I’m Not Tapping Out
James, the half brother of Jesus writes the following in the first chapter of His letter,
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, He will receive the crown of life.
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. - James 1:12-15
Prayer
GOOD MORNING MGCC – and welcome to week 7 of our series, “Overcome, The Challenges We Face.”
A SERIES – where God’s Word has given us both (powerful and practical) advice, tools and truths…
THAT – can help us overcome some of the most difficult and common challenges that everyone in this room both has and will face, as we strive to live out the life God’s intends for us to live… So far we have talked about…
• Reversing Anxiety (C.A.L.M.S.)
• Moving Beyond Insecurity (R.U.N.)
• Getting Over Our Hurt (B.R.AV.E.)
• Making Fear A Friend (F.R.I.E.N.D.)
• Overcoming Discouragement (The Looks…)
• A Grace Disguised (Accept-Trust-Wait)
NOW NEXT WEEK – we will talk about overcoming what at times is your biggest and most unrelenting challenge to living the life you were create to live… ‘Getting Over Yourself.’
AND – this morning we are going to talk about overcoming yet another HUGE challenge (temptation) in a conversation that I am calling, ‘I’m Not Tapping Out.’
NOW – term ‘tapping out’
Tapping Out - is a combat sports term for yielding to the opponent, and hence resulting in an immediate defeat. This submission is often performed by visibly tapping the floor or the opponent with the hand or in some cases with the foot, to signal the opponent and/or the referee that I give up, you win.
UNDERSTAND – my goal today is to focus on some moves that we can make against our opponent ‘temptation’ – such that… we will yield and be defeated, but instead stand firm against him and tell him “I’m Not Tapping Out.’
NOW – the main points in your notes are…
• The reality of temptation
• Reasons to resist temptation
• Taking down temptation
• The rewards of take downs
I. The Reality Of Temptation
OKAY – here are a few quotes from various Christian leaders about temptation….
Temptation usually comes in through a door that has been deliberately left open. – unknown
Every time you defeat temptation, you become more like Jesus. – Rick Warren
The ability to resist temptation is directly proportionate to your submission to God. – Ed Cole
Many of us suffer from temptations from which we have no business to suffer. – Oswald Chambers
Christ, because He was the only Man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only Man who knows to the full what temptation means. – CS Lewis
Temptations are never so dangerous as when they come to us in a religious garb. – Dwight L Moody
Unwillingness to accept God’s ‘way of escape’ from temptation frightens me what a rebel yet resides within.
- Jim Elliot
Temptations are an appeal to meet righteous needs in an unrighteous way. – William Thrasher
OKAY – let’s do this…
The Reality Of Temptation
UNDERSTAND - Temptation is no respecter of persons.
IN FACT – it is one of the great equalizers in our world and no one escapes it’s pull.
QUESTION…
• How many in this room have ever been tempted to sin?
• How many have ever given in, yielded and tapped out to that temptation and sinned?
• How many have ever effectively resisted temptation?
UNDERSTAND – the reality of temptation is that it is real, it is here and that it is never going away…
NOTICE – that James says…
When tempted, no one should say… - James 1:13
He didn’t say if… he said ‘when’ tempted.
SURE - it would be awesome if we could live out our lives without facing the temptation to sin, but such is not the case.
YOU SEE – just as Jesus said in this world you will have trouble…
MGCC – in this world you will always face temptation.
IN FACT – temptation has been one of man’s greatest challenges ever since Genesis chapter 3…
WHERE - satan (in the form of a serpent) whispers lies into the ears of Adam and Eve.
Lying to them about God, about who God is, about what God said and about where life can be found (btw why he still whispers those same lies today).
AND SO – he tempts them with a piece of fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
A TREE - that God had commanded them not to eat from.
A TREE – among who knows how many trees that they could eat from as much as they wanted…
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. – Genesis 3:6
UNDERSTAND MGCC – at that moment Adam and Eve tap out and give into temptation…
AND – the price, the consequences were deadly.
They were kicked out of the garden, they lost access the tree of life as sin, enters God’s perfect world…
AND – mankind has been facing and very often tapping out to temptation ever since.
Temptation (to sin) is and will always be everyone’s battle.
GET IT?
LIKE – even Jesus was tempted.
I MEAN – right after Jesus was baptized in the Jordan and the Spirit came upon him like a dove and God spoke from heaven, “This is my son who I love, with Him I am well pleased.”
JESUS – was led out into the wilderness for 40 days and was tempted by satan and by his lies…
HOWEVER – Jesus stood his ground, looking the evil one in the eyes, telling him time and time again, “Yeah, I hear what you’re saying… it’s all lies… and you may want to leave because I’m tapping out.
The Hebrew writer says the following in Hebrews 4:14-17…
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. – Hebrews 4:14-16
AGAIN - the reality of temptation is that it is real, it is here and it is never going away… Why?
BECAUSE – your enemy will never give up in his pursuit to hurt, mess up and destroy your life with sin…
HOWEVER… HOWEVER – though you cannot avoid temptation, you can overcome it… Jesus did.
AND… CHECK OUT – this incredible promise God makes to every Jesus Jesus-followers in 1 Corinthians chapter 10…
AFTER – reminding us how the nation of Israel did not stand firm in the wilderness, but instead tapped out against temptation, giving into and committing sins such as…
idolatry, sexual immorality and grumbling
(resulting in a plague of judgment that killed 23,000 in just one day)… Then Paul writes and warns us…
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:11-13
The reality of temptation is that it is real, it is here and it is never going away
But though we cannot avoid, we can overcome it.
When can as James says in chapter 4:7 –
Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
II. Reasons To Resist Temptation
NOW – there are many reasons for resisting temptation…
IN FACT – I intend on wrapping up this conversation talking about several of the positive consequences…
YOU KNOW – like the rewards you will experience when you refuse to yield and tap out.
BUT – what I want to do right now is to give you just one reason for resisting temptation that is intended to… that is intended to… make you uneasy, to in fact frighten and scare you.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS – you should resist temptation because….
a) Because sin really matters!
QUESTION – do you think that sin matters?
THAT - sin is like really is a big deal?
AND - do you think that your sin matters?
I sure hope so.
I MEAN – after sin was the reason Jesus (God’s one and only son was nailed to a cross).
SIN – is why His body was beaten, broken, bruised… and left blessing on the rugged wood.
AND – in case your wondering what acts are sin…
Paul gives a pretty good list in Galatians chapter 5
Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity,
idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and anything similar.
I tell you about these things in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:19-21
UNDERSTAND – you should want to overcome temptation because tapping out to temptation leads to sin…
AND – sin matters to God… AND - sin separates.
It separates you from…
• God
Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. – Isaiah 59:2
It separates you from…
• The person that you were always intended to become
It separates you from…
• Your consistent witness for Christ.
“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”
– Brennan Manning
UNDERSTAND – the price of sin is high… and our enemy would rather not have us think about…
QUESTION – is there… any sin that you are being tempted to yield and tap out to that is worth…
Separation from God,
Separation… never becoming the man or woman that God created and intends for you be, and
Separation for your consistent witness for Christ
YOU KNOW – I think one of the enemies most successful strategies against us as Jesus-followers is to get us to think that since we have been saved… sin is no longer that big of a deal for us anymore.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
– 1 John 1:9
You should resist temptation because sin matters…
Look at 2 people ‘sin matters.’
Now let’s talk about
III. Taking Down Temptation
UNDERSTAND – there are two keys to taking down temptation
• Know your enemy
• Know your responsibility
a) Know Your Enemy
AND MGCC – your enemy is bigger, faster, stronger, smarter and more determined than you are…
AND LISTEN SINCE – Genesis chapter 3 he has stayed up night and day, looking for ways to lure people in and take them down.
AND MGCC – beginning on the day that you were born he has been watching your game film in an effort to under both your strengths and your weaknesses…
SO THAT - he can win the battle, and separate you, both from God, and from your destiny.
YEAH – it’s a scary thought but he really has been watching you.
YOU KNOW - just the other day I was watching some of the post game stuff, after UVA pulled off a tough win against Oregon in the sweet 16…
They (the talking heads) were discussing about how important it is to watch game film in order to prepare for your opponent…
LIKE – they spend hours watching how their opponent plays the game, trying to find tendency, weaknesses, strengths.
AND THEY - showed a video a clip of University of Auburn basketball head coach, Bruce Pearl…
Who was at his desk watching film on his laptop getting ready for the game against North Carolina… AND HE SAID…
"Some of their greatest strengths, are some of our greatest weaknesses, and we will have to find a way to overcome some of that stuff.
Film preparation is everything.
Game planning is everything.
When you give your own player a scouting report and the other team does what you said they would do, and they do it in the way you said they are going to do it.
It just gives your own players confidence and they feel prepared. Which helps them overcome fear and they feel they are in a better position to win the game."
AND – watching the game film really worked as his team on Friday upset and defeated #1 seed NC 97-80….
UNDERSTAND BROTHERS AND SISTERS…
YOU HAVE… an opponent, an enemy and you face him every day.
AN ENEMY - who hates you… and longs to destroy you…
AN ENEMY – who is smarter, stronger, faster and more determined than I am…
AN ENEMY – who is watching your game film looking for ways to beat you and cause destruction in your life and in the lives of those around you.
Jesus said this about your film watching enemy… The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy… - Jn 10:10
UNDERSTAND - that is what satan wants to do to your life , and the lives of those you love (steal, kill & destroy)
AND LISTEN - as we look around at the destruction that surrounds us, it is obvious that he has developed a pretty successful game plan…
PETER – also talked about this enemy in 1 Pe 5:8…
Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. 1 Pe 5:8
UNDERSTAND – satan IS your greatest enemy…
YEAH – and you thought it was so and so… that person or this person.
BUT REMEMBER – our Ultimate battle is not against flesh and blood, against people…. though it sure feels that way at times.
BUT – against satan, our enemy… who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
AND MGCC – that lion is prowling around your life every day.
YES IF – you want to defeat temptation you must KNOW your enemy and you must KNOW that
1) Death and destruction is his goal
Sin, when it is full-grown,
(and sin does have a way of growing, doesn’t it?)
gives birth to death… James 1:15
Death = Separation (and spiritual death is separation from God)
Which is his number one goal…
To separate you from God, who is the source of your salvation and all that is good.
To overcome temptation you must know your enemy…
Know that death and destruction is his goal
And that…
2) Temptation is his game
IT’S - how he gets it done.
In our text James tells us how temptation works, how it always follows the same pattern… (it’s like… it’s like James is showing us satan’s game film)
but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. – James 1:14-15
Step 1: The Bait is dropped (always involves deception)
Deception – the promise of something good, of life… that is covering up something that is meant to harm us (pain, destruction and death)
Step 2: Your inner desire is attracted to the bait.
UNDERSTAND – James is saying that there is a desire in you, in me… that is being drawn toward what will hurt us.
Temptations are an appeal to meet righteous needs in an unrighteous way. – William Thrasher
Step 3; Sin occurs when we yield - when we bite the bait and tap out
Step 4: Sin when full grown gives birth to death
NOW - the word "dragged away" carries with it the idea of the baiting of a trap, and the word "enticed" in the original Greek meant "to bait a hook."
AND LISTEN – when fishing it is important to use a bait that interests and entices the fish you are trying to catch.
NOW – I am not a fisherman but according to bestbaitforfishing.com
Bluegills – worms/insects
Bass – crayfish
Crappie – minnows
Carp/catfish – dough balls
AND LISTEN – since satan has been watching your game film he knows your weaknesses, he knows how what will entice you, what bait to having dancing on the hook that is most likely to get you to tap out… take the bait
And he also knows the best time to drop the hook in the water to catch you.
NOW - for some in the room, the bait you will struggle resisting the most is…
• Sexual sin (sex outside of marriage, pornography)
• Anger
• Greed for money
• Bitterness
• Grumbling, Gossip, slander, malice
• Being selfish and not giving God and His church the best of your time, talent and treasure
OKAY
SO HERE - is this fish doing what ever fish do, then the bait is dropped. And the fish thinks "wow, that sure looks great...I’d like to have me some of that"
Now at this point the fish has a decision to make, he can stay away, or he can go after the bait.
AND LISTEN - if he chooses the later we all know where he ends up... on a hook then on a plate at Red Lobster or the Bone Fish Grill…
MGCC
That’s exactly the way temptation works with us - the bait is dropped and it is something that looks good to us, appeals to us, interests us.
We want to have it, we want to behave that way.
And we have a choice to make as we look at the bait dangling on the hook.... To bite or not to bite....
AND REMEMBER – sin does not occur until we take the bait.
YOU SEE – it is not a sin to be tempted is not a sin.....
Jesus was tempted and did not sin… (Heb 4:15)
Many Christians are frightened and demoralized by having tempting thoughts. Feeling guilty that they are not beyond temptation. This is a misunderstanding of maturity, because we will never outgrow temptation. – Rick Warren
AGAIN – to defeat temptation you have to know your enemy.
AND – know that…
Death and destruction is his goal
AND temptation is his game
b) Know Your Responsibility
When Tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. – James 1:13,14
UNDERSTAND - God is perfectly sinless,
NOW - he permits temptation but he never directs temptation. SO - James is saying that the responsibility for our sin and our response to temptation, lies fully on us.
There is no one else to blame. Not even satan. It is all on us.
QUESTION - how are you at accepting responsibility for your actions? LIKE - when you do something wrong do you admit it, or do you blame someone else?
• You get a bad grade in school or something goes wrong at work -- it was their fault....
• You get angry and lose control -- it was their fault.... (they made me do it)
There is an epidemic in our society of people failing to take responsibility for their actions, and for their inactions.
Everyone blames everyone else - it really wasn’t my fault…
BUT LISTEN – James is clear that when it comes to temptation it is our responsibility…
Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. – James 1:13,14
Know Your Responsibility…
a) Starve Don’t Feed Temptation
Paul talks about that very thing in Romans 6…
Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and offer your the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness...
- Romans 6:13
UNDERSTAND - this as an active thing. God does not only give us a negative command, "Do not offer the parts of your body to sin as instrument of wickedness..."
BUT - He also gives us a positive command, "present yourselves to God...offer the parts of your body to him!"
Don’t just try to peacefully co-exist with temptation come out against it...
NOW – if we are honest most of us would have to admit that we tend to play around with temptations that lead to sin....
KIND OF LIKE…
The mother who told her son not to go swimming.
However, when he came into the house his mother noticed that his hair was wet and he was wearing a bathing suit.
"Johnnie," his mother scolded, "I told you not to go swimming." "I couldn’t help it mom," he defended himself. "The water looked so good." "But why did you take your bathing suit with you?" "In case I was tempted."
OR - it’s like the overweight guy who decided that it was time to lose weight. He took his new diet seriously, even changing his driving route to avoid his favorite bakery.
One morning, however he arrived at work carrying 3 boxes of donuts, with chocolate frosting on his shirt
He explained. "I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and there they were ‘hot and fresh’ in the window. I felt this was no accident so I prayed, `Lord if you want me to have on of those donuts, let me find a parking place directly in front of the bakery.’
"And sure enough," he continued, "the 8th time around the block, there it was!"
On the TV show "Hee Haw" (yeah I know it was before your time)... But in one clip Doctor Campbell is confronted by a patient who says that he broke his arm in 2 places...
And Doctor Campbell had some simple but wise advise,
"well then stay out of those 2 places..."
YEAH - there are places we need to stay out of too... amen?
UNDERSTAND IF YOU…
• Bring your bathing suit with you
• Drive around the block 8 times
• Keep going to those places
• Insist on hanging around the edge of temptation
EVENTUALLY – you will be hooked, cooked and eaten.
GET IT?
QUESTION – are there…
• Some places you need to stop going
• Some people you need to stop hanging around with
• Some internet sites you need to avoid
• Some things you need to stop doing
• Some situations with members of the opposite sex that you are not married to that you need to avoid.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS…
ARE YOU - doing things that are feeding not starving your temptation?
UNDERSTAND - temptation to sin (which when full grown leads to death) is nothing to play around with.
I MEAN – ask King David…
LISTEN – in 2 Samuel 11 David knew exactly what he was going to see when he went up to that roof top… Bathsheba taking a bath…
I MEAN - he even took his bathing suit with him in case he was tempted…
David played around with the things that made him weak.
And he paid a high price.
Listen to the words of Dag Hammarskjold , Secretary General to the United Nations in the mid to late 1950’s;
You cannot play with the animal in you without becoming wholly animal, play with falsehood without forfeiting your right to truth, play with cruelty without losing your sensitivity of mind. He who wants to keep his garden tidy doesn’t reserve plot for weeds.
Know Your Responsibility…
b) Use The Right Resistance
UNDERSTAND - just as all sickness is not cured by the same medication, not all temptation is handled by the same resistance. We must fit the resistance to the attack.
When dealing with sexual temptation we are told to flee, run, to get out of Dodge (busy cattle town late 1900’s full of gunfights) as quick as you can there!
That is what Joseph did in Genesis chapter 39 (I encourage you to read the chapter this week) but when his boss’s wife made sexual advances toward.
Do you know what he responded…
He told her he would do such a wicked thing and sin against God, then he tried to avoid and when he could not HE RAN!
If we stay and try to fight it, if we kid ourselves and say that we can handle it we will fall victim to it, especially when it comes to sexual sin...
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. - 1 Cor 6:18
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. - 2 Tim 2:22
Use the right resistance.
For sexual sin RUN… (stop being around the person, don’t put yourself in vulnerable situations, log off your computer or smart phone)
If you are tempted to gossip, to slander… to talk, write or post negatively about someone, God has an answer for that too, don’t do it – keep your mouth closed.
You say, "well, that’s one way." No that’s the only way!
A bridle isn’t an answer for gossip-you need a muzzle.
Stop talking about them.
Say nothing…
If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
– James 1:26
Sensual sin - run
Gossip, slander - hold your tongue
Laziness - work
Hold back and not give the Lord what is his – give
Bitterness and resentment - forgive
I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. – 2 Corinthians 2:10,11
Know Your Responsibility…
c) Fill Your Mind With Scripture
When the devil launched his full scale attack on Jesus in the wilderness for those 40 days (Mt 4:4-11),
Jesus withstood temptation by using scripture..
"It is written....."
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according your word....I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you... - Ps 119:9,11
UNDERSTAND - when the Word of God is stored up in our minds, it stands ready to strike.
AND - no weapon can stand against it’s truth.
If you struggle with a particular sin, find at least 3 verses that deal with it - memorize them and use them to quench the flames of temptation.
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. - 2 Tim 2:22
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s. - 1 Tim 6:10
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man holds it in check. – Proverbs 29:11
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
- Matthew 6:14,15
Know Your Responsibility…
d) Consider Where Tapping Out Will Ultimately Lead
UNDERSTAND – your enemy does not want you to think beyond the momentary pleasure that giving into the temptation is offering you to it’s logical outcome.
LET ME – try to illustrate what I mean with a brief video of me giving our dogs a piece of chicken the other day…
VIDEO OF DOGS (they ran as fast as they could into their crates - which would lock them up - because they really like chicken)
That is exactly what Moses did when he choose life with God’s people over the luxury of life with the Egyptians;
"By faith Moses when he had grown up, refused to be know as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He choose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time...." - Heb 11:24,25
Is sin pleasurable? You bet it is.
So much so that people will risk their reputations, their careers, even their families just to taste it’s flavor.
If the bait on the hook did not look like something good to eat then the fish would never bite the hook.
Sin is fun - does feel good.
HOWEVER - though pleasurable this enjoyment lasts only a short time - you have your kicks and then your kick backs.
You sow and then you reap what you sow.
Committing adultery or having pre-marital sex may seem pleasurable at the time; but when the marriage is ruined, you see the kids just on weekends, OR you contract a STD, OR you have an unwanted pregnancy at 16,
You find out that the pain sure has out weighed the pleasure.
Unleashing your tongue on someone who hurt you in and anger may feel good at the time but when the relationship is severely damaged or destroyed… it was not worth it.
UNDERSTAND – sin always takes you further than you want to go and keeps you longer than you want to stay…
When sin looks so appealing to us - when it’s pleasure is tangling on a hook right in front of us we have to remind ourselves that the pleasure of sin is temporary – and living our lives trapped in a cage is not.
Know Your Responsibility…
e) Rely On His Grace and His Spirit
We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. – Hebrews 4:14-16
QUESTION – do you think if when tempted if you went before God’s throne room in prayer asking for help…
Do you think he would help you?
AND – do you think if you asked the Holy Spirit… who wants to develop with you the fruit of self control
IV. The Rewards Of Take Downs
a) You will experience the joy of winning
LIKE - do you enjoy winning?
You will become stronger
Each time you resist and refuse to tap out you get stronger and will find in easier to resist the next time.
It’s like spiritual resistance training.
(Resistance training is any exercise that causes the muscles to contract against an external resistance with the expectation of increases in strength, tone, mass, and/or endurance)
b) You will become more like Jesus
c) Your witness for Christ will become more powerful
d) You will be happy and crowned
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, He will receive the crown of life. - James 1:12
