Week 2: James 1:13-18

Recap from last week:
James 1:1-12

TRIALS(vs. 2) +TESTING (vs. 3)+PERSEVERANCE(vs.4)=MATURITY(vs.12)

These factors are controlled by God.

THIS WEEK:
Read James 1:13-18.
TRIALS=TEMPTATION=SIN=DEATH
Do not let your TRIALS (verse 13) make you fall into TEMPTATION (verse 14) causing you to SIN (verse 15a) which will bring about DEATH (verse 15b).

These factors are controlled by man.

Key Words:

• Tempt=try, test, prove or solicit to evil
• Desire=longing 

When a longing is not fulfilled, it can lead to annoyance and annoyance can lead to bad decisions OR taking matters into your own hands.
Examples of taking matters into your own hands as you face trials:

• Bad marriage=adultery
• No money=stealing
• Telling the truth is too painful=living a lie

With these things in mind, we are going to focus on the three characterisitcs of sin: Its ORIGIN, the ACTION of it and its EFFECT.

1. The ORIGIN of sin is often "longing" for something else or our own evil desire. This is conceived in our hearts and often becomes temptation. We must take responsibility for it and "check it" before it progresses.

2. The ACTION of temptation takes birth as sin. A picture of this would be a hunting/fishing metaphor in which we are lured or dragged away by the thing that we have a desire for and decide to take matters into our own hands in order to achieve that desire.
3. The EFFECT of sin leads to death.

Related verses:
Romans 6:23
This verse is a beautiful picture of the death that sin causes in stark contrast to the gifts that God gives through Jesus. This is also a reminder that we are to look to God for gifts (usually the last place we go and where we spend the least amount of time) rather than to friends (usually the first place we go and often where we spend the most of our time). My partner shared a saying our pastor often shares that she has written in her Bible: "Go to the THRONE instead of the phone." This is an especially important reminder for us as women.

Isaiah 6:1-8.
These verses are a beautiful picture of the awesomeness and greatness of God! Why wouldn't we want to go to him first? In verse 6, Isaiah is crying out "WOE IS ME, FOR I AM RUINED!" because he had sinned. Then, as a sign of God's healing, Seraphim came to him with with a burning coal which touched him and his sin was purged (forgiven).

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
This verse highlights that bad company corrupt good morals. One commentary said that affliction from the outside is to be endured. Temptation must be resisted.
Proverbs 25:19
Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

Questions:
What exactly does it mean that He is the "Father of Lights" (verse 17)?
The word "Father" means "creator." 1 John 1:5-7 goes more in depth as to what it means that the "Father of Lights is no variation or shadow of turning" which means there is not even a shadow (aka ZERO darkness). He is LIGHT!

What does it mean that we might "be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures" (verse 18)?

Just as we are to tithe with the "first fruits" of our labor or crop, our lives are to be like HIS first fruits.

A girl in our study brought this helpful print out that will give you an even deeper insight into firstfruits. I'm not sure of the resource or I would certainly credit it. 

Conclusion:
This brings the verse 2 Chronicles 16:7-9 to mind which also ties into an illustration from last week about relying on the Lord vs. relying on man--David and Goliath (David feared the Lord and Goliath feared his circumstance).

verse 7- Asa relied on man and the army escaped from his hand.
verse 8- Asa relied on the Lord and a mighty army was delivered into his hand!
verse 9- ALL that matters to the Lor is that your heart is completely HIS. If it is, here are a few of many examples of how he can use YOU!

Please let us know what questions you may have or even any prayer requests that our study may pray for YOU!

Until next week, RESIST temptation and God bless you!

"For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His." 2 Chronicles 16:9.