Against All Odds Part 2

Against All Odds – 2

Trials, Temptations & God’s Goodness

James 1:12-18 Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he
has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to
those who love him.
13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,”
since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone.
14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his
own evil desire. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and
when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and
perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does
not change like shifting shadows. 18 By his own choice, he gave us birth by
the word of truth so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most
important thing about us…
“We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of
God. This is true not only of the individual Christian, but of the company of
Christians that composes the Church. Always the most revealing thing
about the Church is her idea of God.”—A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the
Holy 1

1. God is GOOD and Heaven is WORTH IT.
James 1:12 Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has
stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to
those who love him.

“Scripture and tradition habitually put the joys of heaven into the scale
against the sufferings of earth, and no solution of the problem of pain that
does not do so can be called a Christian one.” – C.S. Lewis
Revelation 21:2-4 I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down
out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:  
Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity,
and He will live with them.
They will be His people,
and God Himself will be with them
and be their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Death will no longer exist;
grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer,
because the previous things have passed away.

2. TEMPTATION is real and sin is NEVER WORTH IT.
James 1:13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by
God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt
anyone.
“In the same event, God and the devil can be at work—one to test you and
the other to tempt you. But let’s be clear: God doesn’t tempt anyone. And
any temptation hatched by Satan must pass through God’s fingers first
even though God is not its source (see Job 1:6-12). Satan desires your
downfall; God desires your development.” 2 –Tony Evans
James 1:14-15 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and
enticed by his own evil desire. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives
birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.

Final Thought: When life seems to never stop TAKING from
you, you have a loving Father who never stops GIVING to
you.

James 1:16-17 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every
good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:18 By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so
that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

John 12:24 Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and
dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.