The faith that works will not deceive itself when it comes to the true source of temptation...

This week, we have been looking at a section of a letter that was written by the half-brother of Jesus that is recorded for us in the Bible called the book of James. So far this week, we have discovered a timeless and true principle when it comes to the faith that works in that the faith that works recognizes the true source of temptation. In James 1:13-18, we have seen James reveal for us the reality that the faith that works recognizes that temptation does not come from God. Temptation does not come from God because God is incapable of being tempted. And temptation does not come from God because God does not tempt others to rebel against Him.

In addition, James revealed for us the reality that the faith that works recognizes that temptation comes from our selfish desires. It is our selfish desires that drag us away from God. It is our selfish desires arouse within us a desire for something that is forbidden by God. And as these selfish desires cause sin to come into being in our lives, and as sin runs its course in our lives as we act on those selfish desires, the result is separation from God.

Instead of trying to manage our sin; instead of trying to tame those selfish desires within our lives, we need to kill that sin; we need to kill those selfish desires within us. We need to kill those selfish desires because those selfish desires are the true source of temptation. We need to kill those selfish desires because those selfish desires give birth to acts of selfishness and rebellion against God and others. We need to kill those selfish desires because those selfish desires produce selfishness and rebellion that separate us from God.

But not only does the faith that works recognize that temptation does not come from God. Not only does the faith that works recognize that temptation comes from our own selfish desires. Today, we will see James reveal for us a third way that the faith that works recognizes the true source of temptation in James 1:16-18. Let’s look at it together:

 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

Now to fully understand what James is communicating here, we fist need to understand a few things. First, when James commands followers of Jesus throughout history to “Do not be deceived” this command refers to being mistaken in one’s own judgment so as to deceive oneself.

So this command, if communicated in the language we use in our culture today, would have sounded something like this: My fellow followers of Jesus whom I love, make no mistake in your thinking so as to deceive yourself. And it is here that we see James reveal for us the reality that the faith that works will not deceive itself into thinking otherwise when it comes to the true source of temptation. 

James then corrects their possible mistake in judgment in verse 17 by explaining that “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above,” In other words, every good thing that we are given that is of a high standard of quality, every gift that we have received that is perfect, has its ultimate source in God. James is revealing for us the reality that God is our perfect provider.

James then paints a powerful word picture about the nature and character of God as our perfect provider: “coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” When James uses the phrase coming down from the Father of lights, this phrase refers to God as “the Father, or Creator, of the Heavenly bodies”. This phrase refers to God as the Creator and Caretaker of all that exists.

And as the Creator and Caretaker of all that exists, James explains that with whom there is no variation of shifting shadow. Now the word variation simply means to change. In addition, the phrase shifting shadow was a phrase that was used in the first century to describe the process of darkening that occurs on the earth as a result of the turning of the sun, moon and stars.

Here we see James reveal for us the reality that God’s perfect provision is seen in His nature and character. James point here to followers of Jesus throughout history is that God has not changed and God does not change. Unlike the shadows that are ever changing on earth as a result of the rotation of the sun, moon, and stars, God is constant and never changing. And because God is constant and never changing, God never has been and never will be the source of temptation. And because God is constant and never changing, God always has been and always will be our perfect provider.

But not only is God’s perfect provision seen in His nature and character. In addition, in verse 18, James reveals for us the reality that God’s perfect provision is seen in His Divine Plan in history. When James talks about the exercise of His will, he is referring to God’s Divine Plan and desires. And God’s Divine plan and desires was to bring people who were once far from God back to God. James then explained that how God brought people who were far from God back to God was by the word of truth. Now the word of truth refers to God’s message of rescue through the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel.

James point here is that God’s Divine Plan resulted in our rescue from separation from God into relationship with God as a result of His activity in history through Jesus life, death and resurrection. And as a result of God’s Divine Plan in history through His Son Jesus Christ, the early followers of Jesus that James was writing to were “a kind of first fruits among His creatures.” In other words, these early followers of Jesus were the first of a kind, with many more to follow. These early followers of Jesus were the first of many to follow who had been created to experience a relationship with God and one another as a part of God’s new movement in history called the church.

James here is revealing for us the reality that God’s Divine Plan resulted in early followers of Jesus being the first of many throughout history. And as followers of Jesus in 2015, we are among the many in history that have been rescued from our rebellion against God so that we could experience the forgiveness and the relationship with God that we were created for as a result of God, as our perfect provider, having a Divine Plan in history.

So here is a question to consider: Where have you been claiming that the true source of temptation comes from? Have you been claiming that the source of the temptation that you are facing is from God? Have you been claiming that the source of the temptation that you are facing is the devil?

Are you constantly blaming God, the devil or someone else for the response that you make to the circumstances that you face? Or have you come to the place where you recognize that the true source of the temptations that you face is the selfish and rebellious desires that reside within you?

And what are you doing with those selfish and rebellious desires that are the true source of temptation? Are you trying to manage or tame those selfish and rebellious desires that lead to temptation as though they were a house pet? Or are you going to try to kill those selfish and rebellious desires that lead to temptation?

Because the timeless reality is that the faith that works recognizes the true source of temptation...

The faith that works recognizes that temptation comes from our selfish desires...

This week, we are looking at a section of a letter that was written by James, who was the half brother of Jesus who repeatedly doubted Jesus claim to be God, but became a follower of Jesus who was the pastor at the church in Jerusalem and who was ultimately killed for believing that Jesus was God. Yesterday, in a command made by James, we discovered a timeless truth when it comes to the faith that works in that the faith that works recognizes the true source of temptation.

In James 1:13-18, we will see James reveal for us three different ways that the faith that works recognizes the true source of temptation. In addition, James revealed for us the reality that the faith that works recognizes that temptation does not come from God. Temptation does not come from God because God is incapable of being tempted. And temptation does not come from God because God does not tempt others to rebel against Him.

Now a natural question that arises here is “Well Dave, if God is not the source of temptation, that what is the source of temptation? If God is not the One who is enticing us to do things that rebel against Him, then who is?” We see James provide the answer to that question in James 1:14-15:

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Here we see James explain to followers of Jesus throughout history that instead of claiming “I am being tempted by God” the reality is that “each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust”. Now what is so interesting is that the phrase carried away, in the language that this letter was originally written in, is a word picture of someone being dragged away by something after displaying some initial reluctance.

In addition, when James uses the word enticed, this word literally means to arouse someone’s interest in something. James then explains that what drags us away after overcoming one’s initial reluctance; what arouses our interest, is his own lust. Now when James talks about lust here, James is referring to a desire for something that is forbidden.

James point here is that we are enticed into rebelling against God by our own selfish desires for something that goes against God’s desires for our lives. And after some initial resistance, these selfish desires drag us away from following God’s desires for our lives and toward fulfilling our own selfish desires that go against God’s desires for our lives.

And it is here that we see James reveal for us the reality that the faith that works recognizes that temptation comes from our selfish desires. It is theses selfish desires that drag us away from God. It is these selfish desires arouse within us a desire for something that is forbidden by God. And as James explains in verse 15, it is these selfish desires place us on the path of death.

James paints a powerful word picture of pregnancy and birth to reveal the reality that the true source of temptation is not from without but from within. When James uses the phrase “then when lust has conceived" he is revealing for us the reality that when we become pregnant with selfish desires for that which has been forbidden by God, eventually we will give birth to something.

James then explains that what those selfish desires for what is forbidden by God give birth to is sin. The word sin refers to acts of omission or commission that hurt God and others and that flow from our selfishness and rebellion against God and the word of God. James point here is that our selfish desires within us give birth to, or produce, our actions or inactions of rebellion against God.  James then explains that “when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” But what does that mean?

As we have talked about previously, when we see the word death in the Bible, the word death conveys the sense of separation. As a result of sin’s entrance into the world we experience physical death, which is the separation of our soul from our body. But not only do we experience physical death as a result of sin; we also experience spiritual death, which is the separation of us from God. Now if we physically die while being spiritually dead, we experience eternal death, or eternal separation from God. James point here is that as these selfish desires cause sin to come into being in our lives, and as sin runs its course in our lives as we act on those selfish desires, the result is separation from God.

You see, so often we live out our day to day lives in a way that attempts to manage our selfish and rebellious desires. So often, we live out our day to day lives as though we can tame those selfish and rebellious desires in the same way we tame a pet.

On YouTube, there are those videos “When animals attack.” And in one of these videos, there is a model on a photo shoot with a lion. And this model was supposed to lay with her head on the body of this lion. And of course they had an animal trainer there because they had trained and tamed this lion, so this photo shoot should be no problem right. Hello, the lion is an alpha predator.

And as an alpha predator, about five minutes into the photo shoot, that lion did what alpha predators do; the lion attacked the model. Now as I share that story and you are probably thinking to yourself “What an idiot! Who would do something like that?” But isn't that exactly what we do when we think we can manage or tame our selfish and rebellious desires? Isn't that the exact thing that we do when we think we can manage or tame sin as thought it can be a house pet in our lives?

Instead of trying to manage our sin; instead of trying to tame those selfish desires within our lives, we need to do what had to be done with that lion; we need to kill that sin; we need to take out a gun and kill those selfish desires within us.

We need to kill those selfish desires because those selfish desires are the true source of temptation. We need to kill those selfish desires because those selfish desires give birth to acts of selfishness and rebellion against God and others. We need to kill those selfish desires because those selfish desires produce selfishness and rebellion that separate us from God.

Friday, we will see James reveal a third way that the faith that works recognizes the truth source of temptation...  

The faith that works recognizes the true source of temptation...

At the church where I serve we have been spending our time together looking at a letter that is recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of James. The book of James was written by a man named James, who was the half brother of Jesus who repeatedly doubted Jesus claim to be God, but became a follower of Jesus who was the pastor at the church in Jerusalem and who was ultimately killed for believing that Jesus was God.

 James turned from being a doubter in Jesus to being a pastor of Jesus church and an author of this letter that is recorded for us in the Bible after seeing Jesus after He was raised from the dead. And as we look at this letter that was written by the half brother of Jesus, our hope and our prayer is that God would enable us to wrap our heads, hearts, and hands around several timeless truths that occur in the life of the faith that works in such a way that results in us living lives that look like Jesus.

Last week, we looked at the opening section of the book of James and discovered that that the faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation. The faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation because trusting God in the midst of temptation results in us becoming more like Jesus. We discovered that the faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation because trusting God in the midst of temptation requires wisdom. The faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation trusting God in the midst of temptation recognizes the temporary nature of our earthly circumstances. And the faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation because trusting God in the midst of temptation results in the reward of eternal life.

This week, I would like for us to pick up where we left off last week. And as we jump into this next section of this letter, we are going to discover another timeless truth about the faith that works itself out in our lives in a way that results in us living lives that look like Jesus. So let’s discover this timeless truth together, beginning in James 1:13:

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God";

James begins this section of his letter to early followers of Jesus by continuing to address the issue of temptation and how we respond to the temptation that we face as a result of the circumstances that we face. James launches into this issue of temptation by commanding followers of Jesus “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God". When James uses the word tempted here, this word means to entice someone into improper behavior.

As we discovered last week, there are temptations what we face when it comes to responding to the various circumstances we face. You see, the temptations that we face internally are the result of circumstances that we can experience externally. The issue that James is addressing here is the issue of our response to the temptation that we face as a result of the circumstances that we face, because while we are not necessarily responsible for the circumstances we face, we are responsible for our response to those circumstances

And apparently, there were followers of Jesus who were claiming that God enticed followers of Jesus into circumstances where they could act improperly. There were followers of Jesus who were claiming that God tempted people by placing them into situations where they could respond to the temptation in a way that rebelled and went against the message and teachings of Jesus.

James responded to that claim by commanding followers of Jesus not to make the claim that they were being enticed by God in a way that could result in them rebelling against God. And it is here, in this command, that we see James reveal for us a timeless truth when it comes to the faith that works. And that timeless truth is this: The faith that works recognizes the true source of temptation. Just as it was for followers of Jesus in James day; just as it has been for followers of Jesus throughout history, the faith that works recognizes the true source of temptation.

And in James 1:13-18, we will see James reveal for us three different ways that the faith that works recognizes the true source of temptation. We see James reveal that first way that the faith that works recognizes the true source of temptation in the second half of verse 13. Let’s look at it together:

for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

Here we see James reveal for us the reality that the faith that works recognizes that temptation does not come from God. When James states “for God cannot be tempted by evil”, this phrase, in the language that this letter was originally written in, literally means “God is incapable of being tempted”. James point is that temptation does not come from God because God is incapable of being tempted. God, in His very nature, is impervious to temptation. There is nothing that can tempt God to do something that is morally or socially reprehensible, because God is beyond temptation. God, in His perfection, makes temptation towards evil impotent.

But not only is God incapable of being tempted. In addition, James explains that He Himself does not tempt anyone. James point here is that temptation does not come from God because God does not tempt others to rebel against Him. God does not sit up in Heaven and attempt to entice people into doing things that dishonor Him. God does not spend His time thinking of ways that He can place us in circumstances where we will respond in ways that rebel against Him.

Now a natural question that arises here is “Well Dave, if God is not the source of temptation, that what is the source of temptation? If God is not the One who is enticing us to do things that rebel against Him, then who is?”

Tomorrow, we will see James provide the answer to that question…

Trusting God in the midst of our earthly circumstances..

This week we have been looking at the opening section of a letter that is recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible that was written by the half brother of Jesus called the book of James. And it is in this opening section of this letter that we have discovered the timeless truth that the faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation.

We talked about the reality that the faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation because trusting God in the midst of temptation results in us becoming more like Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we are to respond to temptation with an attitude of gratitude and gladness because our response to temptation reveals the genuineness of our trust in Jesus. And as followers of Jesus, we are to respond to temptation with an attitude of gratitude and gladness because our response to temptation produces spiritual maturity.

In addition, we saw James reveal for us the reality that trusting God in the midst of temptation requires wisdom. God desires that we ask Him for wisdom when we lack wisdom in dealing with the temptations we face because God desires to give us that wisdom so that we would be able to bear up in the face of that temptation in a way that produces spiritual maturity.

However, as followers of Jesus we are to ask God for wisdom in how to respond to temptation with the right attitude; an attitude that trusts in God's ability to give us wisdom; an attitude that trusts that God desires to give us wisdom without reservation and without finding fault with our request; an attitude that desires to please God by trusting Him instead of desiring to please self by giving in to the temptation.

Today, we will see James turn to address a specific temptation that followers of Jesus face that requires trusting God in the midst of that temptation in James 1:9-11:

But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off  and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

Here we see James address the issue of how we are to respond to our earthly circumstances. James states that the follower of Jesus of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position. But what does that mean? The phrase humble circumstances refers to a follower of Jesus who is of low social of economic status. Now the word glory here is to take pride in, or boast about something.

James point is that the follower of Jesus who find themselves on the bottom rungs of the socioeconomic ladder should take pride in their high status. Now if you find James statement confusing, just look at what James says next " and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation." I mean how is the rich man, how is the person who is on the highest rungs of the socioeconomic ladder supposed to take pride in their humiliation? How are the rich humiliated? What is James talking about here?

The answer to these questions comes with what James means when he uses the word humiliation, combined with the phrase "because like flowering grass he will pass away". The word humiliation here refers to an experience of a reversal of fortunes. If James was communicating this phrase in the language we use today, this phrase would sound something like this: “let the rich man boast of his downfall because like the flowering grass the rich man will eventually come to an end and no longer be here”.

James then hammers his point home in verse 11 with a word picture that we are all too familiar with here in the desert: “For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.” Just like the flowers that spring up in the desert in the spring only to fade away in the blazing heat and wind of the summer a few weeks later, the wealth of a rich man is only temporary.

And it is here that we see James reveal for us the reality that a faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation because trusting God in the midst of temptation recognizes the temporary nature of our earthly circumstances. As followers of Jesus, we are to recognize that the person of low status is to take pride in their high status in Heaven. As followers of Jesus, we are to recognize that the wealthy person is to recognize the reversal of fortune that they will eventually experience as they will eventually come to an end here on earth, and that they are fading away while in the midst of their work here on earth.

And because of that reality, we are to bear up against the temptation to place our confident trust in our earthly circumstances instead of in Jesus in the midst of the temptations that we face here on earth. James then concludes his opening section of his letter in James 1:12:

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Here we see James reveal for us the reality that trusting God in the midst of temptation results in the reward of eternal life. For the one who perseveres, for the one who maintains their trust in God in the midst of temptation, the result is experiencing God’s favor in their lives. For the one who perseveres, for the one who maintains their trust in God in the midst of temptation, their trust in the midst of temptation provides the proof of their genuine relationship with Jesus. And for the one who perseveres, for the one who maintains their trust in God in the midst of temptation, their trust in the midst of temptation reveals their love for Jesus and results in the prize of eternal life with Jesus.

Because the timeless reality is that the faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation. The faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation because trusting God in the midst of temptation results in us becoming more like Jesus. The faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation because trusting God in the midst of temptation requires wisdom. The faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation trusting God in the midst of temptation recognizes the temporary nature of our earthly circumstances. And the faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation because trusting God in the midst of temptation results in the reward of eternal life.

So here is a question to consider: How are you responding to the temptations that you face as a result of the circumstances around you? Who or what are you trusting in the midst of the temptations you are facing? And what does your response to temptation reveal about what is going on inside you?

Because character is like toothpaste; you never really know what is inside until it is squeezed. And while we are not necessarily responsible for the circumstances we face, we are responsible for our response to those circumstances.

Are you responding to the temptations that you face as the result of being involved in various circumstances with an attitude of gratitude and gladness because of what those temptations will reveal about you and what you trust in? Are you responding to the temptations that you face as the result of being involved in various circumstances with an attitude of gratitude and gladness because of what those temptations will do to grow and mature you spiritually?

Or are you responding to the temptations that you face as the result of being involved in various circumstances by saying things like "I know that Bible says, but" or "I know what would Jesus do, but I don't want to do what would Jesus do". 

Because the timeless reality is that the faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation.

Trusting God in the midst of temptation requires wisdom...

This week, we are looking at the opening section of a letter that is recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of James. Yesterday, we looked on as James, the half-brother of Jesus commanding followers of Jesus to consider it all joy when you encounter various trials.

 In other words, as followers of Jesus, we should expect to be involved in trails of various types and kinds and when we become involved in those trials of various types and kinds we should engage those trials intellectually in a way that regards those trials with an attitude of gratitude and gladness. James commanded followers of Jesus to engage the temptations that come about as the result of being involved in various circumstances intellectually in a way that regards those temptations with an attitude of gratitude and gladness.

And it is here that we see James reveal for us a timeless truth when it comes to the faith that works in that the faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation. As followers of Jesus, the faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation because trusting God in the midst of temptation results in us becoming more like Jesus.

As followers of Jesus, we are to respond to temptation with an attitude of gratitude and gladness because our response to temptation reveals the genuineness of our trust in Jesus. And as followers of Jesus, we are to respond to temptation with an attitude of gratitude and gladness because our response to temptation produces spiritual maturity.

We talked about the reality that our response of trust in Jesus in the midst of temptation produces the ability to bear up in the face of temptation. And our response of trust in Jesus in the midst of temptation produces a spiritual maturity that reveals itself by our lifestyle. A spiritual maturity that becomes fully developed and a spiritual maturity that meets all expectations and does not fall short when it comes to revealing a reflecting Jesus to those around us.

Now right about now you might be thinking to yourself "well Dave that sounds easy in principle, but that is so hard in practice. Trusting God in the midst of temptation is easy to talk about but so difficult for me to do. So how can I get to the place where I do a better job at trusting God in the midst of temptation?" We see James address this issue beginning in James 1:5-8. Let's look at it together:

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Here we see James reveal for us the reality that trusting God in the midst of temptation requires wisdom. James explains to followers of Jesus throughout history that, if any of you lacks wisdom when it comes to how to respond to the temptations that we are facing, let him ask God for that wisdom.

James then explains that the reason why we are to ask God for wisdom when we lack wisdom in dealing with the temptations that we face is because God gives wisdom to all generously and without reproach.  In other words, we are to ask God for wisdom because God will give wisdom without any reservation. And we are to ask God for wisdom because God will give wisdom without finding fault with our request.

God is not up in Heaven going "I can't believe that Dave would dare to ask Me for wisdom when it comes to dealing with the temptations that he is facing. What an idiot." Instead, God desires that we ask Him for wisdom when we lack wisdom in dealing with the temptations we face because God desires to give us that wisdom so that we would be able to bear up in the face of that temptation in a way that produces spiritual maturity.

However, in verse six, James explains that when it comes to asking God for wisdom to deal with the temptations that we face, we must ask God for wisdom with the right attitude. When James states that "he must ask in faith without doubting", he is revealing for us the reality that, as followers of Jesus, we are to ask for wisdom with an attitude of trust in God to give us wisdom.

What is so interesting here is that the word doubting, in the language that this letter was originally written in, literally means to be at odds with oneself. James then paints a powerful word picture of what a person who is at odds with themselves looks like internally: "for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” James paints this word picture to reveal the reality that just like the wind can toss and turn the sea in different directions, depending on which way the wind is blowing, the person who doubts God’s ability to give wisdom will be tossed around by their competing desires.

And because of that reality, as followers of Jesus, we are to ask for wisdom without doubting God to give us wisdom because as James explains in verse seven, the person who doubts God to give us wisdom ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord. James point is that the person who doubts God’s ability to give wisdom should not expect to get wisdom from the Lord.

James then reveals two reasons why the person who doubts God's ability to give wisdom to face temptation should not expect to get wisdom from God to face temptation. First, James states that the person who doubts God's ability to give wisdom to face temptation should not expect to get wisdom from God to face temptation because they are a double minded man. Now this phrase literally means to be uncertain about something.

James point is that the person who doubts God's ability to give wisdom should not expect to get wisdom because their desires are divided. Their desires are divided between pleasing God by trusting God in the midst of temptation and pleasing themselves by giving into the temptation.  Second, James states that the person who doubts God's ability to give wisdom to face temptation should not expect to get wisdom from God to face temptation because they are unstable in all his ways. James point is that the person who doubts God's ability to give wisdom should not expect to get wisdom because they waver when it comes to trusting God.

And in the same way today, as followers of Jesus we are to ask God for wisdom in how to respond to temptation with the right attitude; an attitude that trusts in God's ability to give us wisdom; an attitude that trusts that God desires to give us wisdom without reservation and without finding fault with our request; an attitude that desires to please God by trusting Him instead of desiring to please self by giving in to the temptation.

James then turns to address a specific temptation that followers of Jesus face that requires trusting God in the midst of that temptation. Tomorrow we will look at that temptation…

The faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation...

For the past several months at the church where I serve, we have looking at what we believe as a church as contained in the doctrinal statement of our church. But just because we know all the right things about doctrine; just because we know what we believe about God and the things of God, that does not mean that we know God and are living out what we know about God in a genuine and authentic way. 

You can know a lot about Jesus and not know Jesus or live a life that follows Jesus. You can know a lot about Jesus but not live a life that reveals and reflects Jesus. Now a natural question that could arise here is "well Dave, how should what we know about God and the things of God impact how we live out our day to day lives? How should what we know about Jesus impact how we live our lives as we follow Jesus? In other words, how should our faith in Jesus work itself out in our day to day lives in a way that results in us living lives that look like Jesus?"

To answer these questions, we are going to spend our time together looking at a letter that is recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of James. And as we go through this letter, my hope and my prayer is that we would be able to wrap our heads, hearts, and hands around several timeless truths that occur in a life of faith that works itself out in a way that results in us living lives that look like Jesus. So, as we launch into this series, let’s begin where the book of James begins, in James 1:1:

 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

James begins his letter by introducing himself to those who would be reading this letter throughout history. James, the author of this letter, was the half brother of Jesus. And throughout Jesus earthly life, James repeatedly doubted Jesus claim to be God. I mean, think of it this way: if you have brothers and sisters, what would it take for you to believe that your brother or sister was God?

Yet James, who repeatedly doubted Jesus claim to be God, became a follower of Jesus who was the pastor at the church in Jerusalem and who was ultimately killed for believing that Jesus was God. So what caused James to turn from being a doubter in Jesus to being a martyr for Jesus? What caused James to turn from being a doubter in Jesus to being a pastor of Jesus church and an author of a letter that is recorded for us in the Bible?

What changed is that James saw Jesus after Jesus was raised from the dead. You see the transformation that occurred in the life of James is one of the strongest evidences of the resurrection of Jesus. And as a result of recognizing that his half brother was God in a bod who was raised from the dead never to die again, James viewed himself as a "bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ". Now a bond servant was one who was solely committed to the service of another, in this case God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. James had placed Jesus as large and in charge of his life was solely committed to serving Jesus and the kingdom mission that he had been given by Jesus.

After introducing himself, James then discloses the original recipients of this letter to us. When James refers to the twelve tribes who were dispersed abroad, he is referring to early followers of Jesus of Jewish ethnicity who had been scattered throughout the world as a result of the persecution of followers of Jesus by the Roman Empire, who was the dominant military and political power in the world during the first century. After briefly introducing himself to the readers of his letter, James jumps right into his letter to early followers of Jesus in James 1:2. Let's look at it together:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

To which we say "what? Really?" And what makes this all the more strange is that James here is not suggesting that we consider it all joy when you encounter various trials. Instead, James is commanding that we consider it all joy when you encounter various trials. When James uses the word consider, this word conveys the sense of engaging in an intellectual process so as to regard something in a particular way. In addition, the word joy is not a word of emotion. The word joy is an attitude, a mindset that results in us experiencing an attitude of gratitude and gladness about something. 

And what we are to regard with an attitude of gratitude and gladness is not if you encounter various trial. What we are to regard with an attitude of gratitude and gladness is when you encounter various trials. In other words, as followers of Jesus, we should expect to be involved in trails of various types and kinds and when we become involved in those trials of various types and kinds we should engage those trials intellectually in a way that regards those trials with an attitude of gratitude and gladness.

Now that leads us to what James is referring to when he uses the phrase various trials. Is James here referring to trials that we encounter or is James referring to temptations we encounter? The word trial here, in that language that this letter was originally written in, was used to refer to both temptations and trials. In addition, this word conveys the sense of something happening to you.

James here is referring to something that comes upon us that reveals that nature and character of what is within us. You see, character is like toothpaste; you never really know what is inside until it is squeezed. I believe that James here is referring to the temptations what we face when it comes to responding to the various circumstances we face. You see, the temptations that we face internally are the result of circumstances that we can experience externally.

The issue that James is addressing here is the issue of our response to the temptation that arises from circumstances because while we are not necessarily responsible for the circumstances we face, we are responsible for our response to those circumstances. And when we become involved in a circumstance or situation, there is a temptation to respond to that circumstance and situation in a way that is against the message and teachings of Jesus.

There is a temptation to say "I know that Bible says, but". There is a temptation to say "I know what would Jesus do, but I don't want to do what would Jesus do".  James point is that we are to engage the temptations that come about as the result of being involved in various circumstances intellectually in a way that regards those temptations with an attitude of gratitude and gladness. Now a natural question that could arise here is "well Dave why would I want to regard the temptations I face with an attitude of gratitude and gladness?" Great question. And we see James answer that question in James 1:3-4:

knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. and let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Now to fully understand what James is communicating here, we first need to understand what James means when he uses the phrase "the testing of your faith." When James refers to testing here, this word refers to the process of determining the genuineness of something. In addition, when James uses the word faith here, this word is that same word that is translated trust in our English Bibles and refers to a state of confident trust in the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel.

James point here is that we are to regard the temptations that we face with an attitude of gratitude and gladness because it is our response to those temptations that reveals the genuineness of our confident trust in Jesus. And it is our response of confident trust in Jesus in the midst of the temptations that we face that produces perseverance. Now perseverance is the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty. In other words, the temptations that we face that reveal the genuineness of our trust in Jesus produce in us the ability to bear up in the face of those temptations in a way that places our confident trust in Jesus and that does not give into the temptation.

Then in verse 4, James encourages followers of Jesus throughout history to let endurance have its perfect result so that we would be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But what does that mean? James point here is that as we bear up in the face of temptation by trusting in Jesus, the result is that we become perfect and complete. The word perfect conveys the sense of being fully developed in a moral sense. In addition, the word complete conveys the sense of wholeness and integrity.

In other words, as we bear up in the face of temptation by trusting Jesus, the result is spiritual maturity. A spiritual maturity that is marked by a life of integrity and that does not fall short when it comes to revealing and reflecting Jesus in the world. And it is here that we see James reveal for us a timeless truth when it comes to the faith that works. And that timeless truth is this: The faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation.

As followers of Jesus, the faith that works trusts God in the midst of temptation because trusting God in the midst of temptation results in us becoming more like Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we are to respond to temptation with an attitude of gratitude and gladness because our response to temptation reveals the genuineness of our trust in Jesus. And as followers of Jesus, we are to respond to temptation with an attitude of gratitude and gladness because our response to temptation produces spiritual maturity.

You see, our response of trust in Jesus in the midst of temptation produces the ability to bear up in the face of temptation. And our response of trust in Jesus in the midst of temptation produces a spiritual maturity that reveals itself by our lifestyle. A spiritual maturity that becomes fully developed and a spiritual maturity that meets all expectations and does not fall short when it comes to revealing a reflecting Jesus to those around us.

Now right about now you might be thinking to yourself "well Dave that sounds easy in principle, but that is so hard in practice. Trusting God in the midst of temptation is easy to talk about but so difficult for me to do. So how can I get to the place where I do a better job at trusting God in the midst of temptation?"

We see James address this issue beginning in James 1:5-8. Tomorrow, we will look at how James answers these questions…

Great Take-Away's from Catalyst One Day's "What Great Leaders Do"...

Here are some of the great statements that were made today at the Catalyst One Day Conference on "What Great Leaders Do" with @andystanley and @CraigGroeschel ...

"That's a great question" session:

Great leaders surround themselves with people who ask great questions @andystanley

Leaders who refuse to listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say @andystanley

Great leaders understand that there is a difference between being asked a question and being questioned @andystanley

Great questions reveal values, reinforce values, and reinforce behaviors @andystanley

The key question for a leader: What would a great leader do? @andystanley


"Leading up" session:

Your ability to lead up now will help determine your ability to move up later @CraigGroeschel

People will follow a leader with a heart faster than a leader with a title @CraigGroeschel

Honor publicly results in influence privately @CraigGroeschel

Respect is earned. Honor is given. @CraigGroeschel

There is a massive difference between thinking critically and being critical @CraigGroeschel

If you're willing to do what others won't do, you will earn influence that others don't have @CraigGroeschel

Truth always trumps flattery @CraigGroeschel


"When less is more" session:

Great leaders always play to their strengths and delegate their weaknesses @andystanley

The less you do, the more you accomplish @andystanley

The target of leadership: only do what only you can do @andystanley

When we do things we don't do well, things don't go well @andystanley

Your weakness is someone else's opportunity @andystanley

The goal is to build a well-rounded organization not a well-rounded leader @andystanley

Leverage your authority as little as possible. Make as few decisions as possible. @andystanley

Leadership is not about getting things done "right": it is about getting things done through other people @andystanley

Stress is often related to what we are doing, not how much we are doing @andystanley


"Breaking barriers" session:

If you don't believe something can be done, you'll prove it can't @CraigGroeschel

You can make excuses or you can make progress, you can't make both @CraigGroeschel

The potential of your organization rests on the strength of its people @CraigGroeschel

Common question: where do I find great leaders? Right question: How do you develop great leaders? @CraigGroeschel

To build great leaders identify talent that others overlook @CraigGroeschel

To build great leaders attract them to a vision bigger than themselves @CraigGroeschel

Great people are not attracted to average causes @CraigGroeschel

To attract leaders you need a vision worth following @CraigGroeschel

To build great leaders develop them to go further than they thought possible @CraigGroeschel

Don't just see people as a means to accomplish tasks. Se tasks as a means to develop people. @CraigGroeschel

To build great leaders empower them to fulfill a lifetime of ministry @CraigGroeschel

You can have growth or you can have control, but you can't have both @CraigGroeschel

If you delegate tasks you will build followers: if you delegate authority you will build leaders @CraigGroeschel

Common question: What if we empower them and they leave? Right question: What if we don't empower them and they stay? @CraigGroeschel


"The menace, myth, and mayhem of autonomy" session:

Great leaders resist autonomy and the evolution of a "court" @andystanley

We can confuse autonomy with success @andystanley

The quest for autonomy is dangerous because there is a fine line between being as free as you can possibly be and prison @andystanley

The quest for autonomy is dangerous because power is intoxicating @andystanley

The quest for autonomy is dangerous because entitlement is addicting @andystanley

The quest for autonomy is dangerous because relationships become a means to an end @andystanley

The quest for autonomy is dangerous because autonomy leads to isolation @andystanley

Those who honor you the most have the potential to hurt you the most @andystanley

The only reason a pastor is effective is because he is part of a body, not because he is "anointed" @andystanley

Autonomy is a myth, a trap, and an unworthy goal @andystanley

Are you willing to give people who don't work for you and don't need anything from you access to you? @andystanley


"What leaders should not do" Q and A time:

There is a difference between theology and ministry and if you confuse the two you will end up with the worst of both worlds @AndyStanley

Ministry should revolve around the question "what does love require of me?" @AndyStanley

Instead of "5 year plans" create margin for God ordained opportunities that we cannot predict @craiggroeschel

What we believe about baptism really matters because baptism publicly proclaims our identification with Jesus and with His community the church...

This week, we have been looking at when we believe at the church where I serve about baptism. We looked at the reality that when we see baptisms occurring in the Bible, we discover that baptism is an outward act that serves to publicly identify one as being a follower of Jesus.  A person who is being baptized is publicly proclaiming “I am a follower of Jesus who desires to be a part of a community of believers who will encourage me and hold me accountable”. We talked about the reality that baptism is a step that occurs after a person becomes a follower of Jesus as a way of identifying with Jesus as His follower and with the kingdom mission that He has given us as His followers.

We then examined the question as to whether or not a person has to be baptized to be saved and experience a relationship with Jesus. We looked at the baptism of Jesus by John that Baptizer and discovered  that Jesus baptism was Jesus way of identifying Himself with us so that He could allow Himself to be treated as though He lived our selfish and sinful life so that God the Father could treat us as though we lived Jesus perfect life.

You see, baptism is not about salvation; baptism is about identification. And just as we discussed last week with communion, baptism visibly and tangibly expresses the gospel.  Baptism is not something we do to be saved; baptism is something we do because we have been saved in obedience to Jesus command. This is what is meant by the statement in our doctrinal statement “Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.”

And in a section of a letter that is recorded for us in the Bible called the book of Romans, we see the Apostle Paul unpack how baptism visibly and tangibly expresses the gospel. So let’s look at that section together, beginning in Romans 6:3-4:

Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

In these verses, we see the Apostle Paul reveal the reality that baptism is a word picture of the new life that we have with Jesus. By baptism, a person is identifying themselves with Jesus, who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our selfish rebellion, was buried in a tomb, and was raised back to life never to die again as a result of the transformational power of the Holy Spirit.

And in the same way, when we become followers of Jesus and follow the Lord in baptism, we are publicly proclaiming that we are identifying ourselves with Jesus as our Lord and Leader and that we are turning our back on, or dying to, selfishness, sin, and rebellion and choosing to identify and live in a life that pursues Jesus and a life that looks like Jesus.

Baptism illustrates Jesus burial and resurrection and illustrates our new life as a follower of Jesus as a result of placing our confident trust in what Jesus has done to rescue us from our selfishness and rebellion by believing, trusting and following Jesus as Lord and Leader. And while baptism is not a means of additional grace or salvation, which is by faith in Christ alone, baptism encourages followers of Jesus and promotes spiritual growth in followers of Jesus. Celebrating baptism in community is also a way to celebrate God’s activity throughout history and in the lives of people today.

Now this leads us back to the question that will run throughout this series, which is “Dave does what we believe about baptism really matter?” And the answer to that question leads us to a timeless truth about why it really matters. And that timeless truth is this: What we believe about baptism really matters because baptism publicly proclaims our identification with Jesus and with His community the church.

You see, what we believe about baptism really matters because when we celebrate baptism in community with one another, we are publicly proclaiming our identification with Jesus who came to earth to live the life that we were created to live but refused to live and die the death that we deserved to die so that we would have the opportunity to experience forgiveness and the relationship with God that we were created for.

And what we believe about baptism really matters because baptism provides us the opportunity to publicly identify ourselves with the kingdom mission we have been given by Jesus as a part of the community called the church that will encourage and hold one another accountable to live in the relationship with God and one another that we were created for?

So if you are a follower of Jesus and have not been baptized, here is my question: Why have you not been baptized? Because Baptism was not a suggestion by Jesus; Instead baptism was a command by Jesus.

So what is keeping you from being baptized? Because what we believe about baptism really matters because baptism publicly proclaims our identification with Jesus and with His community the church.