The Essential Attitude to Trials and Temptation Text: James 1:2-4 Introduction: The path of life is not an easy path to walk. It is filled with all kinds of trials and temptations, trials such as sickness, disease, accidents, disappointments, sorrows, suffering, and death; and temptations such as all seductions to sin and evil. What we need is a sure-fire way to conquer all the trials and temptations of life. This is the glorious message of this passage: there is a way to conquer and triumph in this life, no matter how severe the trial or temptation. What is the way? It is possessing a spirit of joy and perseverance as we face the trials and temptations of life. Outline: I. The fact: we will have many trials and temptations (v.2). II. The needed attitude: joy (v.2-4). III. The result: makes us perfect and entire (v.4). (2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (James 1:2) I. The fact: we will have many trials and temptations (v.2). The fact is certain—we will have many trials and temptations. The Greek word used for temptations or trials throughout James is peirasmos. It means to tempt; to try; to test; to prove. Throughout the Bible the word peirasmos and its various forms are used to refer to both the temptations and trials of life. But note that the word means far more than just to tempt; it means… · To test · To try · To prove That is, the temptations and trials of life are to prove us; they are for a beneficial purpose; they are permitted by God for a good purpose. What is that purpose? To make us stronger and more pure. · When we conquer temptation, we become a much more pure person—more holy, righteous, and just. · When we triumphantly go through the trials of life, we become a much stronger person –more steadfast, enduring, and persevering. · When we stand up against trials and temptations, we become a dynamic witness to all those who see us: we demonstrate the living presence and power of Christ—that He actually does live in our hearts and lives and is going to give us eternal life. As said, God allows temptations and trials for a good and beneficial purpose: to prove us—to make us much stronger and much more pure and righteous. God wants us to face the temptations and trials of life to conquer them, and by conquering them to become much more like Christ and to make Christ more fully known to the world. Note one other thing that James says: he says that we shall fall into all kinds of temptations and trials. The Greek scholar A.T. Robertson says, “It is the picture of being surrounded (peri) by trials”. The idea is that of many trials and temptations of all sorts and of all kinds. But we must always remember: no matter what the trial or temptation , it is for our good and for our benefit. It is to help us. It is to prove us—to make us stronger and much more pure and righteous—to make us much more dynamic witnesses for Christ. God allows trials and temptations to make us more and more like Jesus. (18) But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18) (17) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (2 Corinthians 4:17) (11) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:11) (11) Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (James 5:11) (14) But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; (15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:14-15) (14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. (1 Peter 4:14) (14) And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14) (10) But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10) II. The needed attitude: joy (v.2-4). (2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (3) 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. The needed attitude to face the trials and temptations of life is startling—it is joy. We are to face trial and temptation with a spirit of joy. How is this possible? How can a believer be joyful… · When facing such trials as disease, accidents, pain, sorrows, disappointments, suffering and death. · When facing the seductions of temptations? Joy is usually not what fills our heart when we face these things. When severe trials come our way, too often we despair and become discouraged and defeated. Most of us certainly do not joy. There is only one way to face trials and temptations with a spirit of joy: we have to switch our thinking; turn our attitudes about trials and temptations completely around. We have to quit thinking negatively and think positively. In the words of Scripture we must know something and we must do something. 1. We must know something: know the trials and temptations work patience (v.3). We must know what point one stressed: that trials and temptations are not to defeat and discourage us, but to prove us, to make us much stronger and more pure and righteous. The word “patience” (hupomonen) means to be steadfast; to persevere; to endure. The believer is to know that the trials and temptations of life will make him more steadfast, more persevering, and more enduring. They will make him much stronger, not weaker. They will make him strong just like Jesus and will give him a pure and righteous character just like Jesus. When the believer keeps this fact in mind, he can face trials and temptations much more positively. He can then begin to move toward the spirit of living joyfully in the face of trials and temptations. 2. We must do something: we must let patience work within us. As stated above, patience means to be steadfast, to persevere, and to endure. But it means more than this in the Greek. It means far more than just bearing and putting up with the trials and temptations. It means far more than just following the advice of medicine and psychology: to take it easy to be calm; to relax in stressful situations. It means far more than learning to deny the existence of trials and temptations. Patience means… · To persevere and keep on persevering, never giving in. · To take the initiative and to exert the energy and effort to conquer and to gain the victory and to triumph over the trial and temptation. Now note the point: how can we joy when a trial or temptation confronts us? By knowing that it will make us stronger and then by persevering against it and conquering it. By knowing that it is an opportunity to make us stronger and more pure just like Jesus and by using the trial or temptation to become a little stronger and a little more pure and righteous. When we look at trials and temptations as opportunities, then we will begin to face them in joy. And when we begin to persevere and conquer them, then we will begin to walk through them in the joy of the Lord. (13) 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) (18) For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18) (2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (James 1:2-3) (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 1:12) (8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8) (9) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (2 Peter 2:9) (10) Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10) (10) My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. (Proverbs 1:10) (14) Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. (Proverbs 4:14) (13) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Romans 6:13) (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13) (17) Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. (2 Peter 3:17) III. The result: makes us perfect and entire (v.4). (4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. The result of facing trials and temptations can be wonderful. A most wonderful thing happens when a person perseveres and conquers the trials and temptations of life. A person becomes more perfect (teleioi). The word does not mean perfect in the sense of becoming a perfect person. The word means perfection of purpose. It has to do with an end, an aim, a goal, a purpose. It means fit, mature, fully grown at a particular stage of growth. For example, a fully grown child is a perfect child; he has reached his childhood and achieved the purpose of childhood. It does not mean perfection of character, as in, being without sin. It is fitness, maturity for task and purpose. It is full development, maturity of godliness. This means at least two things. 1st. When a person stands against trials and temptations and conquers them… · He perfects the purpose God intended. That is, he becomes a stronger and more pure person—a person who is a little more like Jesus. · He perfects his task and purpose for being on earth a little bit more. God has a twofold purpose for every believer: to become more and more like Jesus and to do a specific task or job while on earth. When the believer perseveres against and conquers trials or temptations, he perfects both purposes a little bit more. He becomes more like Jesus and finishes his task a little more. 2nd. A person becomes more and more complete in all parts. The person becomes entire (holokerian), wholly fit, perfectly sound, complete with no weaknesses, flaws, defects, or shortcomings. This means a most wonderful thing. When a person perseveres and conquers trials or temptations… · He becomes more entire, more fit, more sound, and more complete. · He also eliminates more weaknesses, more flaws, more defects, and more shortcomings. Day by day—trial by trial and temptation by temptation—when a person perseveres and conquers, he becomes more and more entire he becomes stronger and more pure and righteous—more and more like the Lord Jesus. As the last two words of verse four say, “wanting nothing.” The believer who faces trials and temptations in the joy of Christ conquers all, and he lacks nothing. · He becomes more and more perfect, fulfilling his task and purpose for being on earth a little bit more. · He becomes more and more entire and fit, eliminating more and more weaknesses and shortcomings in his life. The person just lacks nothing. He wants for nothing. He has all the abundance and fullness of life. He walks through life conquering and triumphing over all the trials and temptations of life, no matter how severe and stressful. It may even be death, but he stands fast in his faith and conquers death. And God rewards him with an eternity of perfection, fitness, completion, and fulfillment—all forever and ever. The believer is conformed to the perfection of Jesus Christ. (20) And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (Romans 16:20) (48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48) (19) In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:19) (12) Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (Romans 12:12) (11) Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11) (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:12-13) (2) For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. (James 3:2) (12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12) (28) Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (Colossians 1:28) (1) Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (Hebrews 6:1) (36) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:36) (7) Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (James 5:7)
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 02:29:18 +0000
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