Calvary Baptist Church

Preached by Pastor Mike Hess Sunday morning 11/29/2009.

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Redeeming the Time –

Biblically Understanding Temptation

James 1:13-17

Genesis 3:12 – “The man said, “the woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree and I ate.”

1. Understanding Temptation  (1:13-14)

Warren Wiersbe – “God is too holy to be tempted, and He is too loving to tempt others…..It is we who turn occasions of testing into temptations.”

A temptation is nothing more than an opportunity to take something that is good and to use it in a sinful way.

Proverbs 4:23 – “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

Matthew 5:28 – “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Matthew 15:18-19 – “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.”

Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

2. Sin’s Deathly Process    (1:15)

Genesis 39:9 – “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”

The good news about temptation

1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

3. The Goodness of God    (1:17)

Warren Wiersbe – “Since God is good, we do not need any other person (including Satan) to meet our needs.”

Psalm 25:8 – “Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.”

Psalm 119:68 – “You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.”

Jeremiah 33:11 – “Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

Nahum 1:7 – “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”

Application:

1.  What are you doing personally to fight temptation and sin in your own life?

2. Learn from Scripture lessons from people in the past who lived their lives by expediency (for the moment) – Adam and Eve, Esau, David, Jonah – When we think biblically we think clearly about eternity.

3. Think of all sin in the God-ward direction. Always have a Genesis 39:9 mindset.

4. The gospel always gives us real hope in our struggles against sin. Outside of knowing Christ you will only be a slave to sin and unrighteousness.

John 8:32 – “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:36 – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

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