1. Politician
A politician was running for re-election and was talking at a campaign stop to his constituents.
"My opponent has called me a liar. I want you to know that I have never lied to you. The only problem I have is that the facts don’t always match up with what I believe or say."
Not all politicians are guilty of lying or deception but some are. Or else they make a lot of promises that they can’t keep. We do know, however, that the world is full of people who try to deceive others.
2. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. James 1.16-18
3. Don’t be deceived!
a. Adam and Eve
b. James 1.16, 22, 26 – “Don’t be deceived”
c. Temptation & deception go together – [Monkey Trap/Lure
4. We make changes when we learn enough or hurt enough
Recently I heard about a middle school in Oregon that faced a unique problem. It seems that a number of girls there were going into the bathrooms and putting on their lipstick. After they put it on their lips, they pressed their lips to the mirrors leaving dozens of little lip prints. I guess they thought it was kind of cute, but as you can imagine it was a nightmare for the janitors. Finally the principal decided something had to be done. She called the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the custodian. She explained that the lip prints caused a major problem for the custodian, who had to clean the mirrors every day. To demonstrate how difficult it was, she asked the custodian to clean one of the mirrors. As the girls watched, the janitor took out a long-handled brush, dipped it into the toilet, and scrubbed the mirror. That little demonstration had amazing results. Since then there have been no lip prints on any of the mirrors in that school. (from PreachingToday.com)
What that principle was doing for those girls was little bit like what James is trying to do for us in the passage we are going to look at this morning. He wants us to think about what we are doing. He is convinced that if we understand a little more about the nature of sin, we are going to be less likely to be so cozy with it. Let’s look at what he has to say.
5. Trials Vs. Temptations
I. The Steady Nature of God
6 “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ Malachi 3.6-7
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13.8
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1.5
Donald Trump is worth about 3 billion dollars. Where did he get all of his money? Donald was the fourth of five children of Fred Trump, a wealthy real estate developer based in New York City. Donald was strongly influenced by his father in his eventual goals to make a career in real estate development.
Perhaps Trump’s father gave him money to get started in his real estate business. His daddy funded his operation. And whether you realize it or not your Father has funded your operations as well!
Your earthly father may have helped you quite a bit. We fathers tend to do that kind of thing. However, it’s your Father in heaven who is funding your whole life and operation. DON’T BE DECEIVED! You wouldn’t have anything good were it not for Him!
A. God is Not Deceptive
The story is of a poor guy, with dark glasses and his little tin cup was standing on the street corner, patiently waiting for a small contribution. A kindly man passed by and generously dropped a dime in the poor old fellow’s cup. Then for some reason he turned around, and to his surprise saw the blind man’s glasses pushed up on his forehead, looking at his recent gift.
“I thought you were a blind man,” said the disgruntled donor. “Oh, no,” was the answer, “I am only substituting for the regular blind man today. I’m not really blind at all.”
“Well, where is the regular blind man?” asked the other. “Oh, he’s gone to the movies; it’s his afternoon off.”
There’s a lot of deception going on in this world of ours and perhaps mostly for money.
1. Satan wants to undermine God’s goodness – “He’s holding out on you” – “Doesn’t want you to be as smart as he is. . .”
2. Authentic nature of God
B. God Demonstrates Goodness
1. In His Will
New Birth (brought us forth)
Grace – undeserved/non-negotiable
2. In His Gifts
GOOD – for all to enjoy
Perfect – for the maturing of his people
3. In his Nature – Romans 8.28
II. The Significant Word of God
The kindly judge said to the witness on the stand: "You seem to be in some distress. Is anything wrong?" "Well, your Honor," said the witness, "I swore to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but every time I try, some lawyer objects."
That sounds like the world. Whenever we try to tell the truth about God, Christ and the Bible, somebody objects!
A. Yeshua (Jesus) = Word Incarnate
1. All Hinges on the Faithfulness of Yeshua
2. Genuine Nature – John 1.1, 14
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3.5-8
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. John 16.7-11
4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 1 John 5.4-8
3. He Lived it and Taught it – For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. Ezra 7.10
B. True/Reliable/Genuine Word
1983 must have been a strange year for the German people. During that year the people observed the birth days of two notable men. That year marked the 500th anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther and the 100th of Karl Marx. Marx was the father of socialism/communism. Its development led to the imprisonment of the human spirit. Luther led people to freedom from the Medieval Catholicism.
In our world we see two ideologies at work. One is from the prince of the power of the air who leads people into slavery through his deceptions. The other sets men free by the application of the blood of Christ. One works for the downfall of man; the other works for the saving of man.
1. Establishes Faith (Romans 10.17)
[Debate among the Rabbis – Which is greater: Learn or Do? – Learn to do.
2. Powerful!
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1.21
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 1.16-17
22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 1 Peter 1.22-23
[Eastern European Missions stories of people reading their new Bible and becoming followers of Jesus
Conversion Examples -- WORD
III. The Successful Actions of God
A. First Fruits – Origin – Leviticus 23.9-15
1. One of Seven Key Feasts
2. Close to Pesach (incorporated)
3. Foreshadowing of Yeshua (Jesus) – 1 Corinthians 15.20-23
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
B. First Fruits -- Implications
1. Giving First = Giving the Best
2. Giving First = More to come (John 14.3; 19-20)
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
3. Giving First = Acts of Faith
4. Christians and First Fruits – Romans 8.19-23, 29
19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
1. 1 Corinthians 10.13 (No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.) speaks of escape, but not from temptation. Rather, it speaks of being able to bear it. God has pledged that he will never let the temptation be too heavy for us.
SLIDE A little boy stretched out his arms so that his father could put a stack of goods on them so the boy could carry them to the other end of the shop. As the boy waited for more, an onlooker said, “You cannot manage anymore.” The boy replied, “My father knows how much I can carry.” So it is with our heavenly Father and our temptations/burdens.
2. It is Essential that we come to God because of who he is and what he has done for us
a. Bought us with the blood of Yeshua
b. Brought us up with faith
c. Gives good and perfect gifts
d. Tells us truth
3. Don’t be deceived
4. Be among his first fruits
