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.
13When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:13-17
Sermon notes.
God is a giver of every good and perfect gift.
Trials are just that, as in a court of law. How will you come out? Pure as driven snow, or??
The Venerable Bede distinguished between two types of trials and testing.
Exterior trials and testing–poverty, illness, accident–may be sent by God to try and test us. He know how we’ll do. We may not.
Interior testing–temptations to lust, anger, unforgiveness, malice, untruthfulness, fretting, rage, greed–come from Satan.
Screwtape letters–It is in the troughs, in the valleys, in dull and boring periods, our downs, that Satan lurks, seeking to “get” us. So true!!
“It’s all very well letting oneself go, provided one can get oneself back!” Amen!
One of the things to do in a time of temptation to sin is to close the doors of temptation.
He talked about the coming of the Holy Spirit in “waves of liquid love, waves of liquid power.”
And about the importance of praying in tongues for intercession, intimacy, worship and spiritual warfare!
