Title: Conception of Evil
Text: “Lead us not into Temptation, but deliver us from Evil” + Jas 1:13-15 & 4:4-8
FCF: The only way to resist temptation is dwell on how much better is the love of Christ.
Intro:
A wise friend of mine put it best. “Jesus promised to deliver us from our enemies. He never promised to deliver us from our friends.” As we begin to round out our series on the Lord’s Prayer, we have come to consider the line “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” If you hear nothing else I say this morning, hold on to that – Jesus never promises to deliver us from our friends.
You’ll remember last week we focused on the relationship of leading and being led. Before we can even begin to think about whether we will choose to give into temptation or resist it, there is a first question – will we choose to follow or go our own way? As we have throughout the Lord’s Prayer, we’ve seen that every phrase Jesus spoke dealt with a relationship.
Even in temptation, I want to suggest to you this morning that we have something to learn about that vital relationship which is the only means by which we’ll overcome temptation. My plan is fairly simple this morning. In examining temptation, I want to divide it into three parts:
1. A Mechanism
2. A Motivation
3. A Plan for Mitigation
Mechanism
I should begin by telling that the word Jesus uses is πειρασμόν, which can be translated as temptation, trial, or testing. You’ll notice that the word temptation or trial or test doesn’t have anything to do with sin directly.
Usually, when I think about temptation, I have a tendency to focus on that struggle that I have to … . I’m sure you can fill in the blank. When the good looking woman walks down the street, that can be a temptation. When the bag of Doritos beckons, that’s a temptation. Even the choice of whether to be with my church or else to stay in my nice warm bed – that’s a temptation. Anything that plays on my desires, leading me to do that which I would not do, or not doing that which I know I should be doing – that’s a temptation.
But in exegeting that word, you can see why I’m able to say with confidence that temptation itself is not a sin. We know that Jesus himself was tempted in the desert, and yet, he was without sin. He just knew how to pass a test. If you focus on the understanding of temptation as a trial or a test, I think it becomes clear.
Taking the SATs, by itself, doesn’t make you smart or stupid. All the SATs do is gauge where you are academically. As just about anyone who takes them will tell you, they aren’t even measures of knowledge, just a test of how well you can take a test. Temptation is the same thing. It doesn’t make you good or bad, it just gauges where you are in your relationship with Jesus.
Now, you can turn the SATs into a learning experience. If you take the prep classes, they’ll teach you how to focus on the important things in a test. They give you strategies for dealing with the stress. They test you so much that you learn just to take it normally.
As we are tested in temptation, we learn to respond. As we grow even in the pressure cooker of these desires, we learn to choose what things we value most, and what can fall away. As Christians, we can see temptation in the same light. It may be a pop quiz, but as we struggle with our desires, we prepare and grow through that test.
Now, if you want a πειρασμόν prep class, the guy to go to is James. A few weeks ago, we heard him tell us that we should consider it all joy when we face this trial, because we know that in doing so, we’ll be mature and complete - perfect. What I didn’t tell you was how the mechanism of πειρασμόν works. Listen to what we says –
But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured away and enticed by it;
The mechanism of a temptation is so simple. Something is dangled out in front of you. The test is, what is it going to do? It’s pass / fail. What do you choose? What is your final answer? Deal or No Deal? I hope that when you are tempted to do the right thing, you’ll let that desire lure away.
Motivation
Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I’m tempted to get this gift for that kid at Seven Loaves, but….” Give in to that temptation! Your God-implanted desires are attempting to draw you towards maturity and completion. That’s a great test to find yourself taking.
But, of course, more often than not, the temptation is to be drawn away, and that’s what James is talking about. There are natural desires. But, they lead you straight towards death and destruction. I hope you remember Proverbs 14:12 – There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is what? That’s right, Death! I can honestly tell you from experience that there ain’t nothing that feels as right as sin – but only lasts for a moment.
Ultimately, every test is nothing more than this – a test of loyalties that gauge what desires are most important. I can desire a Lamborghini and a beautiful mansion, but for those of us on our side of the “Rich-Rich line,” we are tested to see which desire Mr. Visa will let us give into. But, have you ever considered the woman who has to decide between her medicine and food for the grandkids? Imagine if we gave into the temptation not to make her choose!
In economics, we sometimes talk about the diamond-water paradox. Most people, given a choice between a beautiful diamond and a glass of water, will choose the diamond, with one exception. In the desert, when your canteen is empty, I suspect you’ll make a different choice. Why? Because in normal people, the desire to live is stronger than the desire to impress.
Listen again to what James says –
For God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one.
But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death
See what is going on here. This time of trial – this temptation – it’s nothing more than a test to see what desire will prevail. As I said earlier, temptation itself is not a sin. You’ll notice that James is pretty clear here, it’s not until desire has conceived that it can become sin.
It’s a hackneyed cliché for the preacher to rant and rave about the dangers drugs or sex or alcohol, but they do it because the illustration is so clear. There are ways that seem so right to man – in the short term – but we know that the end thereof is death. The short term desire for the euphoria that these trinkets bring is clear. If you don’t love something else more, you’re going to be trapped.
Now, at the risk of reminding you of your biology classes – conception always requires two things being brought together to make life. There is the nucleus of desire that is in you from birth. There is the call of this world wanting to activate that egg. The only question is, are you going to let it happen?
Worldly desires, when inseminated by the World, will give birth to sin. But that sin is death.
You can’t control the stimulus – some desire is always going to be there that would love to drag you away. But you can decide if you will let your body join with that desire to give into that dirty thought, that desire to stay in bed, to give that thing that would entice you away from the right path life.
The question, of course, is how you do that. And that brings me to my last word, mitigation.
Mitigation
When you have something that is always present but undesirable, you often hear people talk about a mitigation plan. We mitigate pollution. The levees are supposed to mitigate the effects of flooding. Mitigation doesn’t get rid of the thing, it just gives you a plan for dealing with it.
I want to suggest to you this morning that as long as you have life on this earth, you will always have desires that will compete with Jesus. You need a mitigation strategy.
Some people think that the proper mitigation strategy for temptation is just willpower. If I’m just smart enough, if I’m just good enough, then gosh darn it, I’ll lick this thing. I think I’ve told you before, if that’s your mitigation plan, you’re pretty much done for.
If I may suggest, the only way to combat desires you don’t want is with desires you do. If you’re on a diet, anybody will tell you, focusing on the cheesecake is a losing strategy. You have to focus on the thin body you’d rather have. When I’m walking down the street and I see that good looking woman, focusing on not lusting after her is not going to work. Now, I’m lucky, ‘cause all I need to do is look at my wife – and my desire for her is just naturally going to surpass anything else.
And, when the siren call of the world beckons, covering my eyes and ears is going to make it go away. If you focus on Jesus instead – if you really love him more than the world, then nothing is going to stand in your way.
But, I still sin! You say. Yes. Again, it’s not a lack of willpower – it’s a lack of love. You guys know I am head over heels for my wife. Even with Susan, there are still times that I find my heart wandering. I’ve noticed when that’s happening, usually there are other things that accompany it. I don’t want to do the dishes for her. She gets to take (the child) Jonathan more.
In short, I find myself falling out of love with my wife. By the time I get to thinking about the secretary or the magazine, there’s already been lots of warning signs. If I’m too jealous of my Sunday mornings to come and be with the people of Christ, what desire have I shown?
If there is anything even slightly competing for my wife’s affection, I need to remind myself why she’s so wonderful. So, what do I do? Simple – I choose to fall in love with her again. Again, I’m lucky, because with Susan it’s easy.
What do I do when the world calls me away from Jesus? Simple, I fall in love with him again too. Again, I’m lucky, because with Jesus it’s so easy.
You may not know this, but you really can choose to fall in love. There are lots of strategies. Spend time with that person. [Obviously with Jesus, that’s prayer!] Make a list of that person’s good qualities and meditate on that. Write letters, read the ones you’ve received. Think about how you first met. However you choose to do it, the basic objective is the same – remember why you already love. That love will come back.
I’ve heard it said well that the opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference. Even as you rage and rail against that ex-lover, you are still connected and focused on them. It’s only when those old pictures elicit nothing but recognition that the love is gone. If you would love Jesus, you cannot be indifferent to him. Let his name rapture your soul and take you back to him. Draw back to his Words, Spend time in the company of his bride – his church. Be involved in him, and everything else will fall back into place.
Remember, I said earlier that Jesus promises to deliver us from our enemies, not our friends. If the world is your friend, Jesus is not going to stand in the way. But, if the world really is what you love, friend, you really could have done a lot better.
Would you pray with me?
Flame of Love Angels/Wise people from the East
Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life
“The first candle reminds us of the light of hope of the prophets.
The second candle reminds us of the dark night when Joseph and Mary found light and warmth in the stable.
The third candle reminds us of the great light and joy that surrounded the shepherds at the announcement of Jesus’ birth.
The fourth candle reminds us of the light of the stars in the sky which guided the Wise Men from the East to the manger and keep watch over us by night.”
Pray: “O LORD, when we think of the birth of your Son we think of love and lights and gifts and happy times. But, most of all, we think of His, born in a cave or stable and grown up to be a loving teacher and our savior, who died to redeem us that we could be with him. Help us to live the way Jesus teaches us so that we may show the real meaning of his birth, life, death and resurrection. Amen.”
Long Branch Baptist Church
Halfway, Virginia; est. 1786
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Enter to Worship
Prelude David Witt
Christmas Hymn “O Come All Ye Faithful” #81
Lighting of the Advent Candle
*Opening Hymn #334
“Blessed Assurance”
Welcome & Announcements
Morning Prayer
*Responsive Reading [See Right]
*Offertory Hymn #66
“There is a name I love to hear”
Offertory Mr. Witt
*Doxology
Scripture Matt 6:13, James 1:13-15, 4:4-8
Sermon
“Conception of Evil”
Invitation Hymn #198
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus”
Benediction
Congregational Response
May the grace of Christ of Savior / And the Father’s boundless love
With the Holy Spirit’s favor / Rest upon us from above. Amen.
* Congregation, please stand.
Depart To Serve
RESPONSIVE READING
Blessed is anyone who endures temptation.
Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
No one, when tempted, should say, “I am being tempted by God”;
No temptation has overtaken you, except that which is common to everyone. But God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.
For God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one.
But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death.
But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification.
The end is eternal life.
Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
Whoever wants to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
So, submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
If you think you are standing, take heed lest you fall.
- James 1:13; 1 Cor 10:13; Jas 1:14; Rom 3:23, 21-22; Jas 4:4-8; 1 Cor 10:12
