Christian Life Church
June 7, 2023 - 7pm
The Book of James: Trials and Temptations Part One & Part 2
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Wednesday 6:30 PM
The Book of James: Trials and Temptations June 7, 2023
Part One
James 1:1-8
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
4 essentials to follow in the midst of trials
1. CONSIDER - a matter of perspective.
Consider that our outlook can determine our outcome.
Learn to trust the trial for they will inevitably come.
Value determines our evaluations. Consider what is being produced from your trial.
2. KNOW - a matter of understanding.
Know that our faith is always tested.
Know that the testing of our faith produces perseverance.
Know that God always tests our faith to bring out the best but, it is the enemy who tempts us to bring out the worst.
Know that perseverance produces character.
3. LET - a matter of the will.
God cannot build our character without our cooperation.
Let God finish His work.
Avoid resenting the trial and the dangerously easy trap of resenting the Lord when your faith is being tested.
4. ASK - a matter of the heart.
Make it a habit to pray for wisdom in the midst of trials and temptations.
Ask for wisdom so we will not waste the opportunities God is giving us to grow.
Ask in faith - not doubting.
· Contextually, James is likely saying this so we won’t stop praying and asking God for things while under trials, even if we don’t see the answer to prayer.
Ask with confidence, for God gives generously without finding fault.
In summary
We consider the profit.
Having considered, we know or have concluded it’s worthiness.
Now that we know, we let His will be done.
And now that we have subdued our will, we ask for wisdom in how to move forward.
The Book of James: Trials and Temptations
Part Two
James 1:9-12
“Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. 12Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
Christian Life Lessons
A. Trials and tests as a result of poverty or wealth.
To the poor: “take pride in [your] high position.”
In other words, take pride in your exalted status as a child of God.
To the rich: “take pride in [your] humiliation.”
A rich person must exercise self-abasement; which is “the belittling or humiliation of oneself.”
This self-denial of the rich believer is their way to participate in the total trust required by God.
B. Temptations as a result of money and ungodly societal pressures.
Such temptations are a tremendously powerful lure that can comprise our wholehearted commitment to the Lord.
Matthew 6:24 NIV “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
James 1:8 NLT “Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”
James 4:4 NIV “You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.”
We are to resist the lure of such temptations that would lead us into divided loyalties.
C. See your situation through the eyes of godly wisdom instead of this world’s wisdom.
Godly wisdom reminds us that our identity as sons and daughters of the living God is the measure of our ultimate significance.
Though life is full of varying experiences and contrasts of cards that have been dealt to us, we must see our situations in the light of wisdom gained from asking God.
D. God rewards the person who perseveres under trials and withstands the tests.
James gives us our confident hope:“The one who perseveres under trial because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
James reminds us of the power of love.“To those who love him.”
For it is the Christian who loves God, and who knows that God loves Him, that will not fall apart when God permits trials and testings to come.
Part One
James 1:1-8
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
4 essentials to follow in the midst of trials
1. CONSIDER - a matter of perspective.
Consider that our outlook can determine our outcome.
Learn to trust the trial for they will inevitably come.
Value determines our evaluations. Consider what is being produced from your trial.
2. KNOW - a matter of understanding.
Know that our faith is always tested.
Know that the testing of our faith produces perseverance.
Know that God always tests our faith to bring out the best but, it is the enemy who tempts us to bring out the worst.
Know that perseverance produces character.
3. LET - a matter of the will.
God cannot build our character without our cooperation.
Let God finish His work.
Avoid resenting the trial and the dangerously easy trap of resenting the Lord when your faith is being tested.
4. ASK - a matter of the heart.
Make it a habit to pray for wisdom in the midst of trials and temptations.
Ask for wisdom so we will not waste the opportunities God is giving us to grow.
Ask in faith - not doubting.
· Contextually, James is likely saying this so we won’t stop praying and asking God for things while under trials, even if we don’t see the answer to prayer.
Ask with confidence, for God gives generously without finding fault.
In summary
We consider the profit.
Having considered, we know or have concluded it’s worthiness.
Now that we know, we let His will be done.
And now that we have subdued our will, we ask for wisdom in how to move forward.
The Book of James: Trials and Temptations
Part Two
James 1:9-12
“Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. 12Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
Christian Life Lessons
A. Trials and tests as a result of poverty or wealth.
To the poor: “take pride in [your] high position.”
In other words, take pride in your exalted status as a child of God.
To the rich: “take pride in [your] humiliation.”
A rich person must exercise self-abasement; which is “the belittling or humiliation of oneself.”
This self-denial of the rich believer is their way to participate in the total trust required by God.
B. Temptations as a result of money and ungodly societal pressures.
Such temptations are a tremendously powerful lure that can comprise our wholehearted commitment to the Lord.
Matthew 6:24 NIV “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
James 1:8 NLT “Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”
James 4:4 NIV “You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.”
We are to resist the lure of such temptations that would lead us into divided loyalties.
C. See your situation through the eyes of godly wisdom instead of this world’s wisdom.
Godly wisdom reminds us that our identity as sons and daughters of the living God is the measure of our ultimate significance.
Though life is full of varying experiences and contrasts of cards that have been dealt to us, we must see our situations in the light of wisdom gained from asking God.
D. God rewards the person who perseveres under trials and withstands the tests.
James gives us our confident hope:“The one who perseveres under trial because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
James reminds us of the power of love.“To those who love him.”
For it is the Christian who loves God, and who knows that God loves Him, that will not fall apart when God permits trials and testings to come.