Temptation.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
I want to start off by asking you guys a question. What is your favorite streaming platform? Do y’all like Netflix, Hulu, Disney plus… ect.?
So on Netflix there is this show called, “Is it Cake?” have you guys ever seen this show before?
If you guys have never seen this show before, they make cakes that look like normal things.
They might make a piece of cake that looks like a football. Then the people have to guess if it is cake or the real thing.
See so this looks like a legit hamburger, but it is really cake.
Then one of these things is cake, I have no idea which one though.
The point of the show, even though it is not how they would say it, is deceit.
They are trying to get you to believe something is cake when it is not.
The point of the show is to trick you.
This is still a problem in our lives, in our churches, and in all of time since the fall.
Lets take a little time travel trip back to the book of Genesis and look at how the fall of humanity happened.
To be able to do this, we have to look at the original command that God gave to Adam and Eve.
And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
This is what God told them.
He was clear.
One rule, no pears.
Eat all the apples that you want do not eat the pears.
I am just kidding, we do not know what the fruit was, but we know that it was a simple command not to eat from the tree.
Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden.
But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ”
“No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman.
“In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
So Adam and Eve broke the one rule. Do not eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden.
They were not alone in breaking the rule. The Serpent Deceived them.
He said “did God really say”
Then he said if they ate it then they would be like God.
Just like the bakers in “Is it cake?” they are trying to make you think that it is real, when it is actually cake.
Satan was deceiving them to get them to sin.
Then what happened? Who got the blame?
I promise one more verse and we will get back into James.
The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”
Adam blamed the women, yes.
But really he blamed God.
When things go wrong, we often point fingers at someone else.
More times than not, people will point their fingers at God.
That brings us back to James, so if you are not there already please open your copy of God’s Word to James 1:12-18
Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone.
But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.
Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Pray with me.
Promise of Perseverance.
Promise of Perseverance.
Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
I added in verse twelve from last week. So last week we talked about how trials are to strengthen us.
How we are supposed to see them as joy because God is going to use them for our good.
Those who endure for the sake of Godliness are going to receive the crown of glory.
Last week we saw that God sees his promises through.
Those who believe in him, will receive the Crown of life.
but this week is about temptation.
Presence of Temptation
Presence of Temptation
No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone.
But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.
NOW, looking at verse 13 we see that no one going through a trial should say that they are being tempted from God.
So obviously we see that people were blaming God for what was happening to them or he would not say this.
We have to know that there is a difference between trials and temptations.
Last week we talked about trials.
This week is temptations, and there is a difference.
God might put you through a trial to build you up. This is for your good and for your growth.
God will not tempt you!
Temptation is to encourage sin.
God would never do that. God cannot do that. He is perfect and sinless.
Making someone else fall into sin is sinful, therefore God does not tempt us.
He can send trials though.
Guys, lets be clear, trails are challenges to build us up.
Temptation is trying to get someone to fall into sin.
Are we good on the definition?
God does not send trials in order to make you worse, but to make you better.
But then we fall into sin when life gets hard.
We want to blame God.
We want to point our fingers at him and say why did I fall back into lust, why did I lie to my friend, why did you put me in this hard situation where YOU made me fall into sin.
You put me in this hard situation, but now I am stuck in a cycle of sin.
Or the common one, why do bad things happen to good people.
But we have to hold onto the hope that God is good and he does not tempt us.
So where does our temptation come from?
Well if it is not God, then it must be Satan right?!?
Yes, that is true, it can be Satan, but it can also be ourselves.
look again at verse 14.
But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.
Rather than blaming God, he have to look and examine our own sinful heart.
It is ourselves who make us fall into sin and temptations.
We start to walk away from God, when WE want something.
It is our own evil desire.
But what if Satan tempted me just like he did Eve with the fruit?
Satan can still tempt you, I want to make this point clear. Satan is there. We have an enemy that wants us to fall into sin. John 10:10 “A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.”
but when temptations come, WE still get the choice to fold in.
The same verse in Genesis where Satan tempted Eve also said that she had the desire to obtain wisdom.
The cause of sin is ourselves. Even Satans suggestions do not mean anything until we put them into action.
Every single one of us has a sin nature. That means that sin comes naturally to each and every one of us.
So the temptation that he talks about here comes from within us.
Why are the things of this world so easy?
It is our sin nature.
Why is it so easy to lust?
Why is it so easy to get angry?
To be impatient?
The part of us that wants to float down the easy stream, take the path of the world, to do the things that the rest of the world does, is from within.
It is easy to blame God.
It is easy to blame Satan.
But it is hard to blame yourself.
James is telling us that the thing that lures us to sin is ourselves.
Ouch.
And it is in disguise.
The CSB says “enticed,” (v. 14) but a better translation is like the the ESV where is says “lured.”
When I think of a lure I think of fishing.
Satan might lure you, but it is your choice if you take the bait.
A lure is supposed to look good, make the fish think they are getting a nice meal.
Illustration: Our sin is like chocolate chip cookies, man that sounds nice, until you take a bite. Then you realize it was raisins and you spit the cookie out.
Application: Temptation of sin will look appealing, but lead to destruction.
Transition: Sin does have a way about coming up, we have to be able to see and recognise it. That leads to the…
Progression of Temptation
Progression of Temptation
Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
James uses the imagery of birth to show how evil sin is.
He uses something good, and turns it to evil.
James uses this really intense language, where you think that there is life, but it leads to death instead.
James takes this process of how just like in birth we have a starting point.
The conception or start of sin is our desire.
Just like we talked about it comes from us.
Then we act on our desire and it give brith to sin.
Then sin grows up, becomes fully grown, and ends with death.
James paints the picture of a still born baby or a miscarriage.
If you know someone who has gone through that you know how difficult it is for them. To think that there is life, but then to find out it’s gone.
But this is what James says sin is like.
This world tells us, and it can seem like their is life, it can seem like there is nothing wrong with it, but it leads to death.
A little sin like lying to a friend, can end the friendship, and bring death to it.
Trying to find something to take the pain away like alcohol, then spiraling into drunkeness, leads to corruption and not joy.
Then falling into sin over and over again, never crawling back to the feet of your savior, leads to death. Death forever. A eternity away from God.
WOAH WOAH WOAH, last week we talked about the crown of life.
Now we are talking about death.
But sin contrasts the crown of life.
Our aim has to be finding joy in our hardships. Not sin in our hardships.
So you might be asking how do I know not fall into this sin and temptation?
You have to know the process of sin. David Platt gives us this progress.
Deception
Yes, everything starts from with in, but others can also make you think something that it is not.
Desire.
You have to know your Bible. You are going to have desires for ungodly things, but if you know they are ungodly you can push back into them.
Disobedience.
From our own actions we fall into sin.
Death.
Our sin leads to death.
So we know the process, so how do we not fall into the deception and the desire?
How do we fight?
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word. I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands.
We have to be armed with God’s word!
The only offensive weapon in the armor of God is the Word of God.
How did Jesus fight temptation against Jesus?
He quoted scripture.
We have to do the same.
My friend is trying to get me to say somethings that I shouldn’t.
Ephesians 4:29 “No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.”
Someone is trying to get you to get drunk.
Proverbs 20:1 “Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler; whoever goes astray because of them is not wise.”
Man, I keep falling into this same sin and I feel like their is no way out.
1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.”
We have to know what is from God, and know what is evil desire.
The only way to do that is to know God’s word. Have it stored up in your heart. That you might not sin against him.
Perfection in God’s gifts (vv. 16-18)
Perfection in God’s gifts (vv. 16-18)
but lucky for us, we have a good and perfect God. One who does not change.
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
James says, hey, God is good.
When you are in trials, God is good.
When you are undergoing temptation God is good.
He is always good.
He never changes.
He is for you.
It says do not be deceived. Do not be tricked into thinking that God is not good.
He is good and cares about you.
This is so encouraging. I am there with you guys, when life is not going good, it is easy to convince ourselves that God is not good.
It is easy to say this situation sucks, this hurts, I am giving in, I no longer believe that God is good.
But he does not change.
Everything good and perfect, comes from God.
God is the Father of light.
That means that he like like the sun.
The sun has no shadow.
1 John 1:5 “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.”
God cannot cause evil for their is not any in him.
We can find comfort in the fact that God is good, and he does not change.
Lastly, it says that by his choice, he made us first fruits.
This was a saying that was a part of Hebrew culture.
The first of anything was considered to be Holy and belonging to the Lord.
So the first of anything was called the first fruits.
this is why the first born cattle was given as a sacrifice, why the first born son had more “birth rights,” and why the first crop harvested of the year was so important.
They valued the first fruits.
And this verse says that he chose.
God chose to give us his Word. The word of truth , so that we can be armed with scripture.
He chose to send his Son to die for us.
He chose to never leave us nor forsake us.
He chose to offer salvation to us, so we can become HIS.
This is what God is saying.
Believers are a unique and sacred possession of God. Worth more than anything else he has created, his first fruits.
You are valued and loved by God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Just like Adam, it is so easy to blame God.
It is easy to blame others.
To blame Satan.
But our sin comes from us.
We have to fight it though.
When life looks you in the eyes and says that you are not enough.
When you are going through the fiercest battles.
When you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
God is there.
He is good.
He is sufficient.
And he has made those who believe, his first fruits.
