Sermon Tone Analysis

TEXT: JAMES 1:13-

SUBJECT: “DON’T TAKE THE BAIT”

 

 

James writes to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations, mainly Christian Jews who were scattered about all the land because of persecution.

James was trying to encourage them to hang in there.

He knew that it was tough to be a Christian in the 1st century, it would be tough to be a Christian in the future.

James is encouraging each of us today, as well as people 2,000 years ago.

Another way of defining James' wish for us, is that he wants us to be mature.

."

It's hard to stay with it, isn't it?

After years and years and then when things get tough and you have losses, it's really easy to set things aside, but James is saying, "No, I want you to press on brothers and sisters and be mature."

HEBREWS 6:1 “THEREFORE LET US GO ON TO MATURITY.”

MATURITY IS PATIENCE.

IT IS THE WILLINGNESS TO PASS UP IMMEDIATE PLEASURE FOR LONG-TERM  GAIN.

IT IS THE ABILITY TO SWEAT IT OUT IN SPITE OF HEAVY OPPOSITION OR DISCOURAGING SETBACKS.

IT IS THE CAPACITY TO FACE UNPLEASANTNESS AND FRUSTRATION WITHOUT COMPLAINING OR COLLAPSING.

MATURITY IS HUMILITY, IT’S BEING BIG ENOUGH TO SAY, I’M SORRY I WAS WRONG, AND WHEN YOU ARE RIGHT NEVER NEEDING TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO.

 

MATURITY IS DEPENDABILITY.

IT’S KEEPING YOUR WORD AND COMING THROUGH IN A CRISIS.

THE IMMATURE ARE MASTERS OF THE ALIBI; THEIR LIVES A MAZE OF BROKEN PROMISES, FORMER FRIENDS, UNFINISHED BUSINESS, AND GOOD INTENTIONS.

MATURITY IS PEACEFULNESS.

THE ART OF BEING AT PEACE WITH WHAT YOU CANNOT CHANGE, HAVING THE COURAGE TO CHANGE WHAT YOU CAN, AND HAVING THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

We live in a world of compromise—in a society that has abandoned moral standards and Christian principles in favor of expediency or pragmatism.

The underlying philosophy is based on accomplishing goals by whatever means are necessary.

This self-centered perspective should have as its motto: “If it works for you, do it”—a notion that inevitably leads to compromise of conscience and convictions.

MacArthur, J. (1997).

/The power of integrity : Building a life without compromise/.

Includes indexes.

(7).

Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

*/ALL TOO OFTEN, WE FAIL TO DEVELOP PROPER PRIORITIES./*

*/WE, TOO OFTEN, ASSUME NON-ESSENTIALS…ARE ESSENTIAL.,/*

*/AND THE UNIMPORTANT…IS OF THE GREATEST NECESSITY,/*

*/AND THEREFORE WE TOO OFTEN PUT 1ST.

THINGS LAST…../*

*/WHILE PUTTING THE TRIVIAL IN 1ST.PLACE IN OUR LIFE./*

*/HOW OFTEN PERSONAL PLEASURE IS PLACED ABOVE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY…/*

*/SELFISH WANTS ARE PLACED ABOVE SIGNIFICANT NEEDS/*

*/POPULARITY IS CONSIDERED MORE IMPERATIVE THAN INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER……T.V. THAN PRAYER AND MEDITATION….. PERSONAL COMFORT THAN PERSONAL COMMITMENT (EVEN IN CHURCH..THE CLOCK/*

*/ /*

*/ /*

*/ /*

*/I FIRMLY BELIEVE CHRISTIANS OUGHT ALWAYS BE PRESSING FORWARD TO HIGHER HORIZONS, GREATER OPPORTUNITIES, GREATER VICTORIES,/*

*/BETTER RELATIONSHIPS, FURTHER POSSIBILITIES, DEEPER CONVICTIONS, AND MORE GODLY LIFESTYLES./*

IN THE TEXT BEFORE US, JAMES MAKES A SWIFT CHANGE OF DIRECTION.

PRIOR TO HE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANTIAL TRIAL,

BUT IN VERSE 13, HE CHANGESS DIRECTION, NO LONGER IS THE TRIAL OUTWARD; NOW IT HAS TO DO WITH AN INNER ENTICEMENT OR PRESSURE TO SIN.

Quote: The problem is not the tempter w~/out but the traitor w~/in.

MacArthur

OH, HOW MANY THERE HAVE BEEN WHO SAID THEY WOULD RUN ON AND RAN OFF………..

NEVER TURN AROUND…………..YET THEY DID.

NEVER LEAVE THE CHURCH………YET THEY DID

NEVER STOP PRAYING…………….

NEVER LOSE THEIR HUNGER……..YET THEY DID

WERE ONCE FAITHFUL IN CHURCH ATTENDANCE

FAITHFUL CHOIR MEMBERS

FAITHFUL SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS

FAITHFUL TITHERS, FAITHFULLY AT PRAYER MEETING

FAITHFULLY AT BIBLE STUDY

 

MANY HAVE CEASED AND ARE CEASING TO WALK WITH GOD UNDER THE PRESSURE OF TROUBLE OR TRAGEDY;

THE CALL TO ENDURE, TO PERSERVERE, WAS ABANDONED IN FAVOR OF GIVING UP.

HE ALREADY TOLD THEM IN VERSE TWELVE,

“BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO ENDURES UNDER TRIAL, BECAUSE WHEN HE HAS STOOD THE TEST, HE WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE THAT GOD HAS PROMISED TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.

IT’S STRUGGLE, BUT IT HAS A GUARANTEE.-----GAINED

STRENGTH

*/ JAMES SAYS  EVERY TRIAL IS ALSO A TEMPTATION.(ENTICEMENT&ESC.)/*

*/SATANIC ENTICEMENT….A TURN ON TO TURN YOU AWAY..1COR.10.13/*

He says it's like a fishing lure.

It intends to kill, steal, and destroy the pursuit of God and the things of God.

(He can offer the bait, but he can’t make you bite.)

KILLING A WOLF Note: When David should have been off to war, he took a sick day and it cost him.

\\ 2 Temptation finds people who live on the edge and the ledge \\ Note: It is so easy to lose your balance or to have someone who doesn’t like you to give you a nudge.

Don’t give people who want to see you fall an open shot.

The devil sets traps for us.

He places your favorite thing as the bait on the trap. .

\\ James 1:12 (TEV) Temptation is subtle and it sneaks up on you.

If you are not paying attention you will take the bait and never notice that there was a trap.

\\ Don’t Be Fooled13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

*/ FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY TEMPTS US TO QUESTION GOD’S /**/PROVIDENCE/**/./*

*/THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE TEMPTS US TO QUESTION GOD’S LOVE FOR US./*

*/SUFFERING OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE EASE OF THE WICKED CAN TEMPT US TO QUESTION GOD’S JUSTICE EVEN EXISTENCE./*

*/ABRAHAM/**/, /**/ISRAEL/**/ IN /**/CANAAN/**/, KING HEZEKIAH OPENING HIS HOUSE/*

*/HE’S BEEN TEACHING US THAT TRIALS ARE BLESSINGS./*

*/IN THAT THEY LEAD US WHERE WE WOULD NOT GO ON OUR OWN;/*

*/THAT IS TOWARD MATURITY AND TOWARD THE CROSS./*

*/YET EVERYTHING DEPENDS UPON HOW WE RESPOND AND THE USE WE MAKE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES./*

NOW JAMES MAKES US FACE A FLAW WITHIN US.

HERE IT IS, IT’S  EASIER TO SLIP BACK THAN IT IS TO PRESS FORWARD WHEN THE PRESSURE IS ON.

WE USED TO SAY WE’D RATHER FIGHT THAN SWITCH; THAT’S WHAT WE USED TO SAY.

NOW INSTEAD OF A GOOD FIGHT, WE WANT A QUICK FLIGHT.

WE HAVE VERY LITTLE STICKABILITY.

Temptation is always two-sided in this way; so whenever we are conscious of Satan seeking to pull us down, we should remind ourselves that God is present too to keep us steady and to build us up through the harrowing experience.

Packer, J. I. (1995).

/A passion for faithfulness : Wisdom from the book of Nehemiah/.

Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

THE QUESTION IS */SHALL WE PERSEVERE AND PRESS ON IN THE LORD?/*

*/OR SHALL WE HEED THE VOICE OF DISOBEDIENCE AND TURN BACK?/*

*/I JUST GIVE UP! I’M TIRED OF TRYING!

I QUIT!/*“It is enough!

Now, Lord, take my life” (1 Kin.

19:4).

Spurgeon, C., & Clarke, R. H. (2000, c1999).

/Beside still waters : Words of comfort for the soul/ (electronic ed.) (32).

Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

*/BUT WHERE DOES THAT VOICE COME FROM?/*

*/JAMES WARNS US, BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU SPEAK WHEN THE PRESSURE’S ON./*

*/THERE ARE TIMES WE ALLOW DISTURBING THOUGHTS TO CROSS OUR MINDS AND WORDS TO FALL FROM OUR LIPS./*