Preperation Needed to Conquer Trials and Temptations

James 1:19-27

The Book of James—written by Jesus’ brother (we’d call him a 1/2 brother in today’s culture) is a challenging & convicting letter—both to the believers in James’ day and believer’s today. James’ letter calls believers to “examine themselves” (allowing Scripture to read them) in order that their faith be authentic, genuine, and proven. How? The litmus test for genuine faith is genuine obedience

James 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

James contains the truth that if we would, “look into the perfect law of liberty and continue in it…” clinging and obeying God’s Word, believers would find themselves blessed in what they do.

James opens his letter by identifying himself as a “bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” In other words, James considered himself and desired to be an obedient follower of Jesus Christ—his Lord and Savior. As believers—we are to be bondservants—obeying God’s Word out of pleasure and love for what Christ accomplished for us. The road of the Christian race however, is narrow (as a vice) Jesus says—the Bible teaching us about the many fiery trials/temptations we will face

1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;”

James 1:2–4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

The more we grow in dealing with the trials, temptations, and struggles we face as believers, the more effective bondservants we will be

In James 1:2-4 we are taught about the attitude needed to conquer trials/temptations

In James 1:5-8 we are taught about the wisdom needed to conquer trials/temptations

In James 1:9-18 we are taught about the source of trials and temptations (James 1:14-15)

This morning we are going to focus on the preparation needed to conquer trials and temptations—and the focus of our preparation centers on how we engage God’s Word

I. Preparation #1: In order to receive God’s Word, we must quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (v.19-21)

James 1:19-21 “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

“Quick to hear, slow to speak”

“Quick to hear-” Biblical hearing in NEVER passive; it is the discipline of hearing to understand/perceive/and to get a total sense of what is being said

The greatest temptation a lost person faces is going through life without hearing the Gospel as the gateway to salvation and new life

The greatest temptation a believer faces is the going through their Christian life, not listening to the Gospel as the pathway of new life

If you desire to grow more in Christ, to grow in conquering trials/temptations—you must be a person who has a teachable spirit. One of the primary disciplines of those who have a teachable spirit, is they quick to listen

Proverbs 1:5 “A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,”

Proverbs 2:1–2 “My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;”

“…slow to speak…”—

Simply stated, the believer has to be willing to listen and be silent (which both contain the same letters). It’s foolish to speak ahead of listening

Proverbs 18:13 “He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.”

Salvation comes through hearing

Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Sanctification comes through hearing

Matthew 7:24 ““Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:”

Those who are quick to hear and slow to speak possess a teachable spirit; and a teachable spirit not only enables a person to grow in Christ, it prepares them to receive, correctly the Word of God

We must be slow to wrath

Wrath (anger) keeps us from focusing on God and His Word—it dulls the conscience to being sensitive to His Word

To keep yourself from sinful anger

Is to ask of yourself, “Do I have a right to be angry?” If the answer is no, than your anger is prideful

Is to be a person who is quick to forgive and show grace—lest a root of bitterness overwhelms you

Hebrews 12:15 “looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;”

It’s worth noting that the one who is quick to hear is the person who is slow to anger

II. Preparation #2: To invest we must first divest (v.21)

To invest we must first divest (lay aside, remove, put away) sinful minds/attitudes/behaviors

“Filthiness”—in the Greek, refers to “wax in the ears”

Simply stated, a person with wax in their ears, has their hearing dulled and they cannot rightly hear as they should (think also of water in your ears)

We must “take off,” or “remove” what is hindering us from hearing God’s Word (Hebrews 12:1).

(ASK) What’s are the things of “filth” that need to be laid aside in your life?

Bitterness and anger

Resentfulness & Unforgiveness

Partiality or prejudices

A critical tongue or a mouth full of gossip & slander

“Filthiness is “the stinking filth of a persistent ulcer; sin is the devil’s vomit; the souls excrement—it calls to mind the sacrifices cast into the town ditch” (Trapp)

“…overflow of wickedness…”

“Overflow” refers to the residue/remains of the wickedness remaining over on the Christian from his state prior to conversion

To divest is to deprive something of power, rights, or possessions—

In other words, must deprive ourselves of sinful thoughts/behaviors, give up OUR will for God’s will, and deprive ourselves of possessing the remnants/residue of filthy things; and this depriving, the laying aside, removing, and putting away is

A daily discipline

Required as the Holy Spirit brings things to light

Needed when the enemy tries to lie, deceit, and cause doubt

“James saw the human heart as a garden: if left to itself, the soil would produce only weeds. He urged us to pull out the weeds.” (Warren Wiersbe)

As we divest—we must invest

“Receive” is to receive favorably; to embrace; to give ear to

“with meekness” means to accept God’s Word w/out argument but with honor as the Word of God. We do not twist or conform it to our thinking,” Wiersbe says

In meekness we receive the Word as a child listens intently to their father;

In meekness our attitude towards God’s Word should be humble, gentle, and quiet

“the implanted Word.” The Greek word is engrafted and is used only here in the N/T

What God says is actually implanted into the heart and a person hears exactly what God is saying

The Word of God is born inside the person’s heart and he is saved…b/c that is what the Word does)

(ASK) What is the benefit for the person who intentional with this?

It is salvation for the lost “…able to save your souls.”

2 Timothy 3:15 “and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

It is sanctification (becoming more like Jesus) for the believer

2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

NOTE: There are times when God’s Word will be hard to understand, times when we will struggle to understand the meaning, times when it won’t make sense, even times when we can’t see the other side of obedience….this is where faith comes in

“Faith” is the conviction of the truth—it’s the belief (your belief)/trust/confidence and God and in Christ for salvation, and His Word

“Faith” is to be constant—enduring—and persevering

“Faith” wholly & holistically trusts in the inerrancy of the Gospel as the gateway to eternal life and the pathway of the Christian life

What does all this mean—Faith is the precursor to understanding

James however is not content that we should merely hear the word—and this gets us to the most important preparation

II. (v.22-25). (Preparation #3) Rightly receiving the Word of God

(ASK)

There is strong and affirmative caution here: Contrary to what most people think—it is not enough to merely hear the word, we must be a doer of the Word—it’s not enough that we hear it—we must live it out. Note three things:

The person who only hears the Word deceives himself

If a person thinks he can merely here and know the Word, then live as he pleases, refusing obedience to the Word—they are deceived

1 John 1:6 “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”

Listening and learning are vital; but strictly listening and learning do not make us acceptable—they make us as Pharisees—God accepts us b/c we confess and repent.

Repentance means—that we don’t merely confess our sins—we turn from our sins and turn to God—we turn to God and live for Him (meaning we are obedient to do His Word and will)

confessing apart from repentance is to say your sorry with your fingers crossed; if there’s not desire to turn from your sin, it’s possible you’re only confessing b/c you got caught.

Confession means (so many misunderstand Biblical confession—it’s not a flippant, off the cuff admittance of our sin); rather confession means

We agree with God with what He says about our sin

it’s an affront

it separates

is rebellious against a holy, just, and righteous God

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death…”

We agree with God that Jesus Christ is the only way to be freed from the bondage of our sin.

Romans 6:23 “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

***Both are required for God to accept us—a person cannot agree with God about their sin only to deny that Christ is only way out—and Christ cannot be the way out, if a person doesn’t recognize their sin.

***Both are required for God to accept you—b/c Biblical repentance turns towards Jesus Christ, and Biblical confession is centers on Jesus Christ—that you are confessing Him!

The person who only hears and knows the Word soon forgets what he has heard

If you never puts into practice what you know and learn—what is learned is soon forgotten (athletes, scholars, etc.)

If you never put into practice what you know and learn—it never becomes part of your life

“…he is like a man observing his natural face in the mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was…”

James is saying these are people who

hear the Word

are convicted by the Word of some sin, shortcoming, or failure

know what it is that needs to be done—or not done…

but walk away from it and become distracted by the world and the things of this world

Mark 4:18-19 “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

The person who hears and does the Word is blessed

“Perfect law of liberty”—means:

The Word of God will set a person free from the bondage of sin and death

The Word of God will provide a person the means to have victory over life’s trials and temptations

The Word of God will provide a person a life that will continue in both quantity and quality

The person who hears, does, and lives out the Word of God will discover

love, joy, and peace

a sense of

freedom/liberty

purpose/meaning

security/safety

assurance/rejoicing

Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

“Keep” means to continue

III.(v.26). (Preparation #3) Control the tongue

James 1:26 “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”

“Religious” the word used here means a person who is very religious, a person who gives great attention to religiousness, religious worship, and who is “actively religious”

Today it would be: those who bank their spirituality on

# of times they attend church

# of times they attend Bible study

# of Bible verses they know/memorized

# of mission trips they go on

# of dollars given in tithing

# of years serving in the church

Yet they are loose and careless with the things they say—their tongue

Interrupting and dominating conversations

easily provoked and lashing out at others

gossiping and telling lies/embellishing/fables

criticizing and murmuring

using slang and cursing

engaging in off-colored/suggestive talk

No matter what a person thinks of themselves—no matter “how religious” they claim to be and want others to see about them—if they cannot bridle their tongue, bring it under control—their religion is empty.

Matthew 15:17-18 “Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.”

Matthew 23:25-27 ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”

All your religiousness you practice cannot disguise the condition of your heart that is revealed by your tongue.

IV. (v.27) Be disciplined in what is pure—visiting the needy/keep from being corrupted by the world

James 1:27 “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

A person must visit and minister to the fatherless and widows in their affliction: this yields to the commons sense which states we should minister and visit ALL who have need within a community:

A person must keep himself unspotted from the world.

“Pure religion” refers to

holding on to the purity of God’s Word (Psalms 12:6 “The words of the Lord are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times.” )

holding and focusing on the power of God to change lives—not ceremony or ritual

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

refusing to become morally corrupt, refusing to conform to the ways of this world, and stirs people to separate themselves from the things of this world

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

(WORSHIP TEAM)

For those who are not believers: To have any hope against the trials and temptations in this life, you must first conquer and overcome the biggest one—the temptation to reject Jesus Christ. No victory over your sin, you trials, temptations, or hardships can ever be obtained until you are in a right standing with God—accepted by HIm. And the only way you are accepted by God is repent of your sins and confess—entrusting your life to Jesus Christ—then you are prepared and can continue to prepare and arm yourselves against the trials of life—b/c you will be fighting from a place of victory.

For the believer in this room: When I think about what it means to be prepared, I often think about what Paul writes in Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the Saints

A soldier doesn’t put his armor on once the battle starts—he puts it on before it even begins

The first piece of armor Paul mentions is the, “belt,” which he says is truth—this is God’s Word

So, be hearers AND doers.