CRCF””9/13/09
ME
I”™ve felt this guy”™s pain! (“Family Guy” slide)
I”™ve always hated being told not to do something. When I was about 10 years old, my Daddy would take me far and wide to Flea Markets. One cold, winter Saturday, we were at an enclosed Flea Market. And there was a big, old pot belly stove stoked up hot, heating the place. (1st Pot Belly Stove slide) My Daddy told me, “Chad, do NOT touch that stove””it”™ll burn you!” Well, you”™ll remember that I don”™t like to be told not to do something. So, you guessed it (2nd Pot Belly Stove slide) . . . I was intrigued and wandered back to the stove and noticed the door open, just like this one. Well, at 10 years old, open doors are supposed to be closed, right? And so, I reached out with my index finger to close the door. I still don”™t know if the door actually closed. But what I DO remember is the shooting, searing pain that shot up my index finger, through my hand, up my arm and throughout my entire body! After hearing, “Son, I TOLD you not to touch that! I told you that you”™d get burned,” I spent the rest of the day with ice on the tip of my finger where there was a big, white blister!
Now, I could have tried to blame Daddy for taking me to the Flea Market in the first place and for not watching me more closely and for not keeping me away from that pot belly stove. And, if I remember right, my Momma probably DID initially sing that song to Daddy! But the truth was that I was given a test””would I obey Daddy or not? And I failed. I was responsible for the burn I received.
WE
We all struggle hard with various temptations, don”™t we? Your struggle may be with anger, harsh words, or lust and sexual sin, or coveting and greed.
And sometimes we blow it and give in to the temptation and sin, right?
Isn”™t it amazing how quickly we justify ourselves and blame someone else? In fact, if all else fails and we can”™t find another person to blame, we”™ll blame God! And we, as the human race, have been doing it since the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 3:12””“Yes,” Adam admitted, “but it was the woman you gave me who brought me the fruit and I ate it.” (NLT)
*You and I are responsible for the outcome of our trials.
“Don”™t Blame God!”
James 1:12-13
GOD
James 1:12-13
12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. (NLT)
You and I are responsible for the outcome of our trials.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
12 Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him.
13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone.
Contemporary English Version:
Verse 13a: “Don’t blame God when you are tempted!”
God tests our faith. He does NOT tempt us to sin!
You and I are responsible for the outcome of our trials.
Illustrations:
1) Job”™s Suffering (Job 1): God allowed the Devil to take away his possessions, his family and his health, thus testing Job”™s faith. His wife tempted him to sin by cursing God.
2) Joseph Seduced by Potiphar”™s wife (Genesis 39:7-18): God put Joseph in Potiphar”™s house where He knew Joseph would be tempted. But God did not author the temptation. God DID show Joseph the way out””and Joseph literally ran!
3) Jesus”™ Temptation by the Devil (Matthew 4; Luke 4): HS led Him into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil (God arranged the trial, but did not author the temptation).
You and I are responsible for the outcome of our trials.
New Living Translation
James 1:14-15””“Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death.”
James 1:14-15 (CEV)
“We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us. Our desires make us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us dead.”
–Chicken Comic
You and I are responsible for the outcome of our trials.
YOU
Job, Joseph and Jesus all came through their trials without giving in to temptation. The outcome of their trials was strengthened faith in God and a crown of life waiting on them in heaven!
HOW did they do it?
They only did what you and I can also do:
Remember that God tests our faith but He doesn”™t tempt us to sin.
We can”™t let ourselves off the hook for sin and blame God!
Run from temptation and run to God to find His “escape route”.
Mark Twain: “It is easier to stay out than get out.”
– Following the Equator, Pudd’nhead Wilson’s New Calendar
1 Corinthians 10:13””“But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can”™t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out that you will not give in to it.” (NLT)
If you will do these things when trials come, your faith will be strengthened and you”™ll enjoy the hope of the crown of life in heaven!
You and I are responsible for the outcome of our trials.
WE
Imagine what our lives would be like if we would take responsibility for our actions by running to God for help and the way out of temptation.
Remember our chicken friend? (Chicken comic slide again)
We”™d be a lot less bloody and burnt””and much more alive in Christ . . . enjoying real life as God meant for it to be!
And the more we trust and obey the more natural that God-given response becomes!
You and I are responsible for the outcome of our trials.
And we”™ve been given power and the promise of an escape route every time we”™re tempted.
Will you pass the next test?
Celebration of the Lords”™ Supper
Today, this meal is a celebration of God”™s power in Jesus to help us pass the tests of life and overcome temptation. The Cross of Jesus Christ not only paid sin”™s penalty for us, but also gave us His power over sin in our daily lives. This morning, celebrate God”™s grace that will enable the outcome of your trials to be pleasing to God!