Wisdom for Living: Resist Temptation

Resist Temptation (1:12-16)

James 1:12-13 NKJV – Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

 

“Trials are like ocean waves. Temptations are like tsunamis.” – Dr. D’Ann Johnson

• Where trials are circumstances outside of us, temptations come from the urges inside of us.

The Journey of Temptation

James 1:14 – But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

• Drawn away – lured from one’s hiding place; like hunting and fishing game is lured from its hiding place, so man is lured from the safety of self-restraint and into sin.
• Desires – lust; longings for what is forbidden
• Enticement – entrapped by tricks or wiles designed to bait
• Conception – clasped or caught hold to
• Sin – failure, offense, taking the wrong course; the result of the union between desire and enticement
• Death – physically, emotionally, or spiritually

An Illustration of the Journey (2 Sam. 11:1-17, 27)

King David was…

• Displaced from his assignment (11:1) – At the time when kings go out to battle, David remained in Jerusalem.
• Distracted by his weakness (11:2) – From the roof of his house, David saw a beautiful woman bathing.
• Desired the forbidden (11:3) – David inquired about the woman.
• Demanded an opportunity for this flesh (11:4-5) – David sent messengers and took her, and she conceived.
• Developed a plan for cover-up (11:6-13) – David attempted to send Uriah home to be intimate with his wife.
• Destroyed the life of an innocent man (11:14-17) – David commanded Uriah be set in the forefront of the fiercest battle and left defenseless.
• Displeased the Lord (11:27) – David married Uriah’s widow and had a son with her. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.

“Temptation is never satisfied until something dies!” – Dr. D’Ann Johnson

 

 

HOW DO WE STRENGTHEN OUR ABILITY TO RESIST TEMPTATION?

 

Receive & Respond to the Word (1:21-25)

James 1:21-25 – Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does

 

Receive the Word (1:21)

• Receive – accept, take hold of, and embrace
• The engrafted word – the doctrine which has already been planted in you and that has already brought forth fruit.
• With meekness – mildness and humility that does not think, “I already know this, so I need something deeper.”
• Which is able to save your soul – the word is capable of completely delivering, protecting, preserving, and making whole your mind, will, and emotions.

 

 

Be a Doer of the Word (1:22)

Doer – a performer, specifically a poet; a producer; one who obeys or fulfills the law.

Not hearers only – one who only perceives by the ear which is being said without corresponding action.

“Hearing is necessary; it just cannot be the stopping point!” – Dr. D’Ann Johnson

 

 

Avoid Self-Deception

Hearing without doing produces self-deception

• We look – observing, discovering, and considering
• We leave – goes away, departing to follow someone or something else
• We forget – lose from the mind, neglect, and no long