James 1:13-15 - Victory Over Temptation And Sin.
James 1:13-15 (NLT) And remember, when you
are being tempted, do not say, God is
tempting me. God is never tempted to do wrong, and
he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes
from our own desires, which entice us and drag us
away. These desires give birth to sinful actions.
And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth
to death.
James 1:13-15 (NIV) When tempted, no one
should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be
tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each
one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he
is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire
has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin,
when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
INTRODUCTION
Temptation comes from evil desires inside
us, not from God. It begins with an evil thought
and becomes sin when we dwell on the thought and
allow it to become an action. Like a snowball
rolling downhill, sin grows more destructive the
more we let it have its way. The best time to
stop a temptation is before it is too strong or
moving too fast to control. See Matthew 4:1-11; 1
Cor. 10:13; and 2 Tim. 2:22 for more about
escaping temptation. [Life Application SB]
People who live for God often wonder why
they still have temptations. Does God tempt them?
God tests people, but he does not tempt them by
trying to seduce them into sin. God allows Satan to
tempt people, however, in order to refine their
faith and to help them grow in their dependence on
Christ. We can resist the temptation to sin by
turning to God for strength and choosing to obey his
Word. [Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Just a Nibble of Sin Will Get You Hooked
For my dad, a day without fishing was a
wasted day. He would manage, no matter what was
going on, to go fishing for at least 30 minutes
every day. As I watched my dad catch fish after
fish (while I caught nothing), I learned really
quickly that no fish bites a bare hook.
You can't just throw a hook out in the
water and expect to catch fish. You have to put
bait on the hook, and a good fisherman knows
different fish like different kinds of bait.
Just like a fisherman knows how to bait
different kinds of fish, Satan knows just how to bait
you. He knows your favorite flavors and what gets
your attention. He knows exactly where your weak
spot is - that unmet emotional need, that empty
tank, that deep desire.
That's why youve got to think about
what you're thinking about. The hook is sin, but
the bait is whatever lie Satan wants you to
believe he knows youre vulnerable to: If you do
this, you'll feel better. If you do this, it will
be rewarding. If you do this, everything will
be okay.
Even when you know there's a hook beneath
the bait, you may still keep nibbling. Why?
Because you buy whatever lie Satan is feeding you.
If you think you can keep nibbling without
getting hooked, youre just fooling yourself. The
idea that you wont get hurt is another one of
Satans lies.
One of the most common lies is that,
whenever youre tempted, something outside of
yourself has tempted you. But the real problem is not
external.
James 1:14 says, Temptation comes from
our own desires, which entice us and drag us
away (NLT).
Temptation starts with our inner desires
- those vulnerable spots Satan uses for bait.
Those desires lead to sinful actions, and those
actions lead to death. What you think determines how
you feel, and what you feel determines how you
act.
Dont get in the habit of blaming your
circumstances. When youre tempted, you may think you
cant help it. You can help it! It starts by
changing the way you think.
When youre tempted, stop and ask the
question, What lie am I believing?
Then replace it with Gods truth. It
will always lead to life. [Daily Devotional by
Rick Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
COMMENTARY
By faith and prayer all may meet the
requirements of the gospel. No man can be forced to
transgress. His own consent must be first gained; the
soul must purpose the sinful act before passion
can dominate over reason or iniquity triumph
over conscience. Temptation, however strong, is
never an excuse for sin. {5T 177.2}
There is no safety for any man, young or
old, unless he feels the necessity of seeking God
for counsel at every step. Those only who
maintain close communion with God will learn to place
His estimate upon men, to reverence the pure,
the good, the humble, and the meek. The heart
must be garrisoned as was that of Joseph. Then
temptations to depart from integrity will be met with
decision: "How then can I do this great wickedness,
and sin against God?" The strongest temptation
is no excuse for sin. No matter how severe the
pressure brought to bear upon you, sin is your own
act. The seat of the difficulty is the unrenewed
heart. {AH 331.1}
To your closet, followers of Christ. Pray in
faith and with all the heart. Satan is watching to
ensnare your feet. You must have help from above if
you would escape his devices. {5T 177.1}
Trials of Our Own Making
Sometimes we walk into trials of our own
making because they are a direct result of our own
selfishness or pride or greed or lust. Then when this
happens and we reap the results of our sin, we get
angry at God.
But James says, Let no one say when he is
tempted, I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be
tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by
his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire
has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin,
when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James
1:13-15)
We forge the links of small, compromising
actions, and before we know it, a mighty chain is
wound around us, and we are helpless.
I used to be able to outrun my oldest son
Christopher. A number of years ago, however, we were at
the beach, and I picked a spot and said, "Okay,
Christopher, I will race you to that spot." We took off,
and much to my surprise, he outran me. I
thought, How is that possible? I held this child in
my hands when he was born. I watched him grow.
Well, he grew up. That's what happened.
That is the way it can be with sin. We
think we can handle it. We think it's so small.
But James says that when sin is full-grown, it
brings forth death. One of these days, that sin
will grow up, and it will outrun you. It will
overpower you. That's what happens. [By Greg Laurie
from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
CLOSING PEARL
Resisting Ourselves
When my son Jonathan was very young, I
found him playing video games one morning when he
was supposed to be doing his homework. With the
controller in his hand and a guilty expression on his
face, he told me, Dad, I couldnt resist
myself.
He didnt say that he couldnt resist
the video games or the temptation to play video
games. Rather, he said that he couldnt resist
himself. And I thought that was about the most
accurate description of temptation Ive heard.
After we fall into temptation, we like to
say the Devil made us do it or that someone
entrapped us or a certain situation just happened, and
therefore we had no control over the circumstances.
But God never will give us more than we can
handle or allow us to be tempted above our capacity
to resist.
The Bible tells us, The temptations in
your life are no different from what others
experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the
temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are
tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can
endure (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT).
Scripture clearly says that temptation
does not come from God. James wrote, And
remember, when you are being tempted, do not say,
God is tempting me. God is never tempted to
do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else
(James 1:13 NLT).
Instead, James says that temptation
comes from our own desires, which entice us and
drag us away (verse 14 NLT). We play a key
role in our own temptation. Now, clearly the
Devil will work in concert with the flesh and this
world to bring us down, but we have to cooperate.
Yet when temptation comes to us as
Christians, we do not fight for victory. Rather, we
fight from victory. In other words, we rest in the
finished work that Christ has accomplished for us on
the cross. [By Greg Laurie from Harvest
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
James 1:13-15 - Defending Against Temptation
and Sin.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200308-0912.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
