Achieving Maturity For Enduring Temptations
James 1:13-18
I. Introduction.
1. Source of trials are external.
a. Death.
b. Natural disasters.
c. Illnesses.
d. Family struggles.
e. Financial loses because of corruption.
B.
In Order to survive trials, remember we must have the
following Keys.
1.
A joyful attitude (James 1:2).
2.
An understanding Mind (James 1:3).
3.
A surrendered will (James 1:4, 9-12).
4.
A believing heart (James 1:5-8).
C.
Many confuse a trial with a temptation.
1. Understanding the differences is very important.
2. Temptations may help us mature, but they can also kill us spiritually if we cannot endure them maturely.
D.
James does not causally link trials with temptations.
1. He understands the misunderstanding we have.
2. This is way we must understand that trials are from without and temptations are from within.
E.
If you are not spiritually mature, then when faced with
temptations you will easily accept the opportunity Satan provides to escape.
1. However this opportunity will only lead to death.
F.
Many times we turn God’s test into temptations and
fail.
1. Example:
a. Abraham leaving Canaan for Egypt during famine.
b. Israel wandering in the wilderness- no water, then the water was bitter.
c. Spies report of the promise land.
G.
God does not want us to give into temptations when
tested.
1. He will not protect us from our temptations during test.
a. We are a scattered people, not a sheltered people.
H.
There are three facts we must consider if we are to
overcome temptations.
II.
Consider God’s judgment. (James 1:13-16)
A.
Look beyond the temptation to the final result.
1. Do not blame God for the temptations from within ourselves.
2. Temptations are an opportunity to accomplish a good thing a bad way.
B.
Don’t think of sin as a single act.
1. God sees it as a process.
C.
Four stages from temptation to sin.
1.
Desire (v.14).
a. Lust – not just sexual
2.
Deception (v.14).
a. Drawn away- Baiting a trap-
b. Enticed- baiting a hook
c. The bait is exciting
d. No animal will be enticed by just a trap
3.
Disobedience (15).
a. Philip. 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
b. Christian living is a matter of will, not force.
c. Desire and deception setups for a lack of exercising spiritual will power, which then will bring forth disobedience.
4. Death (v 15).
a. Disobedience gives birth to death, not life.
b. Genesis 3 records the perfect example of the four steps.
1) Satan used desire to entice Eve to see the fruit as bait.
2) Satan seeks to deceive the mind- don’t see God’s judgment.
3) Eve disobeyed by taking the fruit.
4) Both Adam and Eve experienced spiritual death.
c. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked.
1) Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? Ezekiel 18:23
D. When faced with temptations look beyond the bait, look for the hook!
III.
Consider God’s Goodness (James 1:17)
A.
Satan’s trick is to convince you that God is holding
back something from you.
1. Satan suggested that to Eve.
2. Satan suggested to Jesus during the temptations to turn the stones to bread.
B.
Use God’s goodness as a barrier to yield to temptation.
1. God is good, therefore we need no one else to provided for us what we will ever need.
2. Once we accept this deception we will go for the Satan’s offer.
3. Moses warn Israel to never forget the goodness of the Lord (Deut 6:10-15)
C.
James presents four facts about God’s goodness.
1. God give only good gifts.
2. The way God gives is good.
a. He does it lovingly and graciously.
3.
He provides for us continuously.
a. Comes down from heaven, never stopping.
4.
God does not change.
a. It is impossible for God to change.
1) He cannot change for the worst- He is holy.
2) He cannot change for the better – He is perfect.
D.
King David should have remembered this before he
committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1. Nathan tells him if David had lacked God would have given him more.
E.
First barrier against temptations is a negative one,
the next one is a positive one
1. We need to have a balance of the fear of God’s judgment, and the goodness of God.
2. Jacob’s son Joseph saw the goodness of God.
F. Always remember God’s gifts are better than Satan’s.
IV.
Cherish God’s Divine Nature Within You. (James 1:18,
1 John 3:9)
A.
Look toward God’s judgment, then beyond to see God’s
goodness.
1. We are born from God’s goodness
2. John 1:13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
B.
Look at the characteristics of Gods goodness.
1.
It is divine.
a. Nicodemus thought he had to reenter his mother’s womb to be born again.
2.
It is gracious.
a. We did not earn or deserve it.
b. The new birth is only God’s work.
3.
It is through God’s Word.
a. 1 John 3:9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
b. 1 Peter 1:23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
c. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
d. The power of the word can bring a dead sinner back to life.
4.
Our spiritual birth is the most excellent birth possible.
a. We are the best fruit, produced from the best seed.
b. We share is God’s divine nature.
c. Therefore it is beneath us to desire Satan’s bait
d. A higher birth means a higher life.
e. Don’t let the physical birth over come our spiritual birth.
f. Yield only to the new birth, and you will be victorious.