Count It All Joy

“Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptation.” “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” (James 1:2, 3) If you feel the weight of temptations pressing upon you the Apostle exhorts us to, ‘count it all joy,’ for it is a trying (testing) of your faith. We can learn a lot from what the text says, indeed we can also learn just as much from what it does not say, and it does not say that these divers temptations are a ‘trying of your strength.’ This should immediately bring courage to us all, especially those who mourn a lack of strength as to the cause of their fall into sin over and over again. Since temptation then is a trying or testing of our faith, then it follows that temptation must be evidence that we do indeed possess faith in order for it to be tested! Many are ready to give up in despair under the weight of temptation because they believe it is evidence of their lack of faith, and or strength to overcome. But if they would not give up in unbelief but by strong confidence believe this text, ‘Knowing this that’ it is ‘the TESTING OF YOUR FAITH!’ But it doesn’t stop there. Faith is found in whom? “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim 1:14) Faith is found in Christ Jesus. That moment one is in possession of faith he is in possession of Jesus Christ! Therefore if temptation be an evidence that you are in possession of faith and faith is found in Christ it follows that temptation is an evidence that you are in Christ and Christ is in you. But it gets better and even the more glorious. We are told by John’s gospel, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12) Those that receive Christ receive power. So temptation being an evidence of faith which is in Christ and Christ Jesus gives power to those who receive him it follows that temptation is an evidence that you are in possession of power, even the power of God. This power is given that we might become and remain his sons and daughters. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Rom 8:14) Therefore if temptation is an evidence that we possess faith which is in Christ, and Christ gives power to those who receive him and hence they are his children, and it is His All powerful Spirit that leads his children, then it follows also that temptation is evidence that we are in possession of the Almighty Spirit of God! So my beloved brethren ‘count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations…for if ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:’ (Jam 1:2; 1Pe 4:14) The reason for temptation is explained in the same text under consideration,

“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (Jam 1:3, 4) It is perfection that is being wrought in us and if it be the Almighty Spirit of God through Jesus Christ that does the work in us what do we have to fear when we go to battle with sin and worldly lusts? We are in possession of a far greater power than sin and the more we are tempted the more it is that the devil gives us evidence of the power we have! Let us boast with the Psalmist, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psa 27:1) By Jonathan Dantzie For more info contact [email protected]