We are going to continue our James study together.
We'll study chapter 1.
We're in James chapter 1.
So if you have your Bibles or your device or whatever,
! James chapter 1 is where we're at.
And let me pray before we get started.
Heavenly Father, I pray that you would give us insight
into what James has written in this letter.
Lord, I pray that you would teach us through these words
and through these verses.
Lord, may my preparation and study
and the things that you showed me translate.
I pray that I can explain that in a careful way
that honors you.
In Jesus' name, amen.
So the heading here in the ESV is testing of your faith,
starting with verse 2.
My section is starting with verse 13.
And so let's start reading there.
But we will reference this whole section of Scripture
because it really all works together.
So let's start with verse 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.
But each person is tempted
when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Then desire, when it has conceived,
gives birth to sin.
And sin, when it's fully grown,
brings forth death.
Do not be deceived,
my beloved brothers.
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.
Of his own will,
he brought us forth by the word of truth,
that we should be a kind of first fruits
of his creatures.
I want to start with a,
something that happened to me
this, about a week ago,
a little over a week ago.
And,
well, I guess it was last,
maybe like Wednesday,
something like that.
Anyway,
and
I went to Lowe's
and
what I needed,
so I had bought
a week ago Wednesday,
I bought a garage door opener.
And I thought that maybe we,
as a group of men,
knowledgeable,
very
astute men,
that we would put this in
at the,
at our house.
We moved recently
and,
and I thought they were going to help me do this.
We took a look at it
and Judah sort of poured,
poured it out,
Judah Powers did,
onto the ground
and we looked at all the pieces
and we said,
no,
I don't think we're going to do this.
And,
so,
I went to Lowe's
and they,
the guy,
I talked to the guy,
he says,
yes,
we can do this for you.
We can install it for you.
But what we have to do,
this is in the back of the store.
He said,
what we have to do
is we have to refund you
your money
from this
unit
and then you have to
buy it again
and then we can sign up
for the installation.
So,
I said,
well,
that's kind of weird
but let's do this.
let's go for it.
So,
we,
he takes a picture
of the UPC symbol
of the unit
that I bought
and we go to the front
of the store
and go
and,
to the counter
where you get help there
where you do returns
and there was standing,
I,
Patsy,
head cashier
is what it said.
That may or may not
be her name
just for protection.
Patsy
was,
so,
she,
so he gave her
the information
of what we needed to do
which was return this,
charge me again
for a new one
and then sign up the deal.
Well,
Patsy said,
okay,
put your,
she entered the information,
she said,
put your card
into the slot
that you used.
So,
I put it in,
she said,
nope,
you didn't use that card.
Well,
I know I used that card.
Absolutely.
And she said,
do you have another card?
And I said,
well,
yeah,
I have another card
but I'm pretty sure
I used that card.
So,
I put in the other card
and she said,
nope,
you didn't use that card either
and I'm like,
I don't have any other cards.
Let's see,
it was one of those two
and I'm pretty sure
it was that first one.
And she said,
nope,
that wasn't it.
So,
how about,
I said,
well,
can you look it up
on my phone number?
I've seen other things
from my phone number.
So,
she says,
okay.
So,
she puts in my phone number
and I'm sure
it's going to show up,
you know,
that my purchase will show up
so we can refund it.
She says,
nope,
it's not here.
And I said,
I've seen this list
because I was in doing a return
just like a few days earlier.
I've seen this
and I said,
I was here.
I was here last,
no,
you weren't.
She says,
I think maybe you need
to contact your bank.
I said,
contact my bank.
I was here.
I know I was like,
you're telling me something
that I know I did,
you know.
Well,
finally,
it,
of course,
got straightened out
and they found my receipt
and those kind of things.
But,
I want to use
this simple trial
and I'm going to refer back to it
but there is a simple format
here
that I want to use
as we discuss
trials and faith.
Basically,
what happens
is there is an issue.
The issue is
whatever befalls us,
it could be a diagnosis,
it could be a death
in the family,
it could be parenting,
it could be talking
to Patsy at accounting.
Whatever the issue is,
that's how this begins.
That's how a trial starts.
Then,
the second thing
is our response.
What do we do?
How do we deal
with that trial?
How do we think about it?
What is our answer
to the issue?
Sometimes,
it's a very quick answer
and we come right back
with whatever it is
that we decide to do
when the issue befalls us.
Sometimes,
our answer
actually goes
over years
of time
depending on
what
the trial is.
The third thing,
so there's the issue,
our response,
and then
an outcome.
How does it end?
What's the result?
What happens
as a result
of this trial
that has
befallen us?
Now,
the issue,
we really don't have
much control
over that,
do we?
In life,
things happen.
It comes at us
in every different way.
Our response,
do we have control
over our response?
We do.
We have control
from the very depths
of our heart
what kind of response
we will
present.
The third thing,
the outcome.
Who has control
of the outcome?
The Lord does.
The Lord's the one
that has control
over that.
If we
seek Him
and honor Him,
aren't there
many promises
that He'll take care
of us?
That in whatever
trial it is,
He will walk
with us in vain.
So the outcome
is up to the Lord.
The first thing
I want to talk about
is James'
encouragement.
And if we look
at this whole passage,
it all ties together.
And at the end,
I want to really
sort of,
I was telling Adam,
it's like a trash bag
when you have
the two little things
and you pull it tight
and it all comes tight.
That's what each
of these paragraphs
is sort of like.
It all comes together
and I'll explain
as we go.
But James gives
encouragement
in verse 2.
He says,
count it all joy.
Adam shared
a bit of a poem
two weeks ago
and one of the things
that hit me
a bit out of that
was joy
because of trials
are evidence
of God's love.
Like trials.
Trials are an evidence
of God's love.
Why?
This testing
produces steadfastness.
Hebrews 12, 11,
Adam brought out.
For the moment,
all discipline
seems painful
rather than pleasant,
but later it yields
the peaceful fruit
of righteousness
to those
who have been
trained by it.
Steadfastness
is endurance,
fruitful harvest,
patience,
ability to bear up
under difficulty.
That's what we want
to grow in.
Trials are going
to come
in all manner.
And so
we can count it joy
because God's
doing something
in it
and we know that.
So we can stand
on that initial principle.
Steadfast
also in wisdom
and perspective.
If you look
at the second
paragraph there,
verse 5,
if any of you
lacks wisdom,
let him ask God.
How do you get
through trials?
With wisdom.
From his wisdom.
Not our own.
We're not going
to come up
with the answers.
We're not going
to know how
to navigate
the trials of life.
God does.
The wisdom
that he gives
keeps us
steadfast in that.
And the third
thing is the
perspective.
Look at verse 9.
What's he talking
about there?
The flower,
the grass
will pass away
for the sun
rises,
scorching heat
and withers
the grass.
So also
will the rich
man fade away
in the midst
of his pursuits.
So now there's
perspective.
So we get
these encouragements
in the trial
that count it
joy because
God's working.
There is
wisdom to be
given.
And there's
a perspective.
The trial,
our lives
are short
and the trial
is even shorter.
It's shorter
than our life.
that one,
that last part
of that.
So the rich,
so the rich
man fade away
in the midst
of his pursuits.
Right in the
middle of the
things that he's
planning.
Right in the
middle of all
the plans,
all the things
that he thinks
he's going to
do.
Gone.
It's over.
It's good
perspective.
Verse 12.
This,
this whole
segment,
James kind of
talking to us
and he reminds
again in
verse 12,
blessed
of the man
who remains
steadfast under
trial.
Under trial.
The heading
of this whole
section in
my text,
ESV,
is testing
of your faith
and I really
couldn't think
of a better
sermon title
than testing
of our faith.
trial.
The trial does
that.
Well,
one thing
draws us
away in
particular
from steadfast
faith and
that's sin.
Sin is
part of our
potential response
to the trial.
That can be
part of the
mix and quite
often in some
way, shape, or
form, it is
part of the
mix.
Temptation
is the
pull to
respond out
of self.
So, if we
go back to
verse 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.
Let no one
say when he's
tempted, I am
being tempted
by God, for
God cannot be
tempted with
evil, and he
himself tempts
no one.
But each
person is
tempted when
he is lured
and enticed
by his own
desire.
In my
example, which
again, I want
to refer back
to, I was
tempted to be
snarky with
Patsy, I
will admit.
I wanted to
give her my
thoughts and
let her know
how she was
wrong.
I was tempted
to get mad
at her for
accusing me of
things that
didn't make
sense, right?
Like literally
telling me I
was not
there.
I was there.
I know I
was there.
But for a
second, I was
like, I don't
know.
Maybe I know.
Yes, no, I
know I was
there.
But immediately
that trial starts
to bring it up
and the
temptations
start to fly.
way.
And there's
you ever see, I
was thinking of
a movie,
Christmas story.
You know how
Ralphie, he
goes back into
his mind and
like he sort
of starts to
space off and
sees this whole
thing transpire
and then say,
Ralphie, Ralphie,
you know, and he
comes back to
where he was.
That's kind of
what we do in a
moment's notice
there.
We start to
travel through
all of the
options that
we can carry
out.
So when the
trial or the
issue is
presented,
immediately your
mind starts going
through all the
things that you
can do and
discarding the
things that
really wouldn't
be good.
Because those
come up too.
All of these
things.
The heart,
who brought it
up this morning
already, the
heart is
desperately
wicked, right?
And so these
things are
going to come
up in our
dealings with
other people.
Well, plenty
of those things
came up.
Let's look at
the progression.
13 through 15
gives us a
progression that
starts with
actually 14.
But each person
is tempted when
he is lured
and enticed.
So first is
the lured
and enticed
by our
own desire.
desire.
It's important
that we get
the pieces
of this
correct to
see the
etymology of
sin, where
all this comes
from.
Desire is a
person's
passions or
wants.
The things
that we think
that we need
or that we
must have
in whatever
capacity.
This desire
is already
on board.
It's in our
flesh.
we were
born with
it.
We were
born with
a desire
to serve
ourselves
in some
way.
1 John
chapter 2
verses 15
through 17
says,
Do not love
the world
or the things
in the world.
If anyone
loves the
world,
the love
of the
Father
is not
in him.
For all
that is
in the
world,
the desires
of the
flesh
and the
desires
of the
eyes
and pride
of life
is not
from the
Father,
but it's
from the
world.
And the
world is
passing away
with its
desires.
There's our
perspective again.
It's all
like the
grass.
It gets
burned up.
It's passing
away.
But whoever
does the
will of God
abides
forever.
Great
perspective
again with
this thought.
Desire in
this context
of selfishness
is not
from the
Father.
We're not
talking about
like spiritual
from the
spirit sort
of desires.
We're talking
about desire
that's from
us, that
starts from
within.
And these
desires are
passing away.
And for
now, they
lure and
entice.
Lure is
being drawn
out of a
right place.
And in
my example,
being out
of place
is some
of the
things that
I started
thinking about.
Being out
of my
rightful
place, I'm
a customer,
you know,
coming up.
Being out
of my
rightful
place, I
started to
think of
things like
I want to
put Patsy
in her
place.
Maybe even
deeper, I
want to
make Patsy
realize that
she is
wrong.
I want
this, you
know, that's
inside.
And maybe
even a
little Patsy
should apologize
and be a
good employee.
Head cashier
is what her
card said.
How is
this, you
know.
But these
things roll
through my
mind.
And I
discard them.
I must
discard these
desires,
right?
Because I
think about
the easy
outcomes of
some of
that, and
it's no
good.
It's no
good.
Walking in
the Spirit,
we walk in
a right
place, and
we're not
lured out
of where we
should be.
When we
walk with
the Spirit,
we're with
Him, and
the luring is
getting away
from that
right place
of where we
should be
in the
Spirit.
Desire
will lure
us out of
that place.
Entice is
the second
one.
Lured and
enticed.
And these
are very
similar words.
Even when
you dig into
them, they're
very similar.
But entice
is a little
different.
It's being
baited.
There's a
bait there.
And desire
sees something
that it
wants or
that it
wants to
deal with.
And it's
easy.
This is why
I use this
example.
God was
gracious to
give me
this example
with Betsy.
But in
my example,
the way that
she accused
me.
Have you
ever been
accused of
something that
you didn't
do?
And you
know you
didn't do
it?
That's sort
of a button,
isn't it?
When someone
pushes on that
button, it
sort of gets
you dander
going.
And it did
me.
looking over
her glasses
at me,
you know,
like I
had no
awareness of
my comings
and goings.
You know,
like these
are things
that it
was bait
to me.
Maybe you
guys are a
lot better
than me,
but it
was bait.
I wanted
to get
angry with
this.
Well,
in all
two common
scenarios,
the bait
looks
different.
We even
use a
term,
clickbait,
right?
What is
that?
It's
something,
I think
I'm going
to get
something
that I
want,
something
that my
heart is
desiring
for some
reason.
And so
I click
on it
to go
there.
Pictures,
stories,
they all
call to
that desire
in our
heart that
cannot,
must not
be answered
in that
way.
Well,
these desires,
they are
in me.
Outside
influences,
temptations,
engaging
with these
evil desires
that are
already
there.
To stop
this
progression,
I have
to recognize
my desires.
I have
to confess
them.
Now,
here's
where we
have to be
particular
with words
because
temptation
and the
desires
themselves,
the things
that flash
in front
of my
mind
are not
necessarily
sin.
Temptation
in and of
itself is
outside of
me.
It's not
sin.
And so,
nonetheless,
when I
realize,
standing there,
that I want
to get angry,
I need to
confess that
right away.
Lord,
I don't want
to get angry.
I don't
want this
to happen.
I'm sorry
for wanting
to go down
that track
in the first
place and
confess that,
even just how
I'm feeling
in that
moment.
Maybe
haven't even
got to
that place
yet.
But,
before it
actually gets
conceived,
I want to
deal with it.
It looks like
just a prayer
of thankfulness.
Lord,
I'm sorry
for wanting
to click
on that
picture,
but thank
you for
your grace
and your
strength
to resist
the devil
in this
moment.
Stand on
faith
that has
been tested
and has
produced
steadfastness
in Christ.
In those
moments,
that's what
we do.
We've already
walked that
walk,
and we've
seen
steadfastness
grow.
Stand in
that faith.
Second in
the progression,
look at
verse 15.
So,
we're lured
and enticed
by our own
desire,
then desire,
when it
has conceived,
gives birth
to sin.
Unchecked
desire,
combined
with opportunity,
conceives sin.
So,
I wrestled
with this
so that we
have a
picture here.
We have
an illustration
of conception,
birth,
growth,
and death.
So,
it's sort
of a
life cycle,
isn't it?
And so,
I thought,
well,
I camped
here for a
while on
the conception
part.
Well,
generally,
we have
two things
that work
together to
conceive.
Well,
what are we
talking about
here?
And we
have the
desire on
board,
and when
that desire
meets an
opportunity,
then sin
is conceived.
Then we
have
unchecked,
unrebuked
desire
makes a
way for
opportunity.
And we
find it,
and we
see it,
and it
presents,
and it's
part of
the
bait.
And these
things come
together,
and then
that's
when we
sin.
Unrebuked
desire.
When we
don't arrest
it,
when we
don't confess
it,
when we
don't turn
to God,
when it
shows up,
then it
is unrebuked,
and then it
runs rampant,
and then it
does what it
wants to
do.
And the
more it
grows,
the more
we say
within,
how can
I find
a way
to exercise
this desire?
How can
I make
an opportunity?
I need
the opportunity
with that
desire for
sin to
conceive.
Proverbs
110 says,
My son,
if sinners
entice you,
do not
consent.
And a
little later
on,
verse 16,
he says,
for their
feet run
to evil.
They plan,
they find,
they make
that opportunity
to carry
out what
they want
to do,
and that
can be
our
structure
as well.
They're
quick to
find and
run to
evil,
the mind
that is
left to
itself,
the debased
mind,
that I
look around
this room
and I
know your
testimonies
and I've
heard of
your
testimonies,
and we're
believers,
confess that
we believe
and trust
in Christ,
but there
are people,
Romans 1
talks about,
that God
gives them
over to
this debased
mind,
this mind
that only
pursues its
desires and
nothing else.
And we know
from the next
part of
verse 15,
where does it
lead?
To death.
It leads
to death.
Eternal
death.
So we
must put
to death
both sides
of this
equation
that
conceives
sin.
Deal
swiftly
with
desire
and
say it
out loud.
Tell
somebody
else.
Share it
on the
box line.
Talk to
another
believer.
Avoid
opportunity
and sacrifice
the wicked
plans.
Let me
give you
an example.
On lots
of occasions
in life,
we find
that maybe
we need
to be
more careful
with the
budget.
And what
is generally
the first
thing to go,
one of the
first things,
there's maybe
many,
but one
thing that
goes first
a lot of
times is
eating out.
And because
that just
takes a lot
of money,
and if you're
watching the
budget,
that's kind
of the thing
that needs
to go.
Because
it's an
easy fix.
So what
happens,
though,
at 630
in the
evening,
when everyone's
looking at
each other
and nothing's
taken out of
the freezer,
and you're
thinking about
the chips and
salsa at the
Mexican place,
you know,
all of a sudden,
now we're going
to eat out.
Well,
was that
planned?
Did we
maybe forget
to take the
such and such
out of the
freezer so we
could have
dinner tonight?
Did we
maybe make
a little
opportunity
there to
break our
budget?
Probably,
right?
Because we're
smart and we
do these
things and
we're smarter
than our own
good,
probably,
truth be
told,
a lot of
times.
But that's
just a simple
example,
but it plays
out in all
kinds of
scenarios.
When our
desire wants
to draw
us into
sinful
thoughts,
sinful
actions,
we'll find
a way a
lot of
times.
Think about
areas and
scenarios like
gossip,
lust,
anger,
unforgiveness,
selfishness,
conceit.
These are all
ways that if
we want to
do these
things,
we'll find
a way.
We'll find
a way.
We'll get
upset with
somebody.
We'll be
too sensitive
over something
or other.
And we'll
find a way.
When desire
rules,
opportunities
are found
and sin
follows.
So the
third thing
in the
progression
is sin
grows.
So it's
conceived,
it's born,
and then it
grows.
And when
it becomes
fully grown,
it leads to
death.
But sin
begins by
being,
quote,
born in
this
illustration.
And so
in other
words,
it's young.
It's
fresh,
if you
will.
And at
that time,
it's easy
to see
against the
backdrop of
a righteous
life.
So if
you're just
moving through
life and
then all
of a sudden
desires or
temptation and
you give
in, when
that doesn't
normally
exist,
it's easy
to see.
If I put
a giant
purple spot
on this,
is this
grayish?
On this
grayish wall,
it's easy to
see because
it stands
out.
If I've
got 50
purple spots,
all of a
sudden that
first one
doesn't stand
out so much
anymore.
when it's
young,
don't let
it go any
further.
Confess,
repent.
That's when
it should be
put to death,
right then,
because we
know the
outcome.
God tells
us the
outcome is
death.
Otherwise,
sin as it
grows gets
more invasive
and it's
evil.
Allowing it
to grow,
there's a
few things
that if
we're going
to allow
the sin
to grow,
which is a
bad thing.
We don't
want to do
that, but
when we
do, the
first thing
that we do
is we
protect it.
So the
desire and
opportunity
says, this
is what I
want.
I'm not
going to
change my
mind.
I'm going
to keep
seeking this
particular sin.
So the
first thing I
do is I
protect it.
And I
don't let
anybody else
in.
I don't let
anyone tell
me it's
wrong.
I don't
let the
very words
of God
tell me
it's wrong.
I'm going
to protect
that sin
and just
keep putting
layers over
it as time
goes to
where it
just tends
to get
deeper and
more a part
of who I
am.
The second
thing, if
you're going
to, if
this sin
grows, you
have to
feed it.
And the
feeding is
continuing to
go back.
Like you
think about
long-term
unforgiveness
maybe.
When you
have trouble
forgiving
somebody.
Every time
they do
something that
you don't
like or
the way
they say
something, it
just feeds
that unforgiveness
and allows
that sin to
exist and
go further
and further.
the third
thing for
believers
is a
self-deception.
A self-deception
that somehow
is okay
and somehow
I'm right.
And there's
a deception
that can take
scripture and
distort it
into saying
this is
right.
I stand
in a right
place.
That person's
wrong.
I'm right
and I
technically
deceive myself
into thinking
this.
Like a
tree, it
sets in
roots and
grows.
And if it's
not confessed
and repented,
it will just
continue to
get bigger
and the
roots deeper.
Sin earns
death.
Romans 6
23, the
wages of
sin is
death.
But the
gift of
God is
eternal
life in
Jesus
Christ our
Lord.
Death,
eternal
destruction
is at
the end
of a
life of
sin.
Well,
desire
tells us
a few
lies.
There's a
few lies
that that
desire
that's
within
us
tells us.
Number
one,
it tells
us that
what I
want
is good.
that
desire
inside
says what
I want
is good.
And
from my
standpoint,
it says
this would
be beneficial
to me.
Whatever
that might
be.
In my
example,
standing
there with
Patsy,
I said
in
some of
these
scenarios,
right,
I said
something
in my
mind like
I don't
want to
feel
disregarded
and
disrespected.
Well,
now,
that's a
common
thing,
right?
But that
should not
drive a
desire to
be mean
to Patsy
or not
compassionate
to Patsy.
It's a
lie.
Second
thing,
I should
have what
I want.
What I
want is
good,
and I
should have
what I
want.
And my
flesh thinks
it should
get what
it wants.
And that's
the point
at which
maybe you
steamroll
people or
you make
decisions you
shouldn't
make because
I should
have what
I want.
And you
hear the
selfishness
in that.
You hear
the selfishness
in that
sort of
desire
lie.
In my
example,
Patsy
should not
act this
way.
I'm
important.
I should
get what
I want.
And Patsy
should comply
with my
reality.
She's trying
to tell me
something,
but she
should go
with me.
She should
comply with
me.
That's what
I want.
A third
lie is it
is right
that I
get what
I want.
It is
right.
I have
justified
my desire.
Somehow,
in those
times,
I twist
truth
into
accommodating
my own
sense of
justice.
In other
words,
I take
God's
spot and
I say,
I'm going
to decide
what's
right here.
I'm going
to disregard
what God
says,
how I
should react
to Patsy,
and I'm
going to
say Patsy
should pay
for what
she's done
here.
Somehow,
right?
Maybe I
talked to
her manager.
I don't
know.
Patsy
should pay.
It sounds
crazy,
but come
on.
This is
how we
think,
isn't
it?
My own
sense of
justice.
It's
right that
I get
what I
want.
Fourth
lie is
God is
being good
to me
when I
get what
I want.
Now,
that's
really
twisted
because it
leads into
all kinds
of troubles,
like a
phrase like,
I'm blessed
when I
get what
my desire
says it
needs.
That is
so twisted
and distorted.
In my
desire,
my example,
desire may
say,
I should
not have been
spoken to by
Patsy that
way,
and if I
set her
right,
maybe she'll
be a better
employee down
the line.
Isn't that
righteous of
me?
Isn't that
good?
I'm
bringing
about
God's
plan.
No,
I'm
not.
In that
example,
I would
have just
twisted
God's
word for
my own
use.
And then
I've
defined
good,
and it's
not God's
definition
of good
because it
came from
me.
And I
am not
the giver
of gifts.
I am
not the
good,
gracious
giver
of gifts.
Look at
verse 16.
Look at
the first
words.
He says,
do not
be deceived.
Do not
be deceived.
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.
Do not
be deceived
about what?
About the
fact that
God
gives good
gifts.
That the
fact that
I'm standing
there with
Patsy,
sorting
this in
my mind,
this trial,
this issue
is actually
a good
gift from
God.
And I,
at this
moment,
get to
exercise
faith as
I deal
with this
individual.
And I
get to
exercise
God's
truth in
compassion
and love
and mercy
for this
woman who
doesn't
understand
her
software.
her.
Right?
She's
struggling
with it.
I can
give her
space
there.
And that's
a good
gift.
That's a
good gift
that God
gave me
in that
small
trial,
in that
moment.
James
reminds his
dispersion
readers that
good and
perfect gifts
are from
our Father.
And remember,
he doesn't
tempt us
and cannot
be tempted
by evil.
So,
he doesn't
give any
bad gifts.
How do
you tell
when you're
leaning on
your own
idea of a
good gift?
Well,
is your
idea of a
good gift,
is it
scriptural?
Do others
agree that
it's
scriptural?
Does the
spirit agree?
this is
the wicket
you have
to run
that
through.
Trials
give us
these
opportunities.
And I
think that's
one of the
things that
as you
escalate the
trial,
it's harder
to believe
that.
It's harder
because as
the trial
escalates,
as the
difficulty
in life
escalates,
it's the
same,
God's
saying,
the same
thing to
us here.
That there
is an
issue,
that there
is a
response,
and there
is an
outcome.
Will we
trust him
in it?
Will we
find joy
in it?
Will we
trust that
even the
difficult
ones,
the most
difficult
ones you
can think
of,
can be
a gift
from God
that he
uses in
our life?
Count it
all joy
when you
meet
trials?
Because God
gives those
good gifts.
Well,
this is not
just a moment
like standing
there with
Patsy.
It's not
just a
moment in
a string
of bad
things.
sometimes
we kind
of look
at one
issue
after another
and think,
man,
it's just
like a
bad day
or a
bad week
or things
are doing
just giving
me all
kinds of
trouble.
But this
is really
a heavenly
father giving
loving
tests
of sorts.
And
without
these type
of things,
how do
we grow?
Without
these trials,
without the
things that
press us
into having
to make
decisions to
honor the
Lord,
how do
we grow?
As
partners,
we intentionally
bring about
these moments
in a way.
We
speak to
one another.
Open
hearts,
open home,
open schedule,
right?
Well,
when we do
that,
we're
automatically
opening
ourselves up
to the
potential
of what
might be
a trial
because of
what somebody
says.
But we
do that
on purpose
because we
know that
good gifts
come from
that and
growth comes
from that.
Count it
all joy
in these
trials of
all kinds.
We get
into each
other's
lives,
ask the
questions,
talk about
the areas
of sin
and where
desire is
trying to
get a
foothold
into
our
life.
And
before
we
give
it
opportunity,
we
end it
right
there.
So do
not be
deceived.
God
does not
change
or vary
in his
word.
He
loves
us
and
provides
good
and
perfect
gifts
to
us.
And
he
wants
us
to
exist
and
bring
glory
to
himself.
That
last
part
there
of
18.
Of
his
own
will,
he
brought
us
forth
by
the
word
of
truth.
It
was
his
will.
He
loves
us.
He
loves
us.
He
made
us a
new
creation
to
open
our
eyes
through
faith
in
Christ.
Well,
let me
now
cinch
this
kitchen
trash
bag
together.
Right?
And
pull
these,
look at
these
paragraphs.
And
just
quick
bullet
points,
but think
of it
in a
big
idea
here
that
James
is
saying.
He
says
to
this
group,
trials
are
upon
you.
Trials
are
now
upon
you,
but take
joy
because
God
works
in
them
and
produces
steadfastness.
And
by the
way,
we don't
navigate
these
trials
alone.
We
don't
do it
alone.
Wisdom
is
required
and God's
going to
give
freely
to you
when you
ask in
faith.
And
remember,
guys,
life is
short,
but these
trials are
shorter.
they
don't
go on
forever.
And
the
Lord's
going to
take
care
of
you.
And
blessed
are
you
who
remain
steadfast
in
these
trials.
You'll
be
blessed.
And
the
way to
remain
steadfast
is to
put the
desires
of the
flesh
to
death.
Don't
be
deceived.
Don't
exchange
truth
for a
lie
in the
desires.
Don't
get
twisted
on that.
Don't
exchange
this
something
bad for
God's
good
gift.
Because
he gives
you these
good
gifts,
and
the
trial
itself
is a
good
gift
for
you.
Let's
pray.