The Wisdom Needed to Conquer Trials and Temptations

James 1:5-12

INTRO: Last week we discussed the attitude needed to conquer and overcome trials. This week we are discussing the way to overcome/conquer trials and temptations. Why? (James 1:2 “... fall into various trials,” ).

Trials and temptations are common to the believer—we are surrounded by them—day in and day out—sometimes moment to moment. We struggle against and endless list of trials/disappointments/setbacks

pain/diseases

lust

divorce/cheating

loss

death/sickness

separation

immorality

emptiness

hurt

greed

accidents

anger

loneliness

lying

We know of the attitude which is needed, joy, and why we should joy...but we also need a way to conquer them. Why?

Think about the worst trial you are facing—-right now, no matter what it is.

Think about the worse temptation—the one that swarms you and overcomes you, leading you to sin…and answer this question; “How’s it going doing things your way, gritting your teeth, covering it up, trying to earn, sustain, or merit your way out of whatever it is. You need to know the truth—your way, your wisdom is futile…if you aren’t already worn out, you will be worn out…if you are not back in the same spot or worse, chances are you will be!

There is an escape, there is a way to overcome. There is a way to assure victory and deliverance—give you rest, give you peace, and give you hope…and it’s the subject of our passage today. (Note three points)

I. (v. 5-8) FIRST- Ask wisdom of God

James 1:5–8 NKJV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Wisdom: means far more than just knowledge—far more than being an intellect, about life or some area of life

Knowledge is essentially at its core, the grasping of facts—and most people have minds full of facts:

From schools

From all walks of trade:

Knowledge is very common in this world—but when dealing with trials and temptations, something more than a head full of facts is needed…wisdom…but not our wisdom:

But not our wisdom. Why?

Ask yourself, take an honest moment and ask yourself..in the middle of your trials/hardships/temptations, how’s it going doing things your strength and in your wisdom? The truth is our strength fades and wears out, our wisdom is finite and limited, and ultimately doing things in our strength and wisdom:

we lean into things which will never make us whole

we mask/cover/hide the struggle we are facing

we will ultimately find ourselves right back where we started or someplace of more bondage and struggle;

***(LOT)-His wisdom led him to compromise and pitch his tent too close to the city;

Enticed/tempted by greener pastures, his wisdom led him to leave the land where God and his family were

Despite having to be rescued, his wisdom led him to stay near Sodom and Gomorrah, eventually living in Sodom and Gomorrah

Genesis 13:10-“And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.

Genesis 19:1a-“Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom.” This carries the meaning that Lot served with the city elders, as this is where they conducted their business—which means he knew exactly what was happening in Sodom

Genesis 19:7-8-“…and said, “Please my brethren, do not do so wickedly! See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish…”

Lot’s wife turned to salt—(looked back at the sin/evil) Lot’s incestuous circumstance with his two daughters—the birth of the Moabites/Ammonites (lifelong enemies of Israel) Lot is never heard from again after Genesis 19

***(ABRAHAM/SARAH)-

***(DAVID and BATHSHEBA)

***(ME)—the flood story and the fallout; my wisdom resulted in three things:

hide-I hide it

handle-thought I could handle it

hindered-I became hindered and handled by addiction

***(YOU)—In YOUR own wisdom strength to battle trials/temptations you will inevitably

hide

be handled

be hindered But we must understand what biblical wisdom really means, b/c having knowledge

is not enough to overcome trials/temptations

is not enough to fight and combat against trials/temptations—you are no match for the enemy, nor the powers of hell.

What wisdom means biblically?

Wisdom:

Is not having a head full of facts

Is not only seeing and knowing about life, it is seeing and knowing what to do about life

Is not only seeing and knowing the truth, it is seeing and knowing what to do with the truth

Wisdom:

Grasps/sees trials and temptations that surround your lives, sees and grasps God and man, good and evil…but it doesn’t stop there

Not only grasps these facts, wisdom knows what to do about them, and does it…knows about trials and temptations, understands their purpose, knows what to do about them, and faces them…does something about it (Cattle vs. Buffalo)

Example of Truck and tool box

Wisdom acts, conquers, and gains the victory over trials and temptations

The Source of Wisdom

What/Who is the source of wisdom

The architect and author of wisdom is God

Proverbs 3:1-6 “My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

The greatest example of His wisdom and greatest benefit of His wisdom is seen in the cross—(remember wisdom not only knows/understands, wisdom does something about it…it acts)

God knew (God knows today your greatest trial is sin; not only does He know it and know what is has done (is doing) to you, He knew (knows) what to do about it; and not only does He know what to do about it—He did it

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

This is an oft quoted scripture which teaches us about Jesus’ joy in the greatest trial in history.

But a look at the next two verses reveals just how much He endured and the length Jesus was willing to go to save you

Hebrews 12:3-4 “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.”

God did the harder thing in sending His only begotten and beloved Son into a corrupt and sinful world; listen to what He endured (it’s not an exhaustive list and I am sure He endured more than is recorded)

Born to an unwed mother

Being born in a stable, the worst of conditions

Having his life threatened as a baby

Being the cause of unimaginable sorrow

Being moved and shifted as a baby

Being raised in a despicable place

His earthly father died during His youth

He had to support His mother, brothers, and sisters

Not having a home nor a place to lay His head down

Being hated and opposes by religionists

Being charged with insanity

Being charged with demon possession

Being opposed by His own family

Being hated, opposed, and mocked by the people He taught and spoke

Being betrayed by a close friend (Judas)

Left alone, forsaken, and abandoned by His friends at the cross

Being tried for treason

Being executed by crucifixion, the worst possible death

“My God My God, why have You forsaken me”—

In all of what God foreknew and all that Christ endured while on earth (culminating in His death and resurrection), He knew what to do, and He did it, for you.

Promises made to us when we ask God of wisdom

God will give us wisdom—His

God will give us a liberal amount, an abundance of wisdom (not just a dab here and there)

God will not reproach or rebuke us—nor scold us—for not knowing how to handle a trial/temptation

He doesn’t question us for lacking wisdom; God doesn’t sit on a throne and go, “Why don’t you know this,” or “Why are you asking me.”

Our responsibility in seeking out His wisdom (we must do something)

We must ask God for wisdom:

“Must ask”

we must never assume God will answer simply b/c He knows our needs before we ask

we must never walk in expectation that He will answer, “just b/c”

We MUST demonstrate our faith, our trust, and our belief in Him and His wisdom—in action of asking

John 5:6 “When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?””

“God”

we must never pray to anything or anyone else, other than God

not Mary

no angel

no apostle

in faith and not waver; (this is not faith saying we get everything we pray for and about)—it means

we believe God loves us and really cares for us—if you don’t believe He loves and cares for you—you will not ask in faith/ask at all

we cannot doubt; meaning we cannot ask of God and then

wonder if He’s really there

wonder if He is really going to hear us

wonder if we really know God well enough for Him to hear us

wonder if the request is the will of God

You and I must understand and grasp this truth: God cannot answer the prayer of a doubter; if He did, He would be rewarding doubt, rewarding those who do not trust and believe in Him. He would be rewarding those who:

ignore Him,

neglect Him,

question Him, and in many cases

curse, deny, or fight against Him

(***You cannot ask of God, complain to God, or inquire of God and expect Him to answer you if you are living in active sin & disobedience.***)

You and I must know what it means to waver; it’s the person who

Is just like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed back and forth

Shall not receive anything of the Lord. Why?

Wavers is a double-minded person—who is unstable in his/her ways—who’s behavior is unstable and unreliable, who has two minds:

he is not sure—he’s sure

he is uncertain—he’s certain

he feels yes—he feels no

he begins—then backs up

he believes—then disbelieves

he acts—then distrusts and backs up

he is unstable in his prayers and life with God

II. (v. 9-11) SECOND Rejoice in one’s status in life-regardless of your status in life (rich, poor, healthy, unhealthy, crippled or sound), we are to rejoice in the Lord.

James 1:9–11 NKJV

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

(Our perspective) Too often people who are lowly, view their status from the wrong perspective: they

allow their circumstances to dull, numb, or destroy, their spirit and joy in life.

become bitter against those who have more and seek to take some of they have

develop a sense of inferiority and inadequacy and take on a withdrawn/slavish type of behavior

***Truth is this is hard, it’s difficult not to look at your status at times in your life—but we have to struggle and fight against our flesh (sinful nature’s) desire to allow our circumstances to dull, numb, steal, or destroy our joy.

***Truth is, as a believer, we not to allow circumstances—no matter how terrible—to destroy his joy or make him bitter, angry, resentful, or inferior

***Remember, happiness is dependent on happenings, but joy is divinely given—it’s God owned and God given

2. (God’s perspective) The believer of a lowly status is to rejoice in the Lord

This does not mean to rejoice b/c of being poor/unhealthy/crippled

This means that regardless/despite circumstances, no matter how terrible…we rejoice in Christ

Think about the person Jesus goes after and saves:

He goes after the lowly, the sick, the downtrodden, those religion ignore and society casts out

He goes after them to save them and give them a spirit that is as strong as a king and prince, which is exactly what believers will be exalted to be

to give them strength and assurance to know that no matter what their status is on earth—their status in Christ is rich and eternal

3. The believer of a rich or high status is to rejoice in that he is made low by God…this means what?

A rich or high person is not accepted by God b/c of they have, what they own, or their high status in life

What matters to God is not:

your wealth

your status

your position

your title

the size of your house

What matters to God is what you say about Jesus Christ…(two questions we often ask people)

Who is Jesus Christ?—most can formulate an answer

How has He changed you?---this narrows the playing field

no amount of rich or high status can answer that question

A rich or high person must use all he has and is—all of his riches and influence—the help meed the desperate needs of the starving

Matthew 25:33-40 “And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

Matthew 25:41-46 ““Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.””

III.(v. 12) THIRD Remember the reward we have for persevering: A crown of life

James 1:12 NKJV

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Those who persevere and endure trials/temptation shall be “blessed”

The language here refers to this life; the here and now

“Blessed”—means inward/spiritual joy and satisfaction; an inner assurance and confidence, that

carries a person through the trials/temptations of life

***In persevering and enduring trials and tribulations we are given and gifted inward and spiritual joy and confidence in the now..we don’t have to wait until we’re in God’s presence to experience the gift of His divine joy and rest***

Those who persevere and endure trials/temptation receive the crown of life in the next world…what is this?

“The genetive of apposition”—life itself is the crown

Simply stated—The believer who endures/perseveres/conquers will be crowned with life itself—eternal life—the life that God provides, life that will

go on and on—in and for eternity

be void of sin, despair, sadness

be void of trials/temptations/hardships

be void of tears, addictions, and strongholds

be FULL of joy, peace, rest, and worship

Those who persevere and endure trials/temptations will be blessed and receive the crown of life, so long as they endure

We must confront them and triumph over them…with the spirit and mind of a conquer

with “diligence”-in the Greek language means

strenuously giving yourself to something

fully committing to an activity without concern for the cost

***We should be so diligent in our pursuit to conquer trials and temptations, that we should be willing to count whatever it is as loss, so long as we conquer them and triumph over them.***

Philippians 3:8-9 “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;”

4. Those who persevere and endure trials/temptations are those who love the Lord

If we truly love the Lord, our desire should be not to allow trials/temptations to overcome and hinder our walk, rather to endure and persevere against them

If we truly love the Lord, our desire should be to follow and obey the Lord

(WORSHIP TEAM)

Going back to the beginning of the lesson today, the question and challenge for us today is:

When it comes to trials/temptations, who’s wisdom are you seeking out, yours or the Lords?

We must know and understand that our wisdom (man’s wisdom) is not match for power of hell. We cannot overcome the enemy and we will never overcome the power of the enemy by any strength of our own.

We must know and understand that it’s God’s wisdom we must seek after and obey

Proverbs 4:5 “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.”

This verse means that the wisdom we need is not our own—that it needs to come from somewhere else, rather Someone else

The wisdom of this world is not the answer—it leads to death

The wisdom of religion is not the answer. Matthew 3:7 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

The wisdom of God is what IS needed. But again, like last week, to have and have access to God’s wisdom, one must be known by God, belong to God, and be in Christ