Temptations in Trials

Last week, we spoke about the reality of temptations in trials. Trials are an inevitable part of Christian life and yet they are fully in the control of our Lord. During our Sunday morning message, we looked to the first part of James chapter one which taught us that God, in His sovereignty, will test the faith of His people, and He will do it for their good. However, while it might be easy to take the next step in our minds and assume that God tempts us to turn from Him. James warns that He does not! He would say, “let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: “

God does not, can not, and will not tempt us with evil! This, therefore, makes us responsible for sin in temptation. We learned that while God may allow a trial to enter our life, He is not responsible for our response to it. Rather, His ultimate desire is that the trial and more specifically, the response to the trial would be used for our good and His glory! Therefore, how we recognize and handle temptations should be, can be, and will be an expression of our faith in God.

This passage in James is rather encouraging for us as followers to consider. Most believers attribute temptation to sin as sin. Once I understood the truth as a young adult (that temptation is the place in which Christians go to battle) it revolutionized how I dealt with habitual struggles. Sin starts with disordered thoughts not being brought captive, which leads to disordered desires not being rejected. The path to sin can go fast if not stopped in our minds by the grace of God. As one author put it, “When Christians find themselves exposed to temptation they should pray to God to uphold them, and when they are tempted they should not be discouraged. It is not a sin to be tempted; the sin is to fall into temptation.” God convicts us of sin by showing us how to deal with it through the Cross. Satan accuses us to discourage us and make us want to give up. An evil thought or temptation might occur in our minds just for Satan to say, "And you say you are a Christian—look what you're thinking!”

So what do we do amid temptations, when we are so prone to be dragged away and enticed by the desires that are at the core of our lives?

We remember that temptation is not sin. (James 1:13-18)

We remember that God is faithful for our salvation. (James 1:17-18)

We go to work at expelling the vile thoughts. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

We seek to redirect the wicked thoughts. (Romans 12:1-2)

We look to quote Scripture. (Matthew 4:1-11)

We seek out a brother/sister via phone or a physical visit. (Hebrew 10:25)

We refuse to encourage, nourish, and enjoy it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Christians, remember, that temptation is not sin. Sin is sin. The temptation is what you go to war within your mind, heart, and soul. As you walk through today, this week, month, and a lifetime — always remember, God has given you divine grace to battle the temptations of your mind. If you stop and think about it, He’s already won the war.

Sincerely,

Pastor Jordan

Maybe the waves aren't so bad....

There I was in the middle of beautiful, clear waters on the north side of Hawaii snorkeling around Shark's Cove when suddenly (cue the music)...I was in trouble. 

Up until this point, I had enjoyed a nice relaxing day of floating around on the water's surface while taking in the ever-changing oceanic scene around me. As the day went on, the water became choppy due to a boisterous storm that was still quite a ways away from the island (but the effects were becoming evident). 

I am not a terrible swimmer but I am also not a great swimmer; the consistent pushes of the growing waves reminded me of my marginal abilities.  

Combine that with the sighting of what I thought was a giant snake or eel and it was enough to put me into "cat in a bath mode"...panicked, flailing about, and looking for a way out.

As I began having trouble breathing, I remember thinking..."go back to what you know". I knew I could float. I knew I could control my breathing. I knew I was less than 50 feet from shore. I knew I could swim parallel to the shore and eventually move closer to it. I knew (or imagined) that eels can only eat so much fat before choking so I was safe.

Just like that...I was back on land, slightly embarrassed of my "ordeal". 

The waves... weren't that bad.

This past week, something that struck me in my Bible reading in Luke was the well-known account of Jesus telling His disciples to go to the other side of the lake of Galilee. He promises them they are going to the other side for further ministry and then retires to take a nap. The winds begin to whip up and they begin taking on water. Though they were accomplished, veteran fishermen, they found themselves bailing water and in an emotional deluge.  

Panicked, they wake Jesus up and He seems to rather nonchalantly defy nature. As He demonstrates His mastery over creation, the disciples are filled with a different dread; who is this man that can so easily stop, in their realm, what was unstoppable for them?

He then corrects them by asking where their faith had been placed.

The account, though so familiar, stood out starkly in my mind and convicted me.

I often do the right thing in running to Jesus with the issues that are causing me great concern, maybe even a level of anxiety. I desire for His power to intervene and handle what is impossible for me to do. 

Such motives are not necessarily wrong as I need to identify my need, insufficiency, and His ability. 

But what if, before I run to Him with a request based on my perspective, I would pause to remember His outlook? He has already given me a great wealth of promises to rely upon during my "storms". 

Further, the waves may threaten me but they do not challenge Him. Maybe the waves aren't that bad and I should not be so quick to petition Jesus for their cessation.

Let's ask ourselves these questions and then answer them with Scripture:

• Where do I find His promises to me as His follower?

• What has He promised me about His presence? 

• What has He promised me about His care?

• What has He promised me about His crafting of my life for His glory?

• What has He promised me about my final destination?

• Who has He placed around me during this time?

Friends, I want to challenge us to answer the above questions with truths from the Scripture and then comment with them below or email info@includefaith.org.

Let's encourage one another about who is with us in the midst of our storms!

Though they are quite real to us, His ability as our Messiah makes them quite immaterial. It is not true to assume that He doesn't care; it is true to recognize that His care is not tethered to our sense of what must happen for it to be "ok". 

Maybe, instead of the waves changing, I just need to be changed by going back to what and Who I know.

Serving together,

Pastor Paul

Temperance

Have you ever enjoyed something so much it is difficult to stop? For my two dogs, that thing of enjoyment is food. There is nothing they wouldn’t do to get to food. It doesn’t matter if they have just eaten an entire bowl of food, they will always want more. The other night it took them a mere 30 seconds after leaving the dining room to consume the entire container of garlic bread left on the table. Even though garlic can lead to intense vomiting and rug shopping (ask someone from the Honduras missions trip), the only thought that the dogs had was…FOOD!

When it comes to our Christian life, one of the most crucial things to learn is temperance or self-control. It is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23) and a hallmark of those who are spiritually mature. Reading through the list that Paul notes should be present in those who are members of Christ church in Titus 2, being sober or filled with self-control is highlighted for every group he mentions. Why is this such a crucial attitude for the believer? Because you and I have a sin nature.

Culture often promotes the idea that deep down we are inherently good. That the emotions and feelings we have are to be trusted, and to a greater degree, will be what brings us true happiness when we followed them completely. Scripture reminds us that our flesh only seeks that which is against God, and it affects every part of who we are. It is the reality that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” that emphasizes the need for temperance.

Temperance means that I am not a slave to base desires. The urges of the flesh, and the temptations of our lust are not what control us. We are controlled by the Spirit. Temperance is the heart attitude that binds our obedience not to what the flesh desires but what God’s Word instructs us to do. As one author wrote, “Temperance is simply a disposition of the mind which binds the passion.” So, what does this mean for me as a follower of Christ?

As strong as the urge to follow my flesh and the temptations of life is, I must seek to walk in the Spirit and allow him to help me control my desires. The follower of Christ that lives only to indulge their own fleshly desires and makes no efforts to seek the Spirit’s divine work in fighting those temptations, is claiming that their life does not support. The follower of Christ is not one who’s life is marked by intemperance but by the Spirit.

My dogs did not know the awful time they were in for after eating that garlic bread, but you and I do know what the result of indulging our flesh is — destruction. What desires of your life have you been feeding that show a lack of self-control? What areas of your life can you take active steps to allow the Spirit to work in and develop a temperate heart?

Sincerely,

Derek Whitman