Sermon for Sunday 20th February 2022: 'The facts about temptation…'
(Please read Psalm 37: 1-11; Genesis 3: 1-13 & James 1: 13-25)
March 2020 - If you can remember that far back – was one of our first audio-recorded sermons during “lockdown”; it was on James chapter 1 verse 2: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” These words are among the many things in scripture (as in life) which are hard to understand. The message concluded that God does allow trials, troubles and temptations in the life of His people and that such experiences are inevitable, “normal”, necessary and never wasted. James (the brother of Jesus), writing to give practical counsel to believers under strain of persecution in the Roman Empire, ends the passage by with encouragement: “12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him…”
We pick up the thread again with verse 13: 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 person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Of those things that are hard to understand, evil and suffering are “right up there”. We wonder why they happen, where they come from and who’s responsible for them. It is “as old as the hills” for us human beings to look for someone else to blame. Or to make excuses: “I couldn’t help it…it’s in my nature…you can’t blame me…she did it! And, after all, LORD, it must be your fault because You created the woman…and the woman…I did the wrong thing because the serpent deceived me…it’s his fault…” Blaming God – in some degree or another – for our moral choices and failures. Watch children in nursery or politicians in Parliament! The writer of the Genesis 3 account (The Fall) was a student of human nature, quite a psychologist! He (Moses) knew himself what it was to be tempted and to face the dire consequences of his choices…
Before we can deal with Temptation we should know the facts. Temptation is defined as the desire to do or have something that you know is bad or wrong; the temptation of easy profits; to give way to/yield to temptation; I couldn't resist the temptation to open the letter. Don't put temptation in her way by offering her a cigarette. (OED)
Trials and temptation (do) carry some similar meanings. We know that God allows trials and tests but He does not tempt: The fact is, He does not incite, attract or induce anyone to do something evil. He is not interested in gaining pleasure or advantage from the mistakes or misfortunes of others. That is someone else – the tempter. The hymn writer asks, “Are there trials and temptations; is there trouble anywhere?” Yes. Notice how James says, “WHEN you are tempted…”
1). Temptation is ever-PRESENT: Like trials, they are an inevitable and ever-present fact. No-one is immune from temptation. The monk in his cloisters is just as likely to face temptation as anyone else in the world. People may be tempted by different things. Temptations may change over time. Where I may have been enticed to sexual sins earlier on in life, now I may have other besetting desires – ambition, vanity, pride, fame, money, gossip, revenge. I may be tempted to despair or to avoid making the right choices. The list is long. It’s not a matter of if but when. Temptation itself is not sin. (Why else would Jesus Himself be tempted?) Giving in to it is sin. The only One who ever resisted temptation was he who led the holiest, purest life. But He was tempted. So are we…
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” If and, most assuredly, when you are tempted – stop blaming God! God is not tempting you to take revenge or be angry with that person. Why? Because God is good. His character is perfect. As the hymn tells us, “There is no shadow of turning with Thee…” God has nothing whatsoever to do with evil. James (like John) appeals to the unchanging character of God: 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5) 13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? (Habakkuk 1: 13)
The fact is God tries and tests, certainly – Satan tempts. But 2): Temptation is never PROMPTED by God: if temptation is like a dishonest acquaintance, outwardly appealing, but always hiding corrupt motives (craftier), then how can God be tempted by evil or (ever) tempt anyone? For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone…TEMPTATION IS NEVER PROMPTED BY GOD!
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 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. God is the author of good things, the author of salvation, not temptation. TEMPTATION IS NEVER PROMPTED BY GOD!
James says, we are the PROBLEM. 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. We can see where the responsibility lies. Any good fisherman knows that, to entice the fish, it’s probably best to use an attractive bait to draw out (lure) the fish from its hiding place. Any powers of discernment the fish might have had (probably very little!) are soon gone – and so is the fish. No one can resist temptation when the hand is in the biscuit barrel! The desire is soon to great. If we continually put ourselves in harm’s way, sooner or later we will fall. Life (someone said) is not the chances we take, but the choices we make.
The next fact to consider is 3). Temptation (often) is a PROCESS. James describes it well. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. When the desire and the bait meet together, we have yielded to temptation. Sin is when we take the bait. You might not be able to stop the birds from landing on your head. Just don’t let them build a nest there! When we pray the petition, “And lead us not into temptation…” what we are really saying is … Lord, don’t allow us to come under the sway of temptation, because we know it will overpower us and lead us into sin. “And sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death…”
This deathly-feeling (this process) is well-described by Max Lucado: “Guilt creeps in on cat’s paws and steals whatever joy might have flickered in our eyes. Confidence is replaced by doubt, and honesty is elbowed out by rationalisation. Exit peace. Enter turmoil. Just as the pleasure of indulgence ceases, the hunger for relief begins…”
Even the redoubtable Apostle Paul speaks of his struggle between spirit and flesh and the desire to do what is good, but the failure to carry it out… “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am!” (Romans 7: 18b – 24a).
You see, I know (believe) that God through Jesus Christ has saved and forgiven me; I even know that in Christ I am perfect (positionally). But I know, too, that the “old man” (the old nature) lurks very near – that when I “make provision for the flesh” or I give the enemy a way in, I’m in trouble. The Spirit convicts. But, just when he thinks death has won, Paul can say: “Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7: 25) So, there is hope for all of us!
So, what can we do to best deal with this ever-present problem, this painful process of temptation? By being prepared. 4). TEMPTATION is something we should be PREPARED for. By staying close to the Lord. Seeking God in PRAYER and listening to His Word.
The Psalmist sums it up. How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. (Psalm 119)
As we approach the season of reflection in Lent, we recall that it was with the Word of God that Jesus (filled with the Spirit) was prepared for the attacks of His enemy…
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble (yield to temptation), he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. (Psalm 37: 38-40)
Have we trials and temptations? (YES) Is there trouble anywhere? (OF COURSE) We should never be discouraged—take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer. May we ever, Lord, be bringing
all to Thee in earnest prayer.
And, even if (in the midst of our trials and temptations) we cannot find the words to pray we know that… we have a priest who is able to sympathise with us and that…because Jesus lives forever, (he has a permanent priesthood) …he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them…
For all our faults and failures, God’s Word tells us He is ours and we are His! Hallelujah!
MFR 17-02-22