Introduction

Good morning, beloved family. It's such a joy to see each one of you here today, gathered in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are indeed privileged to be part of this family of faith, where we can draw strength from each other and find comfort in the Word of God.

Today, we are going to turn our hearts and minds to a passage of Scripture that is both challenging and comforting. It's a passage that speaks to the heart of our human experience, our struggles, our temptations, and our triumphs. It's a passage that reminds us that we are not alone in our trials, that we have a God who understands us, guides us, and transforms us.

Our Scripture for today is from the book of James, chapter 1, verses 13 through 18. "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created."

Tackling Temptation Truthfully

The Scripture passage we're focusing on today from the book of James provides us with a clear understanding of temptation. It tells us that temptation is not from God, but from our own evil desires. This is a significant point to grasp. It's easy to blame God or others when we find ourselves in a situation of temptation. We might say, "If God didn't want me to do this, why did He put this desire in my heart?" But James tells us that these temptations come from our own desires, not from God.

This leads us to the understanding that we have a personal responsibility when it comes to temptation. It's not something that just happens to us, but something that we actively participate in. We are not passive victims of temptation, but active participants. This is a challenging thought, but it's also empowering. It means that we have the power to resist temptation, to choose a different path.

The passage also tells us that when our desires are allowed to grow unchecked, they lead to sin. And sin, when it's fully grown, leads to death. This is a sobering thought. It's a reminder of the serious consequences of giving in to temptation. It's not just a matter of doing something wrong, but of setting ourselves on a path that leads to spiritual death.

But the passage doesn't leave us in despair. It also tells us that every good and perfect gift is from God. This is a reminder of God's goodness and generosity. It's a reminder that God is not the source of our temptations, but the source of all that is good and right in our lives. It's a reminder that God is on our side, that He wants us to succeed, to overcome temptation, to live a life that is pleasing to Him.

And finally, the passage tells us that God chose to give us birth through the word of truth. This is a reminder of our new identity in Christ. We are not just sinners struggling with temptation, but children of God, born again through the truth of His Word. This new identity gives us the strength to resist temptation, to choose the path of righteousness.

Trusting God's Guidance in Temptation

As we continue to reflect on the words of James, we find ourselves faced with a challenging yet comforting truth: God is not the author of our temptations ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO