THE TEMPTATION AND THE FALL
GENESIS 3
1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made.

• Adam was made ruler over the animals but in this instance became subject to the animals.

He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”

• Satan is already twisting the Word of God.
• Genesis 2:16-17 - And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”[1]

2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ”

• We tend to distort the Word of God ourselves when we try to quote it.
• We can add more rules to it… which is legalism or
• We can make it less vague to establish our own truth.

4 “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman.

• There is a big difference between physical death and spiritual death.
• Death had never occurred at this point.
• Satan has always proclaimed that God would not punish sin.

5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

• God’s intent was for the welfare of Adam & Eve, but Satan insisted it was God’s welfare at their expense.

6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom.

• 1.      Eve saw that the tree was "good for food" (the lust of the flesh: the desire to do something contrary to God's will, i.e., eat the tasty fruit).
• 2.      It was "delightful to look at" (the lust of the eyes: the desire to have something apart from God's will, i.e., possess the attractive fruit).
• 3.      It was "desirable for obtaining wisdom" (the pride of life: the desire to be something apart from God's will).

So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

• Temptations are not sins until we respond by giving in to them.
• Eve was not more susceptible to sin (that is not Biblical).
• But she was also not the one who was given the command directly.
• The last person Eve talked to before succumbing to temptation was who? Satan.
• Couldn’t she have confirmed the Truth with God before she made her decision?
• What was the look they gave to each other right before the first bite?
• We don’t know what kind of fruit it was.
• The root of sin should be understood.
• The foundation of all sin lies in man's desire of self-assertion and his determination to be independent of God.

7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
 - With the Fall came a tragic loss of innocence (together with resulting shame).
 - God has given us an inner judge called “conscience” that accuses when we do wrong and approves when we do right (Rom. 2:12–16).[2]
 - Non-believers have a conscience of right and wrong.
 - Believers have a Spirit to determine things of the Spirit and things of the flesh.
 
SIN’S CONSEQUENCES
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

• Did God not already know where they are?

10 And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
11 Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

• “Who told you that you were naked?”
• “Who is feeding you all these lies?”

12 The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”

• The fact that Adam viewed God's good gift to him (Eve) as the source of his trouble, shows how far he fell (v. 12).
• He virtually accused God of causing him to fall, by giving him what he now regarded as a bad gift.

13 So the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”
And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

• The text records several effects of the Fall on Adam and Eve.
• 1.      They felt guilt and shame (v. 7)
• 2.      They tried to change these conditions by their own efforts (v. 7).
• 3.      They fled from God's presence out of fear of Him (vv. 8, 10).
• 4.      They tried to blame their sin on another rather than confessing their personal responsibility (vv. 12, 13).

14 So the Lord God said to the serpent:
Because you have done this,
you are cursed more than any livestock
and more than any wild animal.
You will move on your belly
and eat dust all the days of your life.

• As the result of man's disobedience to God, the creation suffered a curse and began to deteriorate.
• Evolution teaches that man is improving his condition through self-effort.
• Eating dust is an expression used in other ancient Near Eastern writings to describe the lowest of all forms of life.
• The snake is a natural symbol of sin. It comes spontaneously to the mind; for sin,

15 I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.

• Most interpreters have recognized this verse as the first biblical promise and prophecy of the provision of salvation from sin.
• The woman being Mary and Jesus being her offspring (the Messiah to come).
• Some interpreters have believed that this is the first prediction of the virgin birth of Messiah, since it is specifically the seed of "the woman" and not the man that would crush the serpent.
• Jesus will strike the head of Satan.
• Satan will strike the heel of Jesus.
• One blow leaves a bruise and the other is fatal.

16 He said to the woman:
I will intensify your labor pains;
you will bear children with painful effort.
Your desire will be for your husband,
yet he will rule over you.

•  The woman will desire to dominate the relationship with her husband.
• This is where the battle of the sexes began.

17 And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’:
The ground is cursed because of you.
You will eat from it by means of painful labor
all the days of your life.

• Adam was previously working in the garden, but now he must toil in the garden… he’s gonna sweat.

18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow
until you return to the ground,
since you were taken from it.
For you are dust,
and you will return to dust.”

• A physical death is looming.

20 The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. 21 The Lord God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.

• This was the first animal sacrifice made.
• Blood was shed due to their sin.

22 The Lord God said, “Since the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.[3]

• This was an act of grace.
• Man realized they needed to be saved from the effects of their sin.

They need a Messiah… a Savior.

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 2:16–17.
[2] Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Basic, “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub., 1998), 64.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ge 3:1–24.

What do you need to know? – You will not avoid temptation… Jesus said, “Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy… I came that you might have life.”
         - Even Jesus was tempted.
         - He understands our temptation.
Temptation – Brain – stores behavior patterns that were established before you were redeemed and even after you have been redeemed.
 - The power of sin sends thoughts to your mind based upon stimulus and behavior patterns that have been stored in your brain.
 - Then the battle takes place in your mind. These thoughts versus the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). The good news is that you do not generate these thoughts… you can’t.
Romans 6:12-14 - Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. 14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.[1]
The church in Philippi is being tempted on losing their unity.
Philippians 4:2-3 - I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.[2]
​
LIGHTS IN THE WORLD
PHILIPPIANS 2
12 Therefore, my dear friends (?... tough guy turned tender), just as you have always obeyed, (we live in a culture that it is cool to be disobedient… to be different… Greek: shut up and do what you are told… Obey them…. Requires humility) so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence (been gone about 4 years), work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you (Sabbath rest) both to will and to work according to his good purpose.
 - Paul is writing to people who are already “saints” (Phil. 1:1), which means they have trusted Christ and have been set apart for Him.
 - The verb “work out” carries the meaning of “work to full completion,” such as working out a problem in mathematics.
 - In Paul’s day it was also used for “working a mine,” that is, getting out of the mine all the valuable ore possible; or “working a field” so as to get the greatest harvest possible.[3]

 (The doctrine of regeneration… New Covenant is where God took out your heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh… Changed from the inside out… new creation… new nature… new desires
Ezekiel 36:26 - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.[4]
God does a good work in you… it is the indwelling Spirit that is working within you…
It is a joyous life… not you having to do something that you don’t want to do.
We don’t do anything… God makes a Christian… Jesus did that by being a sinless person who died for our sins… I didn’t do anything but trust… A gift of grace…
Sanctification…
God gives you a new nature so live according
God gives you new desires so feed them
God gives you new gifts so serve in ministry
God gives you the power of the Holy Spirit so live in accordance… not of your own strength
Colossians 1:10 (The Message) - We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work.
In humbleness I recognize my limitation and danger in knowing anything of Greek, but in looking at the text I think it is a far misrepresentation in this passage for one to interpret that God is proud of us.
It is amazing to see the liberty of the paraphrase here in Colossians 1:10. He is pleased in us...as we are in Christ.  And it pleases Him when His children walk worthy of the family name in the Savior, yet there is no commendation to us!  And in that good pleasure He has called us to 'walk worthy' and to prove His good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12: 2).  
The emphasis here is certainly on us to walk, bear fruit and grow - thereby pleasing God as we live by faith.
 - And the means by which we do that is completely impossible if it is not for the Spirit He placed in us.
 - How marvelous are His works and His plan and the gift of His Spirit.
Pride/proud – 2 Corinthians 5:12 - We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart.[5]
Christian life is not we need to stop doing certain things but we need to start learning what it means to be.
Because God is at work in us… it changes our will… which works its way out in our lives.
 - Too many Christians obey God only because of pressure on the outside, and not power on the inside.[6]
14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing,
 - Israelites… walking around the woods for 40 years… God is trying to teach them to quit grumbling… but they don’t ever get it.
 - Questions… having questions is OK… questioning is doubting and not trusting… it is a heart issue… and sometimes we even do this with God.
15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world,
 - People are watching your behavior
 - and honestly, they are judging you… even on social networking
16 by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.
  - Tell others… notice it… encourage them… send notes… call them… be pleased about others
Give a chance for people to do encourage others right now.
Paul gives a great example of encouragement… this ministry was not in vain…
TIMOTHY AND EPAPHRODITUS
19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you. 20 For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; 21 all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. 23 Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.
 - Paul was mentor to Timothy (father and son like relationship).
 - Timothy got saved under Paul’s ministry.
25 But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need--26 since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. 27 Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice again when you see him and I may be less anxious. 29 Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor, 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.[7]
 - Epaphroditus returned Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi.
“What is Jesus doing in you?” Stop trying to fix your life… and for that fact… other’s lives
“How is God working in you?”
“What grumbling and questioning do you need to repent of?  What is the root of your bitterness?” Stop the questioning disposition.
“Who needs you to be like Paul?”
“Who needs you to be like Timothy or Epaphroditus?”

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Ro 6:12–14). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Php 4:2–3). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 77). Victor Books.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Eze 36:26). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (2 Co 5:12). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 78). Victor Books.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (Php 2:12–30). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

Review:

• We left off last week with Paul talking about the food offered to idols being consumed by some.
• Paul and his ministry as an example of the things he has done.
• There will be people with differing opinions and don’t be a stumbling block to them.

 
1 CORINTHIANS 9
19 Although I am free from all and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people.

• But his goal is not to please himself but to please God by exercising his call and commission to evangelize, to spread the Word, to preach the good news as widely throughout the known world of his day as he possibly can.[1]

20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win those under the law.

• 1 Corinthians 11:24 - Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews.[2]
• Five times he put up with flogging on his back (and perhaps on the back of his legs or arms as well) of this intensity, when all he would’ve needed to do was announce that, in Jewish eyes, he was committing apostasy;
• he was rejecting his Jewish upbringing;
• that serving Jesus was a new religion, like all of the other options in the Graeco-Roman world.
• The synagogue would have had no jurisdiction over him.[3]

21 To those who are without the law, like one without the law—though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ—to win those without the law.

• What is the law of Christ?
• To love others
• To serve others
• Walk by the Spirit rather than a list of rules.
• 10 Commandments were for the Jews.

22 To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.

• It is unfortunate that the phrase “all things to all men” has been used and abused by the world and made to mean what Paul did not intend for it to mean.
• Paul was not a chameleon who changed his message and methods with each new situation.
• Nor was Paul a compromiser who adjusted his message to please his audience.
• He was an ambassador, not a politician!
• He did not parade his liberty before the Jews,
• nor did he impose the Law on the Gentiles.[4]

23 Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings.

• It takes tact to have contact.[5]
• Imagine if David would have put on Saul’s armor to protect himself?
• He would have lost his freedom to defeat Goliath.
  ​
  
• What does it look like in today’s world to “be all things to all people”?
• Many times it means to “shut your mouth” or “put your device down”.
• Once you fly your colors… you have lost part of your audience.
• Yah, but there are stands that need to be made.
• Any stand greater than someone coming to know Jesus and letting the Spirit lead them?

24 Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.

• It’s far easier to be legalistic about everything, to set up a long list of dos and don’ts far beyond anything Scripture explicitly sanctions,
• or to be completely hedonistic about everything—anything goes, do what seems good to you in the moment, go with the flow.[6]
• Zoom out and see the bigger picture.
• It’s not about being the sole winner.
• Live your life as though you have trained well for the race.

25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything.

• Self-control = Free will
• You always have a choice between your flesh and the Spirit that resides in you.

They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown.

• In Greco-Roman times the winner received a wreath to place on their head like a crown.
• The wreaths were typically made of pine (like pine needles), olive branches or celery.
• How long did it take for the celery to wilt?

26 So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air.

• Shadow boxing is used as a cardio exercise today.
• I’m sure that Paul had many sparring partners and took many body blows for his beliefs.
• But he learned from them on how to defend himself and to also win.

27 Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

• Control? Who has control of my body?
• Sometimes my flesh does…
• But I am learning more and more every day to let the Spirit that resides in me to have control.
• Put my device down, my remote…
• Quit dwelling on the things that are temporary but the things that are eternal.
• If I am focused on the eternal… the temporary will take care of itself.
• Zoom out… see the bigger picture.

 
WARNINGS FROM ISRAEL’S PAST
1 CORINTHIANS 10
1 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

• In reference to their ancestors escaping from Egypt under Moses leadership and passed through the Red Sea.
• Baptized = Immersion – But also means to identify with.
• When we baptize at Leavener… we baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit so as everyone knows who you are identifying with.

3 They all ate the same spiritual food, (manna from heaven) 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. (water poured out from an actual rock when struck from Moses rod – Numbers 20:11) 5 Nevertheless God was not pleased with most of them, since they were struck down in the wilderness.

•  One generation of Jews died in the wilderness except Joshua and Caleb.

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did.,

• Paul urges the Corinthians not to follow the Israelites’ example of complaining about provisions given by the rock (Christ).[7]

7 Don’t become idolaters as some of them were; (Exodus 32 – worshipping the golden calf) as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party.,, 8 Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, (Moabite women seduced both men and women in the wilderness near the end of the 40 years – Numbers 25) and in a single day twenty-three thousand people died. 9 Let us not test Christ as some of them did and were destroyed by snakes. (They were tempting God and He sent judgment in Numbers 21) 10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, (Numbers 14 & 16) and were killed by the destroyer. (angel)

• Why choose this array of examples of Old Testament sin and rebellion?
• What does that have to do with the Corinthians they thought?

11 These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages, have come.

• They all have something to do with idolatry, of not putting the God, Yahweh of Israel, first in the lives of the children of Israel.
• And strikingly, they all have something to do with aspects of Graeco-Roman pagan worship in the pagan temples in Corinth and the other major cities of the empire.[8]

12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. 13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it. [9]

• This passage has always been misconstrued to say that “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”
• That is not what it is saying at all.
• First, it says, “There is nothing new in satan’s game”
• Whatever temptation you are currently dealing with… nothing new… that is why he went back to the age of Moses and listed things.
• As believers in Jesus and with the Spirit of God now residing in you… there is no temptation that can’t be overcome.
• You will always have a way out by choosing to walk by the Spirit… rather than your flesh.
• The sin is not the action… but the choice to follow your flesh.
• The temptation, the test, the trial—all of which come from the same Greek roots—may not go away.
• That is never promised in the Scripture as a generalization for all situations.
• But what is promised is, if we turn to God, we will be able to endure it;
• we do not have to fail the test, give in to the temptation, or be overcome by the trial.[10]

 
Hebrews 3:7-11 - Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your ancestors tested me, tried me,
and saw my works 10 for forty years.
Therefore, I was provoked to anger with that generation and said, “They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known my ways.”
11 So I swore in my anger,
“They will not enter my rest.” [11]

• The difference between the Old Covenant believers and the New Covenant believers is that God has given us the ability to rest from our own works.
• We can continue to do things in our own strength as they did in the wilderness… or we can learn the lesson and surrender to the Spirit in each of us.
• Give it a try this week… rest… trust… put down the device… put down the remote.

Set your eyes on things above… listen for the Spirit… you are in for an adventure!!!

[1] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (2 Co 11:24). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 601). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 601). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[7] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (1 Co 10:4). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[8] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (1 Co 9:19–10:13). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Blomberg, C. L. (2017). NT334 Book Study: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[11] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Heb 3:7–11). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

James 1
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.

• OK Google… Alexa… Give me knowledge.

• Wisdom - Refers to the knowledge of God’s plans and purposes and the ability to live accordingly.
• Wise people can identify the nature and purpose of their trials and understand how to overcome them.[1]
• Wisdom helps us understand how to use these circumstances for our good and God’s glory.
• Someone has said that knowledge is the ability to take things apart, while wisdom is the ability to put them together. [2]
• The first step of having wisdom is realizing that you don’t have enough wisdom.
• Proverbs 2:6 - For the Lord gives wisdom;
• from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.[3]
• God gives it, for God is a good giver; God gives generously, which means that he gives without mental reservations, that he gives simply, with a single heart.[4]
•  “Ungrudgingly” – no condemnation… regardless of your previous record.
• Believers seek wisdom from others.
• That is good advice.
• 3 reasons why people go to others for wisdom:

1. They go to others because they know the person has wisdom and they trust the person.
2. They go to others because it is the shorter route. It is easier to find someone who knows God than to seek out God on their own.
3. They are looking for someone to agree with what they have already determined they want to do.

• Do you really want help/wisdom or are you looking for an agreeing opinion?
• A person with wisdom will understand they can’t help the latter and move on to others.

 
6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

• “Ask in faith” – The greatest enemy to our prayers being answered is our lack of faith (unbelief).
• Wisdom is not based on “feelings”… “I feel that…”
• Emotions and feelings are not always true.
• Today’s society uses their feelings, emotions and opinions to formulate who their God is.
• I get to choose what my God would want for me.
• It is not based upon knowing the heart of God, but based upon selfish feelings & opinions.
• If those people, who are tossed about with emotions/feelings go to one who has wisdom and solid in their faith… they better be seeking help.
• The doubter will have an understanding of who God is what He does for them.
• But when they get hit with a huge wave, everything they thought they knew about God changes.
• One with wisdom, will understand that the same God who stood with them at the wedding alter is the same God who stands with them when it all falls apart.
• One with wisdom, will understand that the same God who stood with them at the birth of their child is the same God who stands with them when the story doesn’t play out like we expected it to.
• One with wisdom, will understand that the same God who stood with them at the first day of exciting new career is the same God who stands with them when that opportunity comes to an end.

7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, 8 being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.
(A heart that wants to believe.)

• Tozer – “Probably nothing else bothers the earnest Christian quite so much as the problem of those dry spells that come to him occasionally, no matter how faithfully he tries to obey God and walk in the light. He can never predict them and he cannot explain them. And there lies his difficulty.
• It might comfort one who finds himself in the middle of an emotional desert to know that his experience is not unique. The sweetest and holiest saints whose feet have graced this earth have at some time found themselves there.… It is good to know during such an internal drought that it has been a common experience with the saints.…
• Such times demand that we exercise faith. Moments of great spiritual delight do not require much faith; if we never came down from the mount of blessing we might easily come to trust in our own delights rather than in the unshakeable character of God. When it seems that our watchful Heavenly Father withdraws His inward comforts from us sometimes, we will hopefully learn that Christ alone is the Rock upon which we must repose our everlasting trust.”[5]

9 Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation, 10 but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field. 11 For the sun rises and, together with the scorching wind, dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance perishes. In the same way, the rich person will wither away while pursuing his activities.
(A surrendered will)

• The Message – James 1:5-11 - If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
• 9–11    When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don’t ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that’s a picture of the “prosperous life.” At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.[6]
• When I hear it read like that, I just start thinking about people…
• Twitter is that scorching heat today.
• You quickly move from prosperity and popularity to the societal target of attack.
• But let’s stay focused on the context. What was going on here when James was writing this letter?
• The Christian Jews were being persecuted by the Jews.
• Life with Jesus… life without Jesus… the prosperous life fades to nothing.

 
12 Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

• The crown of life is eternity with God/Jesus.
• Achieved through belief in the Messiah.

13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone.

• James asserts that God is not responsible for temptation or for the sin that might result from it.[7]
• There is nothing in God to which evil can make an appeal.[8]

14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.

• Let’s get this straight.
• I sin
• It is not my nature to sin
• Born with Adam seed, given a new heart.
• I don’t think you can hear this enough. Identity.
• But it goes further.
• 1 Thess 5:23 – Body, soul spirit.
• Flesh suit contains a brain
• Flesh patterns
• Thoughts
• Choice
• Holy Spirit taken up residence - Romans 8:11

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. [9]

• God loves you and has provided a way out.
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide a way out so that you may be able to bear it.[10]

[1] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Jas 1:5). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 340). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Pr 2:6). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Davids, P. H. (2011). James (p. 29). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
[5] Tozer, A. W., & Eggert, R. (1998). The Tozer Topical Reader (Vol. 1, p. 156). Camp Hill, PA: WingSpread.
[6] Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language (Jas 1:5–11). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
[7] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Jas 1:13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[8] Blue, J. R. (1985). James. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 822). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jas 1:5–18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Co 10:13). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

This week:
         Matthew 1:1-17; 4:1-11
         Mark 1:12-13
         Luke 3:23 - 4:13

The 4 Gospels make up 46% of the New Testament
- A.T. Robertson’s Book – “A Harmony of the Gospels”
- Thomas & Gundry – “A Harmony of the Gospels”
         (NAS)
Mathew –
         Audience: Jews
         Portrays Jesus as: King of Jews

Mark  -
         Audience: Romans
         Portrays Jesus as: The Servant of Jehovah
Luke -
         Audience: Greeks/Gentile/Theophilis
         Portrays Jesus as: The Son of Man

John -
         Audience: Jews
         Portrays Jesus as: Jesus, the Son of God      
Genealogies of Jesus
If the genealogies in Matthew & Luke are combined, we find the following: Jesus is the Son of David (Matthew 1:1) and therefore able to sit as King on David’s throne, the Son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1) and therefore a Jew, the Son of Adam (Luke 3:38) and therefore a man, the Son of God (Luke 3:38) and therefore God.
This fulfills the Abrahamic Covenant and the Davidic Covenant.
Matthew 1:11 - and Josiah fathered Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.[1]
Jeremiah 22:24-30 - 24 “As I live,” says the Lord, “though you, Coniah pson of Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, were a signet ring on My right hand, I would tear you from it. 25 In fact, I will hand you over to those you dread, who want to take your life, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Chaldeans. 26 I will hurl you and the mother who gave birth to you into another land, where neither of you were born, and there you will both die. 27 They will never return to the land they long to return to.”
28 Is this man Coniah a despised, shattered pot, a jar no one wants? Why are he and his descendants hurled out and cast into a land they have not known? 29 Earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord!
30 This is what the Lord says: Record this man as childless, a man who will not be successful in his lifetime. None of his descendants will succeed in sitting on the throne of David or ruling again in Judah.[2]

• Therefore, Matthew records Jesus’ lineage through Joseph to prove that if he is Joseph’s son, he could never be the Messiah.

Matthew 1:16 - and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, who (femine) gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.[3]
Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.[4]
Luke 3:23-38 – Mary’s lineage
Jeconiah of Matthew 1:11 is nowhere to be found in this lineage.
- Mary was a descendant of David through Nathan (Luke 3:31), not Solomon (as was the case with Joseph in Matthew 1:6).
- Once again proving prophecy that the Messiah would not come through Jeconiah.
Luke 4:1-13 – Jesus tempted 40 days in the
                 wilderness.
- Once Jesus was identified as the Messiah, he was led away to be tempted. (As we are).
- 1 John 2:15-17 - Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. 16 For everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever.[5]

- Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.[6]
1 Then Jesus returned from the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for 40 days to be tempted by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, He was hungry. 3 The Devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
         - Rock to bread – Lust of the flesh – Use His own power instead of His Father’s
4 But Jesus answered him, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone.”
 - Deuteronomy 8:3 - 3 He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then He gave you manna to eat, which you and your fathers had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.[7]
5 So he took Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 The Devil said to Him, “I will give You their splendor and all this authority, because it has been given over to me, and I can give it to anyone I want. 7 If You, then, will worship me, all will be Yours.”
 - Rule over World – Lust of the eyes – Choose His own will or His Father’s (easier than the cross)
8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”
 - Deuteronomy 6:13-14 - Fear Yahweh your God, worship Him, and take your oaths in His name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you, 15 for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God.
9 So he took Him to Jerusalem, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you, r11 and they will support you with their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:12)
 - Throw yourself down – Pride of Life – Testing His Father
12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said: Do not test the Lord your God.”
 - Deuteronomy 6:16 -m Do not test the Lord your God as you tested Him at Massah.[8]
13 After the Devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him for a time.
14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread throughout the entire vicinity. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, being acclaimed by everyone. [9]
_______________________________________

This week:
         Matthew 1:1-17; 4:1-11
         Mark 1:12-13
         Luke 3:23 - 4:13

Next week:
         John 1:19 – 2:11

[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 1:11). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Je 22:24–30). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 1:16). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Is 7:14). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (1 Jn 2:15–17). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Heb 4:15). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Dt 8:3). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Dt 6:16). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Lk 4:1–15). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.