Great Blessing belongs to those who are tested. James 1:12-18, Mancave edition.

Previously we had been talking about the trying of our faith – it is really what this life here on earth, for us, is all about; and, how that testing of our faith builds patience in us. The process involved in the building of patience leaves us entire, lacking nothing. If you are struggling, thinking that you are incapable of demonstrating this kind of endurance, ask God, and He will give you the WISDOM to develop this patience.

Why? Because this is the nature of God, and He never operates outside of His character.

The opportunity for us to demonstrate this faith and patience is a part of the life we live. Jesus told us, in the world, you will have tribulations, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. This verse is used in just a moment as we progress. Our endurance leads us to James 1:12.

James 1:12a ERV,  “Great blessings belong to those who are tempted and remain faithful!

Who is he talking about when he says, those who are tempted?

That would be all of us who follow Christ.

Did someone falsely lead you to believe that you would have the perfect life if you come to Jesus? They lied.

John 16:33 DRB  In the world, you shall have distress. But have confidence. I have overcome the world.

If you live on this planet, you are considered to be a part of this world; and, therefore, subject to distress. There is NO way around this fact.

Most translations will tell you that you will have tribulations; that is simply another word for afflictions, and those come in every shape and size. If you are not aware, in Nigeria, the Islamic herdsmen are slaughtering the Christ-followers in groups of about 15. Distress and afflictions look a little different for all of us. I happen to think horrendous things are coming to America. A Bernie Sanders staffer declared, that if Trump gets reelected, America's cities will burn. Does that sound like distress? Absolutely.

I realize that many of you do not have confidence; if you did have confidence, what would your confidence be in?

James 1:12b NLT  Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Revelation 2:10 NIrV  "Don't be afraid of what you are going to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you. You will be treated badly for ten days. Be faithful, even if it means you must die. Then I will give you a crown. The crown is life itself.

So what are the great blessings that are coming to us?

Eternal life with the Father, and a world filled with peace.

Do any of you have that peace now?

Yeah, I didn't think so. I sure don't.

James 1:13 NASB Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

(MKJV ) Let no one being tempted say; I am tempted from God. For God is not tempted by evils, and He tempts no one.

You will be tempted. Now the question is, what will become of you?

James 1:14 MKJV  But each one is tempted by his lusts, being drawn away and seduced by them.

You all know what the word lust means, don't you?

It means desire, inclination, arousal. Most apply the words lust and desire to sexual activity and the action associated with that want; this is NOT just a man’s problem. In reality, it is the thing your heart hopes and longs for. 

What is it that you secretly desire; that thing you won't share with anyone?

NO, I don't want to know, we all have those things that have the potential to pull us away from the God that loves us. Yes, we can even think of the desires and what it does to us, as a seduction. Just know this, we are a prisoner to our secrets.

James 1:15 MKJV  Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin. And sin, when it is fully formed, brings forth death.

When lust has conceived, what does that mean?

Conceived is what happens when two people, capable of making a baby, fulfill their burning desires. Out of this action, a baby is often conceived. But we are not talking about babies, are we? We are talking about inclinations and motives that we are allowing to drive us, and these inclinations are being allowed to come full term. That means this baby has to be nourished and cared for just to be born.

I know of a pastor who fell to his desire to pass naked pictures of himself across Facebook. In time this became ugly and embarrassing public information and he was removed from his pulpit. Oh sure, he is back behind a podium, after several years of accountability and counseling, but my brief interactions with him tell me that this is still a struggle for him.

If alcohol or smoking was your lust, was it easy to walk away from?

James says it brings forth death. How many ways can a believer die?

Having given ourselves over to Jesus Christ, we are no longer subject to death. Yes, this body is appointed to die once, and I get that. Still, our Spirits will never die, they will live forever in eternity with the Father or they will remain forever with Satan, if they choose to follow him, separated from God, in outer darkness, is death.

James 1:16-17 MKJV  Do not err, my beloved brothers.  (17)  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning.

Do not think for a minute that the distress you are experiencing is from God and James 1:16,17 makes that clear.

The Easy To Read Version says it this way:

ERV  Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father, who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same.

Look at this.

James 1:18 NASB In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of first-fruits among His creatures.

Can you grasp the idea that HE brought you forth?

This idea of “brought forth,” the Greek word apokueō means to give birth to. He, by the WORD OF TRUTH, caused us to be born once again. The Apostle Paul was all over this idea in his letter to the church in Rome.
Buried with Him in baptism, we were raised to a new life — one which is NO LONGER a slave to sin.

WHY? Because dead men can't sin.

Romans 6:4-7 NASB Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, (6) knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; (7) for he who has died is freed from sin.

Ezekiel speaks of this life in us.

Ezekiel 37:14 NASB "I will put My Spirit within you, and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken and done it," declares the LORD.'"

If you are going to be a purist, then you could say that I have taken verse out of context, but even Jesus took verses out of context. For you who don't believe I will demonstrate.

Luke 4:16-21 NASB And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. (17) And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, (18) "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, (19) TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." (20) And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. (21) And He began to say to them, "Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

What Jesus quoted was Isaiah 61; however, He took a portion, appropriate for the moment, and delivered it to the Jewish audience in the Synagogue that morning, who would have recognized that it was out of context. The context reads like this:

Isaiah 61:1-2 NASB, The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; (2) To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,

Notice how Jesus left off the part about the end of the age, “And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,” as it did not yet apply, and would not fit until almost 2000+ years later – which happens to be NOW.

We, although to some it does not feel like it, are living in the most exciting times this earth has ever seen. The time when Jesus will come back in the clouds to gather those that are awaiting him to himself. Only moments after this event, the skies will split, the earth will shake, and the whole world will know what it is like to experience an angry God. Seven years later, Jesus will come once again; only this time, He is coming with a sword. All enemies will cease to be, and there will be a thousand years of peace. Those of us who are awaiting Him will be caught to meet Him in the air, and all that our hearts longed for, a life in the Father's arms of love, will finally be known.