Wednesday Study Material
Sep 15, 2011
How do I meet Temptations, Trials, and Storms WHEN they come?
James 1:5-12
James 1:12 (NKJV)
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
I. James mentions three (3) vital needs for dealing with trials. (Vs. 5-8)
a. We need wisdom. "If any of you lack wisdom…" (v.5). Why is wisdom
a necessary ingredient? If Christians are to see their trials in a true light
and make proper use of them, they must understand them.
b. We need prayer. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God". (v.5).
James says that if we are conscious of a lack of wisdom in our lives, we
should pray to God, and God will supply it. Next James lists four (4)
encouragements to prayer.
1. God "giveth to all men." It is God's desire to give.
2. God "giveth to all men liberally." God gives generously.
3. God "upbraideth not." God will not rebuke you for asking.
4. "And it shall be given him." We must come with assurance.
c. We need faith. "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering" (v.6). We are
to ask for wisdom with a trust in God that our request will be granted
according to God's divine will. Hebrew 11:6
II James lists some specific examples of trials. (Vs. 9-11)
a. He speaks first of "the brother of low degree," or the test of poverty (v.9),
referring to Christians who live in humble circumstances. The word "low" does
not refer to spiritual condition, but to earthly status.
b. He then speaks of "the rich," for whom prosperity is a kind of test (v.10).
These people are not to glory in what they have come to possess materially but
in the fact that they are "made low."
III. James gives us the reward for faithfully enduring temptation. (v.12)
a. It involves the possession of an inner "blessedness." "Blessed is the man that
endureth temptation." "Blessed" in the New Testament means "favored" and
speaks of a kind of joy that is unaffected by outward circumstances.
b. Such a believer will "receive the crown of life." The Christian who properly
endures the trials of life has exceedingly great joy and a royalty the highest earthly
potentate has never realized apart from Christ! It is the crown of life-that is, it is
the crown that consists of life, abundant and overflowing life.