Resilient - It's Tempting, Part 1

When life is throwing everything it possibly can at you. How do you keep going, how to get off the mat and face another day we begin a series today called resilience to be talking about the ability not to give up not to give in to bounce back strong. Regardless of the circumstances. This is one we all stay with me and welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge with Living on the Edges of international discipleship.

The Bible, this program would begin a new series called Sylvia with standing the storms of life been a tough season have illness, politics, finances, job, taking with wave after wave on this new series resilience were calling a timeout to recalibrate our thinking so the storms that hit us don't have the power to take us out for good chips teaming up with his son.

Riley was a pastor of a growing church in California. So today we're here for Brian as he brings us part one of his message. It's tempting James chapter 1 the people of God.

The church is always been resilient in times of crisis, and it has to do back to our solid foundation that we have in Jesus and really this idea of resiliency just the definition is the ability to withstand or recover from a difficult situation and isn't that what we need right now. The ability to withstand in the season or to recover in this difficult situation lowered diving back into the book of James. And here's what's great about the book of James.

I love James and it's an incredibly practical book see James is the half-brother of Jesus. He didn't come to really believe in Jesus until after the resurrection, and after that he became the leader of the church in Jerusalem while the church in Jerusalem started experiencing intense persecution. Stephen was stoned right there in the city and killed and then a wave of persecution from Jerusalem began to spread and hit the followers of Jesus and so these followers. Now, instead of being all located in Jerusalem worshiping together in their homes. They had their own shelter in place reality where they couldn't gather but they were scattered. They were separated and they were actually had their entire life up and did and now instead of finding community.

They were now being ostracized and isolated and alone and this is the letter fact, the very first letter in writing we have of the New Testament is written down 40 to 45 A.D. just about 10 years or so after the resurrection of Jesus. This is the letter in the context that James is writing to us of how to be resilient in the face of difficult situations in the face of storms. I hope you just set down the distractions for a few minutes and you just tune in and keep your eyes focused in your heart, attentive because I think this is really an important sermon today were talking about resiliency in the face of temptation. See one of the biggest things that will determine your resiliency in this situation is how you respond to temptation. One of the biggest things that will determine your resiliency, your ability to withstand this difficult situation. Your ability to bounce back is how you respond to temptation and isn't it true, isn't it true that everything seems to be magnified.

Right now, like maybe with with your marriage and the problems in your marriage. Now, in light of the shelter in place.

Reality is been magnified. Hassan maybe it's emotional stuff in your life that you're wrestling with and maybe you have anxiety or some of these sort of things and and it just magnifies it. Maybe there's habits in your life that are bad habits and they have been magnified and is true, isn't it true that temptations have been magnified were no longer you know have the things that keep us you know so focused and driven and for some the temptations have that once were minor or not a big of a deal, have now become overwhelming heaven thing or they have taken over for some your life. So we want to wrestle with this question.

Would I do when temptation looks.

What you do when temptation knocks at your door live because temptations knocking way more often it seems in this season.

I remember when I was a young man, especially as a college student. I really battled with lust is not like a don't battle was it today is just a different battle now, but I remember being so defeated and I wrestled with this because at what I found in my own life is is the minute I gave way in a moments. Maybe you have this expense.

The minute I gave way and a moment to fill lost it. It just felt like that backslide became a landslide light like I just gave way and that moment and it wasn't just that moment, but it was after effects is like a took that step forward and all of a sudden everything else fell down behind me. I just felt like I just became got caught up until the whole world and then I'd feel so guilty about an beast, but I be stuck in and then finally be going on all but I did not go through the cycle and just be. How does backslide become a landslide. So I started asked this question how I keep backslide from becoming a landslide in my life. How do you keep backslide from becoming a landslide. James is going to give us four things that that are going to help us respond to temptation to be resilient in the face of temptation. Forgot your Bibles and you not to James chapter 1 verse 13 James is going to tell us okay. What I do when temptation knocks the first thing he's going to say is recognize the source of temptation hey hey pay attention recognize the source or the root of it. Listen to what he says when tempted no one should say God is tempting me. No one should say when I'm in the middle of that moment, God your tempting me your behind is why, for God cannot be tempted by evil, it's impossible for God to be corrupted.

He's morally pure.

Nor does he tempt anyone if not in his nature to look put anything in front that would cause you to stumble, but each person is tempted when they are dragged away underline that word if you got your Bible, or highlight it may be in your phone dragged away by their own evil desires.

Would you go ahead and circle own evil desires, but each person is dragged away by their own evil desires, and enticing. Go ahead and underline that word entice. How do I keep a backslide from becoming a landslide. James is going to say. First we have to recognize the source of temptation. But before we talk about the source of temptation. Let's talk about the nature of temptation, but the nature of temptation. James actually uses two words here that give us great understanding into what temptation really is.

He uses the word. I had general I dragged away and then entice these are words taken from the hunting and fishing arena. Dragway is the is the trap set by a hunter does you know getting out in the woods and is going to disguise it and set a trap to catch his prey and then entices the word of a fishing lure and I think this gives us such profound insight into temptation. He gives the picture of allure and says okay temptations just like this lure meaning first. It's handcrafted for your desires. This lure was crafted and created for a certain type of fish and is going to be put in the water in his craft and maybe it's a bath or maybe it's a trout. Obviously I'm not a fisherman so I don't know but what's interesting. What's interesting is there's a bunch of losers out there to attract different type of fish and this is the same you not there are temptations out there that are handcrafted specifically for your desires is made to go ahead.

If this doesn't get you and all of us have just a little bit different lure. That's attractive and for some you might be wrestling might be a temptation for you that isn't for another person is gone like okay there's a tackle box if you will that that our spiritual enemy has that he wants to just throw these lures in front of you.

The second is if you notice about allure is is designed. It's really designed to be attractive and appealing to say that about temptation because I think sometimes you know we can look like I should know what is designed to be tasty fish bites into this because it looks attractive and is appealing is like oh my gosh it it's got all this silvery stuff that catches your eye that makes you go. I want to throw caution the women try that out. It looks tasty but the second thing. If you notice about allure is. It looks and moves like the real thing for trips of fish and said this is actually another minnow or whatever that is. Bait is moving in the water in a way that looks and moves like the real thing. And that's the subtlety and the deception of temptation is. It looks and moves like the real thing and offers what it can't make good on and here's that final thing all temptation comes with these hooks. They all come with a catch. See it's handcrafted for your desire is appealing and attractive. It looks and moves like it's the real thing but is fake is not really going to satisfy is not ultimately going to gratify and it comes with these hooks that the minute you bite into it. It sinks deep into your soul says this is the nature of temptation and I think it's important the reason why James starts here on temptation is because were most vulnerable in three different arenas in our life to temptation were most vulnerable to temptation when were tired a lot of you are tired right now aren't you parents I know you're exhausted is you're trying to do work and you're trying to help educate your kids, but I know people's work is been off the chart and were running arounds and and just you tired of the way things are going.

When were tired emotionally when were tired physically when work when were tired spiritually were vulnerable or vulnerable when were isolated and alone and were literally isolated. Right now, as we have to be alert. We have to be aware that were were vulnerable.

That's why we need community were going to talk more about that in a minute and were vulnerable when were stressed and what we do when more stress is we often shift from the things in her life that are life-giving or nourishing the things that are numbing just to kind of like take the pain away.

While that's a little bit about the nature of temptation. What is the source did you notice it.

I had to circle it. He says our desire. Sgt. Cyrus says at the end of the day it's actually inside of Foss. There's a broken reality inside of us. And that's the root issue in our human tendency since the beginning of time is to blame others for our own sin like together. There might've been allure out there, but at the end of it, it's me that wanted to bite into it is me that responded to it ends what we do is we cast blame. It is been happening since the garden, Adam did this and he is confronted with his sin before God and says you know is a you know took from the tree of knowledge of good and evil and and got asked him you know who told you that your naked did you eat this and he says the woman you gave me see how he blame God for his sin and ultimately anytime we don't take responsibility. We actually end up blaming God.

A lot of times I hear it this way will God just made me this way. This is just who I am God just made me this way and saw not. Life is really difficult, some entitled to do whatever I want in this season just to make it a little bit more pleasurable and we just put blame out there and says no if you want to be resilience in this season, you first have to recognize the source of temptation. He says we have no one to blame. We have no one to blame. We can't blame God. You can put it on anyone else. We have no one to blame. It's our broken desires we have to accept responsibility as long as you keep blaming you will not gain victory over your temptation friends as long as you keep blaming say it's out there it's open them. Then you will never experience the victory God has for you and so he says recognize recognize the source of temptation sites. I'm going to take responsibility. I have nobody to blame and then he says address the progression of temptation and then after desire has conceived washes progression. It gives birth to sin and Satan. One is full-grown, gives birth to death desire sin, death, desire, sin, death is important for some of you need to hear this when desires conceived when you're first tempted, when that lures just set out there that's not sin.

Some have believed a lie and you get you end up in that backslide to landslide because the minute you get tempted you feel defeated and and and so already. You're like well I'm eyes will go all the way. There's a progression recognize the progression when you're tempted does not sense. Sin is when you act on that temptation. Sin is theirs, desire, and then there's that you act on that. That's sin and then what happens is if you allow sin to grow. If you allow it to build in your life. Ultimately what it will produce or what it will give way to his cath. It will kill you. It will keep you from who you are made to be an old destroyed the relationships around you, and here's what happens are natural are natural is to dismiss or diminish sin to act like it's no big deal. We say that we got was not that big of a deal is not hurting anyone. It is just what I need to get through this says okay.

Would you say that when sin is full-grown when it becomes its adult version, which means it takes time and it's a process and a start small and we feel like it's under control and got ahead in this kind of secret minute grows and grows, those minutes out of our listening to Living on the Edge Chip Ingram and rioting rooms teaching from his series, resilient, withstanding the storms of life stricture with ocean's got some thoughts about the message you just heard. But before we get to that. I hope you'll take a second to go online or tap share and encourage others to join us for this series to navigating life storms is never easy, which is why Chip asked Ryan to come and share this message that brings such practical applications of the daily challenges culture is a powerful voice that influences our attitudes and our thinking so Ryan's fresh perspective on James chapter 1 provides the tools we may need to make a few course corrections for limited time resources for resilient are discounted and the MP3s are always free to order your copy or to send it to a friend visit us@livingontheedge.org tap special offers all the out or give us a call a triple late. 333-6003 that's triple late. 333-6003 will chip as we launch this series so tell us a little bit about you and Ryan teaming up and what we can look forward to will date. It's incredible delight to get the team up with my son.

He pastors a church that he and a group of people planted about eight years ago, and it is a multicultural church of just filled with the a lot of young people. A few people like my wife and myself, but mostly 28 to 30 somethings and maybe a few a little bit older and you know when you think about COBIT when you think about mental health issues. We think about racism and injustice. I mean there are so many deep challenges that people are facing. And so this series came out of the number one thing that researchers say is important for success more than smarts more than money more than technology.

The best predictor of people's future life is resilience. The ability to bounce back so that's what we want to talk about from a biblical perspective well. Whether you're a radio podcast, Orap listener, we've got you covered. Hope you'll set a reminder to be with us for the entire series and let me encourage you message notes are available for the series 2 so if you like to jot notes while you listen and get all the extra details the message notes are quick download@livingontheedge.org or just Fill in notes on the app without your strip with a final thought as we wrap up today's program. I was really impressed with the illustration that Ryan shared with us today about the way the enemy works and how temptation works, especially those words that were so specific that the Holy Spirit had James write about the lure. It's interesting that the temptations that come our way. Listen carefully.

Their handcrafted for your desires think that they are attractive and appealing. I mean that they don't say this is going to destroy your life. This is going to mess you up. This will ruin a relationship, your future will be a train wreck. I mean, when temptation comes, it's like wow this looks so good. Third, it's deceptive because it looks like the real thing. I mean when that lures in the water that fishes think in man this is going to be great and then it ends up as a hook in their mouth, and the same is true with us. It it makes things look so deceptively like this will satisfy the deepest desires that we have and yet all of us know that when we have taken a big bite into temptation. Huge things happen and in their bad and so I think the thing is I reflect on what I've heard in today's message is for me to ask this question of me and then me to ask it of you so where are your temptations right now. Where are you struggling me what what is it that makes you vulnerable.

What's going on in your life right now, especially with regard what's happening in the world because temptations are always strong, but their strongest in times when were tired when were under stress when were lonely when it feels like things are really really challenging temptations offer like a quick fix that this will make me feel better for little while. Let me give you couple examples as you think about what's your biggest temptation and then before we get done in our time together can ask you to really say what are you gonna do about it. I was talking with a couple fairly young guys and they were talking about the implications of covert in just being home all the time and trying to work and they have some young kids and the businesses have really suffered an you know one of them said, you know, I've got a really close friend and neither of us are heavy drinkers at all will have an occasional beer or maybe a glass of wine with the meal and both of us realize that the longer as the months went on it was like instead of occasional we were like maybe have a glass of wine every night, or maybe two, and you know we got together because accountability and community is the key, and we were just talking out loud and you are that idea if it's one thing to maybe enjoy something.

It's quite different to need something as I've told you know people that I know and love.

I said you never want to take a drink of alcohol or put anything in your body when you feel like I really need this and so they decided they would go on a three week fast mean is young guys with young families and just decided you know it's telling us this, but we need to get control and is not that were out there. It's not that we were becoming alcoholics, but what we realize is that temptation is growing stronger, and here's the thing about temptation when you give into little things.

It grows into bigger little things and then it's medium-size things, and by the time that hook is sunk in. Often it's way too late. So let me encourage you, what is it that you need to face where you tempted, and then who knows about it because the number one step you have to take is to get honest with yourself honest with God that always means with one close friend.

This is what I'm struggling with. This is where I'm tempted I need your help and are you ready do that today.

Just before we close.

I want to thank each of you who's making this program possible through your generous giving 100% of your gifts are going directly to the ministry to help Christians really live like Christians. A few found chips teaching helpful, but you're not yet on the team. Would you consider doing that today to donate. Just go to LivingontheEdge.org Donate on the app or give us a call at triple light 333-6003, let me thank you in advance for whatever the Lord leads you to do. Until next time for everyone here is saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge