NEVER KNOWINGLY PLAY WITH TEMPTATION
Thursday – January 15, 2026
Video link: https://youtu.be/fVLbknCSWAQ
Greetings dear ones and welcome back to our study of the Bible Book of James. Yesterday we started this study by exploring why Jesus was not a natural or biological brother or half-brother of James, Jude, or anyone else. Had He been that would have disqualified Him from being the perfect sacrifice. Today we will move forward with the following text.
James 1:1-4 (KJV)
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Notice that James is not a name dropper so to speak. He does not even mention that he grew up in the same home as Jesus and Mary was indeed James’ natural, biological, mother. Instead, he leads with being a servant of God, The Father, and of His Lord, Jesus Christ. Notice that James is writing to his brethren, fellow Jews, especially those that are scattered abroad outside of Israel. Does that mean this book has no value for us Gentiles? Of course not, we are one house in Christ Jesus. Listen to the Apostle Paul discuss this in the following passage. Any Jew and any Gentile who choses is reconciled to God by the Cross of Christ.
Ephesians 2:15-16 (KJV)
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
There are three groups of peoples in the earth today. Before the Cross and the Resurrection there were two groups, the Jews and the Gentiles. Now all who will Jew and Gentile can enter the group called the “church of God” through Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 10:32 (KJV)
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
So, yes, this letter is to Jew and Gentile alike, all that are in “the church of God”. As we move into verse two of our text I have to admit that I struggle with having joy in a time of temptation. If we are never tested, how do we know the extent of our love of God and our faith in God? I find the wording interesting especially the idea of falling into temptation like by accident or could it be we chose to be in the midst of temptation. The word “fall” in our text means to be surrounded by. Sometimes we purposely walk into temptation, don’t do that. This could be being around a person of the opposite sex that we find attractive or looking at things we cannot now afford. Other times we find ourselves suddenly surrounded by temptation by the hand of God or Satan.
Now, let’s look at the definition of temptation. Temptation is a masculine noun meaning to make trial of, try, tempt. Trial, temptation, a putting to the test, spoken of persons only. When God is the agent of temptation it is for the purpose of proving someone, never for the purpose of causing him to fall. If it is the devil who tempts, then it is for the purpose of causing one to fall according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary – New Testament. In either case, God is watching, it is a proving of our love of God and our faith in God, in His Word. Passing the test sets us up for promotion and increase in the manifestation of the promises of God in our lives.
TAKE HOME:
- Do not knowingly walk into temptation.
- When God tempts us, it is to prove us and bring us up in the Kingdom of God.
- When the demons tempt us it is to steal, kill, and destroy in our lives.
Lord willing, I will resume right here tomorrow. Remember, we love you, the Lord loves you, and there is nothing you can do about either one.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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