The Operation of Temptation
Notes
Transcript
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.
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: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. 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. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
You will be tempted every day. Do you know how temptation works? Do you know how to stop temptation before it becomes sin? The Bible gives us the answer.
Think about the last time you were tempted. Why did it affect you so much? Did you overcome the enticement or succumb to it?
The Bible gives us an incredible amount of information about sin and temptation. James chapter 1 is the supreme Scripture on temptation. Let’s examine the passage to learn four major truths about how temptation works.
I. The Subjection of Temptation
I. The Subjection of Temptation
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.
Blessed is the man that overcomes temptation. Happiness and prosperity are the spoils of victory. Pain, sorrow, guilt, and shame are the torment of defeat. There is even an eternal reward called the crown of life for those that love God enough to endure temptation.
Every committed Christian must become a student of self and temptation. We should know our weaknesses and how to defeat the allurement of sin.
There are various kinds of temptation.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Most temptations arise from four primal desires.
Passion. This includes emotions such as desire, fear, hope, grief, love, and hatred.
Power. This includes the desire for power, status, and station.
Possessions. This is the covetous desire for the things of this world.
Pleasure. This is the desire for satisfaction, entertainment, relaxation, enjoyment and thrill.
Temptation is not a sin. Surrendering to temptation is a sin.
Our Gracious God has given us the tools to conquer all forms of temptation. Decide to engage in the good fight of faith over flesh. Ask God for strength to endure temptation and overcome it for His glory.
II. The Inception Of Temptation
II. The Inception Of Temptation
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: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
There are two kinds of temptation in the Bible.
a. Testing Under Trial
Sometimes the Bible word “temptation” indicates a test. Consider the following verses.
And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
b. Solicitation To Evil
Other instances of this Bible word denote an enticement to sin. Consider these verses.
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
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.
James 1:13* teaches that God cannot be enticed to sin and does not solicit anybody with evil. God never tries to get you to sin.
God cannot be tempted with evil. There is nothing in Him to respond to temptation.
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Consider how the four primal desires apply to God.
1. Passion.
God has no dark passions. He is pure and holy.
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
2. Power.
God is all-powerful.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
3. Possessions. The planet, its possessions, and its people belong to God.
The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof;
The world, and they that dwell therein.
4. Pleasure. God takes pleasure in Himself and His creation.
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
God cannot be tempted with evil. Furthermore, God wants people to live righteous lives. He is working to make you holy not get you to sin.
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
If temptation doesn’t come from God, where does it originate?
In the following verses, our Creator explains why people are enticed to sin and how temptation works.
III. The Progression of Temptation
III. The Progression of Temptation
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
We must distinguish between the source of temptation and the agent of enticement. The agent of enticement is the outside factor that offers allurement. It charms us, seduces our sin nature, and gives us the opportunity to sin.
The source of temptation is within us. If we had no lust, temptation would have no power. If we had no darkness, iniquity would not be attractive. We are drawn to sin like a moth to a lightbulb at night. It is our sin nature that gives temptation its power in our lives.
The progression of temptation is clearly outlined.
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
1. Drawing Begins.
1. Drawing Begins.
We are drawn away by our own lust. “Drawn away” literally means “to drag forth.” Think of a man being kidnaped. He is overpowered by an assailant and dragged toward a vehicle.
Our lust takes notice of the temptation and drags us toward it.
2. Enticement Happens.
2. Enticement Happens.
Entice means to incite or provoke. It has the idea of starting a fire. A small spark takes hold of the kindling and the fire slowly grows. The longer you focus on the temptation, its strength grows.
The Greek word for entice used here literally means “to entrap.” As your lust draws you away, a fire of desire begins to burn. Like a boa constrictor, temptation slowly tightens robbing you of the will to fight off the seduction.
3. Lust Conceives.
3. Lust Conceives.
If you stay in the presence of temptation long enough, you will sin. It is only a matter of time. Lust will give birth to sin.
This is an illustration of giving birth. You are “pregnant” with sin. You have a sin nature within you wanting you to act upon it. Unresisted temptation, begins the birthing process.
You have a brief window of grace once temptation begins. If you play with sin in your mind or entertain it in your heart, you will sin. You must reject temptation immediately. Hesitation is defeat. You cannot play with temptation. You must squash it.
4. Sin Occurs.
4. Sin Occurs.
Once lust becomes a raging fire, you will allow it to consume you. You consent to the sin. You make a way to indulge in it. You excuse it away and act upon it.
Sin is not the result of temptation, but your surrender to it. The guilt is yours.
5. Death Follows.
5. Death Follows.
The wages of sin are always death. Something must die. The fleeting pleasure was yours. The consequences are wholly yours as well.
In Proverbs chapter 7 lust is personified by a seducing harlot. The result of yielding to temptation and lust is sin and death.
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield,
With the flattering of her lips she forced him.
He goeth after her straightway,
As an ox goeth to the slaughter,
Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
Till a dart strike through his liver;
As a bird hasteth to the snare,
And knoweth not that it is for his life.
Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children,
And attend to the words of my mouth.
Let not thine heart decline to her ways,
Go not astray in her paths.
For she hath cast down many wounded:
Yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
Her house is the way to hell,
Going down to the chambers of death.
IV. The Illustration Of Temptation
IV. The Illustration Of Temptation
And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
The Biblical story of Achan is a sad one. He was a decent man from a good family. He didn't plan on becoming infamous for caving to temptation, disobeying God, and getting his family killed. But that's what happened. History is filled with similar stories.
Although it comes in many different forms, temptation always works the same way. The account of Achan reveals the anatomy of temptation. I saw. I coveted. I took. Understand that this is the same progression sin will make in your heart.
Learn from Achan's sin and protect yourself.
I Saw
What we see affects our hearts. Our eyes allow us to see the beauty and possibilities of the world around us. Yet, there is a dark side to vision. It allows us to see things that are off limits. The mere seeing of a thing can create a desire for it. The sin nature is especially attracted to things it can't have.
The entertainment industry understands this fact well. Companies will pay them millions of dollars to show an ad for a product or service. Have you ever seen a commercial of something you didn't know existed and then felt like you must have it? It's that simple.
Knowing this fact empowers us to protect ourselves. Decide what you will look at and what you won't. Job made a covenant with his eyes that he wouldn't look upon a maid. No window shopping. Choose now what TV programs, movies, magazines, websites, etc. will be a part of your life. You will save yourself a lot of trouble if you do your best to stop temptation with your eyes!
I Coveted
What if you see something that creates an unlawful desire in you? Tell yourself no. News Flash! You are not entitled to have everything you want.
Sometimes you will want things that are not sinful in themselves, but the act of coveting is a sin. Other times you will want things that are purely sinful. The answer to both problems is the same.
Stop giving yourself permission to covet. Be content with what God has given you.
I Took
If you covet something long enough, you will talk yourself into getting it. The need for it becomes greater than the consequences.
Humans are great at justifying sin. You can convince yourself that there is nothing wrong with it or that it may be wrong for most people, but not for you. In fact, it would be wrong for you to miss this opportunity. Wow. We are so gullible sometimes.
Consider the things Achan took. Is there anything intrinsically wrong with silver, gold, and clothes? No. But they were wrong that time because God told the Israelites not to take anything. Trust God's Word, and you won't go wrong.
V. The Solution To Temptation
V. The Solution To Temptation
Do not err, my beloved brethren.
This verse transitions us to the verses that describe how to overcome temptation.
If you get the following things wrong, you will not be able to stand against satanic enticement.
Forge these actions and attitudes into your daily life and you will defeat temptation.
1. Remember That God Is A Gracious and Generous.
1. Remember That God Is A Gracious and Generous.
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.
Satan tries to convince everyone that God is the enemy. Some even believe that God tempts mankind to commit sin. James 1:13 told us that God cannot be tempted with sin and He never tempts others to sin.
God is the Giver not the tempter. Satan is the tempter and corrupter. God is the Creator of the Universe. He is the everlasting fountain of all good.
Temptation is a test of contentment. Are you content with what God as given you in His Providence or will you take by force what you desire?
2. Realize That God Saved Your Soul And He Has Our Best Interests At Heart.
2. Realize That God Saved Your Soul And He Has Our Best Interests At Heart.
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
God saved your soul. He spent all to redeem you from sin and Hell. The redeemed are His prized possession. Everything God does is for your ultimate good and for His glory.
Remember that God is generous, kind, and gracious. He has your best interests at heart. Never violate His holiness to get what you want or think you need. Wait on Him. Trust Him completely.
3. Recall that we must control our lusts and feelings in order to live righteously.
3. Recall that we must control our lusts and feelings in order to live righteously.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Temptation entices the sin nature within us. It appeals to our passions and allures our base nature.
Controlling your nature by a willingness to hear, a reluctance to speak, and the intention to remain sober. To the extent you can tame the tongue, you can control your flesh.
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
You will never find the righteousness of God through sins like wrath and evil speaking.
4. Remain obedient to the Word of God.
4. Remain obedient to the Word of God.
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Obedience is the key to everything God has to offer. These verses encourage us to put away all iniquity and submit to the Word of God.
The Bible is an active element in salvation.
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
If God’s Word can save our souls, it can purify our lives and empower us to defeat temptation.
5. Reject hypocrisy.
5. Reject hypocrisy.
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Hypocrisy is an ally to temptation. If we allow that which is forbidden to become a secret part of our lives, temptation is far more powerful.
Satan loves secrets. They become levers that he can pull to affect our lives.
Live in the light. Reject hypocrisy in all its forms. Do what you know to do privately and publically.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
You will face temptation daily, but you can overcome it with God’s help. Once you understand how temptation works and that God has given you the tools necessary for success.
Protect yourself from temptation today with these Bible truths.