Remain Steadfast (James 1:12-18)
Notes
Transcript
Today we unpack the second sermon in our series in the book of James.
Last week we saw James begin in his letter by unpacking the importance of facing trials from a kingdom perspective.
James wrote “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” (1:2)
Kingdom perspective on trails is that we can count it all joy in the face of them,
because we know that God is using those trials as an instrument in us,
to produce steadfastness in our faith.
James, articulated that for one to count it all joy and see how God is working through our trials, it takes wisdom,
Thus James writes, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (1:6)
Wisdom from God lets us have joy during trails, knowing that through this pain, God is producing something eternally rich in my life.
James closes out his passage with the reminder that we cannot focus on the temporary things that will parish, but rather we need to focus on the eternal.
“For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.”
It is having a perspective that is shaped by wisdom from God, that one is able to see from the perspective of the kingdom of God through the trials of life… Count it all joy...
Pick it up our series…
12 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. 13 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. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 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. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
This morning I will be unpacking 3 points from this passage....
The Blessing for remaining Steadfast
12 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.
I beleive one of the most important things for believers, is to maintain an eternal perspective.
(Earthly perspective vs Kingdom perspective… when facing trials)
James has already introduced the importance of counting it all joy through the trial.
Now James articulates that there is a promise to those who remain faithful under trails. (if you count it all joy)
He writes, “for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life”
The crown of life here does not refer to a king or queens crown that is warn around one’s head,
rather the crown of life that James refers to is a wreath that is given to victors in an athletic contests.
Thus, the point James is making is that when you have endured through the test of life,
God will reward you with an eternal crown that will never parish.
Revelation 2:10b “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
1 Peter 5:4 “4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
There is a promised reward to those who are faithful until the end. (Need endurance and steadfastness)
It is important to understand that James is not saying everyone is given a participation crown for experiencing trails…
(only those who are victorious will receive this crown) [Revelation theme… temptation to give up]
2. Temptations from the flesh
13 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. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
It is important to understand that James is not saying that the devil does not at all tempt us...
But many times we give credit to the devil for our evil thoughts and actions.
I Remember listen to an adventures in odyssey episode were.… Imagination Station…
(Give the devil more credit)
James explains that we are lured and enticed by our own desires.…
And if we meditate on those desires of the flesh, it will give birth to sin, and sin when fully grown brings forth death.
James understands that with trials come temptations…
(Learned in life that there are 3 different groups of people… tone followers, tone responders, (take the bait) and tone setters) temperature of the room…
When we are facing trails in life, we have the ability to...
yield to the temptation to follow evil for evil,
yield to the temptation to respond with evil for evil,
or we can respond in accordance with our faith and return evil for good…
Jesus said...
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Paul writes...
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
Peter
9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.
It is important to recognize that it is not a sin to be tempted to do wrong… It is not a sin to have thoughts of responding evil with evil...
but it is a sin to allow those temptations to lead to actions....
James writes… V14-15 “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. (desire inside us)
Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
How many know that what we think about usually gives birth to action?
What is in us will certainly come out of us at some point…
Church is not meant to be an institution about behavior modification…
The church is meant to be a place that brings forth heart transformation.…
(Modification vs transformation)
[Jesus said… hate in the heart = murder… lust in the heart = adultery]
James writes “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” (In other words God is given me the desire to sin) for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” (sin is against God’s nature)
James tells us not to blame God for tempting you to sin, what is tempting you is your own flesh,
thus don’t let your flesh give birth to something destructive.
Because when you are facing trials, the bait of sin will be there to lure you to fall,
don’t take the bait, but rather remain faithful to God so that you may receive the crown of life. Amen!
(Receive the gift of a victors crown)
3. The Gifts from God
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 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. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.
James tells us here… Don’t be deceived or misled about the character of God.
God will give us test in life to refine us, but he will never temp us to sin…
It is important to understand is that there is a difference between tempting and testing… (explain...)
EXAMPLE… Good teachers do not give test for you to fail… test show your ready to move on…(Faithful in the small things)
James is making sure his readers understand that God does not bring evil about it man,
rather God brings good gifts to man.
James writes “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above”
Therefore, don’t have a distorted view on God and say that He is the reason for your mistakes...
No, God is not the reason why you may have failed in an area…
Example… Like a good teacher God equips you and gives you the tools to succeed and be an overcomer,
but it is entirely up to you if you use those gifts God gives.
(James already has said need wisdom)
[Every good and Perfect gift is from God]
James continues on the thought of viewing God correctly,
James writes that God never changes.…
(James makes this statement I beleive as an important reminder to them of God’s unchanging nature)
trails bring instability but God brings stability… 2x (Amen!)
(meditating on the trial or meditating on God…)
This passage closes with an important reminder....
James 1:18 NLT He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.
How many know that you are His prized possession? (Does not want you to fail)
James tells us that the flesh gives birth to things that are destructive,
but God gives birth to things that bring life.
God’s Word gives birth to eternal life...
Therefore, when you meet trails in life, you can either allow the flesh to give birth to something destructive, or allow God to give birth to something eternal....
(Every good and every perfect gift is from God) [wants his prized possession to receive those gifts]
The Blessing from remaining Steadfast (crown of life)
2. Temptations from the flesh (Temptation to quit instead of being steadfast)
3. The Gifts from God (Gift of God who called you to be His)
