Last week we finished with CH. 1 vs 11.  Let’s pick up in vs 12.

VS 12

Why in ANY WAY would trials be a “blessing” for us?

Who here likes silver jewelry?  I like it.  I’m not a gold man myself.  I like SILVER.  It is beautiful  to me.  But do you know what it looks like when it comes from the ground?  It is an ugly rock for the most part…mixed with ore and sediment.  The POTENTIAL for beauty is there…but at 1^st, it is not much to look at!

The same is true with us!  God sees us as precious metal…but like silver we may have a long way to go before we start to look like it!

*We need to go through some…….well some testing and refining!

Silver is heated, removing the worthless rock and debris.  Unfortunately this does not take place just once.  The refiner has to heat it up time and time again…and each time the heat removes more impurities, until it becomes pure and precious!

Do you know how the refiner knows when the metal has reached it’s purest

Only when he is able to see his own reflection is he able to call it good!

That is how I believe God works with us!!!  He allows us to be tested and refined until finally he can look at you and see himself!!!!

WHY? Why this way?

Not because he is an egotist or power freak…or not because he wants some freaky clone army!  Because when you become like Christ, you’ve reached your fullest and greatest potential.  You’ve become your strongest, happiest, most complete self!

I believe this is what James means by “crown of life”….once you have made it through the fires……the crown given to victors, a crown given only to royalty!

VS 13

Is this true?  Does God really not tempt us?  What does this mean?

Humans LOVE to pass the buck!  Words like “Don’t look at me.  It wasn’t my fault.  But he started it”…do these sound familiar? 

This is nothing new.  It started way back with the 1^st 2 humans.  READ GEN 3:12,13

Adam and Eve were doing it…blaming Eve or the serpent! 

I believe this is what James is discussing; this is what he is clearing up.  If we sin, and give in to temptation, then LET US fess up to it and move along!  Don’t dump it on God!  He isn’t up in heaven trying to think of ways to trick us and make us stumble…..HE IS ON YOUR SIDE! 

God is all powerful, but he is also VERY much into a thing called “FREE WILL”. 

Why is this SO important to God?

He wants us to choose…..here’s an example.  If we choose to jump off a cliff….he will do all he can to discourage it and warn of the consequences………BUT if we still insist, he will respect us enough to let us have our way……EVEN if it means watching the children he loves so deeply destroy themselves!   THE EXACT SAME IS TRUE WITH US AND SIN!

So he has allowed man and Satan to play out the hands for now…….key word: FOR NOW!  Eventually He WILL take what is done and start turning it around for good (Romans 8:28).

SO remember God is ON YOUR SIDE…when you are being tempted turn to him NOT to blame but for help!

VS 14,15

You see……….it is OUR LUST to blame for temptation!

Why do we sin?

Let’s face it.  Let’s be honest.  We LIKE sin!  When something is forbidden, we want to know why!  It is strange…but we are all wired that way.

But here is the deal……we also HATE sin.  If you are a Christian, then part of you now hates sin!  And when you do fail, you feel guilty, discouraged and cut off from God.  In essence what we have is a civil war going on inside us………

Is this a winnable battle?

I’ve heard sin described as a bird trying to nest in a tree.  If the tree were to shake off the bird each time it tried to land, the bird would eventually fly away.  But if the tree sits still and lets the bird stay, eventually it will attach its nest and hatch its young!

Get it?  THOUGHTS of sin frequently come into our minds.  That is normal.  We are not yet PERFORMING any sinful action…it is just a temptation.  Sin comes when we refuse to shake the thoughts from our heads and take authority over them!!!!  If we let them live there…before we know it they give birth…to action L

**The trick is to shake off those THOUGHTS before they take root!  Don’t dwell on them.  Don’t drool over them like a kid in a candy shop.  Take authority over them and tell them to leave in Jesus’ name! 

The choice is yours!  You ARE NOT a mindless puppet!  You are a creature of free will. And if you belong to Jesus….you have extra help….the HOLY SPIRIT is living inside of you, helping to give you the power to resist temptation.