Christian Growth Through Testing

The Christian life is a battle from the beginning until you have drawn your last breath. The devil is a very busy and crafty foe and will always be trying to hatch up some scheme to trip the Christian and cause him to fall. We must learn to be on guard at all times and to use every one of his attacks as stepping stones to higher ground in the kingdom of God. We are commanded to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and it is only by overcoming the attacks of the enemy of our souls that this can be accomplished. God says in His word that He will have a tried people, so let us face the battle with courage and determination and we will not be moved when we are experiencing the situation mentioned in 1 Pet 4:12, "Beloved, think it not strange conce4ning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you." The fiery trial is an allusion to the trying of gold by fire. Gold can be refined only by the use of fire and it is only by the furnace of affliction and trial that the Christian can be refined and grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Even Jesus, while He was here on earth, endured temptation and trials as we read in Heb 4:15, " For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities: but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." He learned obedience and attained unto perfection through suffering. Heb 5:8-9 says: "Though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." Since it was necessary for Jesus to endure suffering and trials how much more will it be necessary for us to have to undergo them that we might become vessels fit for the Master's use. Since the Bible tells us that all things work together for good to those that love the Lord, let us do our very best to get all the good that God intends for us to get out of every test and trial that comes our way.

Let us Rejoice in Temptation

James 1:2---My brethren count it all joy---We should never let trials and temptations trouble or discourage us, for we can know that God permitted them to come to upon us for our good. Therefore it should bring joy to our hearts because through them we will be able to get close to God and be more profitable in His service.

Verse 3---Trying of your faith---We are exhorted to run the Christian race with patience and as this verse tells us that the trying of our faith worketh patience, temptation are a blessing in disguise and will help us to successfully run the Christian race.

Verse 4---Let patience have her perfect work---If we faithfully and courageously go thru the trials that beset us we can acquire the patience that is necessary to live a life that will be pleasing to God and make us good witnesses for the cause of Christ

Seek God For Wisdom

James 1:5---If any of you lack wisdom---This verse has a wonderful promise and one that we all need to take advantage of. God loves His children more than you may think and stands ready and willing to give us all the wisdom we need if we will but humbly seek Him in sincerity for it. "The meek will he guide in judgement: and the meek will he teach his way." Psalm 25:9.

Verse 6---But let him ask in faith---Without faith it is impossible to please God, so when we come to Him we must really believe that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him and He will give us the wisdom we need to live a life that will be pleasing to God.

Verse 7---Let not that man think---Unless we can believe that God will hear us, and grant our request, we had better not seek Him for it, because we see, according to this verse that it would be useless.

Verse 8--- A double minded man---This sort of a man has no strength of character and is undecided as to what course to pursue. He cannot, be depended upon to perform faithfully the task of life, much less the spiritual side of life.

The Meek Shall be Exalted

James 1:9---Let the brother of low degree---We may be poor in this world's goods, but we can be rich in the kingdom of God. The Christian is a son of God and joint heir with Jesus Christ to the riches of the world to come. Let us lay treasures in heaven where we can enjoy them forever and ever.

The Rich Shall be Made Low

James 1:10---But the rich is made low---The rich may prosper beyond measure in this world and win fame and honor, but this will all be of no good at the end of this life. At the judgment they will be brought low. How much better it would be for them to humble themselves now and seek the Lord and then they could really rejoice because they had been brought low. The glory of the world is just like the flower of the field which so soon must whiter and pass away.

Verse 11---For the sun is no sooner risen---The same sun that causes the young plant to grow and bud will in the end with its burning heat cause it to dry and fade away. Just so will the rich man lose all his power and riches at the end of this life. Riches are so uncertain and so often they take wings, as it were, and fly away. But the riches we lay up for ourselves in heaven will last forever.

Temptations Can Prove to be Blessings

James 1:12---Blessed is the man---Every Christian will be tempted for that is the part of his lot, but God will not let any man be tempted above what he is able to bear and will also make a way of escape, so no one can have a valid excuse for yielding to temptation. Truly blessed is the men that endureth to the end for he shall receive the greatest blessings, eternal life in heaven.

Verse 13---Let no man say when he is tempted---All of our temptations come from the enemy of our souls, the devil. We are commanded to resist him steadfast in the faith and to give him no place at all. If we will wholeheartedly do this we can always come out victorious over him. It is God's promise that if we will resist him, he will flee.

Verse 14---When he is drawn away of his own lust---Temptation of itself, is not a sin but it is the yielding to it that becomes sin. We must never, no never, listen to the devil when he tries to create sinful desires in our heart.

Verse 15---Sin bringeth forth death---If we give ear to the devil, he may be able to convince us that the thing in question is not so bad after all and the desire to do it may grow till we finally yield and commit sin. Sin always separates us from God, which is spiritual death.

Verse 16---Do not err---We must be very careful and determined to do nothing that there is the least question about being right or wrong.

God, The author of Everything Good

James 1:17---Every good gift is from above---It is God that daily loadeth us with benefits whereof we should be glad. The Christian needs to be more profuse in thanking God for his manifold goodness unto us as exhorted by David in Psalm 107:8, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men." All the evil in the world originates with Satan and we must never listen to him at all.

Verse 18---Of his own will begat he us---In the beginning God created man in His own image, for His own pleasure. He was pure and holy and had communion with God for God came down in the cool of the evening and talked with Adam and Eve before they listened to the devil and sinned. Their act of disobedience brought the curse of sin upon the family of man. There is but one way to be delivered from this curse and that is to give our lives over to God and serve Him with reverence and godly fear all the rest of the days of our life.

God's plan is that we become stalwart warriors of the cross thru trials and tribulations. Therefore we should be able to rejoice in the midst of these afflictions for we know that God has permitted them for our good. If we really love God with all of our mind, soul, heart and strength, we will be more than willing to go through anything that will help us to get closer to God and be more effective in our labor for the Master.