The Winds of Temptation

And we will read verses 12 through 15 to begin our study. Here in this passage, we will find the topic today. And we know something about James as Jesus's brother. He had a very unique perspective that he puts forth in this letter. And he seems to be going topic to topic as he writes. And with each topic, what he proposes is that a Christian's faith is not dormant. But rather, it is active. And a Christian then is actively looking to respond to all the spiritual dilemmas that present, that this life presents. So throughout this letter, he puts forth that a Christian can be identified by how he or she responds to these different dilemmas. Look at their actions. That's how you know that you're dealing with a true Christian. So with that, let's pick up here in verse 12 through 15 as we reveal this topic. Verse 12, James chapter 1. Blessed is the man who endures temptation. For when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. Let no one say that when he is tempted, I am tempted of God. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when the desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. So let's stop there. So we come to this issue today in Scripture, and it's the issue of temptation. There is no period of time in a Christian's life in which we can be exempt from temptation. For those of us who may be hoped that as we grew older, that somehow the temptations that we faced in our youth would subside or lessen. Well, we quickly found out that that's not the case. And so often, what we realize is that those temptations that we faced in our youth just took on a different form, maybe a different disguise, and they're still with us. Why is that? Well, the answer is found in our understanding of what temptation actually is. Temptation is simply an enticement to sin and evil. An enticement to sin and evil. Sin and evil simply being those things which are contrary to God's law and His way. So temptation is the enticement to that which is contrary to how a Christian is instructed to walk. And by knowing what temptation is, then, we realize that it's unavoidable. In this physical life, we will never be free from the enticement of sin and evil. The only time that we will be free from sin and evil in this enticement is when we're free from this physical life. Young or old, the winds of temptation will always blow. There is a poem written by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, and a portion of this poem she writes. One ship sails east and another west. By the selfsame winds that blow, tis the set of the sails and not the gales which tells the way we go. If you and I are never free from the winds of temptation, then a Christian must, absolutely must, find the method by which to set their sails so as to when this wind blows, they go in the proper direction.

And so today's study, this is the title, and this is our study today, the Winds of Temptation.

I believe in this study that we take on, this study to deal with this temptation and to figure out how we can set ourselves so as to move in the proper direction. I believe this study begins with this very acknowledgement. Again, it's the acknowledgement of the reality that a Christian is in these crosswinds. It's the acknowledgement that a Christian is involved in a continual, unyielding war and will be for the rest of their life. It is warfare that we are engaged in and always will be. And so for any attempt of a Christian to try to sidestep this issue or try to suggest that that's not the case, well, really, they're not paying attention to the human condition and they're not reading their Bible. I know that once I have made my commitment to God, once I said, God, I'm going to submit to you and I am committed to following your son, Jesus Christ, once I made that commitment, I know then that I'm not transported to some spiritual bubble of some sort, but rather just the opposite. At that time that I received God's grace, that's the moment that I became fully aware of the battleground. And so it is at that moment, then, that a Christian must figure out how to deal with it, how to deal with the temptation to sin. And so that's the question we're going to ask ourselves today. How is a Christian to deal with the temptation to sin? And I want us to look at this as being really quite simple when you break it down. The way a Christian deals with temptation is by actively engaging in this battle. Each and every day. A good thing to maybe write down and let your eyes go upon it and ponder it. A good thing would be to write down these words. I will engage in this battle every day. I will engage in this battle of temptation each and every day. Why is that statement so important? I believe it's because there are many Christians, and we might find ourselves unconsciously believing this or searching for this. There are many Christians who search for some kind of experience or some kind of all-encompassing action that will take care of and deal with this battle and deal with this battle once and for all. But there is no such experience. The truth is, no matter what kind of spiritual victory that I had yesterday and that I experienced yesterday, I know that as I move out this morning that I am faced with a task once again to resist whatever earthly temptation comes my way. I know this morning that it is another day that I must refuse to allow my eyes to wander off to sin. I know it's another day in which I must refuse to allow my mind to contemplate something that is sinful. I know it's another day in which I must refuse to allow my affections to run after anything that is not of God.

My ability to be victorious is not in my ability to think back upon a previous day's victory. No, rather, it is my ability today. My ability today to close or avert my eyes. My ability today to control or shift my thinking. My ability today to align my affections, once again, away from temptations and back to God. That can be such an enlightening understanding for a Christian. Because you and I may unconsciously be looking for removal from the fight, but we must realize that the receiving of God's grace does not remove us from the battlefield. And just the opposite, it really only intensifies the battle. Because when I received God's grace, love, then in so many ways my senses were heightened. I know you probably experienced that, too. Your senses are heightened by the Holy Spirit, and you're made fully aware of all the things which are outside of God's way. And so James wants to educate us on this issue of temptation. Look again here at what he says in verse 13 and 14. This is fundamental truth that we need to accept. Verse 13. Let no one say, when he is tempted, I am tempted by God. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away, when she is drawn away, by his own and her own desires and enticed. So what's the education here? James here is making clear in this statement with regards to where temptation originates. He wants to make sure there's no doubt. He states very clearly, God is not a tempter. God is not the tempter. God is never and cannot ever be the source of the source of the enticement to evil. As it says, he himself is unable to be tempted by evil, and also he does not tempt anyone else to evil. So where does the enticement to sin originate from? Where does it come from? Verse 14. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Temptation begins with our individual internal desires.

Each one is tempted by his own. Each one is tempted by her own desires. So in other words, I know that the evil desires and enticements that come upon me, I know they come from within me. And I know they're unique to me in that way, just like you. You know where they come from for you, and they're unique and specific to you as well. For in us, there is the desire to indulge in evil temptation and indulge in those things that are outside of God's way. So it is with this understanding, this understanding that all of these things emerge from within us. And Jesus Christ made this perfectly clear in Mark chapter 7. So let's turn there. Mark chapter 7, if you will. Let's see Jesus's words on this matter. Mark 7. And let's read verse 17 through 23. Mark 7 verse 17 through 23. We're going to kind of break in to the moment here. After Jesus had left the crowd, he went into the house and his disciples here asked about this parable, this parable of that which defiles a man. And so he went on to give them this understanding Mark 7 in verse 17. So let's see here what defiles a man and where the defilement comes from. Verse 17. When he had entered the house away from the crowd, his disciples asked him Jesus concerning the parable. So he said to them, Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from the outside cannot defile him? Because it does not enter his heart but his stomach and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods. So what does defile a man? Verse 20. And he said, What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed, evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. You all, I expect him to say here, shall I go on? Verse 23. All these things come from within and defile a man. I'll stop there. What comes out of the man, that's what makes him unclean. It is from within. From within. From out of a man's heart come evil thoughts, and all these things proceed from inside. All these things originate from where? From within. And they defile you. So you understand that. And if you think about this, and you work this through to its conclusion, this is the case. We don't have to teach our children to lie. We have to teach them to tell the truth, don't we? We don't have to teach our children to steal. We have to teach them not to take something that's their own. These things are from within. And so, this is what happens. This is what happens. The devil's wind blows and entices that carnal nature in you. The devil's wind blows and entices the carnal nature in me.

But let's be very clear about this. Every time that you and I sin, I can say this for myself. Every time that I sin, it's because I made a decision to sin. From within. From the inside.

Temptation cannot open the door to sin. Can't do it. Did you know that? Temptation cannot open the door to sin. Who opens it?

Does the devil open it? No. We do. We do. God says in Genesis 4 that sin is crouching at your door. And he says it desires to have you. And then he goes on to say, But you must rule over it. You must rule over it. So while it is true that sin is crouching at our door, it is still up to you and I. Whether we open that door or not.

And we may try to explain why that door is open. We may try to explain that on the basis of the devil. The devil made me do it. That's Tom Sawyer. Or my friends. Man, there's such a horrible influence on me. That's why I opened that door.

I've done this. My upbringing.

I had a horrible upbringing, we could say. Well, just think of all the weaknesses that were infused in me as a child. That's why I am. And that's why I do these actions today. Or if you knew my environment at home, you would understand why I act the way I do. Which is contrary to God.

But what does the Bible say? Who can we pin it on?

Each one is tempted by his or her own desires. It's our own evil desire. And one thing to realize is that temptation and this enticement, when it comes to you, the temptation in and of itself is not sin. Something to realize. The temptation in and of itself is not sin. It is not the unintentional first look at a body part of an attractive man or woman.

It's the second look. It's the third look, sometimes. It's not the accidental opening of a lewd website. Very easy to do these days. Or the renting of a movie that lewdness is then portrayed. That's not sin. You redirected your eyes, you turned it off.

It wasn't what you expected. That's not sin. It's when you kept it up. Or you kept watching.

It's not sin when the urge to gossip hits you. It's sin when you find yourself whispering in that ear.

It's not sin when anger hits you.

It's sin when you unload on your children or spouse. That's what James instructed us just a moment ago. Let's turn back there. James chapter 1. Let's see this. James chapter 1 and verse 15 again. James is going to tell us the moment in which temptation turns to sin. In other words, James is going to instruct us here about the moment in which sin is born. There's a process. So James chapter 1 and verse 15 again. Look at what he says. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And sin, when it's full grown, brings forth death. So there is a conception process. There is a conception process that occurs before sin is born.

So what does that conception process look like?

We all must admit that there's a moment. There is always a moment. There's always a moment when you become aware of a temptation, an enticement, a desire to evil. There's always a moment that you become aware of an inner evil desire.

And it is at that moment that you have a choice.

You can either give birth or not. Sin is born the moment you become aware of its existence and you refuse to get rid of it. Sin is born the moment you become aware of the existence of an evil desire and then you refuse to get rid of it.

That's when it's born. There is a moment in which you can either reject or redirect or give birth to what is coming. And so Christians must deal with temptations at the moment of their appearance.

It must be dealt with the instant that you're made aware of it. Because if it's not dealt with urgency or immediacy, it will give birth. And that's not a road we want to go down because we see in verse 15 what that leads to. Death. Spiritual death. So it's not that it's not when the temptation arose in our hearts when sin was born. It's when we put our affections on it. So therefore, we must exercise a deliberate, immediate rejection of any simple thought, circumstance, suggestion, the moment that I become aware of its existence. And this is the process.

This is the process that James is revealing to us here in verse 15. Desire, when it is first conceived in the heart, you cannot let it grow. You cannot feed it. You must eliminate it. It's that plain and simple. And to have this kind of concept or this kind of process presented to us by James here in scripture, it can be so helpful, we know, to try to look and see it in action.

I think that's why the Bible, you know, it's a continuous giving instruction and principles, but then it also gives us all these, follows all these men and women, and details their life to bear out these things, to show us. And so it would be very helpful, we could say, to see this example of temptation, to see it concede, to see it grow, to see it finally give birth. That would be very helpful. Well, the good news is, for our study, not so much for the individuals involved that we're about to read about, but for our study, we have just what I think is just a classic example of this process.

And it's played out with two individuals in the Old Testament. So let's turn there. Genesis 39. Maybe you know where we're going. We're about to enter into a moment in the life of Joseph and his dealing with Potiphar's wife.

Potiphar's wife, we are now going to see, is going to experience just a strong wind, a strong wind of temptation here. We're going to see her either successfully shift her sails to go in the right direction or not.

And we're also going to see those winds, those same winds of temptation, then shift upon Joseph. And we'll see what direction he goes. I'll tell you, I'll spoil the ending. They go in complete different directions. Same wind brings two individuals in totally different directions. So let's see this here. So Genesis chapter 39, and we'll read verse 1 through 6. This really establishes the scene here.

Genesis 39 verse 1. Now, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, brought him from the Ishmaelites and had taken him down there. So Joseph found favor in his sight and served him. And then he was made overseer of the house. And then all the things that he was put under his authority. And so it was from the time that he had been made him overseer of the house and all that he had that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake.

And the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph's hand. And he did not know what he had not, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. So that's all Potiphar was worried about at this moment.

But what he ate. And then hear this. Now Joseph was handsome, in form, in appearance. Let's stop there. Interesting last statement there, couldn't you say? And we could say that of Joseph, often he was a favorite. We know he was a favorite of his father.

We discover here in this passage that he's a favorite of Potiphar. And with that transitional phrase there that we read at the end of verse 6, we're about to see that he will become a favorite of Potiphar's wife. Because Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. Now I'll take just a side note here. A side note to say that beautiful features may prove sometimes to be a snare in both those who possess them and both those who look upon him.

And if you think about it, this particular story would have never been recorded, maybe, in the Bible if it hadn't been for Joseph being handsome in form and appearance. But we realize that this story that we're getting into here, it's not a story that is exclusive to this moment. It's a story that has been continued throughout centuries, repeated throughout human history, and this really has a 21st century ring to it for sure. So let's continue here. And as we do, we want to remember what we're looking to identify here. We're looking to identify the particular elements in the process of temptation from desire to that of not immediately getting rid of it to allowing it to grow and conceive and eventually sin to be born here.

So let's read here, verse 7 through 9, and let's see this process played out. Verse 7, And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, Lie with me. Verse 8, But he refused and said to his master's wife, Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand.

There is no one greater in the house than I, nor has he kept anything back from me, but you, because you are his wife. How, then, can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?

So what do we see? So verse 7, And it came to pass. It came to pass after these things. Then she began to cast longing eyes on him. So what does that mean?

After a while, after a little period of time, after it came to pass, she began to cast eyes on Joseph. And so there came a point one day, however soon it took, that she began to notice Joseph in a different way.

You know, I'm sure initially, maybe he was just one of the slaves of the house, but as he began to gain notoriety, began to gain more authority, something changed. Suddenly, one day, she looked at him. She looked back at him and started to cast longing eyes upon him. You can almost just feel the wind at this moment, can't you? The wind picks up. She casts longing eyes on him. Incidentally, of course, this goes both ways. The wind of temptation blows on us all. And eventually, it's going to shift to Joseph here. But here we see that she cast eyes upon him. The devil's wind of temptation now is full force on Potiphar's wife. And she began in her mind to allow the desire to remain. She allowed the temptation to remain, and it began to conceive. She began to dwell on it. And just know that the eyes are often the gateway to giving birth to sin. The eyes, in so many ways, are the path by which a simple affection travel. And so the eyes can be very subtle. She allowed her eyes to ensnare her heart. And as a result, she was now in the process of giving birth.

And she says so boldly, you know, lie with me. How does someone become so bold? How does someone get to this point?

She was feeding something here. And it seems like she was feeding it on this level of her imagination. And that can be a very dangerous thing to do. To feed a temptation. To feed an enticement at the level of our imagination. So dangerous. Why? Because we take forward the possibility that we might actually do what we've been thinking about. And this is often where it all starts. And I want to give this word to all of us here, but especially to our young people. Absolutely to our young people. This is not a harmless thing. It cannot allow temptation to remain. And what we're about to see here is that this temptation she is feeding it. And she had already, no doubt, she had already gone so far in her mind here. She had already gone so far that what was the only thing that was missing for her? She had already gone so far in her imagination. What was the only thing missing? The opportunity. The only thing that was missing was the occasion to arise at that point. She was already gone even before the actual incident. And so her heart begins to look to fulfill that which her imagination has brought her to. So she looks for the occasion. So verse 10 and 11. Verse 10 and 11. Here we go. The occasion. The opportunity. Verse 10 and 11. So it was as she spoke to Joseph day by day that he did not heed her to lie with her or to be with her. But it happened about this time when Joseph went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house were inside. Boom! There it is. The opportunity. Because she had allowed the sin to not only be conceived, she allowed it to remain. The desire, the temptation, it began to grow and grow at this point. And at this point, she was enslaved to it. Have you ever allowed a temptation to do that? To remain? And it becomes overwhelming. It's all you can think about sometimes. And it's, boy, when you get to that level, it is an enslavement. There's nothing better way to describe it. So she comes and she grabs him. Verse 12. Verse 12. She caught him by his garment and saying, lie with me. But he left his garment in her hand and he fled and he ran outside. So here is where it all came to a climax. First through her eyes she imagines what would happen, then to her feet she moves herself closer to him and then with her hands she grabs him. And we know Jesus Christ gives us a specific word regarding the eyes, the hands, the feet.

If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off. Cast it from you. It's better for you to enter into life lame or maimed rather than having two hands and two feet and be cast into everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It's better that you enter into life with one eye rather than having two eyes and be cast into hellfire. That's Matthew 18. Do you want to read it sometime? Matthew 18.

So that is the radical symbolism, the radical symbolism of how we are to deal with temptation when it comes upon us ruthlessly, immediately, decisively.

Well, how would Joseph respond?

The winds begin to shift. As the winds begin to shift, the temptations now would shift upon Joseph. What direction would he go? Where would his cells be set?

Joseph was ready. He was ready, and he is so clear and he's so absolute with his response here. It's just so apparent that he had already settled this. He already had settled this matter. He had already prepared. I don't know if maybe this was a weakness for Joseph. He was a handsome man. Maybe he got many propositions. They were in Egypt. Oh, he's at the epicenter of sexual sins. Maybe he knew this was a weakness for him. So he prepared ahead of time. He identified his weakness. Instead of making excuses, putting on something else, he said, I know this is a weakness for me. I'm going to prepare myself. And that's how we have to deal with the temptation in our lives. We cannot wait to the heat of the moment. This Passover season, we have to identify our particular vulnerabilities to the temptations that are going to come our way. We have to identify them and then set ourselves appropriately with regards to them. How many times have you failed with an enticement to sin or temptation because you didn't prepare ahead of time? And it was at the heat of the moment. Very often, you'll never be successful. I'll never be successful if we wait to make this decision. The only way to deal with it is with the temptation is before it blows. Before it blows. Before.

So when the winds of temptation shifted onto that of Joseph, he was decisive. He had already had his cell set. Look at verse 8 and 9 again. Look at this decisive stand here. Verse 8 and 9. But he refused and said to his master's wife, Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept anything back from me, but you. Why? Because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? He could have used those same words and said, I'm in control of it all. Yes, you're the last thing. He could have went that direction when this wind blew.

But he didn't.

And what does he do here? I find this just so admirable. So admirable. I wish I was more like this. He answers the temptation with truth. He answers it with right and wrong. He says it would not be right. You're his wife. I'm not your wife. You fulfill those wife duties with him. I'm not him. I'll never intrude on that privilege of your marriage. So he's unashamed, and he's introducing this right and wrong. This truth. Notice what he says next. I think this is such a key here. He says in verse 9, How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?

You can just feel from these words that God was everything to him. Notice this carefully. You know, the fear of God. That is our strongest weapon against temptation. And look at the kind of fear it was. This isn't just any kind of fear. It's not that I'm afraid of you, God, and what you'll do to me. It's not that kind of fear. He says, I'm more afraid of what I, by my actions, might do to you. It's not the fear of punishment. Think about this kind of fear. It's the fear of the implications of bringing down a family name. It's the fear of not wanting to disgrace his identity. With God.

That kind of fear shows you know who you are. And that kind of fear shows you know what you've been given. And it's precious to you. How could I do that?

And he didn't go to Potiphar's wife and say, I don't want to hurt you. None of that stuff. No. How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? The fear of God set his cells.

And it's just remarkable. His response is unyielding. Look at verse 10 again. What does it say? Day after day, it says, she came to him. Day after day, lie with me. But day after day, he resisted. Again, it's one thing to resist temptation one time, but it's quite a remarkable thing to confirm that decision on a daily basis. And what did we acknowledge earlier? I can't rest upon any experience of victory that I had yesterday.

When I move out this morning, I know it's another day. It is another day to know what my weaknesses are. And it's another day to be prepared for those wins. When they come.

He knew it. He was ready for it. This is war. And he knew it was war. This must have been such a strong temptation for him. I'm sure Potiphar's wife was beautiful. But he had already settled it. He had already settled the matter. And we can either set ourselves in the direction of obedience, or we can set ourselves that will take us in the opposite direction. That leads to destruction. Sin is crouching at your door, and it desires to have you. So you must rule over it.

Don't let desires grow to be conceived in your mind. The time to deal with temptation is immediately and decisively. And I love what he did in verse 12. He just ran. He runs out of the house. He took off. Sometimes when you're in that kind of temptation, run. Maybe that sometimes that's the answer. Is to flee. Get out of there. There's no other response that's appropriate.

Don't let temptation. Don't hang around it. Reject it. You find yourself in a situation. Sometimes you just got to remove yourself quickly. So that's what he did. So let's begin to conclude here. Let's turn to 1 Corinthians 10. This is certainly an appropriate verse to conclude with.

1 Corinthians 10. We're going to read verse 13. 1 Corinthians 10 verse 13. We're going to conclude with this because I consider this verse to be one of the most powerful and encouraging promises to all those who are in the fight. All of Jesus Christ's followers who are in this battle every day against temptations. This promise is for you. This promise is for you. Let the words sink in. 1 Corinthians 10 verse 13. What does it say? No temptation has overtaken you except such as to make. But God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able. But with the temptation will also make a way of escape. That you may be able to bear it.

There's no way for excuses. The same wind blows. It's common to all men. It's the same wind of temptation. Blows on us all. So don't start with excuses. Joseph said, Don't bring up past occurrences that cause your weaknesses.

Knock out any excuses.

Because the same wind of temptation blows. It goes on all of us. Yet, one ship sells east. And one ship sells west. By the same winds that blow. How can that be? It's the same wind. Yet, one of us goes this way. And another one goes this way.

Why is that? It is the set of the sails. And not the gales that tells the way we go.

Today, I want us to acknowledge something before we conclude. And it's this acknowledgement.

There has never been when I sinned because the temptation was too strong. Read 1 Corinthians 15 and make this statement to yourself. There has never been an occasion in my life when I sinned because the temptation was too strong. In every instance, it was because I wanted to do it. I opened the door. Every time.

If you want to overcome temptation, God will always give you an escape. That's a foundation to begin with. Stand on those words. He provides the way of escape if you want it.

There were so many times in my life that I didn't want to escape enough. I wanted to open that door.

You have to want to escape enough to not open the door.

Be a Joseph. Be a man or a woman who when temptation strikes, you refuse to let it grow. The minute you recognize it, you get it out. You get rid of it. You cut it off. You cast it out. You refuse, just like Joseph, to sin against the one who has given you everything. You refuse to sin against the one and to dishonor what he's done. And to dishonor what he's given you. And you say to yourself, how could I do such a wicked thing against God?

Have you prepared for these wins? Where are your cells set in relationship to temptation? Make sure that your cells are set on God.