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"Preach The Word"
"WHOSE FAULT IS IT?"
James 1:13-16
INTRO:
The story is told of a famous smith, in medieval times, that was taken prisoner and held in a dungeon. He began to examine the chain that bound him, thinking that he would find a flaw that might make it easier for him to break it. As he studied it, he discovered that it was a piece of his own work. For years he had boasted how that noone could ever break a chain that he had made. Now he found himself bound by his own work.
In these four verses, James carefully depicts for us the awful web of sin, and temptation. In the day in which we live, temptation loom on every horizon. It is prevalent in the movie industry, television industry, cyberspace, and even children's videos. This is the day of "relativism", the religion of modern man. An age where morality is almost a forgotten word, and where there are no restraints.Allan Bloom: "Our inability to recognize and identify evil is a sign of grave danger in our society."
Ted Turner: "The Ten Commandments are out of date and irrelevant to global problems. Nobody pays any attention to them because they're too old."
James, having dealt with external trials, now deals with internal temptations. The root word for "trials" in 1:2 is translated "tempted" in 1:13. The context of these words provides the key to understanding the difference. The context of James 1:2, is a discussion of the testing of our faith. The context of James 1:13 is a discussion of our vulnerability to sin. Hence, we might ask the question, who tempts us, where does temptation come from, and "WHOSE FAULT IS IT?" James answers that question by defining the:
I. THE CAUSE OF TEMPTATION (v. 13-14)
In these verses, James defines for us just where the fault lies. We are now faced with the responsibility for this temptation. Most of us would quickly point the finger to an outside source.
ILLUSTRATION:
Will Rogers said there are two great movements in America: the passing of the buffalo, and the passing of the buck.
. Many would automatically say that this temptation comes from without, it originates with God. However, James dispels that theory by informing us, in v. 13, that "God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man."
TEMPTED-gr. 'aspeirastos'(lit.): "unversed, inexperienced in evil"
THIS WORD IS NOT USED ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE N. T.
. Thus he proves to us that God is untemptable. He proved this by resisting temptation, by Satan, in the wilderness.(c.f. Matt.4:1-11)
. Many people shift the blame for their temptation, and sin. This began in Eden, where Adam blamed Eve; and, Eve, blamed the serpent.(c.f. Gen. 3:12-13)
. Many people even blame God for their sin. The modernists, and liberals say, "God created everything; therefore, it stands to reason that he created this impulse within me to do evil."
. The homosexuals conclude that "I can't help it, God made me this way!"
. However, James informs us that it is impossible for God to tempt us with evil. For, if he could not be tempted, he cannot tempt us.
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God tests us to strengthen our faith. He never tempts us to subvert our faith"lit: "Don't even remotely suggest that God has anything to do with your temptations!"
. James also informs that Satan is not the cause of our temptations.
ILLUSTRATION:
In the 70's, and 80's, Maude coined the phrase, "The devil made me do it!"
. Throughout this entire discussion, in 4 verses, Satan is never mentioned.
. Also, he doesn't mention our circumstances as being the cause of our temptations.
Many conclude, "It's not God's fault, the devil's fault, or our own fault, it's just one of those things.". James is wanting us to see that we shouldn't blame God, the devil, or circumstances. Where does the responsibility lie? Whose fault is it? He shows us whose fault it is by showing that temptation comes from two place, there is an:
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A. INTERNAL SOURCE "..when he is drawn away…lust..". James demonstrates the cause of temptation as lying within each and every one of us.
. He shows that temptation has an internal source, the fault lies with us. What is this internal source?-----LUST!!
LUST(lit.): "a strong, intense desire towards an object"
Specifically refers to an "evil desire to satisfy a carnal appetite"
. This doesn't apply just to physical, or sexual lust.
. In fact, jesus used this same word when he said, "With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer."(c.f. Luke 22:15)
. James is not saying that all desires are evil.
. The desire to eat, the desire to rest, is good, as long as it's in God's guidelines.
. The problem comes when we want to satisfy our desires outside the parameters of God's will.
ILLUSTRATION:
Eating is good—GLUTTONY IS A SIN! Sleep is good—LAZINESS IS A SIN
. However, he's referring to those things that we don't keep in check with God's guidelines.
. James illustrates that this internal source is:
8. POWERFUL
"…drawn away…"DRAWN AWAY—a hunting word(lit.): "snared in a trap"
PICTURE: Of a wild animal being drawn out of it's place of safety to a place of danger where it can be attacked and captured
. James is illustrating how we are tempted. We live in a secure place. We then allow ourselves to be led by a desire contrary to the word of God. As a result, this desire draws us out of our place of shelter, into a place where we're vulnerable to sin.
2. PERSONAL
"…of his OWN lust..". James identifies this internal source of temptation, as not only being powerful, but personal.
. We cannot shift the blame here, the GUILT LIES WITH US!!
ILLUSTRATION:
Take the word "SIN", as you look, you'll find that the middle letter of this word is "I", which spells out whose fault it is.
c.f. Romans 7:18—"..in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.."
. Whose fault is it? James clearly points out that it is our own fault, it begins with an internal source.
D. EXTERNAL FORCE
"…enticed."ENTICED—a fishing word(lit.): "being baited, or lured by bait"
PICTURE: Of a fish who is attracted by the glint of something in the water,
closing his mouth upon it and being baited
. Thus, when the desire becomes evil, it causes us to be baited, or hooked.
HOOKED ON—comes from same word as "enticed"
. Have you ever heard someone say, "He is hooked on drugs!"
. Thus we clearly see what happens to us when we're tempted.
. The internal source of desire, doesn't stay within the boundaries of God's word. We are slowly "drawn away" from God's word and prayer. Then, the hook avails itself to us, look so beautiful, and appealing. Just like the ten pound largemouth bass, we are "enticed" to take the hook.
. The problem is when the internal source of desire collides with the external force of deception----WE'RE HOOKED!!
ILLUSTRATION:
King David had it all. However, one day, his internal source of desire to play outside of God's will, caused him to sin. He was on the roof top of the palace, when he should have been off at way. As a result, Satan baited the hook with an external force of deception. Her name was Bathsheba. King David took the bait.
. The problem doesn't just lie in the adult bookstore, and the bar. The problem is within the heart of a man.
c.f. Jeremiah 17:9—"…the heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked, who can know it?"
. However, understand, that it is not a sin to see the baited hook, and be tempted. TEMPTATION IS NOT A SIN!!!
. The sin comes when the internal source of desire meets head on with external force of deception, and we take the bait. But, James doesn't stop there at the cause, he moves now to the:
II. THE COURSE OF TEMPTATION (v. 15)
In this verse, James paints a graphic picture of what develops after we've taken the baited hook. We see the:
A. CONCEPTION OF SIN
"..lust is conceived.."
CONCEIVED(lit.): "to take or bring together"
PICTURE: Of a pregnant woman giving birth to a baby
1. James shows that this internal source, and external force collide, it gives birth to sin.
John Blanchard: "It is an unholy marriage between desire and opportunity, inclination, and incitement."
2. Just as at human conception a process is initiated that brings about a baby in a prescribed period of time, so, too, when temptation is embraced, it also has an inevitable outcome. The child born is called SIN!
3. Just as a child is a person long before it is born, so sin is present in the heart before it ever gives evidence that it is there.
4. Just as it takes two to conceive a child, James shows that it also takes two to conceive sin. We are one of the two. However, James shows that sin doesn't stop there, there is also a:
E. COMPLETION OF SIN
"..bringeth forth death."6. Contrary to most thinking, sin never stops at conception. There is a finality, a completion to it---DEATH!!
c.f. Romans 6:23—"For the wages of sin is death…"
FINISHED(lit.): "to complete, or achieve it's purpose"
LIT: "ceases to be pregnant"
2. Just as a pregnancy must cease, and come to an end, by the birthing of a baby. So, too, sin has an inevitable end, and completion, that the Bible calls death. However, before James closes this section, James seeks to advise us how we might deal with temptation, by giving us:
III. THE CAUTION OF TEMPTATION (v. 16)
James gives us a heed of warning, and we see the:
A. PERSONS OF THIS CAUTION
"beloved brethren"2. He's writing to Christians, to believers, to those who are saved.
3. We're not exempt from temptation. We're not isolated from temptation.
4. We're not surprised when we hear of others falling prey to temptation, but, it's a different story when it look us in the face.
ILLUSTRATION:
Many are like the young priest serving in a confessional booth for the first time, and he was being watched by an elder priest. At the end of the day, the elder priest took the young man aside and said, "When a person finishes confession, you've got to say something other than "WOW!"
4. We shouldn't be surprised when it comes our way, for:
"There is no temptation taken you but such as is COMMON to man…"(c.f. I Corinthians 10:13a)
5. It is a real thing. We're going to face it; however, James goes on to instruct us how we can deal with it in the:
F. PURPOSE FOR THIS CAUTION
"Do not err…"ERR(lit.): "to be deceived, or to go off course"
PICTURE: Of a ship that strays off course going away from it's designated route
1. James says we can deal with temptation, if we'll not allow ourselves to be deceived, or thrown off course.
2. How do we stay on course? By following the compass of God's word.
c.f. Psalm 119:9—
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word." 119:11—"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."G. Campbell Morgan: "It's the best book, in the best place, for the best purpose!"
3. If we'll follow the Divine road map, we'll never have to worry about straying off course.
4. However, we must realize the Cause of Temptation, Course of Temptation, and heed the Caution of Temptation.
ILLUSTRATION:
The Englishman, Bobby Leach startled the world by going over the Niagara Falls in a barrel without suffering serious harm. Some years later he was walking down the street, slipped on an orange peeling, and seriously broke his leg. When asked how this happened, he replied, "I wasn't looking for it!"
You are free to choose the way you live. You are free to choose the actions, but not the results. You are free to choose the kicks, but you can't avoid the kickbacks. You are free to make choices, but you can't avoid the consequences. May we pull up to the table, and gain a Biblical perspective at "Whose Fault Is It?"
SERMON FROM STEVE WAGERS
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