Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
One of the greatest challenges of living the Christian life is dealing with “temptations”
There have been many who have lost everything because of temptations
Marriages
Families
Ministries
It is especially hard because temptations usually follow along with or around when we are going or have gone through a trial
It is when we are weakest or most tired that temptations seem to overpower us
Temptation isnt anyone specific thing
This world and the things in this world are a buffet of temptation
Temptations come and they are strong
We feel as Paul did in Romans
When he said the things he wants to do he doesnt and the very things he doesnt want to do he does them - oh wretched man that he is
Sometimes we feel cant but give in to them, but James is writing to tell his readers and us again How To
James wants us all to know - How To Endure Temptation
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James 1:12-
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James 1:15-18
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Keep Your Eye on the Prize
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Blessed IS the man who endures temptation
Blessed - we have seen this word many times in scripture
We use it amongst Christian brothers and sisters (sometimes with non-believers who just give us that look - you know the one)
We use it to describe how we are BLESSED or we use it as a greeting Blessings!
We pray for God to bless people
But do we know what this word actually means?
Blessed - makarios in the Koine and it means happy or fortunate
It is used secularly to refer to the rich and wealthy who were free from normal worries or cares of life
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Makarios is the one who is in the world yet independent of the world.
His satisfaction comes from God and not from favorable circumstances
This is why we as Christians can say we are blessed even in the most dire of circumstances - we arent lying we simply have found our satisfaction apart from this world and completely in God
The one who endures temptation is blessed because they desire God and find in Him their satisfaction and this worlds temptations wont pull them away
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For the one who would endure temptation - desire for God must be greater than desire for anything else
This is covered by the one who Endures temptation
Endure is hypomone - we have covered this before - the word patience and perseverance
Spoken of a Soldier who in the face of harm endures to complete the mission
The runner who in the face of great difficulty finishes the marathon
Interesting to note that the patience - hypomone - that is produced in trials is exactly what we need for facing temptation
SLIDE - note this next to verse 12 - link it to verse 2
The trials we go through produce the very fruit - Patience/Perseverance - that we need to ENDURE temptation
Please also note the one blessed is the one who ENDURES temptation
It is not the person never tempted or the one who easily conquers it
This is the one who must battle temptation - and remember this so it doesnt catch you off guard as you resist temptation - IT GROWS
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Temptation often comes not at our strongest, but our weakest moments.
When we are at the limit of our patience, love, etc., we are tempted to be unChristian.
Beware, Jesus’ temptation began after 40 days of fasting.
People are usually more impressed when they see us act under pressure.
One weak act may spoil a whole lifetime of witness
The one who ENDURES will be approved
The one who ENDURES will be approved - it says when not if - if you endure you will be approved
found to be genuine
The one who is approved shall receive the crown of life
It is worth it to resist and endure temptation - for there will be a reward waiting for each of us
There isnt just one crown - this isnt a speed race where everyone is competing for this same crown
We are all competing in an endurance race to receive our own crown!
The crown of life
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The life promised is life here and now - the abundant life Jesus spoke about
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life in its completeness - but also speaks of eternal life
Something most of us may not realize is - we dont await eternal life we are living our eternal life now if you are in Christ
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The crown is promised by the Lord to those who love Him
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Those who love the Lord are those who endure temptation
Love for God is the best motive for resisting temptation and enduring temptation
Other motives exist - not getting caught - dont want to wreck the family - what would people think
All this is motivated by fear of men
If love of God is our motive we are fearing God more then men
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If our passion for God is greater than our temptation our passion will win everytime
Those who love God can rest in Him confidently - that they are not missing out on their temptation - the steadfastness (endurance) reveals their greater love!
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Take Responsibility
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James 1:13
James 1:13-
A common tactic for people is to shift blame
This is not new either - this has been happening since literally the first people
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Adam blamed God - He said I was doing great Lord and this woman who you said I needed and gave to me - look what she did!
Eve blamed the serpent - its the first “the devil made me do it!”
excuse
People tend to blame the following
God
Others
weakness or sickness - something they can not control
God is not the cause for the temptation - lets stop blaming Him
The scripture says clearly - let NO ONE say when they are tempted - “I am tempted by God”
2 reasons are given for this
God cannot be tempted by evil
Now I know you all that remember what I said earlier about Jesus being tempted and that Jesus being God - how does this make sense
Jesus wasnt tempted in His Deity - Jesus was tempted in His Humanity
God does not Himself tempt anyone
God will test and try men according to their faith
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