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Perhaps
one of the toughest struggles in college, while away from home is
temptation. Whether you live on campus or not, the college campus is
filled with tempting offers that could lead to sin. So, how do we handle
temptation? Before we move ahead let me remind of you last week's
message…We learned from the book of James, genuine faith remains
stable and sure, when life is easy, and when it is hard. Now the half
brother of Jesus moves us from trials to temptations another test, if
you will, to see if your faith in God is real. 2nd Test: Genuine faith
strives after and progressively achieves moral purity.
The bible talks about two kinds of tests, trials and temptations. Trials
from God are designed to cause growth; temptations from Satan are
designed to cause sin. Now James goes on to show us the process of
moving from temptation to sin…how temptation operates and gives birth
to sin. Let's take a look at how temptation operates so we know how to
handle it…
The Process of Temptation & Sin
First, James
1:14
,
"…but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire…" (NIV)
1st Step is Desire.
It's an inside job, most desires are okay, our desire to sleep, eat,
sexual desire, a desire to accomplish, these are good desires but what
happens is we take these normal desires from God that are not sinful and
turn them into evil. By making them go out of control…any good desire
is going to go bad if it is out of control. It is when we want to
satisfy these desires in ways outside God's will that we get into
trouble. Eating is normal; gluttony is sin. Sleep is normal; laziness is
sin. "Marriage is honorable, and the bed undefiled; but not sex
outside of marriage.
2nd Step is Deception.
James 1:14, "…he is dragged away and enticed…"
The word dragged away is a hunter's term which literally means snared in
a trap, you're caught like an unsuspecting animal and the word enticed
is a fisherman's term, lured by bait. Now, the right kind of bait will
hook the right kind of fish. The right bait for the fish is too
attractive to resist, it smells good, looks good, appealing strongly to
all the senses. The desire for the bait is too intense and it causes the
fish to lose caution and to overlook or ignore the trap, the hook until
it's too late. In the exact same way Satan knows and our natural desires
are attracted the right kind of bait that is going to entice you. Bait
that is so attractive, hard to resist, appealing strongly to all your
senses…you've got to have it.
What kind of bait does Satan use on you?
3rd Step is Disobedience.
James 1:15, "Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to
sin…" (NIV)
Sin is a process, it starts with our emotions (desires) and then to the
intellect (deception) then the will (disobedience). Desire and deception
are the means of conception and then the will approves and acts in
disobedience and the result is it gives birth to sin.
4th Step is Death.
James 1:15, "Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to
sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (NIV)
In 1 Timothy 5:6 we read of a believing widow who lives in pleasure is
dead while she lives. This means that she is wasting her life and
utterly failing to fulfill the purpose for which God saved her. To be
out of fellowship with God is for a Christian a form of living death…a
carnal Christian, the most miserable person on earth.
This is how temptation operates desire, deception, disobedience and
death…so what's the best way to handle it?
1. Word of God. When Jesus was tempted by Satan He always dealt
with the temptation on the basis of the Word of God. Three times He
said, "It is written." When you know the Bible, you can detect
the bait and deal with it decisively. This is why it is imperative that
you are in a bible study on campus and have a daily quiet time.
2. Fellowship with Christians. It's in relationships that we are
stronger, iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another…and bad
company corrupts good character, but fellowship with other believers is
designed to build us up, strengthen us as we hold each other
accountable, responsible, and encourage one another, we need one other
to keep us focused on God. This is why you and I need, need to find
Christians on campus that we can become friends with, not just friendly
but real friends…A friend who you can talk with about your struggles
and who will help hold you accountable, etc. WARNING: Temptation
flourishes in secret, but it loses its power, when it is exposed and
confessed in Christian love among friends.
This is the lifestyle of faith…in trials it remains stable and sure,
when life is easy, and when it is hard.
This is the lifestyle of faith…genuine faith strives after and
progressively achieves moral purity.
God Bless, Pastor Alex Garcia
Destino Coaching Center
100 Lake Hart Drive Dept 2500
Orlando, Florida 32828
1-800-678-5462 ext: #1205
destino@uscm.org
See also: www.MyDestino.com
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Monday Minutes