Text:                  James 1:13 – 18

By:                    Eyanrin, Sunday (Evangelist)

Download Lesson

In continuation of our new series of the study of the Book of James. Last week, our minister Bro. Emmanuel Adeoye took us through a comprehensive study on James 1:1 – 12.

Today, our study of the Book of James is going to be very exciting, as we will be taking our message from James 1:13 – 18. But before we proceed into the message proper, we must give cognizance to the last verse (no. 12) of the message of last week.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. – JAMES.1:12

James 1:12 is a powerful encouragement attached with blessedness to those who endures temptation.

They will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

WHAT IS TEMPTATION?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines temptation as “The desire to have or do something, especially something wrong, or something that causes this desire.”

Brethren, believe it or not”, if we want to do something, even though we know it is wrong and bad for us to do such thing. We know doing it will cause guilt and regret, but the pull to do it is so strong. We wrestle with it – until we talk ourselves into the sin. ‘’THAT IS TEMPTATION’’

TRIAL: is simply the action or process of trying or putting to proof or test. In James 1:2-3, the Bible says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

So, a trial is a testing of our faith. It is a moment used by God for our growth, and to draw us closer to Him. Trials come in many forms, e.g. Gen. 22:1-12 “THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC BY ABRAHAM”. Brethren, let us open our Bible for a comprehensive study of James 1:13 – 18, in order to strengthen us, grow us, and give us the ability to get it done right.

Source of Temptation – James 1:13 – 14

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempted he any man. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.”

For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when they are dragged or drawn away by their own evil desire and enticed.

God cannot tempt us; He will test us through our trials to strengthen us in our Faith. When we look at the temptation of Jesus in Mathew 4:11 Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, the Holy Spirit led Jesus to the wilderness to be tempted. God allowed the Devil to tempt Jesus, to show how Jesus is like all of us. Who was tempted every way like us (Hebrew 4:15)

Brethren, our Source of temptation is never GOD!! Our Source of temptation is our “Evil Desires” (1 John 2:16) says, For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — comes not from the Father but from the world.

Temptation comes to man in different ways in the World :

1.The Lust of the Flesh (Excessive desires to satisfy bodily needs)
2.The Lust of the Eyes (Some one captivated by an outward show of materialism)
3.Pride of Life (Arrogant spirit of self sufficiency)

Eve’s Temptations in(Genesis 3:6)

WAS THE USE OF THE DEVIL’S IRRESISTIBLE TOOL ON EVE

Lust of the flesh → The woman saw that the tree was good for food.
Lust of the eyes → that it was pleasant to the eyes.
Pride of life →  a tree to be desired to make one wise.  “All temptations that comes to man fall in one of these categories”.

A CAREFUL LOOK AT THE PROCESS OF TEMPTATION–James 1:15

Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Desires → conceived → Gives birth to Sin → fully grown → death.

EVREYTHING ABOUT TEMPTATION IS “DESIRE”

NO DESIRE NO LUST OF THE FLESH

NO DESIRE NO LUST OF THE EYES

NO DESIRE NO PRIDE OF LIFE

Brethren– Watch and pray, lest you enter temptation-Matt.26: 41

1 Cor 10:13 says:

 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

WAYS WE MUST APPLY TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION

In Matt 6:13, Jesus required us to pray:

And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.

(James 4:7) says, surrender to God and resist the devil and he will flee from you.

SAY NO, AND THE DEVIL WILL FLEE

Brethren, we face temptations every day in our life, remember, the origin of any temptation is having Desires of the things of the world. ( 1John.2:15 )

It 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’’.

It has become necessary that we walk every day in the Spirit ( Gal.5:16 ) I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Brethren, remember, in 1pet.5:8 the Bible made it abundantly clear that our  enemy the devil is like a roaring lion to see how he can capture our hearts and take us away from GOD! these temptations, if not stopped,  can be  hindrances to our eternal salvation  if we don’t take them seriously!

(James 1:16–18) says, Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

What is this passage saying?

1. Every good and perfect gift come from God.
   (1 John 1:5)says, “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
   Darkness represents sin, evil and corruption.
   Light represents goodness, honesty, purity, wisdom, glory, and love, everything that comes from God is light. That which comes from darkness is(sin, evil), there is nothing good that comes out of it. God is light we get only good gifts from the father of lights.
2. God never changes
   (Malachi.3:6) Says “For I am the Lord, I do not change; He is the God of yesterday, today, and forever. GOD cannot change HIS mind the way we do based on circumstances.
3. He gave us new birth through the word of truth. Yes, we are new creation through the word of truth, that is the ‘’Gospel.’’
4. He chose us to be the first fruits of all creation. God’s chosen people are His first fruits!

 1 Peter 2:9; But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Finally, THE BEST WAY TO AVOID TEMPTATION IS FOR YOU NOT TO GO NEAR THE DOOR. 

1. Do not visit an opposite sex alone.
2. Do not accept gift or gratification as a sister from an opposite sex.
3. Do not lust over anything (look but don’t lust)
4. DO not go into any form of Gambling.
5. Avoid social visit to hotels.
6. Do not forsake the assembling of the Saints e.t.c. Brethren, if this is done, the door to temptation is completely closed.

BRETHREN, PRAY ALWAYS (1 Thess. 5:17).

MAY GOD BLESS HIS WORD IN JESUS NAME AMEN

Download Lesson