2. 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. ESV

5. A.We Must Have the Proper Attitude. Heb. 11:17 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, ESV

6. A.We Must Have the Proper Attitude. Gen 22:1-2 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." 2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." ESV

7. A.We Must Have the Proper Attitude. “We must welcome each rebuff that turns earth’s smoothness rough, for every hard thing is another step on the upward way.”

8. A.We Must Have the Proper Attitude. B.Realize the Advantages of Trials. 1.They test our faith (ver. 3). 2.They produce steadfastness (ver. 3). 1 Cor. 15:58 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. ESV

9. A.We Must Have the Proper Attitude. B.Realize the Advantages of Trials. 1.They test our faith (ver. 3). 2.They produce steadfastness (ver. 3). Rev 2:10 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. ESV

10. A.We Must Have the Proper Attitude. B.Realize the Advantages of Trials. 1.They test our faith (ver. 3). 2.They produce steadfastness (ver. 3). 3.Steadfastness lead to perfection (ver. 4). James 1:12 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. ESV

11. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. ESV

12. A.We Must Understand the Source. Ver. 13 “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.”

13. A.We Must Understand the Source. Augustine “Every person born into the world is enslaved to the service of sin and apart from the efficacious grace of God, is utterly unable to choose to follow God…”

14. A.We Must Understand the Source. Presbyterian Confession of Faith “Man, by his fall into sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation.”

15. A.We Must Understand the Source. Ver. 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. KJV

16. A.We Must Understand the Source. James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. KJV

17. A.We Must Understand the Source. Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— ESV

18. A.We Must Understand the Source. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ESV

19. A.We Must Understand the Source. Ezek. 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. ESV

20. A.We Must Understand the Source. Ezek. 18:20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. ESV

21. A.We Must Understand the Source. B.The Solution for Temptation (James 1:16- 21).