Trials &
Temptations
James 1:12-18
© John Stevenson, 2009
Blessed are you when people
insult you and persecute you, and
falsely say all kinds of evil against
you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and
be glad, for your reward in heaven
is great; for in the same way they
persecuted the prophets who were
before you. (Matthew 5:11-12).
Harold Kushner
Suggests one of two
possible conclusions:
• God is good but not
able to prevent bad
things from happening
• God is able to prevent
bad things, but he is
not good.
1:1-4
We are to consider our trials to have an
end result of joy because endurance is
being produced in our lives.
We are to ask God for wisdom so we
1:5
can see and understand the benefits of
those trials.
There is a condition to the reception of
1:6-8 God’s wisdom. It is that we be singleminded in our desire to know God.
We are given a practical application in
1:9-11
dealing with those trials. It is in the
area of our finances.
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.
Trials
Reward
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.
stefanoj
 Victor’s wreath
James 1:13
Let no one say when he is
tempted, “I am being tempted by
God”; for God cannot be tempted by
evil, and He Himself does not tempt
anyone.
If God cannot be tempted,
then how was Jesus tempted
in the wilderness?
Trials
Temptations
Comes from the
Comes from the inside
outside and moves into
out.
your life.
Brings life.
Leads to maturity.
Brings death.
Leads to a maturing of
sin.
God brings the outward He does not bring the
trials into your life.
inner temptations;
those come from within
you.
James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when
he is carried away and enticed by his
own lust. 15 Then when lust has
conceived, it gives birth to sin; and
when sin is accomplished, it brings
forth death.
Lust
Sin
Death
James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when
he is carried away and enticed by his
own lust. 15 Then when lust has
conceived, it gives birth to sin; and
when sin is accomplished, it brings
forth death.
How was this process seen
in the Garden of Eden
temptation?
Process begins with a need
(either real or perceived)
Desire in the heart
Outward act
of sin
Faith & trust
in God
Death
Life
James 1:16-17
Do not be deceived, my beloved
brethren. 17 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.
Present tense
“Stop being
deceived”
James 1:16-17
Do not be deceived, my beloved
brethren. 17 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.
James 1:18
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.
Our Will
God’s Will
Each one is tempted
when he is carried
away and enticed by
his own lust (1:14).
In the exercise of His
will He brought us forth
by the word of truth
(1:18).
We exercise our own
will independently of
God when we sin.
God exercised His own
will in order to save us.
Exercising our own will
brings forth death.
Exercising His will led
to bringing us forth by
the word of truth
James 1:18
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.