Enduring Temptation
James 1:12-16 (AMP)
12
Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under
temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s]
crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.
13
Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being
tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one.
14
But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire
(lust, passions).
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Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured,
brings forth death.
16
Do not be misled, my beloved brethren.
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Someone who endures temptation or is patient when under trial is described as blessed.
They are to be envied as when they have passed the test and have been approved they will
receive the crown of life, promised to those who love God.
The word TEMPATION here is the same used previously in the chapter: BEING PUT TO
PROOF, AFFLICTION, PERSECUTION or TRIAL.
PATIENCE is again the emphasis. If we can be patient in a trial then we will come out at the
other side with the crown of life. Your crown is available to you if you come through the test
having been approved. Crowns do not just get given because the enemy attacked you. You
need to come through with the right attitude. Instead of God why is this happening to me?
You will begin to thank God for His grace to endure the trial and to pass the test.
Let no one say when he is tempted...................
from <G3984> (peira); to test (object), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline :- assay, examine,
go about, prove, tempt (-er), try.
Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.
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This word temptation is alluding to temptation to sin. James makes it clear that when we
face temptations to sin we can never say they are from God, because God doesn’t tempt us
with evil. God certainly expects us to overcome temptation but He doesn’t lay up
ambushments for us to be caught out.
God uses testing and temptation in our lives to show us the superiority of the life we carry
and the amazing work He has done in us.
He uses it to train us to be able to live more effectively and to know how to help others.
However when it comes to temptation to sin He is not the author.
When we do sin it is because we are drawn away by our own evil passions or desires.
We need to examine our hearts and be honest. Most of the time we end up falling into sin it
is because we are yielding to a certain desire. A desire which was not God-given.
We get sucked in by the desire to do what is wrong because it appeals to the flesh or feels
good for the moment.
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Conceived evil desires give birth to sin. Sin starts in the heart and then manifests in our
words, actions and habits. Some of us have besetting sins which seem so hard to lay aside
but the truth is that Jesus took every form of sin to the cross so there is no sin He did not
give us power over.
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If we practice a sin long enough it becomes a habit.
Have
A
Bit .............More!
When you go for a bit more of a bad thing (bad habit) you get more bondage.
So how do we deal with these kinds of habits?
1. We focus on WHO GOD HAS MADE US IN CHRIST, in other words our IDENTITY in
CHRIST
2. We repent of the sin and ask God to give us His desires which birth good things
3. We enter into prayer and fasting for a period of time in order to strengthen our
spirits against the temptation. This time of prayer and fasting includes not just
fasting, but may also include breaking generational curses as many temptations we
face can be because of generational iniquity. It also includes reading the Word of
God and meditating on it. Meditating on the Word will change our desires and
sharpen our spirits. Listen to other people’s messages in order to strengthen your
spirit. These could be teachings on authority/dominion, faith, holiness, or any
anointed teaching which gets you focussed on Christ and looking away from the
temptation.
4. We flee temptation when the opportunity to sin again arises. Make arrangements
not to sin. Just as when you were going to fall into temptation you made
arrangements e.g. where you were going to go to indulge, who with, how many
times a week etc. Now you need to get yourself arranged not to sin. This could be
getting rid of certain magazines or books, deciding to no longer watch certain
programmes, deciding to no longer go to a certain place. Whatever action needs to
be taken, take it.
5. Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)
1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run
with patience the race that is set before us,
6. Here again we see that we need to run with patience. It is a long run or marathonnot a sprint.
7. Determine that you will see this through to then end so that you get the prize at the
end, your crown.
Sin brings forth death..............
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This is the spiritual death which leads to eternal separation from God
Romans 6:23 (KJV)
23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
We may find that the spiritual death means we backslide and stop making progress
in our spiritual lives. However, if we endure temptation and come through the tests
with victory we make spiritual progress and go to the next level in God
Certain sins bring about sin or physical death or deterioration. Our bodies are the
temples of the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV)
19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you,
which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
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For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your
spirit, which are God's.
When we are engaging in sin we must recognise that it is never good for us spirit,
soul or body. All sin leads to a type of death.
James tells us not to be misled. That is do not be misled into thinking that God is the author of sin.
Only good things come from God.
James 1:17-18 (AMP)
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Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the
Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or
shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].
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And it was of His own [free] will that He gave us birth [as sons] by [His] Word of Truth, so that we
should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures [a sample of what He created to be consecrated to
Himself].
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Temptation in and of itself is not a good thing. Good things come from God and God doesn’t
change His patterns, His moods or His ways of working. God is never affected by anything
else that was created e.g. the sun which can be eclipsed or covered by clouds. Just as God is
no respecter of persons and is impartial, He doesn’t behave one way one minute and
another the next.