#9
(The “Great Escapes”
Series)
"ESCAPE FROM TEMPTATION!"
TEXTS: James
1:12-15 1 Cor.
INTRO: Temptation
is a common thread among us as human beings! Some of the biggest battles you will deal
with in your life involve the process of temptation. The best policy when you give in to
temptation and sin is to quickly repent and admit you’re wrong and set a new
course of action.
ILLUS:
The
wrong approach to failure is demonstrated by the little boy who was caught
eating cookies out of the cookie jar after having been told he could not have
any. His response to his mom; "I really wasn't going to eat any mom, I
just climbed up to smell the cookies, you didn't say I couldn't smell them, and
while smelling them somehow my teeth got caught on several of them and they
wouldn't fall off!"
–
Source Unknown
Much
of the sorrow in our lives is the result of having submitted to temptations of
sin. Those who learn to resist
temptation will realize a strong happy Christian life.
PROP.
SENT:
Though we all are tempted to
sin God has clearly said that He will always provide a way out if we are willing
to take it, we can ESCAPE FROM TEMPTATION!
I. EXTERNAL TRIALS James 1:12
A. Remaining
Steady 1:12a
1. The phrase translated in the NIV "…perseveres under trial," literally means "enduring temptation." (KJV uses this)
a. It is the same Greek word used here
as in verse 13 where "tempted" is used.
b. The difference here is between EXTERNAL temptations that are allowed by
God to build character in us and internal temptations that come from our sinful
nature that tend to destroy us!
2. The man who “endures
temptation” ... or better, “perseveres under
trial,” is "BLESSED" or happy because of the fruit or
character that it builds into his life.
3. While God may use and allow trials
or temptations to exist from external sources for the expressed purpose of
building our faith and character HE NEVER tempts us to
sin!
4. The idea here is like with Job ...
God clearly allowed Satan to tempt Job, this made it an “external” temptation ... coming not from
within Job's heart but coming from Satan. God allowed this knowing that Job would
grow and God's knowledge would be increased on the earth through the
experience!
5. The call when tempted externally is
to remain steady or endure!
6. These kinds of temptations or
trials are to prove our character, not destroy it!
ILLUS:
When
the Union-Pacific railroad was under construction an elaborate trestle bridge
was built over a certain large canyon in the west as part of the plan to connect
B. Reward
& Satisfaction 1:12b
1. The kinds of trials and temptations
that we face that do not come from within our fallen nature allow us the
opportunity to not only grow but to experience the rewards and satisfaction that
comes from victory over them!
2. The rewards of resisting
temptations include the freedom from many of sins consequences, often those
consequences are terrible!
3. Each successful trial we endure
without caving into temptation to sin adds a greater and greater sense of
strength and approval from God and with man!
4. The rewards of a disciplined life
are many!
5. To those who overcome these
external temptations the promise in James
a. This is the greatest reward for
those who don't yield to such external temptations, a reward that will not
quit!
b. Perseverance has eternal rewards
and satisfaction!
II.
ENTICING TEMPTATION James
1:13-15 1 Cor.
A. Recognize
Source
1. The greatest struggles against
temptation however come not from external sources as much as it does from
INTERNAL sources – our fallen nature!
2. Even Satan cannot be blamed for
temptations that arise from our fallen nature, such things as lust, greed,
selfishness, etc. spring up from within us.
3. These sources of temptation stem
from the nature we inherited by birth through the fall in
4. It is important that we are honest
about our real nature, we can be tempted to sin by just what lies within
us, we are sinners by
nature!
ILLUS:
For
years scientists were puzzled about apples that had worms in them but had no
breaks in the surface of the apple!
How did they get inside when there did not appear any outward signs of
entrance? What they discovered was
that a certain worm lays its eggs right on the apple blossom in Spring, and as
the apple develops it encases the egg right from the beginning. Later when the apple nears it complete
maturing process so does the insect egg, it hatches and eats its way out from
the inside!
– Source Unknown
5. The seed of sin was planted in us
early in creation by Adam and Eve, ever since then it has been found in the
heart of each human at birth, eating its way out in our thoughts and actions as
we grow!
6. Too often we want to blame Satan
for our yielding to sin, but even he can't be blamed all the
time!
ILLUS:
Satan
was said to have this conversation with God one day, he was complaining about
being bored! "Almighty God, I want you to know how
bored I am!" complained Satan.
"All day I go through the earth
wanting to tempt people only to find there's nothing to do! There isn't a stitch of work for me to
do!" God responded, "I don't
understand you! ... There are plenty of people, how can you say you have nothing
to do?" Satan responded, "Lead people into sin … before I get the
chance to say a word to anyone they have already gone and
sinned!"
– Source Unknown
7. James makes it clear that sin finds
expression from us even without Satan's help, it can come from
within!
a. Honesty in acknowledging this fact
can help us be alert to the process and help us fight
it!
b. 1 Cor.
c. No one is exempt from this inner
pull toward sin!
d. "Crucifying this
old man" is a daily process even for
believers!
8. It is important for us to know that
God NEVER tempts us to sin ... NEVER!
a. He cannot be tempted to sin by His
very nature of Holiness.
b. So He cannot tempt us to sin ... He
allows trials, but only to make us stronger!
B. Resist
Sin! James
1:14b-15 1 Cor.
10:13b
1. James now describes the 3 stage
process of how sin takes hold of us and destroys us:
a. Desire
b. Sin
c. Death
2. The time to conquer sin before its
ugly consequences take hold is at the first stage: DESIRE
a. God has created us with emotions:
love, joy, anger, sadness, excitement, etc.
b. Because of Adam’s sin and the warp
to our nature through sin these same emotions have another side to
them:
(1. Love is twisted to
lust.
(2. Joy is twisted to selfish
pleasure.
(3. Anger over right things becomes anger for
the wrong things.
(4. Sadness twists into
despair.
(5. Excitement over good things changes to
twisted pleasure over sinful things etc.
c. At this stage sin has not yet
expressed itself ... it is here where sin can be avoided by a planned
escape.
3. The best approach to avoiding “desire” becoming sin when it begins to grow in
you is to RESIST it by getting away from
it!
ILLUS: Like
the senior pastor who told his handsome new assistant pastor to avoid the
dangers of immorality in the ministry.
The assistant pastor quite sure of himself said, "I'll do much of my socializing in groups,
there is safety in numbers." The wise senior pastor however
responded, "Yes, there is safety in
numbers, but there is more safety in Exodus!" Flee if
necessary!
– Source Unknown
4. When improper desires strike, take
your eyes off of whatever it is that is creating the desire and get your eyes on
Christ. Too often we sit and stare
at temptation and try to “intellectualize” the event, thinking we are strong
enough to do this! The longer you
look at it, the more the temptation level is going to increase. If you're not looking at it, you might be
able to get away from it!
ILLUS: Like
those who train dogs for a living; to discipline a dog into listening to the
orders of the master instead of their own desires they will take a piece of meat
and place it on the ground near the dog.
As soon as the dog realizes the wonderful piece of meat is there desire
will kick in full steam. At this
point the trainer will yell, "NO!" As the dog attempts to go toward it the
master will repeat over and over again "NO!" What does the dog do? The dog will usually take his eyes off
the meat and stare in the eyes of his master ... by doing this they yield to the
power of the master because the pull from the meat is no longer in their
sight! They will often continue to
stare at their master waiting for the ok ... if they take their eyes off the
master they are likely to be overcome by desire and ignore their master's
commands! Dogs can be smarter than
humans when it comes to fighting desires!
– Source Unknown
5. Avoid dwelling on the desire, it
may just enhance it!
6. If desire is nourished it will grow
until it is birthed into existence!
Stop feeding it if you want it to die!
ILLUS:
One
little girl found a unique way to successfully overcome sinful desires in her
heart. She applied a visual game
that went like this: “When Satan comes knocking at my heart's door I send Jesus
to answer the door ... when Satan sees Jesus he says, ‘oops, I am sorry, I must
have the wrong house.’” Instead of
dwelling on the desire she turns it over to the Lord!
– Source Unknown
7. Desire nurtured will give birth
to sin next ... the
second stage of this process of temptation.
a. At this stage tragedy results,
evil is expressed; people are hurt, actions that result in pain and loss
occur.
b. Sin is now out in the open, it has
been "born"
for all to see.
c. Even at this stage however we can
recover ... by repentance and confession we can at least recover to start over
again!
d. While it is true that repentance
may bring forgiveness sometimes the consequence of such sinful actions remain
... even at times throughout a lifetime!
e. At this point God still offers an
ESCAPE ... His shed blood on
8. The final stage comes to those
however who fail to escape in the earlier stages, this final stage has no
recovery possible! Thus it is a
great tragedy to be avoided! The
final stage is DEATH ... eternal & spiritual
death!
a. Notice how this is contrasted to
verse 12 where the “crown of
life” is promised to those who endure
temptation!
b. When sin has fully matured ...
meaning its existence throughout one’s lifetime without repentance, it will
bring forth spiritual death, and finally hell!
c. It is a great tragedy that some
will follow the 3 stage process of temptation to its ugly
conclusion!
d. At this final stage there is no
hope ... this is after the fact, beyond this life. While there is still life now there is
still hope!
e. Escape from temptation must take
place before this final stage is reached!
9. In 1
Cor. 10:13 Paul tells us that God will ALWAYS make a way of escape
for those who look for one ... NO ONE HAS
TO SIN! WE DO NOT HAVE TO YIELD TO
TEMPTATION!
CONCLUSION:
The temptation to sin never comes from God, He is not a
tease! The lure to sin comes from
our fallen nature or appetites.
Though temptation is real, we can resist the temptation to sin, God
promises to always make a way to escape (1 Cor.