James 1: 1-18

Here are the notes from today's passage.

Book: James
Chapter: 1:2-18
Caption: Trials and Temptations
Chief People: James

Choice Verse: 12: “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.”

Crucial Words: trial (the action or process of trying or putting to the proof; to test); temptation (the act of tempting or the state of being tempted especially to evil, a cause or occasion of enticement)

Challenges: There are two main challenges that come from this selection. First, to consider it pure joy when you’re in a trial (v. 2-12). It takes an incredible amount of faith and courage to take part in a trial and still find the pure joy and happiness that the Lord can provide. A trial also provides the opportunity for a man to humble himself before the Lord and others. It’s important to remember that only the meek will enter the gates of Heaven. The second challenge is that of recognizing where your personal areas of weakness are, being able to identify where your temptations will lie. God cannot tempt you because He can’t stand against Himself. It is also important to know that Satan does not place the temptations. He plays on your natural tendencies. Satan doesn’t have any control over us. What he does is dangle it in front of us like the proverbial carrot to the donkey. We choose to act on it! In the time of temptation we have to make a conscious effort to turn towards God.

Cross-References: Trials: 1 Thessalonians 3:3; 2 Peter 2:9 / Temptation: Matthew 4:1, 6:13 and 26:41; 1 Corinthians 7:5 and 10:13; Hebrews 2:18 and 4:15/ Meekness (meek): Psalms 37:11; Matthew 5:5; 2 Corinthians 10:1 / Humility (humble) Proverbs 11:2 and 15:33; Philippians 2:3; Titus 3:2; 1 Peter 5:5

Christ Seen: Christ is seen in two major ways. One, that we have to have the ultimate faith in Him! Two, Christ will put us through trials in order to deepen our relationship with Him. We will be forged from fire and will become better either because of it or in spite of it. Remember as iron sharpens iron, so man shall sharpen man.

Central Lessons: Just as a student in school or a child to his parents, we have to learn in order to grow. We have to be taught lessons, and the main way we learn is by doing. We have to be put through trials in order to: 1) learn the lesson needed, 2) grow as a person, 3) (the most important) grow as a Christian, and 4) be able to help others as they go through the same trial. Yes the trials can change, but there is a guarantee that people will experience the same trials. There are some common trials: family, health issues, substance abuse (in all types of forms), and the one we all can/will relate to work. The thing that separates a mature Christian to an immature Christian/non-Christian is faith. Without faith we can’t possible keep our eyes on the Lord when in a situation of hardship.

Conclusion: It can best be summed up with verses 2-4: “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.

Notes: I’ve got to make sure that no matter the situation I seek God’s will. I try to handle too many things on my own (thinking I’ve got all the answers, or I’ve got to be in control). How could I possibly y handle something better than the man (not sure if God’s really a man parse) who created the Heavens and the Earth? I need to grow in the Lord and need to make sure that my prayer life matches this. I also need to make sure that I can hear the alarms go off when something isn’t quite right. We all spend so much time protecting ourselves from others (house alarms, car alarms, etc); we should take even more precaution from the things that can truly harm us. What more harm can there be besides our eternal home? I also need to know what my “buttons” are, and be able to recognize them way before a problem can arise.
This could be tied into a Fruit of the Sprits, Prayer, and/or Seeking God’s Will study.