Living Faith: Overcoming Trials & Temptations

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This sermon is the third message in a series of sermons on the New Testament book of James. Using the closing eight verses of chapter one, the sermon provides help in overcoming trials and temptations.

Written Excerpts:

James 1:21 ^(NKJV) Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Introduction:

We have begun a series of messages through the book of James. We are calling the series “Living Faith” for two reasons: 1) In chapter two James explicitly declares, “faith without works is dead.” In James’ mind there is such a thing as dead faith (faith that has no effect/no results). So, he is apparently urging his readers to exercise a living faith. 2) The entire letter James has written includes numerous practical instructions on how to live a godly life day by day. Therefore, it follows that real genuine Christian faith is faith that makes a difference in how we live – it is a living faith.

The first two sermons were all about gaining an understanding of trials, and temptations. We learned the long-term “benefits” of trials and we learned the true source of temptations to do evil. Today, we will finish chapter one by learning some truths about overcoming trials and temptations.

II.  Living Faith: Overcoming Trials & Temptations (1:19-27)

God’s plan and the message of the Bible is that Christian believers should be victorious over our trials and temptations. The Scriptures never portray normal life for believers as a life of defeat. I know how the enemy works, and he likes to convince us that it just isn’t possible to rise above the trials and be consistently victorious over temptations. He wants us to believe that we just have to accept the fact of constant disappointment and defeat. But, James has a different message to give.

A.  Overcoming God’s way, not man’s (vv. 19-20)

“Wherefore” – (NKJV, So then); a particle that connects the present thought with what has preceded it. 

Some ancient manuscripts have a different word here that is translated: “know this/knowing this.”

Either way, the intended point still seems to be, “In regards to what I’ve just said, you need to understand this.”

“swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” 

This can be understood as an independent thought / principle about our general conduct, or it can be interpreted in light of the preceding verses about trials and temptations. I think it refers to the preceding verses about temptations. Sometimes, the natural human response to trials and temptations is to get angry and start spewing our minds rather than just listen to the Spirit and learn from our trials. 

“I don’t deserve this.” “I’ve had enough trouble.” “Why did this happen to me?” …

“The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

There is a kind of “righteous anger” that is not sinful. It is perfectly Christ-like to be angry with wickedness and evil; to be angry about Satan’s destructive influences upon our families and our society. However, James seems to be speaking about the anger that is strictly human-centered and self-motivated. This kind of anger goes contrary to the righteousness of God.

When we are angry about something that has happened, we need to check our attitude to see if what we are thinking/saying is in agreement with the character of God.

B.  Overcoming with God’s means (vv. 21-25)

The next few verses speak about the means for overcoming trials and temptations.

1. Remove obstacles that hinder. (v. 21a)

The first admonition James offers for overcoming temptations is to remove obstacles that hinder victorious living.

“lay aside” – cast away; put off from one’s self.

“filthiness” – lit. dirty; compare James 2:2 ^(NKJV) For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,

Here in chap. 1 it probably is intended figuratively for wicked, vile. 

“superfluity” – superabundance; overflow

“naughtiness” – wickedness; evil

Isaiah 55:7 ^(KJV) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

In order to have victory over temptation, we must come to the place where we are absolutely through with sin; we are sick of our sin; we hate it and we want what is godly more than what is simply satisfying to our fleshly desires. But, that is not all that is needed. Many people despise their sin and intend to put it off/aside but find that they are powerless to do anything.

2. Receive the means for victory. (v. 21b)

The second thing that is needed for victory is  “receive with meekness the engrafted word.”

“meekness” – mildness; humility; docile. (A.T. Robertson) This should be contrasted with the anger mentioned in v. 20, not with evil/naughtiness mentioned in v. 21.

Instead of getting angry about the trials and temptations, we need to humbly accept the Word of God and get it firmly planted into our minds and hearts.

“engrafted word” – implanted word; 

Seen on Facebook – If you want to be spiritually fit, you have to workout more than just one day a week for an hour. Also…

David Platt – If you took away the air conditioning, padded seats, cool music and colored lights, would your love for the Word of God still be enough to bring you out to church?

To implant/engraft the Word it takes more effort than brief, casual attempts at reading a few verses here and there.

Rom. 10:17 –  … faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

3. Use what is received. (vv. 22-25)

Not only is it so vitally important to learn the Word and study it so that it can become implanted in our hearts and minds, but James declares that it is also necessary to practice what we learn.

Be doers and not hearers only.

He makes an illustration here by referring to someone who looks into the mirror then promptly forgets what he/she sees about themselves in the mirror.

The Word of God becomes more meaningful and understandable if we earnestly seek to apply its teachings and principles to everyday life. The more we apply it, the more clear it becomes in our understanding.

When God shows us something in the Scriptures, we need to deliberately take the necessary steps to start including that principle/action in our lives rather than simply acknowledge it as “good advice” or “interesting information.” When we fail to put into practice the truths and principles we learn from the Word, then we automatically are testifying that the Bible is no different and has no higher authority than any other book we might read.

“deceiving yourselves” – if the Bible has no higher authority for us than any other book, then we are deceiving ourselves if we think we are followers of Christ.

C.  Overcoming with convincing evidence (vv. 26-27)

What does it look like when people allow the Word to become implanted in their minds and hearts? What happens when we start letting the Bible change us?

1. Evidence includes control of one’s speech. (v. 26)

One of the things that happens when the Bible changes us is it affects our tongues / our speech.

James will have a lot more to say about this important principle in chapter 3, but now he essentially tells us that we know the Word is starting to have an effect on us when we start controlling our tongues. James doesn’t elaborate here, but when we consider the rest of Scripture, then controlling the tongue eliminates such things as: gossip; vulgar talk; profanity; bitter, hateful comments; etc.

Ephesians 4:29 ^(KJV) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 

When someone’s speech changes, you really know that God is at work in their hearts! In fact, James says if the tongue isn’t under control, then that person’s religion is vain or worthless.

“religion” – (Thayer) religious worship, especially externals like ceremonies, etc. 

Religious ceremonies and activities do not cover up the evil coming from our speech.

2. Evidence includes genuine compassion. (v. 27a)

Another bit of evidence that the Word has been implanted into our minds and hearts is the fact that it motivates us to help others.

This last verse starts out with this phrase, “pure religion and undefiled before God is this.”

“religion” – same exact word that was used in previous verse regarding the use/misuse of the tongue.

 “pure…undefiled” – positive and negative way of saying basically the same thing. Pure = clean; undefiled = not soiled.

It is demonstrated by showing genuine compassion to orphans and widows.

(Robertson’s Word Pictures in the NT) this is not a definition of religion or religious worship, but only a pertinent illustration of the right spirit of religion which leads to such acts.

 “visit” – to inspect; go see; (Thayer) to look upon in order to help or benefit.

“affliction” – literally, a pressing together, pressure. Figuratively, trouble, tribulation, anguish or distress. Same word in Rom. 5:3 “tribulation worketh patience.”

Really relates to the kinds of trials James talked about in the early verses of this chapter. We all go through them, but when some of the weakest among us (orphans/widows) are facing them we need to look into ways we can help them.

3. Evidence includes a desire for purity. (v. 27b)

The third bit of evidence that the Word has been implanted into our hearts is the desire we exhibit for purity. That is, to separate ourselves from the moral filth of the world.

“unspotted” – literally, not stained or defiled. 

Both verbs in verse 27 (visit and keep) are in the present tense, which means continuous actions.

Notice the tension here between carrying out the first admonition as well as the second. In order to show the compassion as we should it is necessary to be involved in the world, but at the same time we need to remain unsoiled by the world.

Conclusion:

The earlier sections of James chapter one helped us to understand general trials as well as temptations to do evil. Now, he has been describing how we can be overcomers; how we can avoid being defeated by trials and temptations, but we can be victorious.

James provides some clear admonitions on how a person can be victorious – by getting rid of filthiness and by receiving and implanting God’s Word in our minds and hearts. Then he describes the kinds of changes or transformations that will show up when we do get the Word in our hearts.

In all of these admonitions, it is paramount that we have the help of the Holy Spirit to change us and empower us as we try to live a holy life and please the Lord.

The song I’ve chosen for our closing hymn mentions the things we need in these days.

In Times Like These