Trial and temptations

  • Rejoice that trials mature your faith.
  • Pray for wisdom without wavering.
  • Glory in your God-given position.
  • Love God who crowns loyal love.
  • Blame yourself, not God, for evil.
  • Prize Father’s gifts, especially rebirth.

 Rejoice amid trials

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 Pray for wisdom…

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

  • God gives wisdom when asked.
  • God would rather help than blame.
  • God answers wholehearted trust.

 …without wavering

6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

 Undivided heart

Teach me your way, O LORD,  and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart. (Psalm 86:11)

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them...

Then they will follow my decrees. (Ezekiel 11:19)

 Trial and temptations

  • Rejoice that trials mature your faith.
  • Pray for wisdom without wavering.
  • Glory in your God-given position.
  • Love God who crowns loyal love.
  • Blame yourself, not God, for evil.
  • Prize Father’s gifts, especially rebirth.

 Glory in your God-given position

9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.

Wealthy wither

11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

Love God who crowns loyal love

12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

 Crown of life

I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer… Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Rev 2:9-10)

 Trial and temptations

  • Rejoice that trials mature your faith.
  • Pray for wisdom without wavering.
  • Glory in your God-given position.
  • Love God who crowns loyal love.
  • Blame yourself, not God, for evil.
  • Prize Father’s gifts, especially rebirth.

 Blame yourself, not God, for evil.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

 Desire => sin => death

15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.

 Prize Father’s gifts

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.

 …especially rebirth

18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

  • Sin gives birth to death, but Word gives birth to life and re-creation.

 Perfectly good God

  • God leads toward mature wholeness.
  • God gives wisdom when asked.
  • God lifts the lowly, not the worldly.
  • God crowns those who love him.
  • God never sins nor causes sin.
  • God gives everything worth having.

 Trial and temptations

  • Rejoice that trials mature your faith.
  • Pray for wisdom without wavering.
  • Glory in your God-given position.
  • Love God who crowns loyal love.
  • Blame yourself, not God, for evil.
  • Prize Father’s gifts, especially rebirth.

最后修改: 2021年07月16日 星期五 12:32