(Pastor Steve starts the first section - co-preaching with Pastor Karenlee)
The Scripture that we’ll be taking a look at today is …
James 1:15-18
“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.”
Working our way through the first chapter of James we have noted:
Joy in trials brings perseverance, endurance, maturity and completeness
The Rich and the Poor both have humiliation and trials
Perseverance through trials brings eternal life
Trials can lead to temptation when the way of the flesh calls for escape
Yielding to temptation leads to sin which, unchecked, leads to death
Without pausing James goes immediately into verse 16 which says:
“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.”
With regard to trials and temptations we have not only the input that comes into our mind through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch but we have the onslaught of the deceiver as well.
John 8:44b
“[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
What is the intention of a lie? To deceive!
1 Timothy 4:1
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
Galatians 6:7
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.”
Matthew 24:4
“Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you.’”
For instance when facing a severe trial, where not only you but a loved one may encounter harsh circumstances, the temptation will often arise to totally avoid the situation.
We can have victory through trials by reliance on God
We will experience defeat try to avoid the trial God has allowed you to go through.
If God is allowing testing, He is right there with you.
If God is allowing testing and you bail out in order to save yourself from facing difficulties or even death you are choosing to leave God behind and go it on your own.
James 1:16
“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.”
God doesn’t call us to the easy way of life!
There may be pain ahead! There may be suffering ahead! There may be death ahead.
Should we try to escape the pain, suffering and even death if God has called us to it??
Once again, what should our attitude be?
Where do You want me right now for You and Your kingdom here on earth?
Escape is the way of the world. With escape the light at the end of the tunnel is indeed a train!
Facing the trial may look like disaster but the path with Christ is always best.
= (Pastor Karenlee) ==================================================
James 1:16-18
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.
When talking about deceiving, satan’s deception has not changed. From Eve until now his lie is the same that God can not be trusted. Satan says “Does He truly mean what He says”? Trying to put this wedge between God and ourselves creating this doubt and uncertainty within us.
So although James is talking about trials and temptation in life, he also goes deeper by saying do not be deceived about the Truth of God which is expressed in the next two verses. So lets read that
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.
In other words James is saying that we must have a true understanding of the nature and character of God, so that when faced with temptation and trials we will already have this firm foundation of Truth through His Word to rest and draw upon to combat the deceptions of satan.
From the Word of God what do we know about the character of God:
Luke 18:19b – Jesus says “No one is good—except God alone. God is Good
Leviticus 19:1-2 - The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. God is Holy
Ps 116:5 - The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
God is gracious, righteous, compassion
1 John 4:16a - And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.
God is Good
Numbers 23: 19 - God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill? God is Trustworthy
Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
He will never leave or forsake us
God is Good, God is Holy, He is Gracious, He is Righteous, He is Compassionate, He is Love, He is Good, He is Trustworthy, He will never leave us or forsake us.
With this ground work Lets look at these 4 thoughts:
• Father of the heavenly lights
• who does not change
• He chose to give us birth
• Every Good and perfect gift
He is The Father of Light - As the "Father of lights,"
So God is the Father of lights the creator of all light, the sun moon stars,
but not only of heavens, but also the light of wisdom, understanding, conscience, truth, inspiration and
He is also of the Father of the children of light.
So as we receive His light, we are being encompassed by it and walking in this light.
What does light do to a room of darkness?
It exposes that which is unseen.
The dangers of the evils of this world
The evil or the darkness even within my own character that I had never seen before
Ex. Motivated for self interests.
Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.
So what does this light represent? Goodness, righteousness and truth.
What was the foundation of the truth of God that we built upon?
God is Holy, He is Gracious, He is Righteous, He is Compassionate, He is Love, He is Good, He is Trustworthy, He will never leave us or forsake us.
= (Pastor Steve) ======================================================
Before we move away from God as the Father of heavenly lights I’d like to take a look at one more aspect of this light. The Bible is spoken of as spiritual light in the Scriptures themselves.
Psalm 119:105 NKJV
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
How precious is the Bible?!?! It is truly a good and perfect gift coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights!
It reveals error!
Try driving on a moonless, cloud covered night on a remote country road without your car’s headlights on and you will see how the absence of light let’s you fall into error!
A friend of a friend of mine posted this on FB last week.
This is a supposed discussion between Jesus and Judas. Jesus speaking first and is actually asking Judas to betray Him.
“You will, Judas, my brother. God will give you the strength, as much as you lack, because it is necessary - it is necessary for Me to be killed and for you to betray Me. We two must save the world. Help Me."
Judas bowed his head. After a moment he asked, "If You had to betray Your master, would You do it?"
Jesus reflected for a long time. Finally He said, "No, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to. That is why God pitied Me and gave Me the easier task: to be crucified.”
If you know God’s Holy Word you know that such a conversation is wrong on so many levels that it is incomprehensible to even consider it.
What was the rational for this friend of a friend to accept it as truth? He says,
“There is no way that we can know for sure that such a conversation never took place.”
Now, we know that every word of Jesus was not recorded in the Bible but we also know that the previous “discussion” is so out of character with the Holy Scriptures that such an idea is preposterous and totally out of character with not only the New Testament but all of the Old Testament prophecies as well!
That is just one example of the Light of the Word of God which came down from the Father of the Heavenly Lights exposing the deception of the evil one.
James 1:17
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
God is the same; yesterday, today and forever!
God created the earth. God has been with us through all of history past. God is with us now. God will be with us in the future. God will judge us. God will be with us throughout eternity.
What was sin before is sin now. What was righteousness then is righteousness now.
God is not worried about the shifting imaginations of humanity regarding what is right and what is wrong.
God does not change like shifting shadows!
= (Pastor Karenlee) ========================================================
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth”
He chose to give us birth The emphasis is on He for
He provided the plan of salvation
He knew the cost
but He chose to be the sacrifice
He paid the price to satisfy His very own wrath
He gave to us entrance into His kingdom
He renewed our relationship with the Father
He provided us with forgiveness and healing from the ravages of sin
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth”
All this revealed to us through the word of truth
Notice the light shining, light being shown in darkness
What are these good gifts? Steve
= (Pastor Steve) ================================================
The good and perfect gifts are:
The love of the Father, the incarnation, sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit who indwells us and guides us.
The good and perfect gifts are:
The body of Christ, the church, filled with other citizens of the Kingdom of God who pray for and teach and encourage each other.
The good and perfect gifts are:
The trials and testing that comes our way in order to build and strengthen our spiritual muscles so that we can be strong in Christ.
The good and perfect gifts are:
The promise of eternal life with Jesus Christ our Lord.
The good and perfect gifts are:
Salvation and sanctification (explain)
Are you saved? Are you living a life fully devoted to God?
Invitation
