MESSAGE FOR SUNDAY NIGHT, JUNE 21, 2009 MESSAGE 3 OF 17 in expository sermon series from JAMES Practical Wisdom for Daily Living CHRISTIAN HOPE CHURCH OF CHRIST, PLYMOUTH, NC by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister The Truth About Temptation Message 3 of 17: Expository Series on The Book of James James 1:13-18 As we continue in our series from the Book of James, let s turn to James chapter one, verses thirteen through eighteen. P R A Y E R Read: James 1:13-18 Introduction Up to this point in our study James has been talking about the trials of many kinds faced by the early Christians. As we have already learned in verse 1 those who first read this New Testament letter had suffered all kinds of persecution which had resulted in their scattering throughout the world. In our message last week from verses 9-11 we learned of another kind of trial the early Christians faced and that was the trial of financial hardship or extreme poverty. Now as we come to tonight s text in verses 13-18, James talks about another form of trials faced not only by the early Christians but by all Christians. And that is the trial of temptations. ********
It is interesting that the word James used for tempted in verse 13 is the same exact word he used for trials back in verse 2. And that is the Greek word, peiraza (peer-ah-zo) which means, to pierce in order to test, try, examine or prove. Analogy: Probably every one of you ladies has baked a cake at some time or another. Did you ever pierce the cake with a toothpick to see if it was done? Or you guys, when you cook a piece of meat on the grill, do you ever pierce the meat with a knife and open it up to see if it is cooked in the middle? When you and I are tested, tried or tempted we are being pierced to see if we are spiritually done or spiritually complete. However there is a difference between a trial and a temptation. The purpose of a TRIAL is to bring out the best in us. The purpose of a TEMPTATION is to bring out the worst in us. The goal of a TRIAL is to reveal our godliness. The goal of a TEMPTATION is to reveal our ungodliness. But here is one thing both trials and temptations have in common: And that is, both provide us with an opportunity to do the RIGHT thing! ******************* For just a few minutes, let s consider three simple thoughts about temptation. First of all, let s consider..
I. The Certainty of Temptation vs. 13a vs. 13a When tempted.. 1. James is telling us temptation is a certainty, not a possibility. Someone once said, Opportunity knocks only once, but temptation beats the door down every day. 2. In his book, Turning Toward Integrity, Dr. David Jeremiah writes: I think the struggle against sin and its power might be a tougher fight for us now than at almost any other time in history. From every direction, we are bombarded with powerful temptations that can lead us away from God. Men used to have to go out of their way to give themselves to sin. Today the possibilities of sin are present absolutely everywhere---in the shopping malls, on TV, in school, at work, in theaters, in the newspapers and on the pages of a magazine. We are exposed daily to an incredible variety of opportunities for disobedience in thought and action. We don t have to go find temptation. Temptation will always find us!!!
3. There are three myths we must guard against when it comes to this matter of temptation. Myth #1: We are tempted because we are sinful. We aren t tempted because we are sinful, we are tempted because we are human beings. Jesus Christ was not sinful and yet Hebrews 4:15 tells us Christ was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin. Myth #2: When one becomes a Christian he is no longer tempted by sinful desires. I Corinthians 10:12, 13 So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. Becoming a Christian doesn t make one immune from temptation. If anything, one sees an increase in temptation once he or she becomes a Christian. You see, Satan is a sore loser and he will do anything he can to cause us to stumble or to damage our witness and our testimony as a Christian.
Myth #3: We eventually outgrow our sinful urges as we get older. While it is true that a Christian can overcome temptation by yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit it is not true that one can outlive temptation. Men in their 70 s and 80 s still battle many of the same temptations they had when they were in their 20 s and 30 s. We don t outlive or outgrow temptation. The things that tempt you now will likely tempt you all the way to the grave. 4. That is the CERTAINTY OF TEMPTATION! ********************* Secondly, let s consider II. The Cause of Temptation vs.13 When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. 1. Man has always pointed the finger of blame at someone else for his sin. In the Garden of Eden, Eve pointed the finger of blame at the serpent. Adam pointed the finger of blame at Eve.
2. Here in America we live in a society that wants to blame all our problems on someone or something other than ourselves...if my parents had shown more love to me. If my mom and dad had been more strict with me. If my parents would have spent more time with me..if my husband would have paid more attention to me..if my wife had shown more affection to me. If this If that..if, If, If! 3. And sometimes we even blame God!.If God hadn t made me this way!.if God hadn t taken my dad or my mom away from me at such an early age..if God hadn t taken my son or daughter away from me. In James day, some Jewish rabbis taught a theology called yetzher ha-ra which means evil impulse. Basically this teaching said God was indirectly responsible for the presence of evil in the world because He created man with this yetzher ha ra, an evil impulse toward sin. And therefore God is partly to blame for man s sinfulness. Did God create man? YES! Did God create man with a sinful nature? NO! God created man with a free will. And because man has a free will he can choose to do right or do wrong. Therefore man is responsible for his own sin.
4. James says, When tempted, no one should say God is tempting me, for God cannot..god CANNOT be tempted by evil.. That phrase cannot be tempted literally means, God is inexperienced when it comes to evil because He has no capacity for evil or vulnerability to it. Evil cannot penetrate into the mind, heart, or spirit of God. 5. James is telling us when it comes to the real source of temptation one has to look no further than the person in the mirror. READ : Verses 14 and 15 Let s focus in on the key words in these verses. Vs. 14 Each one is tempted when by his own evil desires. This refers to lust. Lust is the strong desire of the human soul to enjoy or acquire something to satisfy the flesh. Notice James says, his own evil desires. The Hebrew writer refers to this as the sin that so easily entangles us. Everyone of us has evil desires. You do.i do we all do. I John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. In other words, if you or I say, I don t have sinful desires, nope not me we are lying through our teeth! All of us has evil desires! We just don t have the same evil desires. You may have an evil desire for something that doesn t appeal to me at all. And I may have an evil desire for something that doesn t appeal to you at all. But we all have evil desires.
Now Satan is a very skilled fisherman. He knows exactly which lure to use on you and which lure to use on me. This is why we must take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. vs.14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desire. he is dragged away.. The Greek word used here describes wild game being lured into a trap. Just as animals can be drawn to their deaths by attractive baits, temptation promises us something that appears to be good, but in reality is very harmful. vs. 14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. James now switches from a hunting term to a fishing term. The Greek word for enticed literally means lured. It carries with it the idea of a fish swimming on a straight course then being drawn off towards something that seems to be attractive only to discover the bait has a deadly hook in it.
Now let s go on to. vs. 15 Then, after desire has conceived.. That means, Once your mind becomes pregnant with the idea of following through on your evil desire or once you have started dwelling on or imagining or fantasizing about following through with the evil desire. vs. 15 Then, after desire has conceived it gives birth to sin.. Just like a baby growing in a mother s womb gets bigger and bigger until it is birthed, evil desires get bigger and bigger until we give birth to the desire by acting upon it. vs. 15 Then, after desire has conceived it gives birth to sin and sin when it is full grown gives birth to death. The term death here means separation. Sin puts a barrier between us and God. Sin causes us to hide from God in guilt and shame just as Adam and Eve did after they ate the forbidden fruit. Any time we yield to temptation and following through with our sinful desires it can lead to the death of our reputation. or..the death of our marriage..or the death of a friendship or the death of our career or the death of christian witness and yes, it can even lead to physical death.
We have considered THE CERTAINTY OF TEMPTATION.and THE CAUSE OF TEMPTATION.. Finally, let s consider III. The Cure For Temptation vs. 16-18 1. At first glance one wonders what does this have to do with temptation. But when looks at the meaning of these verses it becomes obvious. vs. 16 Don t be deceived my dear brothers Don t be deceived about what? -Don t be deceived about the real source of temptation. Satan uses our own desires against us. -And don t be deceived about the serious consequences of yielding to temptation. vs. Every good and perfect gift is from above.. Temptation is Satan s game of bait and switch. He promises us one thing and gives us another. God isn t like that! God only gives gifts that are good and perfect gifts that benefit us gifts that bring us true joy, true peace and true happiness. And the more you and I hunger for God s good and perfect gifts the more it curbs our appetite to fulfill our evil desires.
CONCLUSION Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin. Each victory will help you some other to win. Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue. Look ever to Jesus, He ll carry you through. Ask the Savior to help you, Comfort, strengthen and keep you; He is willing to help you, He will carry you through. Shun evil companions, bad language disdain, God s Name hold in reverence, nor take it in vain. Be thoughtful and earnest, kindhearted and true, Look ever to Jesus, He ll carry you through. To him that overcomes, God giveth a crown; Through faith we shall conquer, though often cast down; He Who is our Savior, our strength will renew, Look ever to Jesus, He ll carry you through.