The Main Attraction - Distractions
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The Main Attraction - Distractions
The Main Attraction - Distractions
I want us to be clear… Jesus is the main attraction
We know that we are only attractive to point others to the main attraction
Yet sometimes we loose focus on the main attraction because we are DISTRACTED by other attractions....
The book of James, was written by the half brother of Jesus
The book is considered the New Testament proverbs
Written to Jewish believers dispersed because of persecution
The book of James gives us metaphors and contrast that are life changing
Let’s Get It Straight
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
“Let no one say when he is temped”
Tempted: to test v. — to put to the test in order to ascertain the nature of something, including imperfections, faults, or other qualities.
“I am being tempted by God” Why?
2 Reasons
God cannot be tempted (Tested to see his nature) With evil
He himself tempts no one - Think about it, Why does God have to see the nature of something, when he already knows it.
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
“But” let us contrast where temptation is from
“Each person”
Is tempted - Tested
“By His Own Desire” - KJV “His Lust”
Desire is the agent of the two participles
The two participles are in sequence, the first leading to the second
The initial stage of temptation is when a person is drawn out from his normal restraints
Then it is finished by his being enticed to commit sin.
It is like a fish being drawn out from its hiding place and then being enticed by a lure [BKC, EBC, EGT].
It is like when an animal is lured from its lair and enticed by a tempting bait [Mit]
Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
“Then desire when is has conceived”
Desire is the mother.... We all need desire (Desire is connected to our will)
The problem is when desire is impregnated by LUST
Then desire gives birth to sin. -
and “Sin when it is fully grown brings forth death”
The metaphor concerns the process of human reproduction. Like a woman conceives and gives birth to a child, so lust produces sin.
“Fully grown brings forth death”
The ‘maturing’ of sin refers to the complete development of sin [NIGTC].
When sin becomes a fixed state and habit, it brings forth death
Physical Death
Help I’m Distracted!!!!
I know Jesus is the main attraction but I’m so distracted
Let’s talk about desire
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Walk: to behave, ‘to conduct (oneself), to live
To ‘walk by the Spirit’ means to be under the constant moment by moment direction, control, and guidance of the Spirit [NIC]. To ‘walk in the Spirit’ means to go where the Spirit is going, to listen to his voice, to discern his will, to follow his guidance.
“You will not gratify the desires of the flesh”
The desires of the flesh are against the desires of the Spirit!
These are fighting against each other! Where is the battle ground? In this Jar of Clay
How do you over come distractions?
You have to impregnate desire (our will) with the right seed!
First we must crucify what tries to control our will.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Crucified: to execute someone by nailing him onto a cross.
It is a strong way of saying that they no longer respond to the temptations coming from the physical nature [Mor]. We are to take the flesh, our willful and wayward self, and, metaphorically speaking, nail it to the cross. This is Paul’s graphic description of repentance, of turning our back on the old life of selfishness and sin and refusing to acknowledge it
The Word of God has to be the seed…
since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
When the word becomes the seed then my desire (Will) produces or births God’s will....
Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
to delight (take) v. — to take a high degree of pleasure or mental satisfaction in.
When I have God’s word… My conduct changes / My behavior changes / My will changes
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
The same Spirit who gives life gives both strength and guidance throughout life’s journey
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.