Deal With The Door.

Deal With The Door.

James 1:12-15NLT

How do you deal with temptation? You resist it. Yes, that’s true but how?

James the half brother of Jesus, wrote the Epistle of James, he introduces himself not as the brother of Jesus or the leader of the church in Jerusalem for over 14 years, but as simply, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”

James 1:12-15NLT “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”

Again, God blesses those who patiently endure temptation.

And those who endure temptation will receive the crown of life that the Lord promised to those who love Him!

Never say, “God is tempting me” because He is never tempted to do wrong. -He never tempts anyone.

So how does temptations come? By our own desires, and those desires can drag us away and lead us in the wrong direction, even hell!

A well-known author once told this story of an account he had with sea gulls: “Several years ago our family visited Niagara Falls. It was spring, and ice was rushing down the river. As I viewed the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, I could see that there were dead fish embedded in the ice. Gulls by the score were riding down the river feeding on the fish. As they came to the brink of the falls, their wings would go out, and they would escape from the falls. “I watched one gull which seemed to delay and wondered when it would leave. It was engrossed in the fish, and when it finally came to the brink of the falls, out went its powerful wings. The bird flapped and flapped and even lifted the ice out of the water, and I thought it would escape. But it had delayed too long so that its claws had frozen into the ice. The weight of the ice was too great, and the gull plunged into the abyss.”

How sad that even though the bird had plenty of time to fly away, because it delayed it paid the ultimate price.

Now think of this story in terms of the Christian life. When we become overly enthralled with the things of this world, they can bring us down and cause our spiritual death.

The finest attractions of this world become deadly when we become overly attached to them. If we cannot give up the things of this world and focus on Christ, we cannot be anointed by Him.

Our eyes must be upward on Christ rather than downward on this world! P.H

The book of Proverbs reveals how to deal with the temptation of sexual sin. The seduction of an adulterer.

You see, the best way to deal with temptation is to not deal with it.

You probably don’t understand that, so let’s go further.

This man Solomon could ask God for anything, so he ask for wisdom.

“So what would you choose if God told you to ask and you knew for certain your prayer would be granted?”

Proverbs 5:1-8 TPT “Listen to me, my son, for I know what I’m talking about. Listen carefully to my advice 2 so that wisdom and discernment will enter your heart, and then the words you speak will express what you’ve learned. 3 Remember this: The lips of a seductress seem sweet like honey, and her smooth words are like music in your ears. 4 But I promise you this: In the end all you’ll be left with is a bitter conscience. For the sting of your sin will pierce your soul like a sword. 5 She will ruin your life, drag you down to death, and lead you straight to hell. 6 She has prevented many from considering the paths of life. Yes, she will take you with her where you don’t want to go, sliding down a slippery road and not even realizing where the two of you will end up! 7 Listen to me, young men, and don’t forget this one thing I’m telling you— run away from her as fast as you can! 8 Don’t even go near the door of her house unless you want to fall into her seduction.”

F.B. Meyer once said, That when we see a brother or sister in sin, there are two things we do not know:

1. We do not know how hard he or she tried not to sin.