THE SCARLET PATH

    BIBLE STUDIES

                                                "LET'S CONQUER THESE TRIALS"

                                                          JAMES 1:5-12

 INTRODUCTION:

           IN OUR PREVIOUS STUDY WE TALKED ABOUT THE TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS THAT WE ALL GO THROUGH ON OUR JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE.

           WHAT IS THE WORST TRIAL YOU FACE RIGHT NOW?     WHAT IS THE WORST TEMPTATION, THE TEMPTATION THAT JUST SWARMS IN UPON YOU AND OVERCOMES YOU.

           IT THERE AN ESCAPE?     IS THERE A WAY TO OVERCOME THAT TRIAL OR TEMPTATION?                                                                                                                                                                                             WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT FACING IT ALL WITH THE SPIRIT OF "JOY" BECAUSE GOD IS MAKING US STRONGER AND MORE LIKE CHRIST.     BUT IS THERE A WAY THAT CAN ASSURE VICTORY AND DELIVERANCE?     THIS IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS PASSAGE IN JAMES 1:5-12.

  READ JAMES 1:5-8

 VERSE 5 "IF ANY OF YOU LACK WISDOM, LET HIM ASK OF GOD, THAT GIVETH TO ALL MEN LIBERALLY, AND UPBRAIDETH NOT; AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN HIM."

 VERSE 6 "BUT LET HIM ASK IN FAITH, NOTHING WAVERING. FOR HE THAT WAVERTH IS LIKE A WAVE OF THE SEA DRIVEN WITH THE WIND AND TOSSED."

 VERSE 7 "FOR LET NOT THAT MAN THINK THAT HE SHALL RECEIVE ANY THING OF THE LORD."

 VERSE 8 "A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS."

           GOD INTENDS THAT TRIALS WILL DRIVE BELIEVERS TO GREATER DEPENDENCY ON HIM BY SHOWING THEM THEIR OWN INADEQUACY.  GOD HAS WISDOM IN ABUNDANCE, AS WITH ALL HIS RICHES, ROMANS 11:33, AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO SEEK IT.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             VERSE 5 IS NOT A BLANKET PROMISE OF WISDOM FOR ANY AND EVERY SITUATION.     IN CONTEXT OF LIFE'S TRIALS, IT PROBABLY SPEAKS OF THE BELIEVER BEING GRANTED:

           (1). WISDOM AS TO THE REASON FOR HIS TRIALS;                                                                                  (2). WISDOM TO ENDURE THEM.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                WISDOM IS A GIFT FROM GOD.     KNOWLEDGE IS ACCUMULATED LEARNING.                                    THE BEST WAY TO GROW IN THE LORD THEN, WOULD BE TO PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE GIFT OF WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING.                                                                                              ASK GOD FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE YOUR TEACHER AND GUIDE.     THEN  STUDY THE WORD OF GOD AND GROW IN THE WORD, AND IN EXPERIENCE.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 WHEN WE ASK, WE MUST BELIEVE THAT WE WILL RECEIVE, AND WE SHALL HAVE WHAT WE ASK.     GOD DOES NOT JUST INDISCRIMINATELY POUR OUT WISDOM ON EVERYONE.     WE MUST PRAY AND ASK, AND THEN WE WILL RECEIVE IT!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   NOW, HOW CAN A BELIEVER CONQUER THESE TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS?     YOU MUST ASK GOD FOR WISDOM.                                                                                                                                           WISDOM MEANS A LOT MORE THAN JUST KNOWLEDGE.     KNOWLEDGE IS THE GRASPING OF FACTS, AND MOST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD HAVE HEADS FULL OF FACTS.                                               PEOPLE WITH HEADS FULL OF KNOWLEDGE ARE VERY COMMON, BUT WHEN COPING WITH THE TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS OF LIFE, SOMETHING MORE THAN A HEAD FULL OF FACTS IS NEEDED.     WISDOM IS NEEDED!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     WHAT IS WISDOM?     WHAT DOES THE BIBLE MEAN BY WISDOM?     WISDOM IS NOT ONLY SEEING AND KNOWING ALL ABOUT LIFE.     WISDOM IS SEEING AND KNOWING WHAT TO DO WITH THE TRUTH.     WISDOM GRASPS THE TRUTHS OF LIFE.     WISDOM NOT ONLY GRASPS THE FACTS, IT KNOWS WHAT TO DO WITH THEM, AND IT DOES IT.

 READ VERSE FIVE AGAIN:                                                                                                                   THIS VERSE SAYS JUST ASK GOD FOR THE WISDOM.                                                                              NOW LOOK AT THE WONDERFUL PROMISES MADE TO US WHEN WE ASK GOD FOR WISDOM.                                                                                                                                                                    (1). GOD WILL GIVE US WISDOM.                                                                                                                  (2). GOD WILL GIVE US A GENEROUS AMOUNT, AN ABUNDANCE OF WISDOM.                                    (3). GOD WILL NOT REPROACH OR REBUKE US FOR NOT KNOWING HOW TO HANDLE THE TRIAL.                                                                                                                                                                          (4). GOD WILL NOT EVEN QUESTION US FOR LACKING WISDOM AND FOR NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           GOD IS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AND HE LOVES US AND WANTS TO MEET OUR EVERY NEED.     SO, GOD WILL HEAR OUR REQUEST - OUR CRY.     HE WILL GIVE US THE WISDOM TO CONQUER THE TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS OF LIFE.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       BUT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.     WE MUST DO SOMETHING.     IF WE DO IT, GOD HEARS US AND GIVES US WISDOM TO CONQUER THE TRIALS.     IF WE DO NOT DO IT, GOD CAN NOT HEAR US.     WHAT IS IT WE MUST DO?                                                                                                                  "ASK IN FAITH".     PRAYER MUST BE OFFERED WITH CONFIDENT TRUST IN A SOVEREIGN GOD.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   THE PERSON WHO DOUBTS GOD'S ABILITY OR WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE THIS WISDOM IS LIKE THE BILLOWING, RESTLESS SEA, MOVING BACK AND FORTH WITH ITS ENDLESS TIDES, NEVER ABLE TO SETTLE.                                                                                                                                         IT IS USELESS TO PRAY AND ASK FOR SOMETHING, IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE YOU WILL GET AN ANSWER TO THAT PRAYER.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

           "A DOUBLE MINDED MAN": A  LITERAL TRANSLATION IS THE GREEK EXPRESSION THAT DENOTES HAVING ONE'S MIND, HEART, OR SOUL DIVIDED BETWEEN GOD AND THE WORLD.                     THIS PERSON IS A HYPOCRITE, WHO OCCASIONALLY BELIEVES IN GOD BUT FAILS TO TRUST HIM WHEN TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS COME, AND THUS RECEIVES NOTHING OF GOD.                 THIS IS SPEAKING OF AN UNSTABLE PERSON, WHO CANNOT MAKE UP THEIR MIND.     THEY REALLY DO NOT TRULY BELIEVE ANYTHING.     THEIR HEART IS NOT RIGHT WITH GOD.                                                                                                                                                                                               WHEN WE PRAY, FOR INSTANCE, AND CRY OUT TO GOD, WE CAN NOT DOUBT.  WE CAN NOT ASK AND THEN WONDER IF GOD REALLY EXISTS, OR IF HE IS GOING TO HEAR, OR IF GOD CAN REALLY DO WHAT WE ASK, OR IF WE REALLY KNOW GOD WELL ENOUGH FOR HIM TO HEAR US.  WE CAN NOT WONDER IF THE REQUEST IS THE WILL OF GOD.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ANY DOUBTING LIKE THAT CANNOT BE HEARD BY GOD.     GOD CAN'T ANSWER THE PRAYER OF A DOUBTING PERSON.     IF HE DID, HE WOULD BE REWARDING THOSE WHO DOUBT HIM.                                                                                                                                                                               GOD CAN'T HEAR AND ANSWER A PERSON WHO WAVERS IN THEIR FAITH.     WE MUST BELIEVE GOD IS, THAT HE EXISTS AND THAT HE LOVES AND CARES FOR US.     WE MUST BELIEVE THAT HE WILL HEAR AND ANSWER US WHEN WE ASK FOR WISDOM TO FACE THE TRIALS OF LIFE.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     BUT WE HAVE TO NOTE WHAT JAMES SAYS ABOUT THE PERSON WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE!                                                                                                                                                                       FIRST, THE PERSON IS JUST LIKE A WAVE OF THE SEA DRIVEN BY THE WIND AND TOSSED TO AND FRO.                                                                                                                                                SECOND, THE PERSON SHALL NOT RECEIVE ANYTHING OF THE LORD.     WHY?     BECAUSE A PERSON WHO WAVERS BACK AND FORTH DOESN'T KNOW THE VALUE OF GOD'S GIFTS.                                                                                                                                                                            THIRD, THE PERSON WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IS A DOUBLE MINDED PERSON, AND HE IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HE DOES.     HE IS LIKE A PERSON WITH TWO MINDS; HE IS NOT SURE; HE IS UNCERTAIN; HE FEELS YES AND THEN HE FEELS NO.     HE BELIEVES; THEN HE DISBELIEVES; HE ACTS; THEN HE DISTRUSTS AND BACKS UP.     HE IS UNSTABLE IN HIS PRAYER AND LIFE WITH GOD.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          THAT'S THE VERY REASON SO MANY OF US RECEIVE SO LITTLE FROM GOD.     WE EITHER DO NOT ASK OR ELSE WHEN WE ASK, WE WAVER IN BELIEVING THAT GOD WILL HEAR AND ANSWER US.                                                                                                                                                        DO YOU EVEN REALIZE THAT YOU MIGHT DO THAT MORE THAN YOU THINK?                        
          PRAY IN FAITH!

 READ JAMES 1:9-11

 VERSE 9 "LET THE BROTHER OF LOW DEGREE REJOICE IN THAT HE IS EXALTED."

 VERSE 10 "BUT THE RICH, IN THAT HE IS MADE LOW: BECAUSE AS THE FLOWER OF THE GRASS HE SHALL PASS AWAY."

 VERSE 11 "FOR THE SUN IS NO SOONER RISEN WITH A BURNING HEAT, BUT IT WITHERETH THE GRASS, AND THE FLOWER THEREOF FALLETH, AND THE GRACE OF THE FASHION OF IT PERISHETH: SO ALSO SHALL THE RICH MAN FADE AWAY IN HIS WAYS."

           AT FIRST SIGHT, THESE VERSES SEEM UNRELATED TO THE LARGER THEME OF LIFE'S TRIALS.     YET MONEY IS A COMMON CAUSE OF TRIALS AND "DOUBLE - MINDNESS".                                   WEALTH IS MEANINGLESS IN THE FACE OF CERTAIN DEATH.     WE MUST FOCUS UPON GOD'S VIEW OF EXALTATION AND LOWLINESS.     BOTH POSITIONS ARE TRUE OF ALL BELIEVERS.     BUT THE LOWLY NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED THAT THEY ARE EXALTED BEFORE GOD, WHERE AS THE EXALTED NEED TO HEAR A MESSAGE OF HUMILIATION.                                                 POOR CHRISTIANS AND WEALTHY ONES CAN REJOICE THAT GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS AND THAT THEY BOTH HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING IDENTIFIED WITH CHRIST.                                                                                                                                                                                                  SO, JAMES IS TELLING US THAT A PERSON MUST REJOICE IN HIS STATUS IN LIFE.     IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER A PERSON IS POOR OR RICH, HEALTHY OR UNHEALTHY, CRIPPLED OR SOUND, HE IS TO REJOICE IN THE LORD.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  FIRST, JAMES MENTIONS THE BELIEVER WHO IS IN HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES.  HE IS TO REJOICE IN THE LORD.     THAT MEANS THAT HE REJOICES IN CHRIST AND CHRIST ALONE DESPITE THE CIRCUMSTANCES - NO MATTER HOW TERRIBLE.                                                                          THE BELIEVER IN HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES IS TO HAVE A SPIRIT THAT IS AS STRONG AS THE SPIRIT OF A KING AND PRINCE - ALL AS A TESTIMONY TO CHRIST AND HIS POWER TO CHANGE LIVES.                                                                                                                                                             DOES ANY OF THIS DESCRIBE YOU?

 TOO OFTEN THE POOR AND UNHEALTHY:

          ALLOW THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES TO DULL, NUMB, OR DESTROY THEIR SPIRIT AND JOY IN LIFE.                                                                                                                                                                             BECOME BITTER AGAINST THOSE WHO HAVE MORE AND SEEK TO TAKE SOME OF WHAT THEY HAVE.                                                                                                                                                                  DEVELOP A SENSE OF INFERIORITY AND INADEQUACY AND TAKE ON A WITHDRAWN OR SLAVISH TYPE OF BEHAVIOR.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                EVERY HUMBLE PERSON ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH SHOULD STRUGGLE TO IMPROVE HIS OR HER CIRCUMSTANCES - NO MATTER HOW TERRIBLE - TO DESTROY THEIR JOY OR MAKE HIM OR HER BITTER AND INFERIOR OR WITHDRAWN AND SLAVISH.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              THEN, ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE BELIEVER OR RICH OR HIGH CIRCUMSTANCES IN LIFE IS TO REJOICE IN HIS OR HER LOW POSITION.     WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?                                            A RICH OR HIGH PERSON IS NOT ACCEPTED BY GOD BECAUSE OF WHO HE OR SHE IS OR WHAT HE OR SHE HAS.     HIS OR HER RICH OR HIGH STATUS MEANS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO GOD.                                                                                                                                                                              THE RICH AND HIGH HAVE TO APPROACH GOD BARE - AS NOTHING AND AS HAVING NOTHING.     THIS IS THE ONLY WAY GOD ACCEPTS ANY PERSON!     ALL PEOPLE - NO MATTER THEIR STATUS IN LIFE - STAND BEFORE GOD AS EQUALS.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               SECOND, A RICH AND HIGH PERSON MUST USE ALL THAT HE OR SHE HAS AND IS - ALL HIS OR HER RICHES AND HIGH INFLUENCE - TO HELP MEET THE DESPERATE NEEDS OF THE POOR AND NEEDS OF THE STARVING.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 THE RICH AND HIGH MUST REMEMBER A CRITICAL FACT, VERSES 10-11.     THE RICH BELIEVER IS BROUGHT LOW BY TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS.     SUCH EXPERIENCES HELP HIM OR HER REJOICE AND REALIZE THAT GENUINE HAPPINESS AND CONTENTMENT DEPEND ON THE TRUE RICHES OF GOD'S GRACE, NOT EARTHLY WEALTH.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       THIS IS REALLY SPEAKING OF THOSE WHO TRUST IN RICHES.     WHEN WE DIE, WE DO NOT TAKE RICHES TO HEAVEN WITH US.     THE ONLY WEALTH WE HAVE IN HEAVEN IS THE WEALTH WE STORED THERE WHILE WE WERE YET ON THE EARTH SERVING THE LORD.                             THE RICH MAN OR WOMAN AND THE POOR MAN OR WOMAN CAME INTO THE WORLD NAKED, AND THEY SHALL NOT CARRY ANYTHING WITH THEM WHEN THEY LEAVE THIS WORLD.                 THE POOR WILL BE BROUGHT UP TO THE LEVEL OF THE RICH, AND THE RICH WILL BE BROUGHT DOWN TO THE LEVEL OF THE POOR.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 OUR BODY, THAT WE LIVE IN HERE ON THIS EARTH, IS NOT OUR ETERNAL BODY.     THIS CORRUPTIBLE MUST PUT ON INCORRUPTION, AND THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY.                 WE WILL BE CHANGED, MADE SUITABLE FOR HEAVEN.     OUR EARTHLY BODY IS LIKE GRASS; HERE TODAY AND GONE TOMORROW.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   THIS IS NOT SPEAKING OF THE GODLY RICH, BUT THOSE WHO HAVE WAYS THAT CAUSE THEM TO BE RICH.     THIS IS SPEAKING OF THOSE WHO ARE THINKING, NOT OF ETERNAL LIFE, BUT LIFE IN THE HERE AND NOW.     THE RICH, WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN THEIR WEALTH, HAVE NO FUTURE WITH GOD.

  READ JAMES 1:12

 VERSE 12 "BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURETH TEMPTATION: FOR WHEN HE IS TRIED, HE SHALL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE, WHICH THE LORD HATH PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM."

           "ENDURETH TEMPTATION": THIS MEANS THOSE WHO PERSEVERE PATIENTLY AND STAND FIRM UNDER TRIAL, VICTORIOUSLY PASSING THE TEST OF SUCH PRESSURE, WILL RECEIVE DUE REWARD FOR THEIR FAITHFULNESS.                                                                                            IN THIS CONTEXT, "ENDURETH" ALSO DESCRIBES THE PASSIVE, PAINFUL SURVIVAL OF A TRIAL AND FOCUSES ON THE VICTORIOUS OUTCOME.     SUCH A PERSON NEVER RELINQUISHES HIS OR HER SAVING FAITH IN GOD.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          JAMES SAYS THE BELIEVER MUST REMEMBER THE REWARD FOR PERSEVERING.     THEY WILL BE BLESSED AND WILL RECEIVE A CROWN OF LIFE.

           "CROWN OF LIFE": HERE, DENOTED THE BELIEVER'S ULTIMATE REWARD, ETERNAL LIFE, WHICH GOD HAS PROMISED TO THEM AND WILL GRANT IN FULL AT DEATH OR AT CHRIST'S COMING.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST, THIS PROMISED CROWN WILL BE AWARDED BOTH TO THE MARTYR'S AND TO THOSE WHO ARE VICTORIOUS OVER SEVERE TEMPTATIONS, PERSECUTIONS, AND ADVERSITIES THROUGH FAITH AND DEDICATION.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       THE PERSON WHO PERSEVERES UNDER UNDER TRIAL SHALL BE "BLESSED".     THIS REFERS TO THIS LIFE, TO THE HERE AND NOW.     THE WORD BLESSED MEANS INWARD AND SPIRITUAL JOY AND SATISFACTION - AN INNER ASSURANCE AND CONFIDENCE THAT CARRIES ONE THROUGH ALL THE TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS OF LIFE NO MATTER THE PAIN, SORROW, LOSS, OR GRIEF.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  BUT IT GOES FARTHER THAN LIFE HERE AND NOW.     THE PERSON SHALL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE IN THE NEXT WORLD.     WHAT IS THE CROWN OF LIFE?                                                   THE BELIEVER WHO ENDURES THE TRIALS OF LIFE SHALL BE CROWNED WITH LIFE ITSELF, ETERNAL LIFE.     THE ETERNAL LIFE THAT WILL BE GIVEN THE BELIEVER WILL SHINE MORE BRIGHTLY THAN ALL THE EARTHLY CROWNS THAT HAVE EVER BEEN WORN BY THE RULERS OF THIS WORLD.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      JUST IMAGINE THE ACTUAL MOMENT WHEN CHRIST WILL CROWN US WITH THE CROWN OF LIFE.

     BEING CROWNED WITH THE CROWN OF LIFE:

          WILL FILL US WITH UNBROKEN JOY AND REJOICING.

          WILL BESTOW ON US HONOR AND DIGNITY.

          WILL GIVE US A DEEP AND PERFECT SENSE OF VICTORY AND TRIUMPH.

          WILL CONFORM US TO THE IMAGE OF ETERNAL ROYALTY.

     READ: PHILIPPIANS 3:20-21; 1ST PETER 4:12-13; 1ST JOHN 2:25

           SO, WE HAVE TO ENDURE TO THE END IN ORDER TO BE SAVED AND TO INHERIT THE CROWN OF LIFE.

           CONCLUSION:

          ARE YOU A WEAKLING CHRISTIAN?

           THE WEAKLING CAVES IN TO THE TRIALS OF LIFE.                                                                 THEY DO NOT HAVE THE CONFIDENCE AND ASSURANCE OF GOD'S PRESENCE AND GOD'S CARE AND DO NOT REALLY EVEN HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF ETERNITY.               THEY ARE NOT SURE THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE.                              AND IF WE ARE A WEAKLING CHRISTIAN, SCRIPTURE SAYS WE WON'T RECEIVE IT 

           NOTHING YOU AND I DO FOR THE LORD IS USELESS.     NO MATTER HOW BIG A FLOP YOU MIGHT THINK YOUR EFFORTS ARE, NOTHING YOU DO FOR THE LORD IS USELESS.                       GALATIANS 6:9 "AND LET US NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING: FOR IN DUE SEASON WE SHALL REAP, IF WE FAINT NOT."

          SINCE IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SHALL "REAP" DIVINE REWARD, THEN THEY ARE NOT TO "BE WEARY IN WELL DOING".

          THAT'S HOW A STRONG CHRISTIAN CAN FACE THE TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS OF THIS LIFE WITH JOY.

          BECAUSE HE OR SHE KNOWS THAT ALL OF THIS, ALL OF US, ARE ONLY TEMPORARY WHILE WE AWAIT OUR PROMISED LAND OF HEAVEN AND RECEIVING OF OUR CROWN OF LIFE, ETERNAL LIFE.

        AMEN!