Enduring Temptation

The Promise for Endurance

Happy is the man, Blessed.

God grants a joy and happiness in life to those who trust Him.

This is a theme throughout Scripture

Psalm 1

The Beattitudes

When he has been approved (passed the test), he will receive a crown of life.

The trials of life are not to bring us down, but to strengthen us in our faith.

They prove (give evidence) of our faith in the Lord

Overcome with the Proper Perspective

Don’t think that temptation comes from God.

Trials and temptations are the same word in this text. Trials come to prove and strengthen our faith. They can turn into temptations to doubt God and pursue our own will.

Sources of temptation:

The world – appeals to three things, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life

The flesh – our own basic desires

The devil – his favorite method is to take a basic desire and tempt us to fulfill it in an ungodly or improper way.

Jesus faced temptation in each area that we do, yet without sin

Matthew 4:1-4 lust of the flesh. His body craved food, but it was not the right time or method.

Matthew 4:5-7 pride of life. Prove his power apart from the Father’s direction.

Matthew 4:8-11 lust of the eyes. Showed him the kingdoms of the world and said they could be his by rejecting the Father.

Jesus passed each by turning to the Word and being submitted to His Father.

The process of temptation.

It starts in the heart and then works its way out.

Likened to the birth process. First conceived, then born, then brings death.

Recognize God’s Perfect Provision

Don’t be deceived. Satan’s first goal is to get us to doubt God’s goodness and provision. Eve in the garden

God’s gift is perfect.

Understand the heart of the Father.

He is given us new life. He will not withhold what is perfect for us at this time.

Matthew 7:7–11 “7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”

James – Qualities Needed in Trials

James 1:19-27

The knowledge that every good and perfect gift is from God should produce confidence in God’s working in our lives. A true believer then should be marked by the following qualities:

1. Submission to God’s Word – verses 19-21.

a. Submission means quickness to hear God’s Word v.19

i. God’s Word is the center of our belief system.

ii. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

iii. 2 Timothy 3:16 – God’s Word provides the basis for proper:

1. Doctrine – the complete body of divine truth for life

2. Reproof – rebuking wrong behavior or belief

3. Correction – restoring where one has stumbled

4. Instruction in righteousness – positive training in godly behavior

b. Submission requires humility – slow to speak.

i. When faced with a trial we should defer to God’s providential wisdom in our situation and not to our own understanding.

ii. A fool utters all his mind; but a wise man keeps it in until afterward. Pr. 29.11

c. Submission causes us to be slow to anger

i. Burning passion and desire over a situation

ii. It does not produce God’s righteousness

1. Man’s wrath leads to unrighteous or hasty decisions

2. First recorded instance of man’s wrath is Cain being angry with Able.

d. Examples:

i. Hudson learning to swim – “ok, I got it! I got it!”

ii. Learning to be patient with the children on a long road trip

e. Put away the old passions (Repent and Turn away).

f. Receive the implanted word. 

i. The Word has power to bring salvation

ii. The Word has power to bring transformation

2. Transformation by God’s Word– verses 22-25.

a. Determine to obey God’s Word.

i. See it as His personal message to you.

ii. Study it in context.

iii. Decide to apply it today!

b. Transformation occurs in the good soil of the heart, not by mere academic or passive listening. Parable of the sower illustrates good soil Matthew 13

i. The Wayside – no understanding, snatched away by the Devil

ii. Stoney ground – received with joy, but no root, withers in trials

1. Sees Christ simply as a self-improvement method

iii. Thorns – ground not cleared, love of the world cares of life. Word is choked

iv. Good ground – hears, understands and bears fruit (applies it)

c. Look into the “law of liberty”

i. The law of liberty is the entire counsel of God’s Word. It frees us from the bondage of sin and teaches us to obey God

1. “The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Titus 2:11-12

d. Application:

i. Receive God’s Word – How consistently are you getting in the Word? Are you willing to make the time?

ii. Have you determined to seek God in your trial? Be swift to hear and slow to speak / anger.

3. Application of God’s Word – verses 26-27.

a. Two contrasting emotions that reveal the heart.

i. Anger/ Wrath – orge a burning desire, an outburst

1. Every time man is filled with wrath trouble ensues

a. Cain angry with Able

b. The crowds angry with Stephen

c. The crowds angry with Jesus

2. This is not the same as Jesus’ indignation.

a. Bible does not record him being angry at the cleansing of the temple

b. He was filled with indignation at the disciples rejecting children – grieved and pain that results in an emotional response.

3. It is the same word as used to speak of God’s coming wrath on the unbelieving world.

a. Romans 1:16-19

b. God’s wrath will be righteously kindled for a little while. Psalm 2

ii. Compassion

1. This by far characterized Jesus’ life and ministry

a. His compassion for a widow of Nain – Luke 7:13

b. The crowds – Matthew 14:14 –

c. The hungry crowds – Mark 8:2-3

d. Hebrews 4:15

2. It should characterize our life as well.

b. Pure religion is not in external ceremony (the meaning of the word)

i. The Jews had fallen to practice merely a ceremonial religion. Speaking of customs, traditions and debating opinions.

ii. James says this kind of religion is worthless.

c. By contrast James says that if pure external worship manifests itself two ways:

i. Compassion for the poor and afflicted

1. Sacrificial love

2. This is the love that we have received.

3. Jesus told us, “this is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one that this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13

ii. Love for the Lord (remain unspotted from the world)

1. Purity of heart and life only comes when we determine to love the Lord.