The Book of James: Trials and Temptations

James 1:1 NIV

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

James 1:2-3 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 

About Trials:

Trials come in many forms, but they often come as an outside force beyond our control. Typically, they happen to us, seemingly out of nowhere. 

God will use trials to  us up spiritually. 

• Growth requires that we get God’s .  

• Growth requires that we trust God’s .

James 1:4 NIV

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

• Growth requires that we press into God’s .

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” –C.S. Lewis 

• Growth requires that we seek God’s  and then stand firm in our .

James 1:5 NIV

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 

James 1:6-8 NIV

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. 

1 Peter 1:7 NLT

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 

About Temptations:

Temptations: Temptations are invitations from the evil one to sin and dishonor God. They are also internal struggles between doing what is right and doing what is wrong.

• Satan wants to use temptation to  us. 

James 1:13 NIV

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.

• Each temptation is a gateway to a  to destruction.

James 1:14-15 NIV

…but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 

Deception. 

Deception >>> Desire 

Deception >>> Desire >>> Disobedience. 

Deception >>> Desire >>> Disobedience >>> Death.

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” –Ravi Zacharias 

• God makes  temptation possible.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

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. 

A: Avoid the . 

A: Avoid the situation. C: Counter with the .

A: Avoid the situation. C: Counter with the Word. D: Develop healthy .

A: Avoid the situation. C: Counter with the Word. D: Develop healthy friendships. C: Commit to .

James 1:18 NIV

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.