Trials and Temptations Sermon - written for 11th grade Bible class

Trials and temptations (Based on James 1: 1-12) Copyright Harmony

A. My message on trials and temptations comes from James 1:2-18, which we’ve already read.

1. With recent events such as 9-11 and a tsunami in the Indian Ocean, many people are asking: Why?

2. Why do we have trials?

3. How do we get through them?

4. What attitude & response should we have?

B. Body

1. Before we can answer this question, we must first define what a trial is.

a. The NAS NT Greek Lexicon defines a trial as:

· the test of a person's fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy

· a temptation, whether arising from desires or outward circumstances

b. Biblically, we must understand that:

· Satan is the Tempter; he, the corruption in the world, and our own, sinful desires create trials, or the testing of our faith.

c. We must also understand that there are different kinds of trials:

· unfortunate circumstances tempt you to lose faith

· uncomfortable duty tempts you to disobey

· good circumstances tempt you to sin

· something good tempts you to pass up the best that God has for you

c. Example

· When I went to France last summer, I expected the best. However, I found myself in a quite different situation. Peers and adults pressured me to drink and smoke, I had to defend my faith, and I had to get through hard circumstances.

2. Attitude

a. We need to look at our trials with Joy.

· James 1:2 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds”

b. When we do not have this attitude of joy, we ask “Why,” and often blame God.

i Example

· In France, I found myself questioning God, asking why He brought me there, why I even wanted to go there in the first place. I was placing blame on God that should have been on my self, even though it was my choice to go there. I was not looking at things with joy.

· I John 2:16 says, “For everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does comes not from the Father, but from the world.”

· ii. This “selfishness” of our desires tempts us to stray from what God has planned for us.

Example

· Greg Knapp: Had a sailboat that provided relaxation and family time that he really needed. After becoming a Christian, he realized that the time required to go sailing kept him from going to church. He was tempted by what seemed good in the world’s eyes, but he chose God’s best by selling the boat so he could go to church.

c. God always provides relief from temptation and trials.

i. God provides a “right” decision; you always have a choice.

· 1 Cor. 10:13 says, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

ii. God will help you see the right decision.

· James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

iii. Under hard circumstances, God will help you get through. He can provide the smallest ways to bring relief.

d. Example

· Once again, I recall my experience in France. Even though I had questioned God, I found the strength to put faith in Him. When I was tempted, I said no. When I was homesick or just plain sick of the circumstances, God provided ways to cheer me up. Twice, I saw Christian groups performing in the streets. My parents found a church that I was able to go to. The people at the church were good to me: they gave me rides and invited me into their home for dinner. Finally, the night before my flight home, I could not get a ride to the airport. I tried calling the pastor of the church to get the number of a lady who I knew would give me a ride; but when I went to call her, my phone would not work: I was out of minutes! By this time it was nearly midnight. You can imagine my panic. I gave a final prayer and headed out the door to find a pay phone. As soon as the door close behind me, my phone rang. It was Dorcus, the woman I was trying to call! She drove me to the airport and I got home safely. The Lord provided for me and got me through my trials.

3. God has a purpose for trials.

a. Trials lead to perseverance and maturity. In the end, rewards await us in heaven

i. God can use temptations to test us to confirm the strength of our faith and the sincerity of our love for Him. When the heat is on, we reveal who are and what we truly believe.

ii. Painful situations produce character the same way regular exercise tones muscles. As they say, “No pain, no gain.”

· James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

b. God uses trials to correct and train, because he loves us.

· Hebrews 12:5, 6 says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”

c. example

On December 26, 2004 an Indian Ocean tsunami caused destruction, suffering, and death along the shores of Africa, India, southern Asia, and islands of the Indian Ocean.

i. Why?

· Gregory Boyd, author of Is God to Blame? says, “Because the first humans sinned, the laws of nature have been corrupted and don’t all operate now the way God originally intended them to…. If it wasn’t for the angelic and human rebellion, we wouldn’t have tsunamis or hurricanes or AIDS or anything of the sort.”

ii. God won’t fix the problem of evil because separating good from evil would end the current world system early.

- Judging good and evil before the Second Coming would be like choosing the winner of a ten-mile race after only nine miles.

- God would no longer get to show how He can bring good out of evil

- God’s children would no longer grow

- God’s children could no longer earn rewards

- No one would be left for God to save

· In the Parable of Weeds, found in Matthew 13:29-30, it says, “No, he answered, because while you are pulling the weeds you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time, I will tell the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.”

· Author John Blanchard says, “In short, if God tweaked the laws of nature billions of times a day merely to ensure everybody’s freedom from trials, we would never know which physical laws were operating from one moment to the next.”

iii. In the end, God will judge evil, Christ will come again, and the righteous will be rewarded.

· James 1:12 says, “Blessed 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.”

iv. There are many reasons that we could never understand. It is not up to us to decide what we should and should not know.

· To know exactly why, we would have to know the mind of God

o I Corinthians 2:11 says, “In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

C. To summarize:

1. You will be tried.

a. Bad circumstances will test your faith

b. You will need to do things that you don’t want to do

c. Desire for good things will tempt you to sin or will keep you from the best that God has for you.

· 1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

2. Choose the right attitude when going through trials and temptations: Joy!

· I Peter 4:13 says, “Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”

3. Resist wrong attitudes

a. Realize that our desires can be evil and destructive

b. Don’t blame God

c. Don’t expect to know the Big Why

c. When you fail -- and you will -- don’t give up. There is always a way out.

· Matthew 26:41 says, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

4. Persevere

i. You will grow stronger and more mature,

ii. You will gain rewards in heaven

iii. Going though trials won’t last forever.

· In closing, James 5: 8, 11 says, “You, too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

A. My message on trials and temptations comes from James 1:2-18, which we’ve already read.

1. With recent events such as 9-11 and a tsunami in the Indian Ocean, many people are asking: Why?

2. Why do we have trials?

3. How do we get through them?

4. What attitude & response should we have?

B. Body

1. Before we can answer this question, we must first define what a trial is.

a. The NAS NT Greek Lexicon defines a trial as:

· the test of a person's fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy

· a temptation, whether arising from desires or outward circumstances

b. Biblically, we must understand that:

· Satan is the Tempter; he, the corruption in the world, and our own, sinful desires create trials, or the testing of our faith.

c. We must also understand that there are different kinds of trials:

· unfortunate circumstances tempt you to lose faith

· uncomfortable duty tempts you to disobey

· good circumstances tempt you to sin

· something good tempts you to pass up the best that God has for you

c. Example

· When I went to France last summer, I expected the best. However, I found myself in a quite different situation. Peers and adults pressured me to drink and smoke, I had to defend my faith, and I had to get through hard circumstances.

2. Attitude

a. We need to look at our trials with Joy.

· James 1:2 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds”

b. When we do not have this attitude of joy, we ask “Why,” and often blame God.

i Example

· In France, I found myself questioning God, asking why He brought me there, why I even wanted to go there in the first place. I was placing blame on God that should have been on my self, even though it was my choice to go there. I was not looking at things with joy.

· I John 2:16 says, “For everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does comes not from the Father, but from the world.”

· ii. This “selfishness” of our desires tempts us to stray from what God has planned for us.

Example

· Greg Knapp: Had a sailboat that provided relaxation and family time that he really needed. After becoming a Christian, he realized that the time required to go sailing kept him from going to church. He was tempted by what seemed good in the world’s eyes, but he chose God’s best by selling the boat so he could go to church.

c. God always provides relief from temptation and trials.

i. God provides a “right” decision; you always have a choice.

· 1 Cor. 10:13 says, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

ii. God will help you see the right decision.

· James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

iii. Under hard circumstances, God will help you get through. He can provide the smallest ways to bring relief.

d. Example

· Once again, I recall my experience in France. Even though I had questioned God, I found the strength to put faith in Him. When I was tempted, I said no. When I was homesick or just plain sick of the circumstances, God provided ways to cheer me up. Twice, I saw Christian groups performing in the streets. My parents found a church that I was able to go to. The people at the church were good to me: they gave me rides and invited me into their home for dinner. Finally, the night before my flight home, I could not get a ride to the airport. I tried calling the pastor of the church to get the number of a lady who I knew would give me a ride; but when I went to call her, my phone would not work: I was out of minutes! By this time it was nearly midnight. You can imagine my panic. I gave a final prayer and headed out the door to find a pay phone. As soon as the door close behind me, my phone rang. It was Dorcus, the woman I was trying to call! She drove me to the airport and I got home safely. The Lord provided for me and got me through my trials.

3. God has a purpose for trials.

a. Trials lead to perseverance and maturity. In the end, rewards await us in heaven

i. God can use temptations to test us to confirm the strength of our faith and the sincerity of our love for Him. When the heat is on, we reveal who are and what we truly believe.

ii. Painful situations produce character the same way regular exercise tones muscles. As they say, “No pain, no gain.”

· James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

b. God uses trials to correct and train, because he loves us.

· Hebrews 12:5, 6 says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”

c. example

On December 26, 2004 an Indian Ocean tsunami caused destruction, suffering, and death along the shores of Africa, India, southern Asia, and islands of the Indian Ocean.

i. Why?

· Gregory Boyd, author of Is God to Blame? says, “Because the first humans sinned, the laws of nature have been corrupted and don’t all operate now the way God originally intended them to…. If it wasn’t for the angelic and human rebellion, we wouldn’t have tsunamis or hurricanes or AIDS or anything of the sort.”

ii. God won’t fix the problem of evil because separating good from evil would end the current world system early.

- Judging good and evil before the Second Coming would be like choosing the winner of a ten-mile race after only nine miles.

- God would no longer get to show how He can bring good out of evil

- God’s children would no longer grow

- God’s children could no longer earn rewards

- No one would be left for God to save

· In the Parable of Weeds, found in Matthew 13:29-30, it says, “No, he answered, because while you are pulling the weeds you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time, I will tell the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.”

· Author John Blanchard says, “In short, if God tweaked the laws of nature billions of times a day merely to ensure everybody’s freedom from trials, we would never know which physical laws were operating from one moment to the next.”

iii. In the end, God will judge evil, Christ will come again, and the righteous will be rewarded.

· James 1:12 says, “Blessed 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.”

iv. There are many reasons that we could never understand. It is not up to us to decide what we should and should not know.

· To know exactly why, we would have to know the mind of God

o I Corinthians 2:11 says, “In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

C. To summarize:

1. You will be tried.

a. Bad circumstances will test your faith

b. You will need to do things that you don’t want to do

c. Desire for good things will tempt you to sin or will keep you from the best that God has for you.

· 1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

2. Choose the right attitude when going through trials and temptations: Joy!

· I Peter 4:13 says, “Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”

3. Resist wrong attitudes

a. Realize that our desires can be evil and destructive

b. Don’t blame God

c. Don’t expect to know the Big Why

c. When you fail -- and you will -- don’t give up. There is always a way out.

· Matthew 26:41 says, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

4. Persevere

i. You will grow stronger and more mature,

ii. You will gain rewards in heaven

iii. Going though trials won’t last forever.

· In closing, James 5: 8, 11 says, “You, too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”