Dealing with Temptation

INTRO: BOURBON STREET, STREET CORNER PREACHERS & SIN. *Take Time to Unpack*

James Sounds Like a Street Corner Preacher: Desire, Sin, Death.

I Used to Be Allergic to the Word “Sin” | My Change of Heart:

I was Passionate About Justice: Injustice is Sin; It’s Contrary to God’s Nature & Will.

I was Passionate About Doing Good: Evil is Sin; It’s Contrary to God’s Nature & Will.

What I Found to Be True: The Doctrine of Sin Helps Us Make Sense of Our World.

James is Really Serious About Sin. When Someone Gets Serious, I Lean In.

You May Be Having an Allergic Reaction to the Word “Sin”, But Take a Benadryl & Lean In.

James Brings It Up For Good Reason: He Says that Sin Leads to Spiritual Death.

Transition: He Knows We Don’t Go From Zero to Sin; Temptation is the Bridge Between Desire and Sin.

I. JAMES IS SERIOUS ABOUT TEMPTATION.

Think About Why You Take Certain Things Seriously:

They are Important to You (Health, Work, Raising Children).

Or, They Threaten Something Important to You. (Sickness, Layoffs, Inadequate Education)

There’s No Way I Can Read This Passage & Conclude that I Should Take Temptation Seriously.

I Don’t Mess with Temptation: I’ve Seen It Lead to the Ruin of Too Many Friends & Mentors.

Now Let Me Be Clear: Temptation isn’t Sin.

What We Choose to Do When We’re Tempted is Critically Important.

Transition: If We’re Going to Deal with Temptation, We Have to Understand Where It Comes From.

II. DESIRE IS THE SOURCE OF TEMPTATION.

Desire in Itself isn’t Bad; It’s God-Given (Food: We Need Energy, Sleep: We Need Rest, Sex: Continuing Human Race)

Desire Wrongly Placed is Bad (Food: Over-Eating & Addiction, Sleep: Laziness, Sex: Harmful Relationships)

James Uses a Fishing Metaphor: Lured & Enticed (Attracted) By Our Own Desire.

When We are Tempted, We See the Bait, But Not the Hook.

God Does Not Tempt: He Isn’t Trying to Trap You. *Succumbing to Temptation Isn’t Inevitable*

God is Not Tempted: He is Good & Holy.

Circle the Word, “Own”: I am Responsible for My Own Bad Decisions. Not You. Not God.

Transition: When We Own Our Decisions, We Grow. When We Grow, We Learn Steadfastness.

III. 3 WAYS TO REMAIN STEADFAST IN THE MIDST OF TEMPTATION.

Be Mindful of Your Desires.

Do I Have Any Unsatisfied Desires? (What Takes Up Space in My Mind?)

Is That Desire the Primary Desire? (Desire for a Raise/My Boss’ Acceptance)

What Habits or Behaviors Are Trying to Satisfy That Desire?

Let the Benefits of the Gospel Gratify Your Desires.

Desire is Good. Don’t Try to Squash All Desire.

Let the Gospel Satisfy Your Desires With Lasting Things.

Three Examples:

Desire to Be Accepted: Acceptance in Jesus Through the Cross.

Desire to Be Known: Known & Cherished By God in Christ.

Desire to Be Loved: Dearly Loved Child of the Most High God.

Learning to Let the Gospel Satisfy Your Desires Takes Time, But It’s Worth It.

Liz & I at Fancy Restaurant in Saratoga. Waitress Shared: It Takes Time, But It’s Worth It.

Learn to Desire Jesus Above All.

Jesus is the Prize of the Gospel.

Jesus was Tempted in Every Way.

Though We Fall into Temptation, He Never Did.

There is No Good News Without Him.

He Doesn’t Tempt Us; He Provides a Way Out

CLOSING: WE TAKE TEMPTATION SERIOUSLY, BECAUSE IT IS CRITICAL TO OUR MISSION.

You are the Only Bible Some People Will Read.

Want to Be a Good Role Model? Take Temptation Seriously.

What to Tell the World About Jesus? Take Temptation Seriously.

How We Respond to Temptation Tells the Next Generation What We’re Serious About.