James 1:2-18; Trials and Temptations

Introduction

Image

Through Heaven’s Eyes from Prince of Egypt

A single thread in a tapestry Though its color brightly shines Can never see its purpose In the pattern of the grand design And the stone that sits on the very topOf the mountains mighty face Does it think it's more important Than the stones that form the base?So how can you see what your life is worth Or where your value lies? You can never see through the eyes of man You must look at your life Look at your life through heaven's eyes

Need

This morning we will see how we are to look at the trials and temptations of this life. We need to have a heavenly perspective on this world.

Referent

James 1:2-18

Organization

Heavenly Trials (vs. 2-11)

Earthly Temptations (12-18)

Sermon in a sentence:

I will consider my trials and temptations through a heavenly perspective.

Heavenly Trials (vs. 2-12)

This section is really going to act like a two part introduction for James. He is going to bring up trials, joy, faith, doubting, pride, humility, poverty, wealth, judgement and eternal life. He will then dive deeper into these topic in his sermonic epistle.

James’ writing style is very sophisticated and interconnected.

He uses the same word “τελιοσ” throughout this chapter (and the book). (vs. 4 - full and perfect, vs. 15 -fully, vs. 17 - perfect)He uses the same root word for trials in verse 2 and tempted in verse 13. (πειρασμοισ / πειραζω)

He uses the word “steadfastness” ύπομονη - hupo: under mone: to remain (vs. 3, 4, 12)

The main point of this section is his contrast between trials and temptations.

James uses the same root word πειρασμος for trails and temptations (2, 12, 13, 14)

Saints, often the difference between a trial and a temptation is how our hearts respond to the events.

I have seen young men, time and time again, get themselves into horrible situations and then ask how God could allow this to happen to them.

Adversity will expose our character. Saints, when adversity comes, how we respond will tell you a lot about yourself. Will you see adversity as a way to conform you into the image of Christ or a temptation into your sinful desires?

2. Verse 2 tells us to count our trials as “pure joy” because God is doing something through those trials.

James’ use of the Greek is wonderful. He is such a great writer and as we look through this book, I want to encourage you to notice how well he uses language. It will help you see connections in the text.

If I could provide a translation of verse 2 it would read, “Count it as plentiful and pure joy my brothers when you plunge into a plurality of pains.”

The more I read the New Testament, the more I am convinced that the apostles were actually Southern Baptist preachers. Paul’s sermons are so long that they literally could bore someone to death. Talk about killing it. James uses four words in verse 2 that begin with the letter p. He has his points alliterated, illustrated, and applied. Jude, loves his three points. Every section has three repetitions or three illustrations.

We can have weeping and sorrow! The Lord Jesus showed us how we are to be people that weep! Yet, even in our weeping, there is hope saints. Why can we rejoice? Because, we know that these sufferings and trials are not wasted. God is doing something in you and me every time we suffer! He is showing us what we are lacking and then he is going to provide use with our need if we look to him.

Isn’t this what God did in the garden. He was not tempting Adam to jealousy or anger. God gave Adam the job of naming the animals for a few reasons. First, he had to give him responsibility and demonstrate Adam’s position over the created order. Second, Adam needed to know for himself why he needed Eve.

3. Heavenly trials require faith.

It requires faith to believe that God is in control.

It also requires us to remind ourselves that God is a good father. (vs. 5)

The person that doesn’t have faith will not prosper. He is unstable like the waves in the sea and the flower that is scorched by the hot sun.

James reminds us that thats that remain through trials will receive the crown of life. Saints, we are promised eternal life when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are also promised real troubles. We must live before the face of God and in his community.

James is going to end with this theme of persevering. James 5:19-20. 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

Encourage one another through heavenly trials. Who knows if you will be the means by which God uses to keep one of his sheep from straying from the fold.

Knife making. Family members experience. The process. The quenching and pressing the knife. There is danger. There is possibility of bodily harm. There is also great reward. I knew I couldn’t mess it up too bad. I know my father and brothers in law love me. I knew the guy showing us wants to have a successful business and let people have an enjoyable time. Even though I wasn’t in my comfort zone, I knew it would be ok.

4. Very briefly, I want to mention the rich and poor. Each mention of the rich in this sermon/letter it is a negative light.

Money is not bad. However, we must recognize how blessed we are. We are all wealthy. Let us not ignore this teaching just because you don’t have own a private jet. That would be like us saying we don’t need to worry about though shall not commit murder because we would never murder someone. I mean I just hate that guy with everything in me but I would never murder someone. Doesn’t Jesus have something to say about that?

Earthly Temptations (vs. 13-18)

Temptations generally are our own doing.

See me after the sermon if you would like to talk about Genesis 22 in light of this passage.

Saints, let us know blame God for our own sins. Let us also not be too quick to blame the Devil.

James 4:7 tells us “7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” He recognizes the reality of Satan and his spiritual warfare. However, Napoleon Bonaparte said, “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” Why would Satan need to wage spiritual warfare upon those are already too busy fighting themselves to fight him. Don’t blame Satan for your own spiritual weaknesses.

2. Sin never stays the same.

Our sinful flesh is never content with staying the same way.

Have you ever seen those tv shows like my 600 lb life? The people in those tv shows do not become 600 lbs because they are eating 1 little debbie each day. No. Unfortunately, it is multiple things that come together. It is the addiction to food as a means of comfort. It is the fact that at a certain point their body can’t move like it used to. Then the depression gets worse because their situation is worse than before. So what do they have to do to find so comfort for their situation. Eat. The very thing that keeps them alive is also killing them. The very same thing is true of sin. We can become so ensnared with a sin that that all we are living for, but it is spiritually and sometimes physically killing us.

3. James is going to once again brings up the concept of being deceived or duplicity.

He reminds his brothers that God is perfectly one. We are going to see that the Shema is a key theological truth for James. The entire book rests upon that idea.

4. God chose to make us his first-fruits of creation.

The Jewish people were required to give God the first fruits from their harvest. God makes us a new creation as for himself.

Our salvation is rooted in God’s goodness and sovereignty.

We must hear that we must endure trials, while also reminding ourselves that is it God that has chosen us for himself. If God has chosen us, the Lord Jesus cannot loose us, and the Holy Spirit will not abandon us.

Application

Look back at your life. See what you have been through. See where God has placed you. If you have not put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God has placed you right here right now for a purpose.

During family worship this week, recount your trials and temptations. Are there any sins that you need to confess and fight together? What trials has God given you that you can look back on and see his hand through it all.

Conclusion

There have been many Sundays that it has been difficult to come to church. In our family, the girls are fine. But all the boys are screaming and crying. Some mornings, the boys are crying about anything and everything. Sunday School and the singing are nothing but crying… Moses singing and reminding us to pray.