With every trial comes temptation to ultimately sin against God through choosing to seek to handle trials our own way, the way we have always reacted. This is where our mind needs to be renewed {Romans 12:2}. We need to submit our mind to Him and love Him with all of our heart and mind by choosing to respond the way He has laid out for us. The word “trials” and “temptations” in the book of James,come from the same Greek word. Think of a coin with two sides. One coin, two different sides. Whats the difference between a trial and temptation?

THE PURPOSE OF A TRIAL
Trials are a test of loyalty to God. The purpose of a trial is to build you up in your faith, through producing perseverance and spiritual maturity 1:2-5 and in v 12 to express love to Him by choosing to persevere in the face of difficulties by appropriating the 4 commands laid out in James 1. namely ,1- “Immediately commence rejoicing, 2 -“Knowing” has to do with an understanding mind. You Know or literally it reads”because you know” what God is out to produce perseverance and spiritual maturity through them in you! 3.-“Let”- is the third command which has to do with- a submissive will. 4. -“Ask”- is the fourth command . We are to ask for “wisdom” in our trials and He promises He will give as we ask in faith! The Motivation for handling trials God’s way is “love”- v12. Trials are a test of loyalty to Him. In obedience to Him is an expression of love for Him through persevering in the trial as He lays out the how to with the 4 commands!

THE PURPOSE OF TEMPTATION
Temptation is designed to trip you up. Temptation is a solicitation to choose to sin against God by yielding to the temptation. Temptation is not sin. Yielding to it is! With every trial to build you up comes the temptation to trip you up to sin against God! The goal of temptation is to tempt you to disobey God and sin against Him! The temptation ultimately is to attack God, through you or me yielding to temptation and sinning!

HOW DO YOU OVERCOME TEMPTATION?
In Matthew 4 Jesus was tempted three times to choose to lean to His own understanding. To act independent of His Father.How did He overcome the evil one’s solicitation to evil? He said three times, “It is written,… it is written,… it is written…”

God always provides a way out, so we need not sin against Him.

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.”- {1 Corinthians 10:13 – NLT}.

NOTE: IN EVERY TEMPTATION THESE THREE TRUTHS ARE FOR YOU AND ME

  1. Temptations are not unique to you alone- but are common.
  2. God is faithful in the temptation.
  3. God provides a way of escape – so you need not sin against Him.

Know His Word and apply it to your circumstances. The 4 Commands listed out above are necessary for you to hide in your heart so in time of testing and temptation you know what God says and you have the power and promises and clarity of His Word in how to honor Him in your trials!

Can you tell someone else how God says they are to respond to trials?

Can you tell someone else the purpose of a Trial?

Can you tell someone the purpose of Temptation?

It is imperative you do if you are to be used by God to give accurate and timely help through using His Word to help them. Think of the alternative, “vain philosophy? {Colossians 2}. Your own understanding- which is forbidden- {Prov 3:5-6}. You could end up doing more damage to the individual, indeed you most certainly will if you do not share His Will as revealed in His Word which is sufficient for “every good work” {2 Timothy 3:16-17}.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or SAY, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” -{Col 3:16-17 – NLT}. His Word – we are to be rich in it and allow it to fill our hearts to influence us and see and say things from His perspective!

APPLICATION

It is IMPERATIVE you hide His Word in your heart. Write out James 1:2-5 and memorize them.

Underline the 4 commands.

Perhaps write on a 3 by 5 card and carry with you and when you have time think on each of the 4 commands.

You could place the verses on a mirror or by your bed to read and familiarize yourself with God’s way in your trial and the Holy Spirit can remind you when, for James does say “when” trials are inevitable and if you are not in one now, or have not come from one, you are heading into one and it is imperative you know His way so you can express “love” to Him as v 12 says!