Title: What in the world can I do about it?

Text: James 1:15-17

Date: 03-14-04.am

Thesis Statement: From the book of James we understand the problem of sin is within us; we are carried away by our own evil desires, and we have no one to blame but ourselves. But if I’m responsible what in the world can I do about it? James explains, God gives us everything good to enable us to obtain wisdom and overcome sin.

James 1:13-18

13     Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

14     But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

15     Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

16     Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

17     Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.

18     In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures. (NAS)

James has already told us the key to facing trials of any kind is godly wisdom or godly character. That includes the external trials of life (v.2) that God uses to teach and mature us and the internal temptation to sin (V. 13). Look again at James 3:17

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”

(NAS)

The wisdom of good character keeps us on the right path. Let’s review those character traits again.

The first is purity, purity of heart which includes moral purity and ethical purity, knowing what is right and what is wrong, acting accordingly in all areas of life. Second is Peaceable; which is about right relationships to both God and man. Third, gentle. It is the ability to extend to others the same consideration you want to receive. Fourth is reasonable - not stubborn or hard headed, but willing to yield. The fifth is mercy - compassion for any person in trouble, not just emotionally but actively with a willingness to help; not holding sins against others in a judgmental or self-righteous way. Sixth it is unwavering - it stands firm on the principles, precepts and truth of the Word of God. Then last it is without hypocrisy – honest in all their affairs, never pretending to be what we aren’t.

Understanding that kind of character is what Christians are to have and nurture in their lives we find several principles revealed in the Bible to help develop that kind of character and keep us from falling prey to our own lust.

First, since the seat of our desire is the mind Paul says we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind in Rom 12:2 so that we no longer think like the world. He referrers to that kind of think as the futility of the mind in Eph 4:17. So to renew our minds we are to think in a different way. In Phil 4:8 he wrote: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.” (NAS) In other words we are to guard our minds by developing a Christian world view, based on the Word of God. We must win the battle for our minds.

Second, we need to avoid places where we know we are sure to be tempted. That’s what 1 Corinthians 6:18 teaches when it says we are to "flee immorality." That means if I’m trying keep my blood sugar under control it only makes sense to stay away from Deb’s fudge I talked about last week. If you’re trying to avoid sin, stay away from those places where you know you are weakest and will be tempted. On the old TV show "Hee Haw" Archie Campbell plays the character Doc Campbell. In one skit he was once confronted by a patient who said he broke his arm in two places. Doc Campbell replied, "Well then, stay out of them places."

James said temptation is a process from conception (thought) to death (action). And the earlier in the process we determine to flee from those places and things that cause us to stumble the less likely we are to succumb to our desires. Prov 4:14-15 says, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn away from it and pass on.” (NAS) If we don’t want to be carried away by our lust, we have avoid those places and situations where our lust is likely to get out of control. That’s especially true regarding sexual immorality, but it also applies to any situation where our passion might run wild. For me that might be a candy store, or a Krspy Kreme donut shop, or maybe even a book store. For you it might be somewhere else, you know where that is place of weakness is for you, and it may not be a physical location, with the advent of computers it may be an internet location or a location in your mind where you dwell on evil desire. Wherever it is the Bible says avoid it.

Third the Bible says we must associate with other believers. That means we are to be active in church. There is no such animal as a hermit Christian. Jesus founded the church as a way to minister the love of Christ, evangelize the world and be a support to one another. The Bible says in Heb 10:24-25: “. . .let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. (NAS) That word stimulate means to arouse or energize. Like cells in a car battery. Of course I think they are all sealed now, but a car battery is made up of cells, and when you apply a charge to the batter electrolyte solution or the acid is stimulated and it begins to bubble and it charges the plates in the cell and the battery starts the car. We are to charge one another to love and to do good deeds to minister and witness and we are to encourage each other. No one is on an emotional or spiritual high all the time, when we get down we need someone to share with who will listen and encourage us to be strong and faithful, and keep us from falling to our desires.

Fourth it is vital for the Christian to have a personal knowledge of the Bible. It’s important to be around other believers to learn from them and to receive counsel from them, but the better we know God’s Word, the more power we have to win the battle against temptation. The psalmist wrote in Ps 119:9-11: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word. With all my heart I have sought Thee; do not let me wander from Thy commandments. Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee. (NAS) In verse 105 of that psalm the word is described as a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. It is only by knowing God’s word that I can know God’s will and be directed by it’s perfect wisdom.

Finally James introduces us to another way to Guard our hearts and minds, and that’s by developing a strong relationship with our God and Savior. Just as verse 16 climaxed James statement about temptation it introduces his affirmations of God. Be not deceived about the true nature of God. Not only does He not tempt us to sin, James writes, Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above.

The first of those good things is described in verse 18. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures. James is referring here to the new birth. The movie The Passion of the Christ, is a hot topic right now. Some critics suggest it is too violent in its portrayal of the crucifixion. The truth is, however, it probably falls short of how really gruesome it was. The Romans were notoriously brutal, I haven’t seen the movie but from what I understand Mel Gibson’s portrayal is designed to make us consider the what exactly took place that day and how much Jesus endured for us. The Bible says in I Jn 4:10: In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (NAS) All of the brutality, all of the humiliation and horror Jesus suffered on the cross, He did so out of love for us. He gave us the gift of salvation and eternal life and it was paid for by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. He choose us not because of our merit nothing we have done or can or will do, but because of His eternal purpose.

In order to overcome that old nature we must cultivate and nurture a close intimate relationship with the Savior. Which means as we’ve already mentioned knowing His Word, being consistent and faithful in prayer and worship, both private and corporate and being obedient to what He has already revealed to us about character and conduct in His Word. James describes us as it were the first fruits of His creation. The picture is almost the opposite of that of temptation that conceives and brings for death. Here James describes the process of God bringing us forth in the new birth then assisting us as we grow spiritually. Those ways in which to conquer sin within are all enabled and energized by the presence of His Spirit with in us. He not only gives us new life, but the Holy Spirit to enable us to partake of it.

James also accounts for another of God’s good and perfect gifts when he explains we are brought forth in the new birth by the word of truth or the truth of the word. The Word of truth obviously can and does refer to all of the Bible as God’s inspired revelation. What James has in mind here, however, is the specific message of the gospel that explains what it was Christ did for us on the cross and how we obtain the free gift of salvation. James reference is to the proclaimed word at this point. Obviously the New Testament hadn’t been completed because James is believed to be the first epistle written. Matthew and Mark, the earliest of the written gospels, were written about the same time but it’s probable they would not have been widely circulated even if their writing proceeded the that of James. The truth of the gospel was being proclaimed by itinerant preachers such as Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Timothy the other apostles before it was put in written form and codified, but it was still God’s truth and that truth brought men and women to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

As great and wonderful as the gift of the gospel and the ability to experience life changing relationship with Jesus which is obviously the highest and greatest gift we might imagine. James goes explains that “every” good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above. Dr Kurt Richardson in the New American Commentary says, “James statement also means everything good, whether intrinsically so or arising from good motives, comes from the goodness of God.” Dr. Richardson goes on to explain, “The range of God’s giving includes both the goodness of the created world in general and that of the perfect gifts bestowed upon all who put their trust in him and seek his wisdom.” (NAC, vol.36, p. 85.) A comprehensive list of all that might be included in the good gifts of God would be impossible. They include things in the physical world and the spiritual realm. Peter wrote in 2 Pet 1:3-4,

“His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”

(NAS) All of the good in the world, every good deed, even that done by those who don’t trust Christ or believe in God is a result of the goodness of God. Even though many of the good things God has given humanity has corrupted and used for evil purposes they are still the results of God’s goodness.

All of those good and perfect gifts have been given by God and made available to you to enable you to overcome sin in your life. The possibility and availability of a saving relationship through faith. The ability to think and choose not to associate with those places and things that weaken your will to resist temptation, His perfect and holy Word to explain what He desires for you, His Spirit to enable you to understand what He desires and to and enable you to overcome your own evil desires, and His church to teach and encourage and support you in your walk of faith. All given to enable you to overcome and defeat sin in your life.

You are responsible, but God has given you everything necessary pertaining to life and godliness. The question is will you avail yourself of what he has made available to you? Will you turn your eyes on Jesus that sin will no longer have dominion over you? As we sing the invitation hymn this morning we invite you to come, you might need to come for salvation or baptism or to rededicate and recommit your life. Whatever your need this morning Jesus is ready to meet your need.