Maturity Through Temptation

"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."  - James 1:2-4

There are many trials and testings (temptations) that come our way as Christians; our Scripture today implores us to have joy in those testings.  These temptations may be physical, or emotional, or spiritual and may or may not affect the ones we love.  In addition, the world is always trying to allure us away from our Savior, Jesus Christ, so that we will be ineffective Christians.  If you do not know Christ as personal Savior, overcoming these tests will be more difficult.  For believers, there are three reasons why we must go through what some have called the ‘Refiner’s fire’ – so we may be mature (perfect), entire (Christ like), and pure wanting or in need of nothing.

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Temptations and trials make us more mature; the question is not “if” they will come, but “when” will they come?  And when they do come, know that God is working inside of you much needed maturity.  His desire is to use you to help others in similar situations.  Becoming mature will take time; it will also work patience inside of you.  Just as soldiers go through boot camp first or football players go through spring training, so too we will go through a time of training and testing to make us stronger for the upcoming battles of life.  No one is so bad or so far gone that they cannot serve Him.

Consider the people God used in the past:  Abraham was considered old, Jacob lied to get his birthright, Joseph was sold into slavery, Rahab had a seedy past, Moses had a bad temper and killed someone, and David was both a murderer and adulterer.  Yet, God was pleased to use all of them, and He will use you too as long as you willingly go through the trials with Him!

Listen to the complete sermon below.

08.04.2013 - Temptations - Pastor Doug Mann - 
mp3link