Wednesday, February 6, 2008

James 1:13-18

Read James 1:13-18

Recap from last week (verses 1-12):

TRIALS=TESTING=PERSEVERANCE=MATURITY

In other words, your TRIALS (verse 2) will =TESTING (verse3) which will = PERSERVERANCE (verse 4) which will = MATURITY (verse 12).

These factors are controlled by God.

THIS WEEK:

TRIALS=TEMPTATION=SIN=DEATH

Do not let your TRIALS (verse 13) make you fall into TEMPTATION (verse 14) causing you to SIN (verse 15a) which will bring about DEATH (verse 15b).

These factors are controlled by Man.

The word "desire" means "longing". With that in mind, we are going to focus on the three characterisitcs of sin: Its ORIGIN, the ACTION of it and its EFFECT.

1. The ORIGIN of sin is often "longing" for something else or our own evil desire. This is conceived in our hearts and often becomes temptation. We must take responsibility for it and "check it" before it progresses.

2. The ACTION of temptation takes birth as sin. A picture of this would be a hunting/fishing metaphor in which we are dragged away by the thing that we have a desire for and decide to take matters into our own hands in order to achieve that desire.

3. The EFFECT of sin leads to death.

Related verses:
Read Romans 6:23.
These verses are a beautiful picture of the death that sin causes in stark contrast to the gifts that God gives through Jesus. This is also a reminder that we are to look to God for gifts (usually the last place we go and where we spend the least amount of time) rather than to friends (usually the first place we go and often where we spend the most of our time).

Read Isaiah 6:1-8.
These verses are a beautiful picture of the awesomeness and greatness of God! Why wouldn't we want to go to him first? In verse 6, Isaiah is crying out "WOE IS ME, FOR I AM RUINED!" because he had sinned. Then, as a sign of God's healing, Seraphim came to him with with a burning coal which touched him and his sin was purged (forgiven).

Read 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
This verse highlights that bad company corrupt good morals. One commentary said that affliction from the outside is to be endured. Temptation must be resisted.

Questions asked from James 1:13-18:

What exactly does it mean that He is the "Father of Lights" (verse 17)?
The word "Father" means "creator." 1 John 1:5-7 goes more in depth as to what it means that the "Father of Lights is no variation or shadow of turning."

What does it mean that we might "be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures" (verse 18)?
Just as we are to tithe with the "first fruits" of our labor or crop, our lives are to be like HIS first fruits. This brings the verse 2 Chronicles 16:9 to mind which is how I will close.

Please let us know what questions you may have from these 1 James or even any prayer requests that our study may pray for YOU! Until next week, RESIST temptation! God bless you.

"For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His." 2 Chronicles 16:9.

1 Comments:

Blogger Liz Austin said...

Hi Glenda!! Thanks for posting the notes. I really miss bible study. All these colds (aka poca dots) have left us away for too long! Looking forward to getting back into it. Much more fun hearing the messages in person!

February 12, 2008 at 10:18 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home