## Temptation's Origin and God's Role - Temptation is not from [[God]], as stated in James 1:13, which says that God is not tempted by evil and does not tempt anyone, and therefore cannot be blamed for our failures [(00:01:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=94s). - The natural consequence of our depraved nature is temptation, and God is not responsible for this urge [(00:01:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=116s). - James emphasizes that God's character is not to lead us into unrighteousness, and it is not within his nature to tempt us because evil is in stark conflict with his nature [(00:02:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=153s). - God often brings forth good from the evil that men do, but he never incites people to [[Sin | sin]] in order to work good through it [(00:02:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=167s). - Solomon stated that a man's own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the Lord, as written in Proverbs 19:3 [(00:03:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=194s). - The false notion that temptation is somehow God's fault must be rejected, and instead, we should acknowledge that our sinful nature leads us astray [(00:03:49)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=229s). - Jesus' instruction in the [[Lord's Prayer]] to "lead us not into temptation" does not imply that [[God]] normally leads us into temptation, but rather that we should ask the Father to prevent [[Satan]] from placing stumbling blocks in our path [(00:04:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=246s). - We should pray for God to redirect our plans and steps to steer us clear from temptation's snare, and if we face temptation, we should ask for deliverance from evil, knowing that God always provides a way of escape [(00:04:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=274s). - God may permit us to be placed in situations where we may be tempted, but he is not the source of our temptation; instead, he is our rescuer and redeemer from it [(00:05:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=319s). ## The Nature and Progression of Temptation - Temptation can take many forms, including sexual desire, ambition, vanity, and greed, and when we seek joy in these things, God becomes unreal to us, and our desire for him is extinguished [(00:05:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=329s). - As people move away from [[God]], it becomes easier to succumb to the temptations of the flesh, and the farther they stray, the harder it seems to get back to Him or re-energize desires for the things of God, even though He hasn't departed from them [(00:06:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=388s). - The issue is not God's but theirs, and sometimes people simply need a wake-up call to realize the depth of their sinfulness as sinners incrementally separated from the will of God [(00:06:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=408s). - When being tempted, people tend to point their finger at God, [[Satan]], or others who they think have failed them, but James explicitly states that they themselves are the ones to blame [(00:07:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=437s). - People [[Sin | sin]] because their hearts are corrupt, and they love to sin; the evil one schemes against them but cannot force them to sin, as immorality, lust, greed, anger, and lying all originate within them [(00:07:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=443s). - The desire to sin is there, and the enemy merely arranges circumstances to provoke that desire; by placing the blame on the enemy, people attribute to him more power than he actually possesses [(00:07:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=465s). ## The Sequence of Temptation: Enticement - The first step in temptation is being lured or dragged away and enticed by sinful desires, as stated in the [[New International Version]] [(00:08:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=497s). - The terms "lured" and "enticed" refer to hunting and fishing terms, where bait is used to catch an unsuspecting animal or fish, and the purpose of the bait is to deceive the prey in order to capture and kill it [(00:08:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=507s). - In the same way, people are enticed by [[Sin | sin]], and when their sinful passions are excited, they are blind to its consequences, just like the fish does not see the hook [(00:09:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=569s). - The consequences of sin are real and deadly, but the shroud of sinful desires causes people to ignore them; if they were to clearly see and understand the painful aftermath of their sin, they would doubtlessly choose a different path [(00:09:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=590s). - Sin will always take people further than they want to go, keep them there longer than they want to stay, and charge them more than they want to pay [(00:10:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=612s). ## The Sequence of Temptation: Disobedience and Death - After being lured and enticed, the second step in the sequence of temptation is disobedience, which is missing the standard that [[God]] has set for people [(00:10:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=629s). - The first [[Sin | sin]] ever committed in the garden is a perfect example, where Eve took a bite of the forbidden fruit, releasing the floodgates for a life of disobedience to God [(00:10:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=645s). - Once people supplement their own desires in the place of God's, they instantly miss the mark of what God demands, and temptation creeps in, causing them to disobey God's standard of perfection [(00:11:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=667s). - The sequence of temptation is death, then desire conceives and gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death, as stated in James 1:15 [(00:11:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=680s). - Although sinning may begin with a period of pleasure, it will eventually end in death, affecting relationships, careers, marriages, futures, and possibly earthly life [(00:11:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=693s). ## Resisting Temptation: God's Promise and Preparation - The good news is that temptation can be resisted, and [[God]] has given a specific promise about temptation in 1 Corinthians 10:13, stating that no temptation is beyond what humans can bear, and He will provide a way of escape [(00:12:01)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=721s). - To overcome temptation, one must search for a path and become familiar with it before temptation strikes, and not wait until they are in a tempting situation [(00:12:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=749s). - The sequence of temptation starts with desires, so it's essential to begin there to triumph over temptation [(00:13:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=782s). ## Resisting Temptation: The Power of God's Word - To resist temptation, one must saturate themselves with God's word, which is the most powerful weapon in the battle against temptation, as stated in [[Ephesians 6]]:17 and Hebrews 4:12 [(00:13:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=794s). - The Psalmist testified that keeping God's word in one's heart is crucial in keeping their way pure and not sinning against Him [(00:13:47)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=827s). - Storing up God's word in one's heart can have a significant impact on [[Sin | sin]], and encountering temptation doesn't mean one lacks faith, as believers are tempted in spite of their faith due to the fallen world [(00:14:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=866s). - Responding to temptation requires standing firm in holiness and not surrendering to fleshly desires, and those who persevere through trials and temptations will receive the crown of life promised by [[God]], as stated in James [(00:14:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=892s). ## Resisting Temptation: Maintaining Focus on Christ - Maintaining focus is essential in overcoming temptation, and one should avoid focusing too much on ridding themselves of temptation, as it can have the opposite effect [(00:15:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=913s). - Keeping one's eyes focused on Christ, like Peter walking on the water in [[Matthew 14]], is crucial in resisting temptation and experiencing victory [(00:15:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=937s). - When attention is focused on struggles, the struggles often intensify, but when attention is placed on [[Jesus]], who has overcome all struggles, the struggle dissipates [(00:16:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=979s). - The ultimate goal of resisting temptation is not just to defeat it, but to be conformed to the image of Christ, which can only be achieved by focusing on Him [(00:16:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=993s). - Focusing solely on defeating temptation can lead to feelings of anger, frustration, and defeat when battles are lost, causing fear rather than prompting one to flee from temptation [(00:16:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=1006s). - Constantly looking over one's shoulder in anticipation of temptation's return can squash the sense of victory achieved by defeating it [(00:17:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=1020s). - Shifting focus from temptation to Jesus allows the things of [[Earth]] to "grow strangely dim," leading to freedom, as expressed in the hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" [(00:17:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw&t=1032s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YDsnoMygHw?si=IP2IrL23PDV-IbFy)