James: Loving During Trials

James 1:12-20

Trials and tribulations are in this world and they are a part of our every day living. Some are greater than others; they come at various degrees of intensity. They may be spaced out throughout time and they may come back to back for a season.

We live in a broken world, filled with sin. We ourselves are broken people, who struggle with sin.

We have at least these three coming at us continuously: The world, the flesh, and the devil.

We will all go through these trials… but how will we get through?

We see in the word of God that trials/tests let us know what is inside of us.

They reveal if we have faith or not.

They are also used to shape us and mold us into mature Christians.

Last week: We understood that we can have joy in knowing that God is working through our trials.

God is working in us and God is working through us.

God is producing some things, some good things in His children.

And when we are in need of wisdom… we are to run to God.

We do not run away from God. We run to God and we seek after Him… in faith.

We remain single-minded and not double-minded...

And as we stay before the Lord… Stability can be found.

Verse 12: Blessed is the man who endures temptation (trials)… Blessed, or happy, is the person who perseveres under trials...

Go to The Beatitudes: Matthew 5:4,10, and 11 - “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake… Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you...”

Blessed are those who endure this… Who endures... you endure this.

We are called to endure… We will be blessed if we endure…

But how can we endure? How can we set our minds to endure?

The Christian has a promise in these verses as well as a great incentive. This changes our attitudes.

We already know that God is working in us, to produce something good in us… and we are seeking the Lord.

And now we see that there is a reward that is waiting on us...

Jesus said trials are coming… and those who will suffer this pain and endure it...

They will be comforted. They will know that they belong to the kingdom of God… And they have a great reward in heaven waiting on them.

James says that when we are approved… we will receive the crown of lie, which the Lord has promised to us.

This kind of crown is a picture of a competitor at the Olympic Games wearing their prize on their heads… Or it could be like that wreath that victorious emperors would wear coming back into their city.

Paul, the Apostle, uses athletic words and imagery as well:

1 Cor. 9:24-27 - Run the race to win the prize… Everyone who competes for the prize is self-controlled in all things… And we run for an imperishable crown… I run with certainty… I discipline my body...

2 Timothy 4:7-8 - I have fought the fight, I have finished the race; I have kept the faith… Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give to me on that Day… and not to me only… but also to all who have loved His appearing...

These Christians… these who will endure… will experience these realities.

You will be comforted eventually. You will be helped. And you will receive your reward.

It is not always going to be this painful. This will eventually pass.

Light is coming. Help is coming. Comfort is coming. Life is coming from the Lord.

God is going to bless them in this life with comfort and help, wisdom and counsel. God is going to produce greater and greater Christ-like characteristics… He is going to produce greater faith, hope, and love...

And at the end… You will have your prize, given to your from the Lord Himself.

What does all of this do for us?

It produces hope and strength, and it helps us to endure.

Verse 13 - Now when we go through this trial… we may be tempted (lured) to sin or to do evil. Pain will drive us to do bad things. Pain will tempt us to say and to do things that are very un-Christian, ungodly, and unholy.

Where does that come from?

We may be quick to say, “This is God’s fault. God tempted me to do evil… to sin.”

Listen: God does not have a role in tempting us to sin...

God’s role is to make you holy and mature.

Romans 8:28 - God is working through these things for good to those who love God… Good.

James 1:17 -Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning...

Do not be deceived. God is not evil. God does not change. He is good all the time.

God is not luring us to sin.

Verse 18: Do not be deceived through the pain…

Of God’s own will He brought us forth by His word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures...

Do not be deceived… God gives life. God is for His children and not against His children

Do not be deceived. God has loved you. He loves you. There is nothing that can separate you from His love.

The moment we question God’s character and love, we will fall apart.

We will not endure the trial with the wrong thoughts about God, or the wrong thoughts about who we are to God through Christ Jesus.

Our pain does not change God.

Our trials do not change His love and faithfulness.

Our pain does not change who and what we are as children of God.

God is a Heavenly Father to those who belong to Jesus.

The Father will test. He will strengthen character…

The Father will use discipline to bring us back to Himself, and keep us safe.

But He does not bait us to sin.

The text is clear… That is not how God operates.

There is a tempter who will use our pain to rebel and sin against God and others.

In other verses, we see Satan as being the ultimate tempter over all other demonic forces.

Genesis 3 - Satan tempts Eve. Matthew 4 - Satan tempts Jesus.

Acts 5 - Satan fills hearts with lies. 1 Thessalonians 3:5 - He is the tempter of God’s people.

Satan (demons) will exploit every opportunity to crush us and tempt us to do evil.

He (demons) will make the most of every opportunity, through our pain.

Remember: The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness… and Satan tempted Jesus there...

But before we give all the credit to the devil… or blame God...

What about our sinful nature? What about some personal responsibility?

Our text for today brings attention to our own sinful lusts, or sinful nature.

James 1:14 - You are carried away by… his own lust/desires.

When pain comes… when the heat comes… the impurities come to the surface.

When pain comes… what is inside of us… in our hearts… comes out.

And often times… it ain’t pretty.

I submit to you… we may err and blame God for our behavior.

We also may give the enemy way too much credit for our sinful behavior...

However, It may be that the forces of darkness are nowhere near you in those moments… and it is just our sinful nature coming out of our hearts.

Verse 14 - But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed… Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death...

Our sinful nature, the flesh, desires various pleasures and or fulfillment.

Our sinful inclination is to turn away and rebel… to do what is contrary to God’s will.

Every Christian has that inward struggle that Paul speaks about in Romans 7.

In our flesh, there are passions and lusts to sin.

In the Spirit, we desire to obey God.

“What a wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from this? Thank be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

And that sinful nature will come out when we are hurting...

That sinful nature will reveal itself when we are in pain...

When… you are working on a hot day and sweat is in your eye…

And someone displeases you in some little way… And our impatience and anger explodes...

Don’t blame God… and don’t get mad at God...

God is still revealing what is inside of you...

He is revealing this evil that is inside of us...

God is revealing idols and issues, sin that has not been dealt with.

God is bringing them us to the surface for us to see...

God is trying to get us to be dependent upon Him, to seek Him, to take refuge in Him.

God is driving us to our knees and working to make us godly, holy and pure...

God is not driving us… to use God’s name in vain… and to sin against Him and others.

God is not driving you to drinking alcohol, using drugs, or any immorality.

God is not driving you away from Him.

God is driving us to use Jesus’ name in faith, to confess our sins, repent, and seek help from Him.

Do not be deceived and blame God with your anger… but fall on your knees and cry out in humility.

You need Him. You need a Savior always.

God is doing something good. God has saved you, is saving you, and will save you...

God is working in your life now. God is producing good stuff in you now.

God is going to reward you with the crown of life in heaven...

(Look at the Time)

So… Verse 19 - Let every one of us be swift to hear… slow to speak… and slow to wrath...

Look to God and listen to God...

Be controlled… Be self-controlled… as you run your race… as you endure the pain.

Listen to the Lord… take every opportunity… make every opportunity to know God’s Word better.

Fill your minds and hearts with God’s promises and truth.

Do not close your ears to what God is saying, to what God has said...

Be quick to hear… not slow to to hear...

If we will be quick to hear… we may not become quick to speak and quick to anger.

Be slow to speak… Do not let your mouths fly after your tempting… to blame God, curse everything and everyone… Anger, pain… brings about a temptation to say awful things and to complain about everything.

But the wisdom of God… that comes from God’s Word, from prayer… from listening to God… keeps us under control… God’s wisdom and control keeps us under control, practicing self-control...

But if we will be slow to listen to God… If we will be slow to meditate upon the Word of God, or slow to prayer… we will be quick to become angry, and say awful things while we go through pain.

And this anger/wrath (Verse 20) will not produce the righteousness of God.

Is it a sin to be angry? No. The Bible says, “Be angry, but do not sin.” (Ephesians 4:26)

Do not allow the anger to control you.

Do not allow anger to stay there in your heart...

Anger might or may feel satisfying… but it does not lead to godliness...

It leads to fires… It leads to hurt… sin… and destruction.

Give it to God in prayer. Confess it to God. Use your anger to pray and to preach to yourself.

Do not let the anger fly out towards God or others… in sinful ways.

Let go of the resentment. Let go of the bitterness.

Listen to the Word of God...

Think about God and yourself rightly.

Think about trials and pain through God’s Word...

Empty your hearts to God in prayer...

And look forward, through the trial, with Gospel Hope...

God is here. God is working now. God is up to something right now.

God is working in me now… and He is working to accomplish something good.

God is allowing me to see that I have saving faith.

God is allowing me to grow up in my faith.

God is bringing me loser to Himself...

God is making me more like Jesus...

What am I doing? Am I thinking about my trials and pains the way the Bible describes them?

Am I taking my pain out in ungodly ways?

Have I bought the lie, and now I am turning away from God?

Be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.

Ask God for wisdom today.

Seek Christ and confess to Him all that is in your heart.

Blessed in the one who endures… for they will receive the crown of life.

Hang on. Be held. Look forward. And walk on.

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