Turning Tests into Testimonies
James 1:12-16
When James tells us do not err, I believe it means not to misunderstand what his point is in vs. 12, 13.
There is an explanation why in one verse James relates temptation with God, and in the next says it isn’t God who tempts.
In the original wording we can find our differences.
Blessed is the man who endureth temptation, for {when he is tried}… When the test is over, when the results are gathered, when the experiment is finished, when the results of the examination are completed – that man will progress or gain nothing depending on his ability to overcome temptation.
Vs. 2 ‘My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.’
We have discussed how God is the divine director, the boss, the manager, the conductor in our lives and everything has a purpose and a reason. Nothing just happens. There are no coincidences. We do not believe in luck or fate, we believe in the hand of God working in our lives.
When our mind and heart comes to grip this fact it is easier to live by faith. It is easier to trust Him.
In vs. 12, God is the tempter; the tester, the crowner, and the promiser.
Hand me that weight. This weight is to help me. Even though my body doesn’t want it, my schedule didn’t include it; if I endure this trial I will receive benefits. It all depends on how I handle it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 ‘ There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’
First, never think that no one else has ever gone through what you are going through. Common to man. If someone else has ever made it, so can you.
Back to our vs. 12 in James, the crown of life refers back to the Roman Olympics wrestling. It is said that the last man standing would receive the crown of life. I’m not sure what tests you’ve been struggling with, but remember when you’ve done all to stand, stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth.
How can I count it as Joy? Look at the end results. Physically, there will be greater stamina, greater muscle, less fat, less hardship lifting. Easier lifting. The trial doesn’t bring the joy, but the purpose does.
God wants you to be like Him. He will send us the right training for the task. How foolish would it be to train someone to deal with propane if that person was hired to captain a tugboat? God custom orders your trials. If you could realize that, you might not ask for a way of escape. There are some trials that people have to go through over and over because they didn’t learn the first time.
Vs 13 – ‘let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man’
The Greek in vs. 12 for temptation is literally {putting to proof by experiment, experience, discipline.} – pirasmos’
The Greek in vs. 13 {to prove wrong, to scrutinize, to entice, to destroy} apirastos.
When ___________ handed me the weight, he gave me a vs. 12 test. If he would have swung it to hit me in the head, that would have been a vs. 13 test.
Vs 13 deals with who is at fault. When 9/11 happened, before the ambulances got to the scene, reporters where asking why God allowed such a horrible thing to happen. People will always blame God.
The devil is also not at blame in vs. 13. He is really nothing when we look at him. He was just a choir boy in heaven. Nothing but an usher. Nothing but a bellboy. Nothing but a busboy. He was cast out, kicked out, throwed out, he fell to the earth like lightning. Even on earth, he answers to God. In Job’s day God held a meeting and the devil had to answer for everything he was up to.
Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
‘I can’t touch him; your hedge is too tall.’
Even when we read about him we see defeat, chains, a lake of fire, a bottomless pit, victory and the peace of God for eternity. So in vs. 13, it is also not the devil that tempts.
Who could it be? Not God. God would never let anything happen to you that would possible bring separation between Himself and you. His love is so great for you that nothing can separate you from the Love of God.
It isn’t the devil. It isn’t anyone else. Not your raising. Not your financial condition, not your political faction, not your race, face or place.
Vs 14 ‘But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.’
His own lust. My lust is not the same as your lust. This is not necessarily sexual either. There is a lust for fame, power, money, pride, control, domination, and we could think of more.
A man is enticed, he is seduced, and he is attracted to others of the same lust. Birds of a feather flock together, the same goes for spirits too. Go to a public gathering, all the liars will find each other. All the whoremongers will find each other. The gays, the timid, the perverts.
In our churches, the gossipers, the backbiters, the preacherhaters, the rebellious. The effeminate, the self-righteous, the hypocrites, the trouble-makers.
You need to look at your clique. Who are you hanging out with. If you don’t like the way your group is going, you need to separate yourself. Loneliness isn’t as bad as hell. Being misunderstood isn’t as bad as hell. If you have to be less spiritual to be accepted in your circle of friends, you need new friends.
There is a hedge built around each of us. The devil cannot get over, under, around or through. No one can remove you from the hand of God.
Looking back at vs. 14 – ‘But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust’
John the Revelator writes to the church in pergamos – thou hast held the doctrine of balaam.
“I cannot curse what God has blessed” He sent what appealed to their own lusts, and they cursed themselves.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
When you find yourself in a test, you need to look for sin. God will not test you with sin. If you cant find sin, you know it is God making you stronger, better; and blessed is the man who endureth temptation, for he shall receive the crown of life.
What is it that you are struggling with. We cant be phony. I was raised to never admit struggles. I always felt backslid when I had to go through tests. People sometimes don’t tell everything when they testify, some people wont say anything so they wont risk misunderstanding.
You are not less of a Christian just because there are things in you Christ is working out. I’m not trying to make it easier for you, but I am. If while I was young I knew I wasn’t the only one struggling, I could have overcame easier.
God wants your tests to become testimonies. You aren’t the only one who can benefit. Other people can also.
