James
Temptation
We have seen the cartoon of the devil on one shoulder
And the angel on the other, describing the battle of our choice
Jesus in the agony of Garden of Gethsemane modeled the way
To overcome temptation and told His disciples what to do to also overcome
He said, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Matthew 26:41
Don’t blame God for your temptations
He is there to hear your prayer and strengthen your spirit
Remember sin and death starts at conception of desire
God’s desire and plans for you are always perfect
So watch for Him and pray to Him that your desire is as His
Remember love makes us complete so we do not have to fear judgment
Perfect love keeps our desire in the right place
1 John 4:16-18
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Temptation
What tempts you?
If you were to draw a circle around you
and inside the circle is righteousness…
Outside the circle are things that tempt
you to reach across the circle line.
Or, maybe a better way to put it is you
enlarge the circle to include your temptation.
James 1:13 says…
When tempted, no one should say,
“God is tempting me.”
For God cannot be tempted by evil,
nor does he tempt anyone
Imagine this…
“God cannot be tempted by evil”
God created beauty…
But is not tempted by beautiful things.
God created wonderful foods…
But is not temped to over indulge.
God created emotions…
But never loses balance.
God created wealth…
But only receives from the cheerful giver.
James must have heard people saying…
“God is tempting me.”
This almost makes since for the same word
is used in the prayer Jesus taught us…
“And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:13
We must look at the word “lead”
to get through this world.
Through life to reach the goal of the
Kingdom of God and eternal life, we must be led.
God has always led His people.
The journey travels through enticing things.
Paul points out this journey in 1 Corinthians 10,
as he reminds us of God leading the
children of Israel to the Promise Land.
Paul starts with these words…
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact,…
1 Corinthians 10:1
Ignorant of what?
Verses 1-4 tell us of God’s supernatural
provision for their needs.
Verses 5- 11 tells us God was not pleased
and they are examples to us of what hearts
set on evil things will do to us.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 says…
So, if you think you are standing firm,
be careful that you don't fall!
No temptation has seized you except
what is common to man.
And God is faithful;
he will not let you be tempted beyond
what you can bear.
But when you are tempted,
he will also provide a way out
so that you can stand up under it.
The very things that tempted the children
of Israel are the same things that tempt us.
What should stand out to us in the
middle of this is…
“And God is faithful”
You and I do not have to give in to temptation.
No matter what the pressure is God
provides a way to stand up under it.
James 1:15 says…
Then, after desire has conceived
God’s desire is centered in one thing…
LOVE
God’s love is always in the center
of the circle of righteousness.
Our desire for personal fulfillment crosses
the line of righteousness and it gives birth to sin.
Jesus tells us to pray about the evil
one enticing, alluring and destroying.
We have seen the cartoon of
the devil on one shoulder…
And the angel on the other,
describing the battle of our choice.
Jesus in the agony of Garden of Gethsemane
modeled the way to overcome temptation.
He told His disciples what to do to also overcome.
He said…
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Matthew 26:41
Don’t blame God for your temptations.
He is there to hear your prayer
and strengthen your spirit.
Remember…
Sin and death start at conception of desire.
God’s desire and plans for you are always perfect.
So watch for Him and pray to Him
that your desire is as His.
Remember…
Love makes us complete.
So we do not have to fear judgment.
Perfect love keeps our desires in the right place.
1 John 4:16-18…
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love.
But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.
The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Scripture Reading
James 1:12-15 NIV
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres 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.
13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
No comments:
Post a Comment