Doing Faith

Faith is more of an action than it is a conviction.

TEMPTING FATE

I don’t want to do anything that will threaten my life and future with the Lord!

(James 1:13-15) 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.

Temp: to entice; to provoke; to attract.

1. DIVINE Temptation

A. TRIAL (peirasmos) – A difficulty that is intended to make us strong.

(1:2-4) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (1:12) Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

B TEMP (peirazo) – A distraction that is intended to make us sin.

(1:13) When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.

2. DEVIL Temptation

A. Satan is at war with the Lord.

(Rev. 12:7-9) And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down - that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

B. His defeat was sealed at the cross.

(Rev 12:10-12a) Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers... has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony... Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!

C. He is still a problem for us though!

(Rev 12:12b) But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.

D. He appeals to our desires, hoping we will sin.

(Matt 4:2-3) After fasting forty days and forty nights, (Jesus) was hungry. The tempter came to Him [tempting Him to sin].

E. Jesus gives us power over Satan.

(1 John 3:8) The devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

(1 John 4:4) The One who is in you is greater than the one who in the world.

3. DESIRE Tempting

A. Our own desires supply our most dangerous temptations.

(14) But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

B. We were born with these desires.

(Ps 51:5) Surely, I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

C. Our desires grow to dominate us.

(Romans 8:5) …minds set on what that nature desires.

(Ephesians 4:22) …being corrupted by (our) deceitful desires.

D. When we follow our desires, we wind up sinning.

(1:15) Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

E. When we follow the Holy Spirit, we soar above all temptation.

(Romans 8:9) You… are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit.

(Romans 5:16) Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.