5 Backslidden Steps to Glory

James 1:14–15 KJV 1900

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.

Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker

Two cowboys are lost in the desert. One cowboy sees a tree draped in bacon. “A bacon tree! We’re saved!” he says. He tuns to the tree and is shot up with bullets.

It wasn’t a bacon tree, it was a ham-bush.

Introduction

I preached my first real sermon in 1982. This year marks my 40th year in ministry. I have preached thousands of sermons over those 40 years.

I have preached in nursing homes, rescue missions, open air in parks, at Camps, conferences, at bed and breakfasts, on street corners, in hotel conference rooms and of course from church pulpits. If I could only preach one message to a congregation. If they would only get to hear me one time, What would I preach?

This would be that message. I believe that this message contains truth that everyone needs to hear. Truth that often goes unheard in our world today.

Turn with me to James 1:14-15

James 1:14–15 KJV 1900

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.

How does someone go from serving God, from reading their Bible, from praying faithfully, from winning souls to living a shipwrecked life with no thought of God, of church, of faith, denying the very truths that they once held dear. How do they go from Life to Death. From service to slackard, from saint to sinner? We find it right here in our passage this morning.

This morning we will find the answer as we examine 5 Backslidden steps to Glory.

Body

I. Step 1 -Drawn away

James 1:14 KJV 1900

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

A Bible-believing, Gospel-preaching, soul-winning, sin-hating, God-loving, prayer-praying Christian doesn’t just get up in the morning and say, “I am going to commit adultery today, I am going to get drunk today.”

I have seen on-fire, passionate, red-hot believers, leaders, difference makers. People who invite others to come to church, who stand before their family and friends as an example of what being a Christian is fade in to obscurity and sin. And it doesn’t happen all at once. It begins when they are drawn away.

It is that voice that says, it’s okay to stay home this Sunday. It’s alright to not read your Bible this morning. You don’t go from A to Z in one leap. But subtly.

Deuteronomy 30:17 KJV 1900

But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

II. Step 2 - Lust

James 1:14 KJV 1900

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

What is it that we are drawn away by?

Our own lust.

What is Lust? When we think of Lust it brings a certain picture to our mind. (explain the picture).

Lust is defined as a strong craving or desire.

2 Peter 3:3 KJV 1900

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

We often crave good things. Sleep..... a companion.....

When we put our desires ahead of God’s desires, we are setting a course for destruction.

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

III. Step 3 - Enticed

James 1:14 KJV 1900

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Enticement is someone or something trying to get you to do something wrong.

Proverbs 1:10 KJV 1900

My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not.

The problem is that now it is easy to be enticed. You were not enticed when you were here. But now that you are here. It is easy to entice you.

You need to put some guards in your life. Highways have guard-rails so that you don’t plunge over a cliff. You need some guard-rails in your walk with God.

IV. Step 4 - Temptation

James 1:14 KJV 1900

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

James 1:12–13 KJV 1900

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:

1 John 2:16 KJV 1900

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The Lust of the Flesh

The Lust of the Eyes

The Lust of the Ego

V. Step 5 - Sin

James 1:15 KJV 1900

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We make the mistake of taking sin lightly. Sin brings death. We sometimes feel that as Christians we are exempt from the Law of sin.

With every sin there is a corresponding death.

Eternal Security.

1 Corinthians 5:5 KJV 1900

To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Conclusion

How do I avoid Sin?

You avoid it by avoiding temptation.

How do I avoid temptation?

You avoid it by avoiding enticement.

How do I avoid enticement?

You avoid it by avoiding Lust.

How do I avoid lust?

You avoid it by avoiding being drawn away.

You avoid sin and death by avoiding the very first step.