil since he himself is not tempted by it.

But another truth is revealed to us on why God is not the source of our temptation. We are told in verse 14….

Yes, God is sovereign and reigning over all things. God is sovereign in working out external trials for our ultimate good. But the internal conflict of our own heart comes from within, not without. For our temptation comes from within our own corrupt desires. Desire here is not talking about a desire for ice cream. It is talking about an inordinate, evil craving from within for that which is sinful and goes against God.

And this evil desire works to lure and entice us to give into these evil desires and act upon them. But notice the phrasing of how the desire works, to lure and entice. The setting of James’ day was a fishing culture. So the phrase to lure is most certainly referring to that of a fishing lure. For those who aren’t familiar with fishing, you use either shiny lures with slow movements or live bait, most often worms, to lure a fish to the hook from its hiding spot in the water. The lure attracts the fish’s attention to try and drag it out from under the log or lily pad or the depth of the water to try and hook it. And that is the same thing our evil desire works to do. It works to lure us from the inside out. It works to lure us into giving into our craving and feeding on it. It works to lure us into acting on that desire instead of putting it to death.

Likewise, with how it acts to entice us. It seeks to trap us as the desire overwhelms us and becomes to much. It seeks to hook us or see the trap close around us as a bear trap would when the bear steps in.

You see, temptation doesn’t come from God, but from our own evil hearts. Our hearts are feeble and full of great evil. This is why as Christians we should never ever encourage someone to simply follow their own heart. For our heart is full of desire, and when that desire leads us, it will lead us into temptation, it will give birth to sin, and it will lead us to death.

The warning sirens are going off, beware of your hearts friend. They will tempt you to labor to justify your sin and blame God for it. Our desires are what lead us to strife, jealousy, hatred, murder, slander, and all other kinds of evil. And therefore we must take these evil desires seriously and labor to put them to death. We must gain self-control of our desires if we are to be guarded from our desires conquering us (Prov 25:28).

Therefore, brothers and sisters, if temptations are currently raging within you, don’t just think it is going to go away on its own. Don’t think you can overcome it. Bring your struggle with temptation to light. Find someone to help you with accountability and to share this burden with you. Find someone preferably more mature than you and of the same sex, ask them to meet with you for accountability. Be honest with them and share the temptations that are pressing against you, and then ask them to hold you accountable. Ask them to check in on you and follow up in how are doing in these areas.

And brothers and sisters, if someone asks you to do accountability with them, don’t smirk at what it is they are struggling with. Love them, listen to their struggles, and then commit to praying for them and holding them accountable by following up with them.

If temptation is ignored and not dealt with in our hearts, it will give birth to sin. And sin leads to death. We must take sin seriously. And we need not look any further than the cross to see the seriousness of sin.

For the deepest stroke that pierced Jesus was not the nails driven through his hands and feet. It was not the crown of thorns driven into his skull. It was not the insults of the crowd. The deepest stroke was the one that Justice gave, as Jesus bore the weight of our sin and guilt on the cross, drinking the full cup of God’s wrath against our sin.

How can we look at such a picture and be indifferent to temptation and sin? Oh friends, if you have professed faith in Christ, but have neglected to acknowledge your sin both to God and others, repent of such folly. Begin today by making it a habit to continually confess sin and setting your eyes back on Jesus.

But other friends, if you have never acknowledged your sin, you have never come to the place of salvation, what are you waiting for? Confess your sin today, and turn from it. And run to the arms of Jesus, trusting in him to save you from your sin. He who bore the weight of your sin on the cross will also save you from it if you will come to him. I’d love to help you know more about this after the service. I will be here up front between the table here below and the door. Regardless, make today the day you believe in Jesus for your salvation from sin and death.

See the goodness of God’s gift to you in salvation. And that is where we turn in our third point this morning.

The Sovereignty of God and his goodness.

James has made it clear to his readers, including us here this morning, that the crown of life belongs to those who remain steadfast under trial. He also has made clear that though God sovereignly works trials in the form of external conflict for his purposes, he is not responsible for causing us temptation. Both of these truths reveal the goodness of God. And this is why James writes in verse 16, “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers (and sisters).”

Because again, the temptation here is to put God on trial in the midst of trials, to turn and blame him for the conflicts, both the external and the internal. But we must remember who God is in his goodness. For the external conflict is real. Exile is tough, being scattered away from your homeland, and facing opposition and persecution is hard. Add in the internal conflict of battling our own hearts just adds to it. Notice again though what kind of wonderful counselor James is as he takes us affectionately as beloved brothers and sisters and points our eyes back to God in his glory.

He tells us first there in verse 17, that every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.

To say that every good gift and perfect gift is from above must include then every good and perfect gift of provision. From food to clothing, to shelter, to family, to friends, to the hope of the gospel. Each of these good and perfect gifts comes from the Father of lights. He is the giver of them all.

However, in the midst of loss and struggle, we are often quick to forget this truth. That is why it is so crucial for us in the Christian life to make the practice of thanksgiving a regular part of our life. Thanking God for the provision of food on the table. Thanking him for the little blessings of family and togetherness. Thanking God for those who he has put in our lives to shape us, encourage us, and love us. Thanksgiving combats our forgetfulness that God is the giver of every good and perfect gift.

For in God, there is no variation or shadow due to change. Or as one hymn goes, we change, he changeth not. Our God does not change in the midst of the various trials and conflicts that rise against us. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Let us remember this.

But if our heart still is in need of encouragement, let us turn to verse 18. It says….

As those in dispersion would have had trials mounting up, as they fought both the external trials and the internal temptations, they might have been tempted to wonder if this whole Christian life was worth it. They might have begun to be discouraged in their faith, wondering how God, even in his sovereignty, was going to bring about a new creation. And what does James do? He points them to the mirror, to look at themselves. Implicitly here, but we will see it explicitly later in the letter. But he says to them, “look at your own lives, how God brought you forth by the word of truth. In other words, look at how God has saved you by drawing you to himself through the message of the gospel.”

Likewise, he tells them to consider how they have been brought forth, remembering that they are a kind of firstfruits. And the first fruits mean that more fruit is coming behind it.

To repeat verse 16 here, “do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters.” God saved those in dispersion by his own will. God saved us by his own will through the heralding of the gospel. And if he has saved them and us through the word of truth, the gospel by his own will. If they were but that of first fruits, then he will continue overturning the world in advancing his kingdom as the word of truth goes out. For where God’s word of truth goes, salvation will take place. Again, God has no variation or shadow due to change. He is unchanging. It is still his desire to save sinners. And believe it or not, that is happening around the globe. Wherever the gospel is proclaimed, sinners are coming to faith in Jesus.

The question for us though as we consider a verse like this, first do we really believe this? Do we really believe that God is continuing to advance his kingdom in saving sinners? Second, are we actually sharing the word of truth with others?

To make a clarification, sharing the word of truth is not a call to mercy ministry. Sharing the word of truth is not a call to wear a Jesus t-shirt or to put a Jesus sticker on something. Sharing the word of truth means verbally declaring the message of the gospel. Starting with God, telling them about the issue, sin, the solution in Jesus, and then calling them to respond. To help in this task, take some of the What is the Gospel tracts or Who is Jesus tracts in the foyer. Both of these will be of great assistance in sharing your faith with others.

Find ordinary ways to share the extraordinary message of the gospel. For it is through these ordinary means that God continues to bring forth other fruit as he brings others to himself.

Let’s pray….