Temptation

ME

Marshmallow Test Video

I have a confession- I can be very impatient at times.

Having three kids can make you that way.

I cook and eat breakfast and I’m done in 10 minutes with it all.

Same with lunch.

Dinner takes about 30, 10 if in the microwave.

I do the laundry in a hurry.

Growing up in the city, I drive in a hurry.

Do you realize how hard it is to get stuck behind a tractor going 10 miles an hour when you just wanna get where you’re going?

Or how annoying is it getting stuck behind the Science Hill train? THE WORST!

I have to be efficient with my time, because there are always a billion things that need to get done as a husband, dad, and pastor.

WE

We’re all a bit impatient at times...

In the past generation, time has fast-forwarded for everyone at a pace never seen before.

Technology makes everything quicker, faster and easier to get done.

Except when tech messes up.

Like the phone gets dropped in the pool and you put it in rice all night to see if you can save your precious lifeline.

Or you leave a fork in the microwave while cooking your ramen noodles. Don’t try that at home kids, you’ll deep fry your noodles and your microwave.

The truth is, we’re a bit spoiled when it comes to how fast and easy we can get stuff done now.

But for many things in life, the longer we wait, the better they are.

Like Mom’s crock pot roast that took all day to cook is waaayy better than ramen.

Spending more time on our history report gets a better grade than writing it in 10 minutes (or copy and pasting someone else’s and getting a 0.)

Spending all night with a friend we create way more memories than just saying hey in the halls.

GOD

In life, many things that look good to us in the moment can lead to some terrible consequences.

We’ve been talking about having a strong start to this year by studying the Bible letter of James- the half brother of Jesus Christ.

Last week, we looked into how suffering can actually be a good thing if we learn to grow through it.

This week, we’re looking at TEMPTATION.

James 1:13–18 NIV

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, 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 the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Nobody to blame but me

Temptation isn’t God’s fault, your momma’s fault, or your annoying friend’s fault.

James says here that it’s your OWN DESIRE.

Now desire in itself isn’t bad.

We desire to be liked by others.

We desire to do great things in life.

We think that guy/girl is cute.

But if any of those desires lead to sin, that’s when it all goes wrong.

If we act on unhealthy desires, they can lead us down some bad paths.

Wanting to be liked can lead to drug use because others around us are doing it.

Desiring to do great things can make us want to lie, cheat, steal and hurt others to get to the top.

Liking that guy/girl can lead to an unhealthy relationship where sexual boundaries are crossed.

All these are desires within us, but we must learn to control them because we aren’t animals.

Bella Pic

My dog had to go pee the other day and the kids didn’t let her out in time.

So she peed on the carpet.

Because she’s a dog, had the desire to empty her bladder and didn’t know what else to do.

I hope as a human you don’t pee on the carpet at home.

Because you’re smarter than a dog.

Lust Requires Consent. Augustine: Each one of us is tempted by our own lust, so let us fight and resist and not give in nor allow ourselves to be lured by it, nor allow it to conceive anything to which it might then give birth. It is like this—lust coaxes and coddles you, it excites and urges you on, positively encouraging you to do something wrong. Do not give in and it will not conceive. If you ponder it willingly and with pleasure, then it will conceive and give birth, and you will die.

Sinful desire leads to death

James 1:15 The Message

Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.

Sin looks good at first glance, but it’s a killer.

And bad choices now can lead to eternal consequences.

Everyone who is in hell right now got there because they made a choice to give into temptation. Something they knew was wrong but they wanted to do it anyway.

That doesn’t have to be you.

HOPE

James 1:16–18 The Message

So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.

God gives us every good thing, including a way out of temptation.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NRSV

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Temptation can be hard to stand up against. But God has given us His Holy Spirit to strengthen us and help us to live above sinful desires.

If we give ourselves fully over to God, He will make us Holy as He is.

James urges his readers to view their lives through the lens of gratitude, because such an approach to living has proven itself over the years as the secret of abundant life. That victorious attitude for living is centered in one’s understanding of God and His nature. To know God, the real God of the Bible, is to know that there are no circumstances of life that can rob us of real joy—that’s the blessedness of true religion, the intimate knowledge of the true God.

Walters, J. M. (1997). James: a Bible commentary in the Wesleyan tradition (p. 54). Wesleyan Publishing House.

SELF LEADS TO DEATH, BUT GOD OFFERS ME NEW LIFE

YOU

Restaurant of Life Video

The choices you make that are selfish or shortsighted will only cause you pain in the bigger picture. Instead, you need to make sure your choices honor God.

Whenever you face a temptation ask yourself:

"In light of your past experience, your current circumstances, and your future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing for you to do?"

Do the wise thing, and you’ll never regret it.

*Prayer*

Icebreaker Question: