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Message Notes
Trials – Allowed by God is to help us to grow and mature.
Temptation – Are caused by Satan to distract us and destroy us
Definition of a temptation – A temptation is an opportunity that is presented to us to trip us up, to get us distracted from what’s important. It can be an invitation to sin. A solicitation, or an invitation to do evil.
“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.” —James 1:12 (KJV)
“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.” —James 1:13-18
How Can I Understand Temptation?
- Be Realistic – Temptation is always present in life.
“Let no one say when he is tempted.” —James 1:13
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.” —I Corinthians 10:13
It is not a sin to be tempted. It is a sin to give in to temptation.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” —Hebrews 4:15
“Greater is he that is in me, then he that is in the world.” —1 John 4:4
So let’s be realistic and honest about temptation.
- Be Responsible – Temptation is never prompted by God.
“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” —James 1:13
- Be Ready – Temptation follows a predictable, consistent pattern.
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.” —James 1:14-16
“Let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.” —1 Corinthians 10:12
How do you be on guard and prepared for temptation?
- You do it by understanding how it operates.
“So that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.” —2 Corinthians 2:11
How Does Temptation Work?
- Desire
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” —James 1:14
- Deception
“He is lured and enticed.” —James 1:14
“At this moment God is quite unreal to us, he loses all reality, and only desire for the creature real; the only reality is the devil. Satan does not hear fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God. The lust thus aroused envelops the mind and the will of man in deepest darkness. The powers of clear discrimination and of decisions are taken from us.” —Dietrich Bond Hoffer
- Disobedience
“Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin,” —James 1:15
- Death
“And sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” —James 1:15
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.” —James 1:16
How Can We Win the Ongoing Battle Over Temptation?
Four things that we need to know:
Know yourself
Know God’s Character
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” —James 1:17
- Know God’s Word
“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth…” —James 1:18
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13
- Know God’s Plan
“That we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.” —James 1:18