Dealing With Temptation

Introduction: How many of you guys like fishing? I want you all to imagine that you have a vacation home on a lake, and you know that in that lake there is a massive fish. I mean, this fish is huge. It is the stuff of legend. All the fishermen in the area know that it is in that lake, and if you look at the lake and squint your eyes at just the right time of day you can see it lurking in the shadows. So, of course, you want to catch it. On the first day of vacation you get up early in the morning, grab your fishing gear, and make your way down to the lake. Now, for those of you who like fishing, how many of you would just grab your pole, put a hook on it, and toss it in the water? Why not? Right! You wouldn’t do that because you know that that fish didn’t get that big overnight. The reason that that fish is so so big is because it has avoided being caught for years, and you know that unless you make your hook irresistible there is no way you are going to catch that fish.

So, you carefully bait your hook making sure to conceal the hook as much as possible. Meanwhile, beneath the surface of the lake is the whale of all whales - the fish of the lake, and your carefully crafted lure does not escape his notice. He inspects it for danger, but can find no fault in it. “A little snack,” he thinks, “never did anyone any harm.” So he bites down on it, and, for a moment, enjoys the pleasure that that little snack brings. That is, of course, until you set the hook in his mouth. It is now too late for Mr. Fish. He will never see Mrs. Fish and their little fishlings ever again.

Did you know that that is exactly how the Bible describes temptation?

James 1:13–15 NKJV

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Temptation is the lure that conceals the hook of sin. When temptation first presents itself to us it looks good. That is why we make statements like, “Although it is tempting, no, I can’t eat my five-hundredth brownie.” We characterize brownies as tempting because they look good, and the Bible says the same thing about our initial attraction towards sin. It looks good. Now, temptation itself is not sin. However, James warns us of temptation because temptation is the lure that has the potential to lead us to sin, and sin brings death. James says, “Each one (person) is tempted when he is drawn (lured) away by his own desires and enticed (δελεάζω) (deceived).” Temptation occurs when a deceptive desire awakens inside you that lures you away from the good gifts of God.

James 1:16–17 NKJV

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Tonight, we will look into Scripture in order to answer three questions concerning temptation. 1). Where does temptation come from? 2). When Am I Likely To Be Tempted? 3). How can I get off the hook of sin?

Where Does Temptation Come From?

Temptation never comes from God

James 1:13 NKJV

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

God only gives good gifts

James 1:16–17 NKJV

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Temptation always comes from our own desires

Temptation feeds off of our own desires. You will often hear people say, “The devil made me do it,” or, “my parents made me do it,” or, “my friends made me do it,” but James, under the inspiration of God, says that if you are tempted it is the result of your owns desires. If you are tempted to sin, there is no one to blame but you. In other words, if you feel like sinning it is because you desire sin.

Play Skit Illustration

No one made the guy on the left buy junk food. It is because he desired junk food that he ordered it, and if he continues to live his life this way he will eventually pay the consequences with heart disease.

The same thing goes for you. No one forces you to hide your relationship with that guy/girl. You desire things to be done in secret, therefore, you hide. No one forces you to go to those websites or download those apps. Truth is, if you have those apps and have visited those websites (you know which ones I’m talking about), you desire them. No one forces you to harbor a grudge against your parents, secretly you enjoy it.

Question: Is it a sin to be tempted?

Correct! Temptation is not sin. Temptation exposes my desires. When we are tempted we are faced with a choice: should I indulge my desires and forsake God or should I forsake my desires and enjoy God’s good gifts? You might say, “Wait a minute! Shouldn’t I be allowed to have what I desire?” Not always, because you are a fallen human being and what you naturally desire will lead you to death.

James 1:15 NKJV

Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

When Am I Likely To Be Tempted?

Example:

Temptation strikes when your guard is down

Example: vacation

Temptation strikes when you are looking for something to do

Question: Are you actively engaged in chasing after God

Temptation strikes when we indulge our curiosity

“If you don’t want temptation to follow you, don’t act as if you are interested.”

Temptation strikes when we ignore the consequences

As we know, David ignored the consequences.

I couldn't look her in the eye. "Yes, of course his mom will be there," I said sarcastically. My mom questioned me like this all the time, and I deserved it. But I couldn't let her know that. I was going to my boyfriend Kevin's for dinner and a movie.

My Kevin. He played guitar in a band, he wrote poetry and he was incredibly sweet. He said he loved me, so I said I loved him too.

Mom drove me over to Kevin's, just to make sure his mom was there. She was. But that didn't really matter. I could make my own decisions. And I did …

What If?

Kevin drove me home that night. After he kissed me goodbye, I stepped inside and went upstairs. I looked at myself in the mirror, and I didn't like to look into my own eyes. I went into my room, trying not to look at my bookshelf where the words "Teen Study Bible" glared back at me accusingly. I lay in bed for hours, and I couldn't sleep.

All I could think was, What if? What if I get pregnant?

I cried as I wrote in my journal, mapping out a plan in case I did get pregnant. Who would I tell first? Would I try to have an abortion? Would I stay in school? How would I ever be able to face my parents and brother?

"Oh please, God," I prayed, "just let me not be pregnant. I'll stop doing this."

I didn't get pregnant. But I didn't stop, either.

Feeling Betrayed

Time passed, and little by little I became aggravated with Kevin. His friends kidded me about the physical side of our relationship; so much for his promised discretion.

He didn't show at a dance recital that meant a lot to me. I started feeling betrayed. I'd shared my body with him, my soul, and he didn't really care. It hurt a lot. I broke up with him after a six-month relationship.

A wall had been built, though, and it remained—between me and my parents, and, most importantly, between me and God. I went into another relationship, and again I went too far physically. I was addicted. It seemed like I was in an endless cycle, even after I broke up with my second boyfriend. Change seemed impossible.

A year later, I sat in church one Sunday, listening to something about a parable of wheat and tares (). Tares are weeds that grow in fields. Tares look like wheat, but are not. That hit me. Even though I'd been in church my whole life and came from a Christian family, I realized I had no true faith.

And faith was what it was all about. Faith that Christ had died on the cross so I could be with him—so my sins, all of them, could be washed away. Faith was the answer.

So I prayed. I told God I knew I was a sinner, that the things I'd done were wrong. I asked him to forgive me and be the Lord of my life. At 17 years old, I got saved.

As I began studying the Bible, I found more and more instances where God's rules, and my parents' rules, weren't just stupid things that made no sense. They made perfect sense; they were there for a reason, to guide me on how to really be happy.

I talked to my parents one night and told them the truth about the things I'd done. I cried. I asked their forgiveness.

My mom said she had known all along; she gave me a hug, and she cried as well. And I'll never forget my dad's face—so twisted full of pain. But as time's gone on, that face has softened; my dad loves me, and he has forgiven me too.

Mercy is an incredible gift.

I struggle daily with guilt, and with feelings I wish I didn't have. I wonder if there's going to be a Christian man who will love me and marry me one day, even with the mistakes I've made. That's the worst fear of all.

And even though I know God has forgiven me, I struggle to forgive myself. Thoughts like that hurt. But I believe God has a plan for me. He will protect me and give me the strength I need to live for him and to wait for marriage. I pray for it every day, and, day by day, his grace comes to help.

I'm now waiting for marriage because I've known the pain that comes from disobedience to God. Sex outside of marriage isn't what he intended, and it causes feelings that cut deeply, to the very soul of a person.

I'm waiting because I know God has someone in mind for me as a partner one day, if it's his will that I should marry. I'm waiting because I want what I will share with that person to be special. And I'm waiting because I know that through God's strength, I can.

What originally looked really good to her ended up hooking her and enslaving her. It would have cost her her life, but she realized the good gift of mercy that can be found in Jesus Christ.

How Can I Get Off of the Hook of Sin?

For some of you, you might need to realize the same thing. You are living a life of hopelessness because you have rejected the truth of the Word of God. You’re hooked. At first sin looked good to you, but now it is nothing but bitter. You need to realize that it will cost you your life. You also need to realize you that Christ already gave His so that you could know the good gifts of God. Tonight, you can be done with the temporary pleasure of your sinful desires, submit yourself to God and know the love and hope he provides.

For others, you might already be a Christian, but you sure haven’t been living like it. You have submitted yourself to sin and have been driven by your own fleshly desires.

1 Corinthians 10:12–13 NKJV

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

1). We must remember that we must be prepared for temptation. Temptation is common to man. You had better not think that you are immune to sin.

Example: William Stout

2). Whatever temptation you face, you are not alone. Sin grows in secrecy. Do not push away your parents. Do not push away the Word of God.

Do you treasure Jesus enough to resist the temptation to sin?

Do you believe that God is stronger than your temptations and circumstances?

3). Do what is necessary to make it hard to sin and easy to do right!

4). Believe that God’s good gifts are better than the temptations you face.