James Series - Humility, Trials and Temptation, and Goodness

 

Humility, Trials and Temptation, and Goodness

James 1:9-16

Every fall I have to get rid of dying flowers around the outside of the house. They have been beautiful since spring and bring joy to my wife, I, and others, from the smallest to the largest. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven… A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted.” (3:1,2b) In God, there is equality and humility in every plant of His creation, no matter what the size, shape or color. He is a good, good, God.

So let's delve into the first portion of the text for this lesson. “Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.”

James uses the analogy of plants in describing the humility and the value of the smallest to the greatest. For our value is seen in the eyes of God. For in the church in Jerusalem, there were the poor and the rich, the simple and the elegant. But in God’s eyes all are equal in standing and both were to be honored and humble. Also in the days of the early church, there were great trials and needs. James knew that all that God was bringing into the church was of value, but not everyone saw through God’s eyes. Many treated the affluent differently than the poor because of the measuring system of value in the world. God measures in humility. Jesus told a parable of a Pharisee and a tax collector who both prayed to God, it was the humble who were heard and exalted and accepted by God, and the proud would be humbled because they trusted in themselves because of their self-righteousness. (Luke 18:9-14) 

Application - There is much to be said for those who understand the concept of humility according to God’s standard. God’s standard is seen in His Son, Jesus Christ. As Paul stated in his letter to the Philipians, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:5-8)

We like the flowers and all of creation were called good at the beginning, God created mankind and they were precious and honored in His sight, and steadfastly loved. “Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,” (Isa. 43:4) God created everything to be good and to be humble. It is through Christ that we are reconciled and restored in His favor from our sinful nature to a new nature, a Christ-like nature. So we no longer live in pride, selfish-rebellion and selfish-ambition, but to grow in the humility of Christ-likeness. For the world serves a different master, who segregates and divides along the value of money and prestige. We are to serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As he said “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.” and “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”(Matt. 6:24; 25:40) 

So let us put on humility as God’s word exhorts us to do, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” (Col.3:12-14)

Next, James addressed the issues of trials and temptations in the lives of the church body. “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.  Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”

James’ exhortation to the church on the blessing of God comes to those who patiently endure the testing of their faiths. As he wrote in the beginning of the letter, they will face trials of various kinds, some mild, others fiery and severe. But in all of them, they were to endure the testing of the genuineness of their faith, to produce the steadfastness of a godly life in Christ Jesus. James mentions a crown of life as did Paul and Peter of other crowns as a reward in heaven: the Crown of Life (James 1:12; the Incorruptible Crown (1 Cor 9:25); the Crown of Righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8); the Crown of Glory (1 Pet. 5:4); and the Crown of Exultation (1 Thes. 2:19, Phil.4:1) These crowns were not for just enduring the pain of the trial but the patient quality of a godly spirit who through the fire increases in depth of their love and trust in God. 

But there were some who struggled in the desires of the flesh and attributed the trial to God tempting them. James addressed the attractiveness of the temptations of the devil and of the flesh. He begins by admonishing the believers that God doesn’t tempt anyone, this is an act of the will of the heart and the rebellious human nature. Temptation and the tempter do not have the best intentions for the soul of mankind. They literally drag you away from the presence of God and His will, only to do as the sinful nature desires. He appeals to the senses and to the carnal nature for power, pleasure, and pride. “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.”  (1 Jn. 2:16)  James understood the draw of temptation from dealing with religious leaders and the gentile world. One example that James, Paul, John, and Peter dealt with were false teachers, false prophets, and false apostles. Scripture is clear on those who falsely desire power, and especially in the church. They loved to have the power, swelled with pride, selfish-ambition, and self-aggrandizement. Scripture said that to test everything by the Word of God. Three pieces of evidence from God’s Word pertaining to apostleship were: The requirement to be an apostle was to have seen and experienced life with Jesus during his ministry, his death on the cross, and His resurrection and ascension.  “Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” Acts 1:21-22 

Second, Paul proclaims that he was the last apostle. “Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” (1 Cor. 15:7-9 NIV) 

And third was the testimony of John the Apostle in the Revelation of the New Jerusalem. “The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” (Rev. 21:14 NIV)

James finishes this portion of the text with the outcome of giving into the temptations that face mankind. It is death. He states temptation didn’t start in its full grown nature, but gradually grew from being born in the spirit of sinful flesh and in the heart of mankind, then the person had to feed it, nourish it, and want its fullness in their lives, and when it came to full growth it brought death.

Application - I have wrestled with what I see in these last days before Christ’s coming for his Church, the bride of Christ. The apostles that Jesus called completed the work that He gave them to do. As Paul stated, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:6-8) The apostles gave the church the gospel accounts, which have been proclaimed for two thousand years to billions of people. They gave us God’s counsel, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge through the Holy Spirit inspired letters that we call the New Testament. It was declared completed by the early church fathers who had first-hand knowledge and testimony from the apostles. The gift of apostleship mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 is completed and we have the evidence in our hands and our lives as we strive to live by the Word of God given to us by them.

As to temptation invading the mind, God gives us a way out of every temptation that comes from the Tempter, Satan. We take every thought and make it obedient to Jesus Christ. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2 Cor. 10:4-6) But if we let the desires of the sinful nature and flesh allure us to do the things that God said “No” to, then we let the Tempter plant his seeds of temptation into our hearts and minds, and if we let them flourish and be nurtured by our human desires, we bring upon ourselves death, and the separation from God blessings and presence.

But to those who overcome temptation we will be victorious and receive the crown of life, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

Last, James addresses deception from the devil and the opposite of the goodness of God. Let’s read the last portion of the text, “So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.”

Jesus told his disciples and all who had ears to hear that deception would attack the church from within and without, and temptation was just a device used by the devil to allure people into His schemes that led to death.

James wanted the church to also know the opposite of the devil’s way is the goodness of God the Father. He continued in exhorting the gospel of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who lived, died for the redemption of mankind by his atoning blood on the cross, His resurrection from the grave on the third day, and His ascension into heaven to be at the right side of the Father throne in the kingdom of heaven. James knew Jesus’ teachings on the gift of grace in salvation through his atoning work on the cross. He also knew the gifts for service to the church through the writings of Paul. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” (Rom. 12:6-8)

James declared that the goodness of God and the perfect gifts come from God’s throne room, from the throne room of inexhaustible brilliant light, brighter than lightning, and of all the lights of heaven. For God is the source of light from the beginning and throughout eternity. The Light of God doesn’t cast a shifting shadow, but illuminates His glorious presence and creation. It was in this light that he gave us birth in Christ, His true Word. And not only did he give us birth in Christ, we are his prized creation and possession.

Application - I have already written extensively on the deception we see today. As Jesus said the first sign of the last days was deception, and it has increased and is proliferated into all areas of the world and life. But we aren’t of the world, though we live in the world as Jesus said, “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” (John 17:13-19)

Now God is good all the time, and all the time God is good. In God’s goodness he gave us His Holy Spirit. And with the Holy Spirit comes the gifts for the church that we can be equipped to do the work of God. 

We are given the gifts to edify the church. We give thanks to God for the gifts which come down from Heaven’s throne. The Holy Spirit determines the gifts and the uses of the gifts. “It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” (1 Cor. 12:11)

It is in the context of the text, that we are to give thanks to the Father for his bountiful gifts. He loves us with a steadfast love, and it doesn’t change. It isn’t a shadow that moves, enlarges or contracts. It is a constant, like our God’s light and His Word. We are a blessed people for he has given us His Word that is a light to us. “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Ps. 119:105) We are blessed with the immutable, infallible, inherent Word of God. What a good and perfect gift. And we who were created in likeness of God are a prized and blessed people. He is our God and we are His people.

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I have revised my webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today. Thank you http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com