How to Deal with Trials and Temptations
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: (James 1:19)
INTRODUCTION
Refer to handout
This month we will study the Book of James
James 1
1. Trials and Temptations (Verses 1-12)
Greeting v 1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
Count it all joy v 2-4
Divers temptations or trials v 2
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Trying of your faith works patience v 3-4
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Lack wisdom-ask God in faith v 5-7
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Double minded man v 8
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Brother of low degree (humble circumstances) vs. the rich v 9-11
Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
Endure temptation v 12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
James begins with his greeting. His recipients are the Jewish believers from the twelve tribes of Israel. Due to the persecution of the Romans, these people were scattered.
James makes a strange statement in verse 2. He tells the scattered Jewish believers to “…count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” Why would he say this? The trying of our faith works patience. So God wants us to be patient while we are going through trials. He wants us to remember who is in charge. God knows what we are going through and wants us to rely on Him.
God does not leave us alone. He is willing to give us His wisdom, if we are willing to ask in faith, nothing wavering. Trouble is, that most times we try to deal with our trials in our own wisdom. It usually does not go well.
Then he deals with the “double minded man”. We are strange creatures. We have access to God’s wisdom, knowledge, love, mercy, and grace, yet we want have one foot in the world and one foot on God. Double minded. God wants all of us. The question is: do we want all of God?
Lastly, James tells his readers to endure temptation. When trials and temptations come, do we allow them to take over our lives or endure?
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
2. God does not tempt man (Verses 13-21)
How is man tempted? V 13-14
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
How are temptations conceived? V 15-16
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Where do good gifts come from? V 17-18
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
How do we concur our temptations? V 19-21
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Four vital questions, with four vital answers.
We are our own worst enemy when it comes to submitting to temptations. We are drawn away of our own lusts, then enticed, which leads to sin, and then death. If that were the end of James message, we would be in trouble.
But God, through James, gives us the solution. We should be slow to speak and eager to listen. Unfortunately, most of us are the opposite. We speak too much. Then, we are to lay aside our sin and apply God’s word to our lives. Obeying God is the best way to concur temptations and be I a right relationship with God.
Is that our desire?
3. Be doers of the Word (Verses 22-25)
Be doers of the Word v 22
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Not hearers only v 23-24
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
Be a doer and hearer of the Word and be blessed v 25
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
How do we perceive the Bible? In our minds is it just a great literary work, philosophical teaching, moral principles to live by, or is it the Word of God, living and powerful, able to save our souls from the wages of sin, death?
Here, James, tells us to be doers of God’s word. We must read, hear, and apply what we hear. From the book of Genesis through the book of Revelation, it is always people fulfilling God’s word. Some in obedience and some in disobedience.
Which one are we?
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
4. True religion (Verses 26-27)
The religious man v 26
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
Pure religion is… v27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Have you noticed yet, that James is making us think about what our faith means to us?
Do we seem to be religious? Do we bridle our tongue? Or do we keep ourselves unspotted from the world? Is our faith in Christ practical? Would a person who did not know us, sense that we are a believer in Christ?
Spend some time contemplating these questions.
CONCLUSION
Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations
Trying of your faith works patience
Lack wisdom, ask God without wavering
Endure
Be doers of the Word
Pure religion is: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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