How to Handle Tempation

James 1:12-18

James is a very practical book, the theme of the book is that it is not enough to “be” a Christian, if your conduct does not prove that you “are” a Christian.

The book of James is one of, if not the earliest book in the New Testament, it was written in between 46 and 49 A. D. It was written to Christian Jews that were scattered into the Roman empire because of persecution.

Last to be accepted.

The author is James, most probably James the brother of Jesus (recent ossuary discovery)

There are only 108 verses in this short book. Half of those verses are commands.

As long as there are Christians that are prone to separate profession from practice, the message of James will continue to be relevant.

INTRODUCTION: The Motivation to endure (be victorious) over temptation--LOVE. It would seem that it should be trust or obey or faith. Love is the underlying motive in all the imperatives in this section.

Why do we have a joyful spirit when we face trials?--LOVE. We love Him and He loves us and He wouldn't harm us.

Why do we have an understanding mind?--LOVE. Because He loved us and shared His truth with us.

Why do we have a surrendered will?--LOVE. Because of the unmerited love that was bestowed upon us that we only return what would be just a small part of all that He has done for us.

Why do we have a believing heart?--LOVE. Because love and faith go together, when you love someone, you trust him, and you do not hesitate to ask him for help. You can endure trials and troubles if you love someone. When he is tried, when this proof is made apparent, he shall receive the crown of life. "Tried" originated from the thought of testing coins to make sure that they were genuine. When we are tested we will receive the crown of Life. What is James saying? If you endure these trials you will be saved? You can work your way into heaven? No, you are saved by grace through faith but those that live the victorious Christian life will be given the "stephanos," a wreath that was given in ancient Hebrew days to those who deserved special honor or in recognition of a special feat. In James day it was a wreath that was given to the winner of the Olympic games. The crown is connected with rewards and not with salvation.

The purpose of trials is to teach us patience, endurance, wisdom and to give us rewards. When our circumstances are difficult, we may find ourselves complaining against God, questioning His love, and resisting His will. At this point, Satan provides us with an opportunity to escape difficulty. This opportunity is a temptation

HOW TO HAVE VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION

1. CONSIDER GOD'S JUDGMENT (James 1:13-16)

Look ahead and see where sin ends--we sin as a single act--God sees it as a process. Adam committed one sin yet that one act brought sin, death, and judgment to the whole world. James describes this process of sin in four stages.

a. DESIRE (v. 14) EMOTION--lust

Normal desires are God given--sex, hunger, rest

Hunger--eating is normal, gluttony is sin.

Sleep is normal, laziness is a sin.

Heb. 13:4, Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed is undefiled; but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge; without sex the whole human race would be gone by the next generation-but trying to satisfy sex drives outside of the bounds that God established will destroy your life. The secret is constant control--these desires must be our servants, not our masters. Only as we fall deeper in love with Christ will we have power over these desires.

b. DECEPTION (v. 14) INTELLECT--drawn away

James uses 2 sports illustrations to prove his point

Drawn away are words that are centered around the baiting of a trap--this is the hunter.

The original meaning of enticed is "to bait a hook"--it is deception that the hunter or fisherman uses to catch his prey. You imitate a minnow, or trick him to bite your line. You never reason with the fish and tell him that you are going catch him and skin him and eat him after you fry him in boiling oil. There is no way he would come home with you, But if you trick him you will eat him just the same.

(Describe the tech advances in fishing in the last 40 years and compare that to the advancement that Satan can trick us today: internet chat and porn).

Cousin in Alabama-trapped animals to pay his college tuition. Raccoon trap--we found this raccoon drowned. He said that if he didn't a arrange the bait in the trap so that he would drown that the raccoon would chew his leg off to get out of the trap. I couldn't stomach trapping.

Do you think that Lot would have chosen Sodom if he would have foreseen the trap?

Do you think that David would have worked Bathsheba if he would have known that his baby by her would die, that he would have to murder Uriah, that that sin would lead to others like the violation of his daughter Tamar?

The bait keeps us from seeing the consequences of sin. Do you think that some fallen preachers would have gone into that prostitutes establishment if they would have known the result? There are people that are under the sound of my voice that will bite at the bait of temptation and it will ruin their life.

c. DISOBEDIENCE (v.15) WILL--(desire/deception/disobedience)

James changes the picture from hunting and fishing to the analogy of having a baby. Desire conceives the method for taking the bait. The will approves and acts; the result is sin and whether we admit it or not we are hooked. The baby is born and just wait till it matures.

Christian living is an act of the will not of feelings. You are to act because it is right, no matter how you feel. This explains why Christians fail so many trials. They are ruled by feelings.

d. DEATH (v.15)

It may take years for sin to mature, but it does. These four stages of sin are perfectly depicted in Gen. 3--the fall of man.

The second way to have victory over sin is to

2. CONSIDER GOD'S GOODNESS (1:17)

THIS IS A POSITIVE WAY TO HAVE VICTORY OVER SIN--THE FIRST WAS NEGATIVE (ok, here's something positive).

One of the enemy's tricks is to convince us that our Father is holding out on us. If God really loved you He would permit you to eat of the forbidden fruit. The goodness of God is a great barrier to resisting temptation.

James declares four facts about the goodness of God.

1. God gives only good gifts--if it didn't come from God, it isn't good

2. The way God gives is good. Sometimes the way you give can detract from what you give. What God gives and how God gives are both good.

3. God gives constantly (present participle); it keeps on coming down; He doesn't give occasionally.

4. God doesn't change--no shadow of turning. God's goodness is consistent.

THE NEXT TIME YOU ARE TEMPTED TO SIN MEDITATE ON THE GOODNESS OF GOD. Never toy with the devil's bait. One of the reasons for temptations is to teach us patience. Wait on God's timing--it is for your good.

3. CONSIDER THE DIVINE NATURE THAT IS WITHIN YOU (1:18)

The first barrier God says look ahead and beware of judgment

The second barrier God says look around and see how good I have been to you.

The last one God says look within and realize that you have been born from above and possess a different nature.

a. It is gracious--we didn't earn it. We don't have to experience the birth and death of sin we can continue to experience the new birth and the fruit of the spirit that will help us overcome temptation. If the victory over sin is won in the heart, the victory is complete before it has time to grow and disrupt and scar your life.

b. It is from the word of God. This thought is carried over into verses 19-27. The word of God has regenerative power. 1 Pet. 1:23, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the WORD OF GOD which liveth and abideth for ever." Heb 4:12, "The WORD OF GOD is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Nicodemus in John 3)

c. It is the first fruits; the first fruits are the finest and most succulent and most desired of the harvest. We have a great lineage.

What is the main reason that you don't do something wrong? You will get caught--that is the world's motivation (deonto/teleo system of ethics). We should live on a higher plain!

No matter what excuses we make, we are responsible for our own actions. If we sin, we are to blame. God has erected these three barriers to keep us from sinning. If we heed the barriers we will win a crown. If we break through the barriers we will find death. Which will it be--a crown or a coffin? The choice is yours!

James 3:2-13

Illustr.: Tongue is the most powerful force on the earth. Sometimes we want to take back words, but can’t. Herod and John the Baptist.

1. Respect for Others

- how others may be offended

- you don’t have to, but it says you care

2. Respect for Self

- how people see you

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3. Deep Vocabulary

- not taking the first adjective you come to

- takes some thought

Concl: