1. Genuine Gifts (IV) (James 1:12-15) Warring Wishes Wanton Wishes Wicked Wishes

2. Review Wonderful woes James 1:1-4 Winning wisdom James 1:5-8 Withering wealth James 1:9-11 Warring wishes James 1:12-15

3. I. Blessing, 12

4. Blessed Endurance  James 1:3-4... 5:11  Job: curse God?  World (like Job’s friends): enduring trial is not happiness  Rv.2:10

5. Blessed Endurance Temptation (Trial)  James 1:2 (13)  Rv.3:10, endurance rewarded  Mt.6:13 Because you have kept My com- mand to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

6. Blessed Endurance Temptation (Trial) Proved  ‘Approved’ (2 Tim.2:15)

7. Blessed Endurance Temptation (Trial) When he has been proved Crown of life  Crown is eternal life  Conditional: love Him

8. I. Blessing, 12 II. Beware, 13-15

9. 13: transition from outer to inner trials  To entice to sin 1. Jews: God created everything… including the ‘evil impulse’ 2. U.S.: God made me the way I am… Explanation: God cannot be tempted w. evil; He cannot tempt others Error: blame God. (No one...anyone) Absolute immunity from temptation… Error: blame God. (No one...anyone) Absolute immunity from temptation…

10. 14: blame our own lust (desire) [Not God, devil, wife…]  2 Pt.2:14, 18  Satan can dangle the bait before us, but cannot make us take it Drawn away, lured: hunting/fishing: game is lured from its covert… so man by lust is allured… Enticed: lure by use of bait: lead astray, lure into sin… to make sin look attractive

11. 15: the fatal chain  Lust (evil desire) arises in the mind  Pr.4:23 – Mk.7:21 – Mk.12:30  1 Jn.2:15 lustsindeath Love 3x World 3x Lust 3x

12. 15: the fatal chain  Lust (evil desire) arises in the mind  Lust conceives, gives birth to sin lustsindeath

13. 15: the fatal chain  Lust (evil desire) arises in the mind  Lust conceives, gives birth to sin  Sin grows up, gives birth to death lustsindeath Summary: Lust has baby named Sin, who grows, has baby named Death Summary: Lust has baby named Sin, who grows, has baby named Death

14. I. Blessing, 12 III. Benefits (of this warning) II. Beware, 13-15

15. 1. Trials can make us strong, but avoid all temptation  Different responses to temptations – Pulled punches war. Ep.4:26-27 Play with temptation. Fire? Pr.7:5-27 Prolong temptation. Justify sin. Mt.5 Pulverize temptation. 1 Co.9:27 (10:13)

16. 1. Trials can make us strong, but avoid all temptation 2. Take personal responsibility Do not blame – a. Society. b. God. Mt.4:1 NoahJudgesRome No desire in Christ that satan’s charms could entice Food?Full CupFall, Gn.3

17. 1. Trials can make us strong, but avoid all temptation 2. Take personal responsibility 3. God allows temptation to consume the wicked a. Balaam, Nu.22. 2 Pt.2:15 b. Israel, Jg.2:22 c. Amnon, 2 Sm.13 d. Ahab, 1 K.22 e. Lovers of error, 2 T.4:2-4

18. Summary: L ust – S in – D eath 1. Adam & Eve, Gn.3 2. Achan, Josh.7 3. David & Bathsheba, 2 Sm.11-12... 4. Ahab, 1 K.21 (Naboth’s vineyard) 5. Herod, Mk.6 6. Judas, Mt.26-27 “Evil concupiscence is, at the beginning, like the thread of a spider’s web; afterward it is like a cart-rope”