Trials and Temptations

Intro

Grab your bibles and open up to James chapter 1. We will cover half of the chapter today.

James is a great book not only to easily understand and read but also to remind ourselves what it means to live a life worthy of Christ. James hits on many issues that not only caused those back in the day to stumble but even to this day is still relevant.

James Background

James is written around 50 A.D. Steven from the book of acts is stoned about 10 years before James writes this book. That should help you with where we are in history. Jesus is crucified and buried 20 years before this book was written as well.

The gospels are also being written around this time. Actually, most of them are completed around 60-70A.D. So a bit after James wrote this book but he does hit on some things that are taught in the Gospels so he had knowledge of the stories and teachings.

We will see that James actually quotes one of the beatitudes from Jesus’ teaching in the text that we are going to cover today.

Book Topics

Again, James is going to hit on the behavior of Christians. Both our sinful and non sinful sides. Something else that James will do extremely well is bring up the Old Testament. We may not see it clearly but he will actually quote or paraphrase a lot of old testament teachings.

This is good for us as Christians because I think we tend to get caught up on the New Testament being the primary teaching and map for our life. if you know anything about the new testament then you will see that it in facts constantly brings up the Old Testament.

James does a great job at using the Old Testament in a way that shows us a clearer picture of who God is and what his promises are built on.

This book is also full of instruction. No stories, not a narrative like Jonah. it is full of commands that will in the end help us to achieve our greatest Joy. The Old Testament is just as relevant today as it was when it was first written.

Today’s Main Point

We will walk away with seeing trials as a joyful thing. They will allow you to grow deeper in your faith and belief of God. We will understand that God does not wish or will evil upon us but rather our very own desires are what cause us to stumble and depart further from the wisdom of God.

Book

James 1:2–18 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 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. 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.

Faith for wisdom -

God uses trials in believers lives in order to accomplish his purpose. The issues is not unbelief but in active faith. For James, joy is not the product of circumstances but rather the most fundamental expression of faith. Faith allows a believer to become open to the wisdom of God.

Joy for Maturity

James encouraged them to embrace their trials not for what they were but for what God could accomplish through them. Trials serve as a test for guanine faith. Trials are a part of God's plan. The God who will save us from the fate of the world will sustain us with joy in the midst of it. One could see the book of James as Joy in serving God. In every trial the people of God should see their preparation for greater things God has planned for them. is a great verse to use in this moment of teaching. By persevering, we gain faith, faith that when its fullest sense is ready to stand before God in the judgment, which is faith's goal.

Faith without Doubt

Wisdom is required because the faithful do not always know how to persevere nor do they easily find the will to rejoice in future blessings while enduring present trials. Wisdom must come from God. It must be sought. Wisdom is given out of God's generosity and gentleness. To request wisdom in the midst of trial is precisely what God intends for his people. Growth in wisdom is to understand that everything of faith is from God. Prayer asks for the means to work out that faith through the gift of wisdom. Since faith is always a matter of personal trust in God, to doubt God in any way is to call his character into question. Lacking confidant trust in god, how can the believer make a request of God? The way of true faith in God is with the whole heart mind and soul. There is no safe middle ground between faith and unbelief.

The boast of the Poor - The reduction of the Rich

A poor man can easily find faith and wisdom in God. A rich man takes some time. His life can be so busy that once he has achieved all that he wants in this world, just like a flower it withers away. In the end, all must be humbled before God like the poor man seek his counsel. Continue to be steadfast in faith.

Trials as Life Giving

Verse 12 brings us back to this idea of remaining steadfast or having endurance in the midst of trials. This leads to what James said in the first part to be important. The guiding principle of this entire chapter is the right understanding of wisdom. This right understanding means a life that puts faith and action together. Putting the promise of God ahead of the cares of this life and receive the assurance of everlasting life beyond death.

Temptation as Life Taking

James shifts to a mode of strong warning. God is not the origin of temptation for God can not be tempted. We think that Satan, being a roaring lion, is dragging off the believer into sin. In reality, we are often dragging ourselves off into sin. We must watch our own desires. Every temptation to sin is a temptation to reinvigorate the appeal of past sins. Temptation conceives sin.

The Element of Deception

If the great temptation of the sinner is unbelief, then the great temptation of the believer is mis-belief.

The Father and the First Fruits

Everything with God as its source is good. He is only the source of good in our lives. He is the source of the good fight within us as we try to resist temptation. The gifts of God are good because they never bring fourth evil. They are perfect because they are the fulfillment of his will for his people. Believers have faith because God gave them spiritual birth. Death birthed by sin, life is produced by God. The word of truth is the instrument by which God implants new life in the believer. It is the Gospel.

Application

The Gospel brings life and trials urge us on in faith to grow closer in relationship with God.

This text is to show us as believers that God is nothing but good and he is full of wisdom. We must not give into our desires as this leads to sin and sin leads to death. Instead, we should want to seek God's wisdom but we can only do this through faith.

In all that we do, find Joy in trials as they are put before us in order to allow us to grow deeper with God. The cross is what should spur us on.

This passage shows us that Christ can over come trials and temptation. If he can do it, with his spirit, we can too.

Hold fast to our faith and know that in God, we find wisdom to conquer sin and death.