EXTREME MAKEOVER – PART THREE
“THE LOOK, THE LURE, & THE LIE”
JAMES 1:13-18 - ©DR. LARRY L. THOMPSON (2004)
“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. [17] Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. [18] He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” James 1:13-18
Introduction:
Historians tell us that Mark Anthony was one of the most eloquent leaders in all of the Roman Empire. He was a great orator who could sway millions with his tongue; he was a tremendous philosopher, a scholar, a fierce warrior and great opponent of Christianity. He was among the greatest and yet he had one major flaw…he had a problem with morality. Historians tell us that it is recorded during a debate among Mark Anthony’s generals that one military leader stood and said, “O’ Marcus, greatest of leaders yet you remain a colossal child; able to conquer the world but destroyed by temptation.”
TODAY’S EXTREME MAKEOVER EXAMPLE: As we explore today’s topic in extreme makeover let’s examine one of America’s most famous stars to discover how temptation has impacted her life… (Go to video vignette of Martheve Stewart)
Often when we think of temptation we immediately think of sensual or sexual temptation, however, temptation can be pleasure, possessions, positions, pride, popularity…the truth is simple, TEMPTATION HAS NO BOUNDARIES. This attack of temptation can hit a President, as we have tragically witnessed in our generation, a prisoner, or sadly, even a pastor. A George Barna Survey reports: “only one of every four men that begin ministry will actually retire from ministry.” The number one destroyer of the minister is his inability to defeat temptation.
For this reason the counsel of James is absolutely imperative for us in this generation. Many of you listening to this message are struggling with temptation today; some have already yielded to the temptation and you are just waiting for the day of discovery. Some have just been introduced to the seed of temptation and you have entertained the “possibility of playing with the bait.” Today, what every person that hears or reads this message must understand is this: “There is no person who can say, “It would NEVER happen to me; I’ll never yield to temptation.” The moment you say NEVER, the enemy begins to bait his hook…listen carefully to this message from James entitled, “The Lure, the Look and the Lie.”
In today’s practical study we will discover five biblical truths regarding temptation:
I. TEMPTATION IS ALWAYS PRESENT IN OUR LIFE (v.13)
“When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.”
“When” in verse 13 is the same as in verse 2 of chapter one. In other words, we can and should expect to face temptation in our life. Temptation is inevitable. “Tempted” in the Greek is the word, “peirazo” (pay-rod’-zo) meaning “the solicitation to receive or embrace evil.”
No person, including the most spiritual Christian, can escape temptation. Even the Lord in His humanity, and who was without sin, was “tempted by the devil” (Matt. 4:1).
Just as it is common to man to be tempted, it is also common for him to blame someone or something else, not only for his being tempted but also for his succumbing to the temptation. From the beginning of time, one of the chief characteristics of sin has been the propensity to pass the blame to someone else.
• God confronts Adam with his sin in the Garden of Eden, Adam’s reply was, “The man said, "The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Genesis 3:12
• The Lord confronts Eve, “What is this you have done?” she replied, “…The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:13
Eve blamed Satan; and Adam blamed Eve and even worse, he blamed God.
James has no patience with a foolish fatalism by which a man blames anyone or anything for his own sin of yielding to temptation. Even more vehemently, James opposes the intolerable idea of blaming God.
II. TEMPTATION IS NEVER PROMPTED BY THE LORD (v.13)
“When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”
James says that no one should suggest that God is even indirectly responsible for temptation to evil. He is in no way responsible, directly or indirectly, for our being tempted.
In his fierce opposition James provides biblical proof that God is not responsible for our temptations and even less responsible, for our yielding to the temptation.
James provides biblical proof that God cannot tempt by sharing the pattern of temptation.
III. TEMPTATION FOLLOWS A CERTAIN PATTERN (1:14-16)
“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.” James 1:14-16
a. THE LOOK: (14)
“But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.”
“Each one” emphasizes the universal nature of temptation; no person is immune. Every human being “is tempted” and there are no exceptions.
b. THE LURE (14)
“But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
“Dragged away” and “enticed” both describe closely related but different aspects of the temptation process.
• “Dragged away” is compelled by an inner desire to follow a baited trap designed to lure an unsuspecting animal into it.
• “Enticed” was commonly used as a fishing term to refer to the external desire or bait. The purpose was to lure the prey from safety to capture and finally death.
We succumb to temptation when our own evil desire draws us toward evil things that are
appealing to fleshly desire. In contemporary use we call the “evil desire,” “lust.” Lust has long been associated almost exclusively with illicit sexual desire; however, the Greek term for “evil desire” is epithumia (ep-ee-thou-mee’-ah) which translates, “a deep, strong desire or longing of any kind that is forbidden.”
Sin will normally look attractive and pleasurable, but only for a short time. If sin were not attractive it would have little power over us. Satan ALWAYS tries to make sin as attractive as possible. But REMEMBER, there would be no attraction of sin were it not for man’s own evil desire. We must remember we cannot blame Satan, his demons, ungodly people, or the world in general for our own evil desire. Even more authoritatively, James informs us we cannot blame God. The problem we face is not a TEMPTER from without, but the TRAITOR within, our own evil desires!
If you want to blame someone or something for your pain because you fell into sin…look no further than your own life and your own evil desires. Even the apostle Paul reminded us of the sinful nature and evil desire that he dealt with in his own life. (Romans 7:18-25)
“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. [19] For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. [20] Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. [21] So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. [22] For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; [23] but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. [24] What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? [25] Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” Romans 7:18-25
Remember, just as one type of bait or lure works well with one kind of fish but not with all fish, so one person’s passion is another person’s repulsion. It is each believers “own evil desires or lusts” which they should be most concerned about, because those are where the individual is most vulnerable to temptation. Our commonality is not in the particular “evil desires” but in the fact that we all have them, we are all susceptible to them, and have sole personal responsibility for responding to them.
The tragedy is that when we follow the ‘Lure of Satan’ we tend to forget the ‘Light of Salvation!’
The great theologian Bonnhauffer said, “At the moment between the enticement and the bite, God is quite unreal to us and the only desire we have is to conquer the bait which lies before us. In that moment, Satan will not fill our hearts with hatred for God, simply forgetfulness.”
At this stage in our life we will always tend to rationalize and our discernment is completely clouded. We think, “What I am doing is not really that bad, everyone else does it…after all I am only human.” WRONG! If you are a believer then you need to quite listening to the voice of human rationalization and listen to the SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD WHICH LIVES WITHIN YOUR LIFE. THE LOOK, THE LURE and…
c. THE LIE (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.” James 1:15-16
Shifting from the metaphors of hunting and fishing, James now uses the process of childbirth to illustrate his greatest point...the truth about the LIE! “Desire” is depicted as a mother conceiving and bearing a child. The child which is born is “sin” and the ultimate destiny of the child we call sin is “death.” James here makes clear that sin is the result of a specific process, which is perfectly explained.
Examine the word “conceived,” in order for there to be conception you must have two elements joined together. The fact is obvious: When our “own evil desires” are joined with “the enticement of the lure” then we “conceive sin” which ultimately brings forth “death” in our life.
Illustration: R.B. from Tulsa
Explain the situation of perhaps the finest worship leader in America in the 80’s. He had fallen into sexual sin and some ministers restore him. Joined my staff and within a year I had a call from a woman who confessed she was involved sexually with him. One of the most painful times in my life was sitting in his home with he and his wife and confronting him and watching the death of a relationship and a family take place right before my eyes. Years later I received this letter in the mail and I keep it to this day to remind me of the ultimate result of SIN in our life.
Dear Pastor:
I write to tell you how sorry I am that I let you down and more importantly failed the Lord. I ask that you forgive me for the hurt I brought to your life and your family and especially to the ministry of the church. How I wish I could go back and do it all over again. I have lost so much, my marriage, my children and not the least of which my privilege of serving the Lord with you. I am so very empty. Please pray for me.
James demands we examine the LIE. The lie is obvious: We can conceive sin and have no consequences in our life. Friends, when you yield to temptation and conceive sin something is going to die. It may not be a physical death…it may be worse as my letter reveals. For this reason we have James absolutely shouting to the hearts of believers….
“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.” (1:16)
In light of these sobering truths, James implores: Do not be deceived, my dear brothers. Take full blame on yourselves, where it belongs. Realize that your enemy—your fallen nature, your own evil desires and lusts, your weaknesses, your rationalizations, and your sins—are within and they must be dealt with from within. The question of how to deal with temptation is now confronted.
IV. TEMPTATION FAILS WHEN COUNTERED BY TRUTH (1:17-18)
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. [18] He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” (1:17-18)
James declares that God is not responsible for our temptations to sin, what comes from God is not sin, but every good and perfect gift. His works reflect His character.
“The Father of the heavenly lights” was an ancient Jewish title for God, referring to Him as Creator, as the great Giver of light. Unlike some sources of light which will eventually fade, God’s character, power, wisdom, and love have no variation and does not change like a shifting shadow.
• In Malachi: “I, the Lord, do not change” (Mal. 3:6)
• John says: “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5)
• Hebrews: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever” (Heb. 13:8)
The implication of this verse is this: When we, as God’s children, are so abundantly and continually showered with the most gracious, valuable, and satisfying blessings our heavenly Father can provide, then why should anything evil have the slightest attraction to us?
ONE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THAT LEADS TO TRUTH: (v.18)
[18] “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”
James asserts, the new life the Lord gives to those who believe in Jesus Christ is a godly, holy, Christlike life. It is the life of God in the soul of man. By the new birth, a believer is re-created, given a completely new nature that has no part in sin or evil. Our own evil desires and lust leads to death; however, the gift of God in Christ gives birth to life. The Christian is called to live in the truth of God’s word and the result is we become the “firstfruits” the witness or offering that brings praise to His name.
The term firstfruits is related to a Jewish festival where they bring the very best of their harvest and “wave it before all as they give it unto the Lord.” We are God’s wave offering to this world.
Conclusion:
We need to understand biblical directives for dealing with temptation and sin.
• GUARD YOUR THOUGHTS: Remember your mind is the battlefield and we are commanded to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” Practically speaking, don’t expose your mind to magazines, books, inappropriate sites on the internet, or television or movies which you know will open the door to temptation. We must train our minds to keep watch over our emotional desires. Instead of rationalizing temptations, we prepare in advance to oppose temptation with God’s Word, just as Jesus did in the wilderness. In order to accomplish this security you MUST commit to being in the word and allow Christ to transform you through the Word. Paul also admonishes us in regard to our minds:
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
• GUARD YOUR WALK: Avoid temptations by fleeing from individuals, places and situations where we know the opportunity for temptation is present. Build security in your life by building relationships with godly friends. As you build a relationship with a Christian friend consider making yourself accountable to one another for prayer and support. By the same measure be very cautious about putting yourself in situations with people that you KNOW will encourage an atmosphere of temptation. Use common sense when it comes to avoiding temptation. Example: If you are married, don’t put yourself in a position where you will be alone with a member of the opposite sex, obviously, avoid the appearance of evil at all times.
Paul reminds us: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.” Phil. 4:8
It is not by accident that the first and greatest commandment includes loving God not only with our hearts and souls but also with our minds! (Matt. 22:37)
No matter how many pleasures Satan offers to you, never, never forget that his ultimate intention is to ruin you. Your destruction is his highest priority. Temptation is his greatest tool. Your response to temptation is the most accurate barometer of your love for Christ.
