Blessed is the man who Perseveres

Blessed is the man who Perseveres

“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.”

James 1:12

The Blessed person has Perseverance,

the ability to endure or be patient.

James tells us this is in the environment

of trials or temptation.

Life is full of trials and temptations.

The first temptation recorded in the

Bible happened in the Garden of Eden.

The temptation had to do with Adam and Eve’s appetite.

They had an appetite for the wrong kind of food.

The temptation came from looking at the wrong things.

The ultimate temptation was an

attitude of being as wise as God.

The first temptation happened in the perfect

environment where life could not get any better.

Note in the garden was every good and perfect gift.

Eden was filled with God’s goodness.

It was like a great buffet, all the food was good.

My lust and lack of self-control will get

the best of me when I am at a buffet.

I will eat too much, then I don’t feel like doing much

and I don’t feel as healthy as I did before I ate.

You and I live in a world of good things, God has placed

in the world everything we need for life and godliness.

There are trials that come in bad environments;

 things that make us mad and angry.

The temptation is to react in ways

that seek out our own satisfaction.

A closer look at the temptation in the

Garden reveals the primary problem.

It is the first thing found in the story…

      

“Has God indeed said.”

When we question God, we set

 ourselves up as the authority.

The Devil tried to catch Jesus in this trap…

 “If you are the Son of God”

Satan tried to get Jesus to act on His own

separating Him from the Father.

Each time Satan tempted Jesus,

 he used the Word of God.

Satan was unable to get Jesus to use the

Word of God in a self-serving way.

Jesus defeated the enemy with these words…

“Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”

Jesus did not take the ultimate authority

but remained a servant of the Father.

As James concludes his writing on

 the blessing of perseverance he says…

The person who looks into the Word of God and

does what it says, he will be blessed in what he does.”

James says, the one who seeks God’s best instead

of his own will receive “The Crown of life.”

When Jesus was tempted he said…

 “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every

word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Whether in good times or bad these words will bring life.

Wait or persevere until God’s Word is fulfilled in your life.

Scripture Reading

James 1:12-25 NIV

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.

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

19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does.