How To Successfully Succumb To Sin
Book of James Series 2 of 12
June 16, 2002 FBC, Chester, IL Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction:
A A young was struggling with their finances and in an effort to get a better handle on their spending, they agreed that whenever they were tempted to make an impulsive purchase they would say, "Get behind me Satan."
a One evening the wife came home with a Dillard’s bag with a Liz Claiborne dress and showed it to her husband. ("What happened? Didn’t you remember to say "Get behind me Satan."
b No. I remembered. I told him to get behind me and he said the dress looked good from back here too.
B This mornings message is "How to successfully succumb to sin." (James 1:13-16)
[13] When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; [14] but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. [15] Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
[16] Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.
a James gave his readers a clear description of how temptation blooms into sin. ETS
b Temptation can be toppled. ESS
C I hope you leave knowing to stop sin before it happens. (Objective)
a What are you doing to win over sin? (Probing Question)
b Let’s look at two key moments in the life of a sin. (Transitional Sentence)
Conclusion:
The sin that is conceived in temptation separates us from God. Temptation can be toppled.
A We’ve looked at two key moments in the life of a sin.
a The birth announcement (We entertain the thought of sin....temptation enters and our temptation joins with action and sin is born.)
b A death certificate (Sin bring death...every time.)
B I hope you leave knowing how to stop sin before it happens. (Objective)
a You spend your life in two ways.... fighting temptation. (Struggle, battling, attacking)
b You can spend your life in sin. (Are you saved?)
C What are you doing to win over sin?
a On October 12, 1998 at around 3:15 a.m. six men where ran over by a south bound Union Pacific train with 105 cars, going north of Harlington, Texas.
*They were sleeping inside the rails of train track. (They believed that snakes wouldn’t cross over railroad tracks. FALSE Snakes are actually attracted to the warm rocks below the elevated rail.
*These men died because they believed a lie.
b The devil wants you to believe that you can live with little sins....it doesn’t really matter....you can keep on sinning, enjoy it....your saved and once saved always saved, right? Believers know sinning is wrong and work on stopping it.
What are you doing to win over sin?
*Confess *Repent *Stop doing it *Temptation needs to be toppled.
I The first key moment in the life of a sin is a birth announcement. (vv:13-15a)
[13] When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; [14] but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. [15] Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin......
A James told his readers what the result was when they failed their tests. (A Sin is Born!)
a He told them exactly where to put the blame for failing their test. (Don’t blame God or the Devil.)
(IL.) A student takes a class, a teacher teaches the class and gives the student a test. The student doesn’t study, parties the night before the exam and flunks the test. Who is to blame for the student getting an "F"?
b God never used evil/sin to tempt the believer. (He allowed/let Satan to tempt them.)
B We are all tempted in some way/fashion. (Temptation is NOT a sin. Never has been or will be.)
(IL.) Was Jesus tempted? Yes. Did He sin? No.
a Although you are tempted you are NEVER forced to sin or forced to fail your test.
I Cor. 10:13
13] No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it.
b Sin doesn’t magically appear. (It’s conceived on purpose.)
*The heart is sins breeding ground....it is where sins is birthed.
[28] But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28) SIN STARTS IN THE HEART...BORN THERE!
[19] For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. (Matthew 15:19) SIN STARTS IN THE HEART...BORN THERE!
*When your temptation breeds with action...a sin is born.
C A 5year old was told to stay out of the cookie jar that was on his mother’s kitchen counter.
a The mother was sitting in the living room when she heard a kitchen chair going across the floor towards the counter. She shouted what are you doing? The boy responded, "I’m fighting temptation."
b He was in the wrong place fighting temptation!
*When we entertain the thought of lust, hate, anger in our hearts....were in the wrong place fighting temptation.
*Were creating the romantic mood for temptation and action to consummate.
*Is temptation a sin? No. Temptation is sin’s parent though.
*Martin Luther said, "You can’t stop birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from nesting in your hair."
T.S.: When sin is born something dies.
II The second key moment in the life of a sin is the death certificate. (vv: 15b-16)
[15]...and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.[16] Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.
A James told the believers that sin would bring with it...death. (Death removes something.)
a The bible refers to 3 different kinds of death.
(1) Physical death: Everybody will die.
(2) Spiritual death: When we sin it kills our soul.
(3) Eternal death: The fate of people who die as an unbeliever.
*Sin brings death.....removes you from fellowship with God.
b James stresses the fact that everybody.....everybody is capable of falling prey to sin.
B Sin causes a part of your fellowship with God to be removed....die.
a We all sin (Human) "If you grieve over your sin, you’re a saint. If you boast over your sin, you ain’t.
b If you can live in/with sin and enjoy it, your probably not a child of God.
[6] If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. I John 1:6
*You can’t have fellowship with God and continually permit sin to have it’s way in your life.
C "Pastor Mike, are you saying I can lose my salvation."
a A Baptist pastor and a Lutheran pastor were talking about their beliefs.
*Baptist was telling how he believed in once saved...always saved.
*The Lutheran pastor said, "If I believed that then I would get saved and then have my fill of sin."
*The Baptist pastor responded, "How much sin does it take to fill up a genuine Christian."
b If you can live in/with sin and not be grieved, guilt, convicted....are you saved?
*My great temptation is gluttony. Do I feel guilty? Convicted? Grieved? Embarrassed? YES!!!
*Your temptation may be alcohol, realm of sex, drugs, laziness, greed.......
(If you see NO wrong, accept NO blame....check yourself.)
