Break the Cycle

Summary Sentence: James gives a pastoral warning to not be deceived and to understand how temptation works and how it cane be overcome.

Main Idea: Understanding the nature of temptation will keep us from accuse God of evil.

Probing Question: Do you understand the cycle of temptation?

Transitional Statement: I want you to see four truths today about the nature of temptation of the goodness of God.

Service Notes

Jason and Lori leave back to Chile after the morning service.

Continue in prayer for Ashley

VBS

Sermon Review

Let’s take a moment to review what we have learned so far this letter written by Pastor James.

Their is a glorious purpose in the trials we face.

Trials make us more knowingly depend on God.

Trials are a way to maturity

Trials are a part of God’s good purposes.

As we grow and persevere, trials prove God’s faithfulness and we have joy.

Count it all Joy

So we say “James 1:2–3 “2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

This is something older, mature Christians have experienced. We are “knowing this.” Pastor Charles Spurgeon said it like this “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.”

Have you ever heard the phrase “Trust the process” (Falcons fans are hearing this) let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you'll find that you've become people of mature character.

This “perfect work” will bring us to the future place we see in James 1:12 “12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (Second coming of Christ spoken about in 2 Timothy 4:8

So though it is difficult we summarize our relationship with these trials by saying with JB Philips ”When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! “

As we transition into this next section it is important that you realized the distinction in “trials and temptations.“

The word translated “temptation” has meaning of both “testing” and “temptation.”

We have been looking at testing or trials. They come in various form, but they do not have evil intent.

Though temptations that are not be endured as the trials but to be resisted. We do not need to know Greek to see the different use of the word, it can be seen in the context of the passage.

Today our attention will be given to (1) Understanding the cycle of temptation (2) Knowing how to overcome temptation.

Before reading the passage let me give you two definitions.

Temptation is a solicitation to sin.

Sin is simply that which is contrary to God’s law and God’s will.

Bible Reading

James 1:13–18 (KJV)

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Today we will look at an area of our life that do a refining work when we trust the Lord.

James 1:2 “2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”

Where will we look for answers? v.5-8

Where will we look for identity? v.9-12

Where will look for comfort? v.13-18 (next week)

Today’s Lesson

We know how temptation works. v.14-15

We know how temptation can be overcome. v.16-18

Sermon Introduction

In Upward basketball I miss many calls. They tell us to be “wrong strong.” I need instant replay.

Transition: We would do well to look at temptation frame by frame.

We can and should understand the cycle of temptation.

James 1:13–14 “13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

1. Temptation always involves attraction.

You're never tempted to things that you don't find attractive in one way or another. James 1:14 “14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier. No one sins out of a sense of duty.

If my kids leave their math homework out on the table, I am not tempted to do it for them. But replace it with brownie and I start doing the math.. “there is 11 that almost enough for everyone to have 2, but if I cut in half then there is enough for everyone to have 3 with so I can eat 1 1/3 of them right now.

Some things we need to admit about lust.

We all have our own lusts. James 1:14 “14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

Temptation is common to us all. 1 Corinthians 10:12–13 “12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful..”

Paul tells us in 1 Cor 15 as long as we dwell in corruptible bodies, we’re going to have temptations

Temptations often come from God given desires we seek to meet in ways that are not honoring to him. Example: Abraham wanted to have children. God wanted Abraham to have children. Good desire.

Though I am no longer a slave to my sins, I am still tempted to believe that they, and not God, will provide joy!1.

2. Attraction can give opportunity to deception.

This is the trickery or street magicians and robbery. The theft is usually simple and obvious the magic is how they keep you unaware of the obvious.

James 1:16 “16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.”

Believing God can be tempted with evil.

Believing God would tempt you with evil.

Not admitting you are drawn away by your own lusts.

The deception always involves our confidence in the goodness of God.

Deception: James 1:13 “13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”

Presbyterian kids said “God made me do it.” Charismatic kid said “the devil made me do it.” Baptist kid said he did it because the “deacon’s kid did it.”

What does this have to do with giving into temptation? Apparently, everything.

3. A deceived understanding of what we desire will lead to preoccupation.

James 1:14 “14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

The greatest conflict of living the Christian life, actually, is what goes on in your mind.

Listen to how John Bunyan puts it in one of his marvelous little poems.

Sin rather than ‘twill out of action be, (demand an action) Will pray to stay, though in a short space, with thee: One night, one hour, one moment, will it cry, Embrace me in thy bosom, or I die. Time to repent (saith it) I will allow, And help if to repent thou know’st not how. But if you give it entrance at the door, It will come in, and may go out no more.

Coffee with some characters of the Bible

Eve’s Story

Tell us what happened.

Lost sight of what mattered. So you were deceived? I guess you could say that.

The fruit looked looked delicious and attractive.

1 Timothy 2:14 “14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

Adam chose to listen to his wife instead of God in Gen 3:17.

Fruit was attractive to eyes and looked delicious. The least important two things about that tree.

David’s Story

Where did the problem start? I knew I should have turned and walked away but I felt drawn toward the sin.

David wasn’t drawn away from beauty. David was drawn away from what God says about marriage.

Samson’s Story

I can hear him now saying ““Temptation will please you to abuse you, seduce you to undo you, distract you to destroy you.” / I picture Mr. T

This was said of Delilah Judges 16:5 “5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth..”

Samson will say that she just wore him down. Judges 16:16 “16 And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;”

Your story

I was being deceived and didn’t trust God knew what was best for me.

I was preoccupy with the excitement and attraction and sought comfort. I wanted to escape.

I just didn’t see it as clearly as I see it now.

4. When we are being drawn away is where the battle in won and lost.

Each of the stories there is a time they should have slowed down and heard “Do not err, my beloved brethren.”

Though not as vivid as Eve and David our battle is won in the mind; it is won in the not being drawn away.

Recognize His Words are His revealed Will for you.

Remember that no one knows you better and no one knows what will ultimately bring you more joy in life.

In times of temptation ask God to show your the exact way you are violating His Word. (see yourself as being dragged away from God’s best)

Do not provide the resources needed to act upon sinful desire.

You have died, so put to death Colossians 3:5 “5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”

There is a place for very specific covenants with our eyes, and hands, feet, time, and money.

You are not servant of sin unto death? Romans 6:16–18 “16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” / tell your desire for sin that you no longer work

Victory is possible.

“I just cannot overcome this temptation” is not the testimony of a believer.

The waves of temptation, however high or strong, have a God-decreed shoreline. 1 Corinthians 10:13 “13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Every escape will be slightly different. But they all involve listening to Jesus and believing what he promises. John 8:32 “32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

5. We should live ever mindful of the devastating results of sin.

Seen a picture of multiple generation. How many of you have a pictures of 3 generations? 4? 5?

James 1:15 “15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

Sin happens when lust and opportunity meet.

quote from book David gave me

Transitional Statement: In the place where desire and opportunity meet is the great cross section of life where we learn whom we really trust.

Temptation is an opportunity to trust or reject God’s wisdom.

Life is not a problem to be solved. Life is an adventure to be lived for God’s glory.

Introduced this section last week.

Where will we look for answers? v.5-8

Where will we look for identity? v.9-12

Where will look for comfort? This determines if you will live a life of sin or worship. v.13-18 (next week)

Carsen wants to catch the ball in the air as opposed to waiting on it to come to him. You determine where you are getting the ball instead of you opponent. Address your lustful heart not when it meets opportunity but when you our meditating on our God!

The wilderness that Satan wants to take you to is a place you don’t believe God is good.

James 1:16–17 “16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

In 1743, when Robert Robinson was just eight years old, he lost his father. Angry, bitter, and fatherless, Robert rebelled in excess through his teenage years — drinking, gambling, and causing trouble. But God broke into his heart through the gospel preaching of George Whitefield. Several years later, he followed the Lord into ministry and was later inspired to write “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”

Jesus sought us when we were strangers, while we were wandering — literally fleeing — from the fold of God.

Romans 5:8 “8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Our sinful, worldly desires are attempts to fill a God-sized canyon with crayons and animal crackers. We remember not only that he gives every good thing, but that he himself is better and more fulfilling than every good thing, even the very best things. - Marshal Sengal

When the attractiveness of sin is strong look and live.

Look and Live, comes from a familiar story in the Old Testament in Numbers 21. God’s people were wandering through the wilderness. They became grouchy (as we do, too, when in the wilderness). Tired and hungry . . . grown-up kids who needed a nap.

They had eaten manna for a while now, and they were getting sick of it. Bamanna bread, mannacotti, manna burgers. So they began whining. Grumbling. Disbelieving that their all-knowing Father knew what they needed.

Never a good idea.

Insulted by their unbelief and ingratitude, the Father sent correction in the form of reptiles. God sent poisonous snakes to bite the people, and many of them began dying immediately. Naturally, as they often did (and we do, too, when our unbelief bites us), they returned and pleaded for mercy. The great intercessor Moses came to God and prayed for them, and God answered . . . in a rather interesting way:

Then the Lord said to Moses, Numbers 21:8 “8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.”

Thanks, Lord, but really?

Put a snake on a pole. That’s what’s going to rescue us?

Why show mercy in this way? Couldn’t God have just made the snakes vanish? Or maybe turned them into cute little puppies? Why the snake-pole?

Jesus explains why in the two verses that precede the most well-known verse in all of the Bible:

John 3:14–15 “14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

God, the Father and Master-Teacher, orchestrated that moment in history—a true historical parable—to show us what the cross is about and what faith is like.

Faith is a looking.

It is the serious looking of sin-stricken, snake-bitten people toward God’s peculiar and radical display of mercy . . . the crucified, bloody, exalted Son of God.

And if we don’t see Him, we die.

We die.

We go to hell.

We have no victory over sin. Our lives remain a self-destructive mess. We have no joy. We are slaves to our addictions.

Unless we see Him. Unless we run to survey the Savior on the pole. Unless we fight through the crowds and through our doubts, and lift up our eyes.

The poison of idolatry will rot our veins until the glory of the crucified God-man permeates our vision. To live is to behold Him.

My call is not “Look and get a better life” or “Look and get a warm fuzzy feelings.”

From one who bears the fang-shaped scar, my call to you is: Behold the anti-venom of the soul . . . the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Look and live.

Matt Papa and J. D. Greear, Look and Live: Behold the Soul-Thrilling, Sin-Destroying Glory of Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House, 2014).

Conclusion

Let us end our time meditating upon this verse. James 1:18 “18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

Lust, brings sin and death.

Looking to Jesus has brought life and has brought it to us abundantly.