Jms 1.1-18
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INTRO
PRAYER
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MESSAGE
Testing in the Christian Life
Testing in the Christian Life
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Trials are for a purpose.
James
12 Tribes / Dispersion
maturity
Trials do not define you they only refine you!
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 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. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 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.
Trials are for your profit.
We realize what we lack in trial.
We focus our attention on God in trial.
We are encouraged in our eternal state in trial.
Trials are alloted so we can be reminded that we are not alone and refocus us on what is important.
Trials contain a promise.
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.
Blessed - enviable state of the steadfast believer
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 12: Hebrews through Revelation A. The Testing of Faith (1:2–12)
The word dokimos, which indicates that the man “has stood the test,” was used to describe the successful testing of precious metals and coins. It referred to the process of testing and also to the consequent approval of the tested object as genuine.
Trials are a chance for us to work out our faith as well as a means to re-affirm our salvation
Temptation in the Christian Life
Temptation in the Christian Life
The source of temptation.
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.
God is NOT tempting you
Romans 7:7–8 “7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.”
Satan is our adversary
1 Peter 5:8 “8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
God may allow temptation
Job 1:8 “8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?””
The subtlety of temptation.
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.
Our hearts are wicked
Jeremiah 17:9 “9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
our temptation comes in a sliding scale
do NOT be deceived !
The security through temptation.
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.
God is good
1 Corinthians 10:13 “13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
God does not change
We are victorious in Christ
CLOSE
Group Questions
Group Questions
How do unbelievers you know attempt to make it through painful circumstances? How have you persevered through such times in your life?
What qualifies as a trial? What about a temptation? How do trials test the genuineness of your faith?
If true faith endures to the end, how is this not a way of earning your salvation?
How should the need to persevere in faith affect the way we counsel those who have just recently professed Christ?
Explain how believing in God’s sovereignty through our trials is crucial to persevering faith.
List some ways painful circumstances and unanswered questions can actually strengthen your faith.
Since God is sovereign, does this mean we are not at fault when we give in to sin? Explain your answer.
How does Scripture counsel us to overcome sin’s attractions?
If someone no longer has an interest in being a Christian due to a trial, what should we conclude about that person’s faith? How would you counsel that person?
What role does knowing our final reward play in enduring trials?