1. Introduction 1:1

To the ‘Dispora’, those who are scattered.

The Pharisees testified to the extent of the dispersion of the Jews –

John 7:32-36  The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?

The Jews had spread throughout the world and many of to and were present during the trial, crucifixion,  burial and resurrection of Jesus.  They had come for the Passover and the Feast of Weeks, and many heard the Gospel and took the good news back to their home towns and cities.  Many Jewish believers were also resided in Jerusalem as the church was growing, only to be scattered abroad upon the persecution of the church as recorded in –

Acts 8:1-4  And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

These first Jewish believers faced many trials and temptations for their faith from both their families and their communities.  They needed the Lord’s help to be able to endure the trials.  The Lord led James to write to them and help them in their times of trouble.

1. Instruction on temptation. James 1:2-27
2. Response to temptation.  James 1:2-12
3. Understand the result.   James  1:2-4    What may be achieved –

“…that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.’

2. Use the resources that God provides.  James 1:5-8

How to meet the need!

“…If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him….But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering…”

And then be –

3. Uplifted in spirit.  James 1:9-12  

         The right attitude – Refer to

Proverbs 30:8,9  Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

1.  Our standing in God is not based on social position

James 1:9-11  Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

1).  The Poor man – “I do not have anything to offer but myself”.

2).  The Powerful man – “I have much to offer, but God does not

want me because of my wealth, He simply wants me”!

“After the wealth is gone, I will continue on!  I am glad that

it was me that God wanted and not those things that fade

away.”

3).  The Precious truth – God is no respecter of persons  –

Ephesians 6:7-9  With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

1. Our standing in God is based on love, and His reward is following.

James 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Therefore, knowing how to respond to temptation, we need to know the

1. Reason for temptation in the Christian’s life.  James 1:13-18

Why am I facing these troubles?  This is the often asked question, but

we must remember that everyone faces trouble, and –

1. The reason is sin.  I have heard many over the years say “Since God

created everything, He is responsible for sin, which is responsible for

suffering.”  James clearly answers this accusation!

James 1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

We are aware that sin is the problem because there is a –

1. Constant fight for control in the believer’s life.

Galatians 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

We should remember God’s warning to Cain –

Genesis 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Sin is described as a beast waiting at the door to overpower, to conquer and control Cain.  Cain is commanded to overcome the sin in his life.  He had a choice to make – submission or superiority.  He could submit to God’s will, or he could choose to act according to his own will, placing himself above God.

Cain did not heed God’s warning even though he knew the reality of making self-serving choices, his parents being the prime example!

Christians are involved in a battle – a renewed battle every day.  We should remember that the Lord Jesus Christ has won the war already and we have the victory in Him, but the individual battles continue until He comes again.     There is a constant fight for control.  Sin destroys –

1. Contentment.  It is like a vapour that disappears quickly.

1).  Eve had position, the immediate creation of God who was in

partnership with Adam to have dominion over all of the

earth.  – it was not enough.  She desired to be as God and

Adam approved of their actions.

2).  Lot had possessions – the pastoral life was not enough, as they

kept him separated from the world.

3).  David had power – it was not enough.  (Bathsheba, I want her

and so, I will have her)

4).  Solomon had the respect of the people – it was not enough.

(He could judge every situation, except his own)

Some people ask “Did God tempt Adam and Eve with evil by planting the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden and then forbidding them to eat of the fruit of it”?

The answer is simple and Biblical – No, God did not tempt them with evil!

God did not create, introduce, or tempt man to sin!

Adam and Eve were created with what is commonly called “Free Will” or the freedom of choice. Consider their days –

Choice of Food:    Mango, Grapes, Figs?

No consequences of which has priority

Choice of Labour:  Trim the trees, till the ground, order the garden.

No consequences of which has priority

Choice of Obedience:  God   Only one God, where is the choice? –

Without free choice there is no true free will.

To exercise free will, man is given the choice of

Self which is represented by the tree of the

knowledge of good and evil. with consequences, or

God with continued blessed relationship.

Adam exercised his free will in choosing to exalt

himself over God, with the full knowledge that –

2. The result is death.

James 1:14-15  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

He was in no way tempted to evil, he was warned of evil!

3. The response is submission to the Truth.  James 1:16-18

1 Timothy 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.

As we have read –

1. Avoid excuses.  James 1:13    “…I am tempted of God…”
2. Admit responsibility.  James 1:14  “…his own lust…”
3. Agree with God and embrace the truth.  James 1:15-18

How –

1).  Reject sin.

James 1:15-16  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.

1 Peter 2:11-12  Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 John 2:15-16  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

2).  Rejoice in Truth.

James 1:17-18  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Are you rejoicing in the truth today?

Have you confessed to the Lord that you are a sinner in need of  His forgiveness, asking Him to save you?

Are you saved and obeying that which you know God wants you to do?