Tabor Baptist Church

N.B. Apologies that the audio can be quite loud

Introduction

• Key text v17-18
• James is writing the letter to dispersed Jewish believers
  • They are experiencing times of difficulty
  • Various trials
• James talks about trials and temptations

Trials

• Do you feel discouraged tonight?
  • Believers may think that God will graciously order things for us to avoid all the pitfalls of the world
    • Often life can be more difficult that before we were saved
    • Life can be painful
  • God allows us to go through trials and testing ... that we may mature in Him
  • Illustration
    • Have these parents done a good thing for their child?
    • A loving parent must say no and withhold certain things
  • God doesn't always give His children what they want but does provide for their needs
    • Example of Amy Carmichael (we heard this morning)
• James is helping us realise that God is not in the business of withholding good things from us
  • Not the lie told in the Garden of Eden
    • This is what people want - to be in charge
  • Not causing people to doubt God's word

Temptation

• The source is not the devil
• We are tempted by our own desires (v14) - of our own sinful heart and nature
• Quote from Robert Murray M'Cheyne - "every seed of sin can be found in his heart"
  • We sin because we are sinners
  • Left to our own devices - we would destroy our own heart
  • Quote from song
• When we are saved, through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ
  • A work that only God can do has already begun
  • He has breathed the breath of life for us to respond to the gospel call
  • He fills our hearts with His Spirit
  • We are a new creation - but still prone to temptation
    • Because the old nature wars against the new nature
    • 'The old man warring within me'
  • CH Spurgeon - 'two dogs fighting'
    • Are you feeding your new or old nature?
    • Think on good and heavenly things
• Jesus was tempted
  • He is without sin - the eternal Son of God
  • At the cross - the sin of the people were laid on Jesus
  • The judgment of God fell on Jesus [instead of us]
  • Satan knew that Jesus was without sin
    • They only way he could tempt Jesus was through a personal encounter
    • The devil is not omnipresent
    • The devil knows if we feed the old man, temptation will come from within
  • Jesus was able to resist temptation
    • Tempted in all ways but without sin
  • When we are tempted - often we quickly give in
    • "Yield not to temptation"
• Temptation is not sin
  • Jesus resisted this
  • We often give in to temptation, which then becomes sin

Good Gifts

• Do not be deceived (v16)
  • God is not the source of sin or temptation ... but every good and perfect gift (v17)
• We understand good gifts
  • Example of food
• Do we understand what is a perfect gift?
  • Something a person does not think they need - but it meets their deepest need
    • v4 - Patience is to have a perfect work: meets its need in your heart, life and circumstances
• James is teaching us something about God's character
  • It will help us and keep us in the midst of trials/temptations/times of testing
    • Many in the Bible went through times of testing - they withstood because they understood the character of God
  • He does not change or shift like the shadows - He is faithful and constant
    • Quote from song
  • Many of us have significant emotional needs (especially after Covid)
    • God knows and cares
    • He gives us perfect gifts that meet our deepest needs - sometimes physical, sometimes emotional, always spiritual
• Authentic Christianity - when we realise our need of Him
  • To sustain us throughout life
  • Ecclesiastes - the highs and lows of life
  • 'The valley of the shadow of death'
• The thing that keeps us - knowing that every perfect gift is from above and knowing the character of God
  • Quote from Arthur W Pink - God cannot change for the better or worse, He is perfect
• v18 - God birthed in us new life - by His will
  • Regeneration
  • Eternal life
  • Principle of the firstfruits at harvest time
    • Jesus presents us as firstfruits to the Father
    • We belong to Him on account of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
• Do not get caught up in the 'silly season' - the perfect gift comes form heaven above
  • Jesus meets our deepest need
  • There is no-one apart from Christ who can meet our deepest need
  • There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved
  • We are so blessed in Christ
  • Have you got Christ?