JAMES: PRACTICAL FAITH - Trials and Temptations (James 1:1-18) 4-27-25

JAMES: PRACTICAL FAITH - Trials and Temptations (James 1:1-18) 4-27-25

INTRODUCTION

New Series “James: Wisdom for Today”

James 1:1-18 NIV

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But 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. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For 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. Blessed 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. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. 

James‬ ‭1‬:‭1-18‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

I. TESTING

Dr. David Osborn at Denver Seminary says, "Too often we try to use God to change our circumstances, while He is using our circumstances to change us." 

Compass, April, 2003.

You see, God is right now in the process of making us like Christ. 

REFINING SAP TO MAPLE SYRUP

Think of the process of refining maple syrup. Maple trees are tapped with buckets hung under the taps, and out drips a sap which is thin and clear, like water. On a good day, 50 trees will yield 30-40 gallons of sap, but it is essentially useless at this point with only a hint of sweetness. 

Then as the buckets fill, they are emptied into large bins that sit over an open fire. The sap comes to a slow boil; and as it boils, its water content is reduced and its sugars are concentrated. Hours later, it has developed a rich flavor and golden-brown color, but it must be strained several times to remove impurities before being reheated, bottled, and graded for quality. In the end, those 30-40 gallons of sap are reduced to one gallon of pure, delicious maple syrup, which is far better than the cheap, imitation, colored sugar-water that passes for maple syrup in the grocery store. 

A.  Produces perseverance/maturity

“Fiery trials make golden Christians”

Charles H. Spurgeon

B.  Provides measurement for the crown of life

1.  Perseverance

2.  Practice of faithfulness

3.  Love of God

“Christians are like tea bags --- they always do their best when they get in hot water!”

Adaptation of Eleanor Rosevelt’s quotation: “A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water.”

II.  BEYOND NOT LACKING ANYTHING

2 Peter 1:3 NIV

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 

2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

Voltaire

A.  Wisdom to deal with all we now have

B.  Knowledge that God has granted you wisdom

C.  Our bounty is in our mature position.

1.  Blessing of finding security in what God has given us

2.  Danger of sufficiency in anything else i.e. wealth

III.  EXCUSES

A.  “I have too little.” 

James 1:9-11 NIV

“Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For 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.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1.  I'm not blessed.  

2.  Poor are blessed, not rich.

B. “Life is too hard.”

James 1:12 NIV

“Blessed 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.”

‭‭ James‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1.  Hard times make us stronger, not destroy us.

2.  Crown of life for those who love him.

C.  “It’s not my fault. God is tempting me.”

James 1:13-15 NIV

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

‭‭ James‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1.   God does not tempt us.

2. I am tempted by my own evil desire.

CONCLUSION

Warren Wiersbe writes, "Our values determine our evaluations. If we value comfort more than character, then trials will upset us. If we value the material and physical more than the spiritual, we will not be able to count it all joy! If we live only for the present and forget about the future, the trials will make us bitter, not better."

God has given us all the good stuff.  We are not lacking.  We are not forgotten.  We are blessed.

We are tried to bring us to maturity.  We are not tried so we might sin.

We are tested.  We don’t lack anything.  We cannot give in to excuses.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.