Testing, Tempation, and the Tongue (James 1:1-4, 13-16, 19-26)

Testing, Temptation, and the Tongue (James 1:1-4, 13-16, 19-26)

The Sovereign’s Testings (2-4)

Testings are to Move Us (2)

Testings provoke a reaction. How you react and respond tells a great deal about our spiritual condition. One example is Job. He lost his farm, finances, friends, and family.

It’s not a matter of “if” trials will happen, but “when” they happen.

James tells us that when God tests our faith that we are to count it ALL JOY.

Joy in the emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of GOOD!

We can gripe about the testing that we are going through.

Murmur = complaint uttered in a low muttering voice.

Numbers 14:1–5 “And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.”

Numbers 14:26–36 KJV 1900

And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. I the Lord have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die. And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,

Testings are to Mellow Us (vs.3)

These testings are not senseless woes unleashed upon us by an evil deity. They are permitted by a loving and kind heavenly Father, who is too caring to be unkind and to wise to make any mistake!

Paul and Silas was in prison because of preaching the Gospel. They didn’t complain in the midnight hour! The SANG PRAISES UNTO GOD!

Testing are to Mature Us (vs.4)

Testing is a process. It won’t be over in a day. It goes on until full maturity is reached and we become a suitable demonstration of Christian character.

Patience - the suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, or other evil with a calm, unruffled temper.

The farmer plows and plants his field, but then he has to wait patiently for the harvest.

The photographer has to go to the right place, at the right time, with the right amount of light, with the right angle and the right movement to catch a wonderful picture.

Picking food off of a tree or a plant early can lead to hard tasteless food. Impatience spoils everything!

God says wait! He is never in a hurry. It takes time for a person to mature in Christ!

Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the Lord: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the Lord.”

Psalm 37:34 “Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, And he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.”

Psalm 123:2 “Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, And as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; So our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, Until that he have mercy upon us.”

Proverbs 20:22 “Say not thou, I will recompense evil; But wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.”

Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; And they shall walk, and not faint.”

Job could’ve cursed God, but Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: But I will maintain mine own ways before him.” .

Satan’s Temptations (13-16)

The Realization of Temptations (vs.13)

This is a sin temptation. God doesn’t tempt people to sin. God tests us to bring out the good; Satan tempts us to bring out the bad. Satan’s attacks on Job were designed for Job to curse God. At the same time, God was testing his servant and refining him.

1 Peter 1:6–7 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

Job came out stronger in faith at the latter end than the beginning.

The Recognition of Temptations (vs.14-15)

The father of sin is the devil; the mother of sin is lust. Before a baby can be born, impregnation must take place. We sin day after day, but we can keep our lusts in check.

Satan and oftentimes self, come to try and plant sin in our heart.

Matthew 12:34–36 “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

When temptation and lust conceive, there is a birth of sin.

How many times has Satan tried to tempt you to sin by talking about others? Maybe someone makes you mad, they aggravated you, they say something behind your back and they want to tell you off?

Corrupt communication - Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

Corrupt - rotten, putrefied, worthless

Edifying - the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, happiness, and holiness.

Talebearers - Leviticus 19:16 “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord.”

Talebearers - one who makes mischief by talking

Proverbs 11:13 “A talebearer revealeth secrets: But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” (They show things they shouldn’t)

Proverbs 18:8 “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, And they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” (They Scar)

Proverbs 20:19 “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: Therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.” (They Seduce)

Proverbs 26:20–22 “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: So where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; So is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, And they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” (They Cause Strife)

Whisperers - mumble as a magician or charmer

Psalm 41:7 “All that hate me whisper together against me: Against me do they devise my hurt.”

Proverbs 16:28 “A froward man soweth strife: And a whisperer separateth chief friends.”

Romans 1:28–32 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Backbiters - Secret Slanderers

Proverbs 25:23 “The north wind driveth away rain: So doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.”

a backbiting tongue needs opposition to stop it. Too many smile at evil rather than frown at it. If you know someone who is backbiting, you don’t need to smile at them and get the juicy gossip!

The Rightness in Temptations (vs.16)

Do not err! = don’t be deceived, and don’t go out deceiving others!

How do we not deceive others? By......

Stifling the Tongue (19-26(

We Need to Bide (vs.19-20)

It would be a good thing for us to take a second, third, or fourth though about what comes out of our mouth before we say it.

David responded quick in wrath to Nathan the prophet, but indicted himself. (2 Samuel 12:1-7

2 Samuel 12:1–7 KJV 1900

And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

2 Samuel 12:13 “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.”

Peter didn’t think when Christ told him that Satan desired to sift him as wheat. (Luke 22:31–34 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.” )

Telling someone off doesn’t work the righteousness of God. Sometimes it’s best if we just shut up.

Proverbs 10:19 “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: But he that refraineth his lips is wise.”

Much words leads to much wickedness. Know when to be quiet!

A fish doesn’t get caught unless it opens his mouth.

We Need the Bible (vs.21)

Engrafted word = implanted word

God has given us His word for us to plant it in our hearts, so that our tongues will tell of His word the right way, the right time.

Matthew 12:34 “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, And the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Psalm 119:9–13 “BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: Teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared All the judgments of thy mouth.”

We Need to Bridle (vs.26)

Once we have the Word of God in our hears, we’re able to guide our tongue better.

James 3:3-13

The Steering (3-4)

The Severity (5)

Sandy wildfires

The Stubbornness (6-8)

The Sameness (9-12)

The Showing (13)

A good conversation

Philippians 3:20 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”

Philippians 1:27 “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”

2 Peter 3:11 “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,”

Ephesians 4:22–24 “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”