January 2, 2005

Tested, Tempted & Tough
Xealot Series, Part 1
Speaker: Adam Edgerly

Text: James 1:1-18

How can we be joyful about all kinds of trials?

• See trials as training and focus on the goal

Trials =	Test of Faith	Perseverance	Maturity & Completeness

The end goal is what gives us Joy (Hebrews 12:1-3)

• Resist Temptation, which comes from within

(1 John 2:15,16; John 14:30)

• Trust God for wisdom ( Skill for Living)
• He gives good and perfect gifts
• He never changes

¹ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

   To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:   

 Greetings. ²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ⁶But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double minded man, unstable in all he does.

    ⁹The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. ¹⁰But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

    ¹²Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

    ¹³When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. ¹⁵Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.

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

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