February17,2016 PastorKeithLewisLesson3—RealFaith:RealFaithEscapesTemptation(1:13-18)

INTRODUCTION

• IllustrationofTemptation:Alittleboywastryingtosaveallthepennieshecouldinordertobuyabaseballbat.Buthehadahardstruggle.Onenight when he was saying his prayers, his mother heard him sayfervently:“OLord,pleasehelpmesavemymoneyforabaseballbat.And,God,don’tlettheicecreammancomedownthisstreet!”

• CommonalityofTemptation:(1)1Corinthians10:13—“Notemptationhasovertakenyouthatisnotcommontoman.Godisfaithful,andhewillnotletyoubetemptedbeyondyourability,butwiththetemptationhewillalsoprovidethewayofescape,thatyoumaybeabletoendureit.”(2)Jesuswastemptedoften(Matthew4:1;16:1;19:3;22:18,35).

• DefinitionofTemptation:

o Gk.“peirazo”—“totest”:(1)thetestingoftrials(vv.2-12),(2) the testing of temptation (vv. 13-18)à The two-foldapplication of the word provides James with sometheologicalflexibility,aswewillsee.

o Theprimarydifferencebetweenthesetestsisinthesourceofthetestandinourresponsetoit.

§ Source — Both God and Satan participate in thetesting. God intends the test to try and prove ourfaith (vv.2-4);Satan intends the test to temptandengageourevildesires(vv.13-15)

§ Response — We may either respond positively ornegatively.Ifwerespondinloving,faithfulobedience,thenweareauthenticatedandmatured (vv.2-4). Ifwesuccumbinlustfuldesire,thenwesin(vv.13-15).

o Illustrations

§ Illustration1:“When‘JesuswasledupbytheSpiritinto the wilderness to be tempted by the devil’(Matt. 4:1) it is clear that both God and Satanparticipatedinthetesting.GodintendedthetesttoproveHisSon’srighteousness,butSatanintendeditto induceJesustomisuseHisdivinepowersandtogiveHisallegiancetoSatan.Jobwastestedinmuchthesameway.”1

§ Illustration 2: “God allowed Job to be afflicted inorder to prove His servant was an ‘upright man,fearing God and turning away from evil’ (Job 1:8).Satan’spurposewastheopposite:toprovethatJobwas faithful only because of the blessings andprosperitytheLordhadgivenhimandthat,ifthosethings were taken away, Job would would ‘surelycurseTheetoThyface’(v.11).”2

§ Illustration 3: “In the second book of Samuel, weread, ‘Now again the anger of the Lord burnedagainst Israel, and it incitedDavid against them tosay,“Go,numberIsraelandJudah”’(2Sam.24:1),asinful act that betrayed confidence in the nation’sown military resources above God’s divineresources.GodactuallyinducedDavid,‘amanafterHisownheart,’tosin.ButintheparallelpassageinChronicles,theWordmakesclearthatitwas‘Satan[who] stood up against Israel andmovedDavid tonumberIsrael’(1Chron.21:1).JustasGodallowedSatan to afflict and tempt Job, He allowed him totemptDavid.”3

§ Illustration4:ANOBVIOUS“TRIAL”—Inthelossofajoborlovedone,Godisworkingtodeepenourfaithandgodliness,whileSatanisworkingtoensnareusin anger, bitterness, self-centeredness, and self-indulgence. How we respond to that test willdeterminewhether it triesandrefinesourfaith,ortemptsandinitiatessinfulbehavior.

§ Illustration 5: ANOBVIOUS “TEMPTATION”— In a“temptation” like what David faced when he sawBathshebafromhisroof,thesamedynamicisatplay.Inthattest,Godwantstopurifyourfaithandproveour righteousness, while Satan wants to leads usright into immoral destruction. Ifwe respondwithfaithfulresistance,thenwehavepassedthetest; ifwerespondwithlustfulinquiry(likeDavid),wehavebeguntosuccumbtothetemptation.

o So,manyare the testsof life—someare tragic,others aretrivial; some loom large, others are almost imperceptible;someareveryobvious to thosearoundus,othersonlywenowabout;somearemoreeasilycalled“trials,”whileothersarequicklyrecognizedas“temptation.”Butinallthosetests,ourresponsewillrevealourallegiancetoGod’sintention/willor to Satan’s intention/will and will prove either ourfaithfulness or unfaithfulness, our righteousness or ourweakness. “The circumstance or the opportunity is only atest,neithergoodnorevilinitself.Whetheritresultsingoodorevil,spiritualgrowthorspiritualdecline,dependsentirelyonourresponse.”4

o “IntheLord’sPrayerJesussaysthatweshouldaskGodnotto‘leadus intotemptation,butdeliverusfromevil’ (Matt.6:13). ‘Evil’ is better translated ‘the evil one,’ referring toSatan.InotherwordsweshouldpraythatGodwillnotallowteststobecometemptations,inthesenseofinducementtoevil.Theideais,‘Lord,stopusbeforeSatancanturnyourtestintohistemptation.’”5

o Application: It’s helpful for us to remind ourselves in themomentof“temptation”thatitisatest—thatbothGodandSatan have a purpose in it, and that God has freed us tocooperatewithHisintentionandpassthetest!

• Blame-shiftingofTemptation:

o WhenSatan’sschemesandourfaithlessresponseturnatestintoatemptation,weusuallybecomeself-defensiveandself-excusing.We aremasters of blame-shifting. The firstmanandwomandidthatwhentheyrespondedsinfullytoGod’s

test were tripped up by temptation (Genesis 3:12-13). Ascommonasitistobetempted,itislikewiseascommonto“passthebuck,”blamingthetemptationandoursuccumbingtoitonsomeoneelse.

§ Upbringingandfamily—“I’m likemydad.”“You’dunderstandifyoumetmyfamily.”“Iwasraised__,that’swhy.”

§ Environment— “He was abused; that’s why he isabusive.”“Hegrewupinpoverty,whichiswhyhe’sathief.”

§ Circumstances and challenges (stress) — “Hisbusinesstanked,andhebecameanalcoholic.”

§ “Thedevilmademedoit”

§ Psychiatric labels— phobias, syndrome, disorders,psychoses

§ More Christian blame-shifting — “It’s too hard.”“Whydid youmakeme thisway,God?” “Whyareyoudoingthis[badthing],God?”“It’snotfair.”“I’mjustkindastrugglingrightnow.”“Itwasjustastupidmistake.”“I’vebeenunderalotofpressurelately.”

o Itisatthispointwhenourfaithlessresponsewouldturnthetest into a temptation and we would look to put blameelsewhere, that James vehemently rebukes us in thispassage.HeisespeciallyconcernedthatGodnotbeblamed!WhileweshouldacknowledgetheworkofGodinourtest,thetemptationisnotHiswork.

Therefore, James writes to confront our perspective when we fail tojoyfullyendureourtrial(vv.2-12)anditthereforebecomesatemptation.Hedoessowiththreemainpoints.

GODISNOTTHESOURCEOFTEMPTATION(v.13).

Letnoonesaywhenheistempted,“IambeingtemptedbyGod.”

James teaches two truths about the character of God as it relates totemptation.

1. Godcannotbetemptedbyevil.

• Verse13bstates,“ForGodcannotbetemptedwithevil.”

• Godis“untemptable”(Gk.apeirastos).BoththenatureofevilandthenatureofGod(holy:Isaiah6:3;Habakkuk1:3;Hebrews7:26; 1Peter1:16—unlike themanmade“gods”ofother religions)makes themixingof the twoimpossible.Theyaretwoverydistinctrealmsthatnevermeet.

• “Heisawareofevilbutuntouchedbyit,likeasunbeamshiningonadumpisuntouchedbythetrash.”6

2. Godcannottemptotherpeople.

• Verse13cadds,“AndHeHimselftemptsnoone.”

• Again,God’scharacteroftruth/honesty(notdeception),goodness (not games), and grace (not wrath) etc.prohibitHimfromsolicitingustoevil.

• Godlovingly,purposefully,andsovereignlysendstests,butwhatturnsitintoatemptationisnotfromHim.

• Instead,eveninthosemomentswhenthematuringtestbecomes a solicitous temptation, God actively givesgracetorespondaccordingtoHiswillandnotaccordingtoourdesires(cf.1Corinthians10:13).

• And it is thosedesiresandour responses to themthatmakeallthedifference.

Thatbringsustooursecondpoint.

OURDESIRESARETHESOURCEOFTEMPTATION(vv.14-16).

Buteachpersonistemptedwhenheisluredandenticedbyhisowndesire.

1. Thetraitorwithin—ourdesires(v.14)

MacArthurwrites,“Therewouldbenoattractionofsinwereitnot for man’s own sinful lust, which makes evil seem moreappealing than righteousness, falsehood more appealing than

truth,immoralitymoreappealingthanmoralpurity,thethingsoftheworldmore appealing than the things of God.We cannotblameSatan,hisdemons,ungodlypeople,ortheworldingeneralforourownlust.Evenmorecertainly,wecannotblameGod.Theproblemisnotatempterfromwithout,butthetraitorwithin.”7

a. Ourdesiresarecorrupted.

• Thedefinitionofdesire:“towantorlongfor”—a neutral term that can be either good or bad(craving/lust/coveting)

• Thedegenerationofdesire:Theywerebrokenat the fall, shattered by the first rebelliouslyinordinate desire against God (Genesis 3). TheBible describes the default character of ourdesiresnow.

o Unregeneratedesire—Ephesians2:1-3;4:17-19;1Thessalonians4:5

o Regenerateddesire—Romans7:18-25;Jeremiah17:9;Matthew26:41

o Generaldescription—Matthew15:18-19

• Thedepravityofdesire:(1)Webegantodesireforbidden things. (2)We began to desire goodthings in the wrong way (manner) or for thewrongpurpose(motive).

o Desireforfoodàgluttony

o Desireforfriendshipàmanipulationorcompromise

o Desire for successà pride, control, ordeception

o Desire for intimacyà heterosexual orhomosexualimmorality

b. Ourdesiresarecustomized.

• “His own” (Gk. idios, “idiosyncrasy”) — Thisreferstodesignerlusts:oneperson’spassionisanother’s repulsion. There is, for example, agreat difference between a religious legalist’sdesiresandasacrilegiouslibertine’sdesires.

• This demonstrates the uniqueness of eachperson’s desires as developed (not caused orexcused)by“inheritedtendencies,environment,upbringing, and personal choices” (McArthurStudyBible).

• Illustration:C. S. Lewis’s imaginative story,TheScrewtapeLetters,takestheformofaseriesofletters from a senior Demon Screwtape to hisnephew Wormwood, a Junior Tempter. Theuncle's mentorship pertains to the nephew'sresponsibilitytosuccessfullytemptandensnareaBritishmanknownonlyas“thePatient.”

c. Ourdesiresarecrafty(cunning,clever,conniving).

• (1) “Lured”—“to drag away”: a hunting termreferring to a baited trap intended to lure anunsuspecting animal; (2)“Enticed”—a fishingtermreferingtobaitusedtolureafishfromitssafehavenàInbothcases,wegothroughgreatthoughtfulnessabouthowbesttodeceive,andweneverintendgoodtothecreature.

• Illustration:trappingredsquirrelsatourhomeinNH

• Doyougetthepoint?!We’rethedumbsquirrels,andourdesiresarethekillertrap.

• Ourdesirescanbeafriend(e.g.,passionforGodis a delightful thing), but they are often ourenemy.

2. Thetrajectoryoftemptation—aprocess(vv.15-16)

Leavingbehindthemetaphorsofhuntingandfishing,Jamesnowuses the process of childbirth to illustrate his point about thetrajectoryoftemptation.

a. Desire(emotion)–Anaturalorlearneddesireisarousedwithinus,provokingwantandlonging.The“rightnessorwrongness[ofthisdesire][is]determinedpartlybytheobject that is desired and partly by how and forwhatpurposesitisdesired.”8

• Illustration:“Looking ina jewelrystorewindowcansparkanimmediateandstrongdesireforaring,awatch,abracelet,orcrystalvase.Drivingpast a model home, wemay suddenly feel anintense longing to have one like it. Passing anautomobile dealership may just as suddenlyspark a desire for a new car, perhaps even amake andmodel we had never thought muchaboutbefore.Thedesiremaydevelopandgainourfullattention.”9

• Sometimes the desire is not as innocuous orfleeting as those may be, but instead maybecome a dominating emotion, luring us toinappropriatelyacquiretheitemorachievetheactivity.

b. Deception(mind)—Cf.v.16.Thisdeceptionistwo-fold:(1)Thedangerisdisguised.(2)Wedeceiveourselvesbyrationalizing the sin. “Like the animal or fish that goesafter the bait, the desire to have what we want is sostrongthatweareinclinedtodiscountpossibledangersor harm. Simply wanting it justifies the effort to haveit.”10“Apersonbothbuildsandbaitshisowntrap.”11

• Itisatthislevelthat“desire…hasconceived.”AsMacArthurputsit,“The“lifeofsin,”asitwere,hasstartedtoformandgrow.”12

• ThisiswhyGod’sWordissoimportant(vv.19-27),foritisabletorevealdeceptionandreplaceitwithtruth(cf.Hebrews4:12).

c. Design(will)—Plansstarttobemadetofulfillthesinful,andnowrationalizeddesire.Thesinisnowlockedinon,andthetargetisset.

d. Disobedience (action)—At this level, our desire givesbirthtoachildinitsownimage:sin.Wechoosetoobeythatsinfuldesirerather thanGod’swill.God’s testhasbeen failed; Satan’s temptation has triumphed, andneedsonlytoerectatombstone.

e. Death—Sin is abornmurderer, a killer.When sin “isfully grown” up, it also conceives and “brings forth” achildinitsownimage:“death.”SeparationfromGod—physically,spiritually,eternally—istheonlychildthatsincanproduce.EvenaChristianfacestheconsequencesofsin’s separation, spiritually inbroken fellowship (James4:6;1Peter3:7;1John1:9)oreveninphysicaldeath(1Corinthians11:30;1John5:16).

Therefore,“belovedbrothers,”letus“notbedeceived”(v.16)!Godhasnoblameinthistrajectory,butratherthetraitorwithin!

3. Thetacticofourbattle—application

a. Theearlieryou resist, themore likely thevictory. Thealternative is also true: that later you resist, themorelikelythedefeat.

b. Youmustdealwithtemptationateverystage.

• Desire — Which ones are the most likely toseduce you (a specific success, pleasure,acceptance,control,happiness,etc.)?Don’tfeedthem;avoid/fleesourcesthatwould.Makethemaslavetoyou,notvisaversa(Matthew5:29-30;Romans13:14;ICorinthians9:28).Replacethemwithgodlydesires(Philippians4:8).

• Deception—What lies do you listen to aboutsin? What truth do you need to preach toyourself? Fight to renew your mind (Romans12:2; Colossians 3:2; 2 Corinthians 10:5)! “ThetruthofGodwhichactivatestheconscience,thesoul’swarning system,must be heard and notignored.”13 Only truth can set you free (John8:32)andsanctifyyou(John17:17).

• Design—Avoid/fleesourcesthatwouldenableandempowersin.Focusyourenergiesonsowingto theSpiritandreaprighteousness.Strategizeabout how to personally design a life that isdevotedtopracticalrighteousness.

c. Youneedtodependentlyrenewyourdesires.

• Weneed toaskGod to renewand replaceourdesires,sothatwelovewhatHelovesandhateswhatHehates(cf.Philippians2:13;Psalm97:10).Our hearts are deceptive and sick (Jeremiah17:9) and only Christ can deliver us from ourpassions (Romans 7:23-25). So, “run to Christwhenvexedbyhell”and“stalkedbysinandfindasureescape.”14AskGodtochangeyourdesiresand talk toGodaboutyourdesires.Constantlyrepent from your wrong desires, and prayMatthew6:13concerningtemptation.

• “Thomas Chalmers asserted, ‘The heart is soconstitutedthattheonlywaytodispossessitofanoldaffection isby theexpulsivepowerof anewone.’Weneedtodriveoutanoldpassionwithanewandgreaterone;weneedanover-mastering,positivepassion.”15Weneedtolovesomething—Someone—greater than ourtemptationandsin.

• Regarding the purging and renewing andreplacingofourdesires, JohnPiperwrites, “Wemustfightfirewithfire.Thefireoflust'spleasuresmustbefoughtwiththefireofGod'spleasures.If

wetrytofightthefireoflustwithprohibitionsandthreatsalone-eventheterriblewarningsofJesus-wewill fail.Wemust fight itwith themassivepromiseofsuperiorhappiness.Wemustswallowup the little flicker of lust's pleasure in theconflagrationofholysatisfaction.”16

ThatsatisfactionisexactlywhereJamesgoesnext.Hedoesn’tleaveusdirectionless in stirring us to have renewed desires, reawakenedaffections, and a replaced passion. He tells us exactlywhere to go torenewourdesires.Inverses16-18,JamescontraststheimpossibilityofGodbeing the sourceof temptationwith the reality ofGodbeing thesourceofsatisfaction.

GODISTHESOURCEOFSATISFACTION(vv.16-18).

Donotbedeceived,mybelovedbrothers.Everygoodgiftandeveryperfectgiftisfromabove,comingdownfromtheFatheroflightswithwhomthereisnovariationorshadowduetochange.Ofhisownwillhe

broughtusforthbythewordoftruth,thatweshouldbeakindoffirstfruitsofhiscreatures.

John Burroughs, the naturalist, says that when a hawk is attacked bycrowsorkingbirds,hedoesnotmakeacounterattack,butsoarshigherandhigherineverwideningcirclesuntilhistormentorsleavehimalone.17

Thismustbeour strategy, too, in spiritualattack.Wemust run to theRockthatishigherthanus(Psalm61:2);wemustdrinkfromtheFountainof living water (Jeremiah 2:13). We must find our satisfaction in theunchanging“Fatheroflights,”forHealone(“fromabove”)isthesourceof“everygoodgiftandeveryperfectgift.”

Illustration:Asweweredrivingthroughaconstructionarearecently,oursonCaydensaid,“Daddy,Godmadetheexcavator.Godmadethecar.Etc.”Indeed,behindeverythingmanmadeisadivinesource.Likewise,behindeverygoodhumangiftandexperienceisadivinesource.

1. TheobstacletoGod’ssatisfaction(v.16)—deception

Theoriginalconstructionhere implies thatdeceptionhasbeenhappening.Thus,“Stopbeingdeceived”!

a. Weare deceivedwhenwe thinkGod is the source oftemptation(cf.vv.13-15).

b. Wearedeceivedwhenwethinkthatsomethingelseisthesourceofsatisfaction.

• Musicmaycalmouremotions.

• Meds may alleviate our psychologicaldiscomforts.

• Alcoholmayhelpuscopewithdespair.

• Friendsmayfulfillussocially.

• Foodmaysatisfyusphysically.

• Etc.

• ButonlyonePersoncansatisfytheeternalandfundamentallyunderlyingsoulishcomponentofeachofus(cf.Ecclesiastes3:11).

2. ThenatureofGod’ssatisfaction(vv.17-18)

Notice the comparative language that highlights the honestsatisfactionthatGodoffersagainstthedestructivedeceptionsoftemptation.Whereassinfulresponsestoourdesiresultimately“bringforth”death,God“broughtusforth”untolife(v.18).IfweeverquestionGod’sabilitytosatisfyus,verse18encouragesusto simply rehearse to ourselves the gospel and rememberoursalvation!

a. God’ssatisfactionflowsthroughthegospel.

• God established the storehouse of satisfactionwhen Jesus “died for our sins according to theScriptures,andwasburied,andwasraisedagainthe third day according to the Scriptures” (1Corinthians15:4).Apart fromthegospel, therewouldbenosuchthingassatisfaction—nojoy,no peace, no mercy, no grace, no hope, nopotential, no meaning, no significance, nolife…but only wrath, despair, emptiness, anddeath.

• Out of that storehouse, dear Christian, Godstarted to satisfy you at the moment of yoursalvation, when He “brought you forth by theWord of truth,” that is, when you heard thegospel. At that moment of faith in Jesus, Godforgave your sin, revived you from spiritualdeath, reconnected you to God, implanted HisSpirit within you, gave you spiritual gifts,enlightenedyoureyes tounderstandtruthandknowwisdom,lavishedonyougraceandpeaceandmercyandhope,etc.etc.etc.HecontinuestosatisfyusthroughHispresenceandpromises,through a real and vibrant relationshipwe canhavewith Him throughHisWord, through theblessingsofHisgraceandmercy (cf.Ephesians1:3)thatHeministersmomentbymoment,etc.

• Through the gospel, God shows Himself to be“theGiftthatkeepsongiving.”IfweeverdoubtGod’scapacitytosatisfyus,weneedtopreachthegospeltoourselvesagainandremembertheunfathomable resources of our salvationthroughJesus! Itwasthegospel (“theWordofTruth”) that birthed us to life, abundant andeternal!

• PaulputsitthiswayinRomans8:31-34,“Whatthenshallwesaytothesethings?IfGodisforus,whocanbeagainstus?HewhodidnotsparehisownSonbutgavehimupforusall,howwillhenot alsowithhimgraciously giveus all things?WhoshallbringanychargeagainstGod’select?It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?Christ Jesus is the one who died—more thanthat,whowasraised—whoisattherighthandofGod,whoindeedisintercedingforus.”

• Flowing from God’s first “good” and “perfect”gifttousofsalvationthroughChrist(v.18)isHisdailyministry to us of satisfaction (v. 17). God

continuestoenrichuswith“everygoodgiftandeveryperfectgift.”

• But,aswenotedinverse13-18,yourdesireswilllietoyouaboutthis.Yourdesireswillseduceyouinto doubting, will deceive you concerningsatisfaction, andwill destroy you! So, youwholive in the perpetual production of verses 13-16—preachthegospeltoyourself.

o Against the deceptive innocence of sin(e.g.,“It’snotthatbad.”OR“It’salreadybeenpaid for.”), the gospel satisfies. Itopensoureyestoseeexactlywheresinwill leadus ifwe let it—intodeathandseparation fromGod. ItopensourearstohearJesus,whowasmadesinforus,cryingout,“MyGod,MyGod,whyhaveyou forsaken me,” so that we mightneverhavetofearHisabandonment.

o Against the deceptive pleasure of sin(e.g.,“Sin’spleasureismorereal,morecertain, more meaningful, and morelasting than God’s ability to satisfy.”),thegospelsatisfies.Thecrossunveilsthehook,thecatch,thetrap,theseductionof sin—that it is only for a season andends “surely”with death, even as Godpromised before the Fall. The gospelaffirms,incontrast,that“fullnessofjoyandpleasuresforevermoreareatGod’srighthand”(Psalm16:11).

o Against the deceptive necessity of sin(e.g.,“Youneedthis.It’sbeenaterribleday. You need this to make you feelbetter.”),thegospelsatisfies.TheWordof truth affirms that sin bringsbrokenness, shame, and despair, whilerenewal and refreshing come throughthe work of Jesus Christ, who was

brokenforusandofferstousHis“easy”and“light”yoke.

o Againstthedeceptiveescapeofsin(e.g.,“Youcangetawaywith it.Nobodywillfindout.), the gospel satisfies. But, thegospel honestly declares that thosecharacterized by sin will be judged assuchandwillnotinheritthekingdomofheaven. The gospel warns that our sinwillsurelyfindusout.

o Against the deceptive guilt of sin (e.g.,“You’re so dirty and disgusting. You’reworthless.Godhasrejectedyouandhasnopartofyou.He’llshowyounofavoruntilyouearnHisapprovalagain.”),thegospel satisfies. In the face of thisdeception, the gospel boldly andmercifullydeclares,“Yourgooddaysarenever so good that you’re beyond theneedofGod’sgrace;andyourbaddaysareneversobadthatyou’rebeyondthereachofGod’sgrace.”

• Verse 18 tells us that in satisfyingly saving us,God made us “firstfruits” among the rest ofcreation. Using an agrarian metaphor foundthroughout the Old Testament, James showsthatGodhasmadeChristiansbeafirstevidenceoftheglorythatisyetcoming—aforetasteofthefullandeternalsatisfactionthatGodwillrestoretothisuniverse.Christiansarea“newcreation”that evidences the fullness that God is able tobestow upon people (cf. John 1:16; Ephesians1:3;3:14-21;Colossians2:9-10;2Peter1:4).

b. God’ssatisfactionissufficient.

Jamesoffersseveralproofsoftheall-sufficientnatureofGod’ssatisfaction.

• God’ssatisfactionisquantitative(“every”).

• God’s satisfaction is qualitative (“good/perfectgift”). “Good” refers to their kind, helpful, andconstructivenature(evenwhenthegiftisatrial:vv.2-12;cf.Psalm84:11);“perfect”denotesthetotal absence of any moral evil in these gifts.James’ point is that nothing but good comesfromGod. Ecclesiastes taught us that not onlydoes God give good things, but the ability toenjoythosethingscomesfromHim(Ecclesiastes2:24-26;3:13;5:18-19)!

• God’ssatisfactionisphysical(v.17;cf.Matthew7:9-11;6:25-34).

• God’s satisfaction is spiritual (v. 18; cf. 2 Peter1:3-4;Psalm73:26).

• God’s satisfaction is consistent (“with whomthere is no variation or shadow of turning”).UnlikethelightsGodcreated,thatvaryandfade,creating and changing shadows, God is lightHimselfthatdoesnotchange(cf.Lamentations3:21-24).BecausethegospelhasfinallychangedHis orientation to us, God is consistent in Hissatisfaction.Hedoesn’thelpusonlywhenwe’repleasing Him. He seeks to satisfy us as Hischildren—period.Heisn’tfickle,likeourdesires;Heisconsistent,asalovingFather.

3. TheprocessofGod’ssatisfaction(v.18)

Againsttheprocessoftemptationthatweconsideredabove isGod’sprocessofsatisfaction.

a. Thesource

• ThesourceofsinisnotGod,butus(v.13);thesourceofsatisfactionisnotus,butGod(v.17).

• Itisourwillthatconceivestemptation(v.14);itisGod’swillthatconceivedlifeinus(v.18).

b. Themeans

• Being lured and enticed by our desires bringsforthonlysin(v.14);beingluredandenticedbytheWordofTruthbroughtforthlifeinourhearts(v.18).Onadailybasis,theWordofTruthstillbringsforthsatisfyinglife—thatiswhereJamesgoesnext(cf.vv.22-25).

• Sinisbasedondeception,believingthelieofourdesires (v.16); satisfaction isbasedon“truth”,believingthepromisesofthegospel(v.18).

c. Theresult—Sinproducesdeath (v.15); satisfaction isenjoyinglife(v.18).

4. TheresponsetoGod’ssatisfaction

a. Key—CultivateapassionforChrist!

“Turnyoureyesupon Jesus. Look full inHiswonderfulface.AndthethingsofearthwillgrowstrangelydiminthelightofHisgloryandgrace.”

b. Process(Galatians6:8-9)—A.N.T.H.E.M.18

• A—AVOIDsinandtemptation.

• N—Say“NO”tosinandtemptation..

• T—TURNtowardthesatisfactionofChrist

• H—HOLD to the satisfactionof Christ in yourmind.à Piperwrites, “HOLD the promise andthepleasureofChristfirmlyinyourminduntilitpushestheotherimagesout.“FixyoureyesonJesus”(Hebrews12:2).Hereiswheremanyfail.Theygiveintoosoon.Theysay,“Itriedtopushitout,and itdidn’twork.” Iask,“Howlongdidyoutry?Howharddidyouexertyourmind?”Themindisamuscle.Youcanflexitwithvehemence.Takethekingdomviolently(Matthew11:12).Bebrutal. Hold the promise of Christ before youreyes.Holdit.Holdit!Don’tletitgo!Keepholding

it! How long? As long as it takes. Fight! ForChrist’s sake, fight till you win! If an electricgaragedoorwereabouttocrushyourchild,youwouldhold itupwithallyourmightandhollerforhelp,andholditandholditandholditandholdit.”

• E—ENJOYasuperiorsatisfactionbycultivatingarelationshipwithChrist.

• M—MOVEintoausefulactivity.

CONCLUSIONSo, isGod inyour test?Yes! IsGod inyour temptation?No!ButHe isalwaysthereofferingsatisfaction.

ENDNOTES

1 John MacArthur, “Is a Temptation Also a Trial?” (12.23.15), http://bit.ly/1LtRFtS. 2 Ibid. 3 John F. MacArthur Jr., James, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1998), 48. 4 MacArthur, URL. 5 Ibid. 6 MacArthur, 47. 7 Ibid., 50. 8 Ibid., 52. 9 Ibid. 10 Ibid 52. 11 J. Ronald Blue, “James,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 822. 12 MacArthur, 52. 13 Ibid., 53. 14 Chris Anderson, “I Run to Christ” (ChurchWorksMedia.com, 2010), http://bit.ly/1QPmvjc. 15 Tim Keller, Gospel in Life, Session 3 Video (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010). 16 John Piper, Future Grace (Colorado Springs: Multnomah, 1995), 336. 17 Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 1445. 18 John Piper, “ANTHEM: Strategies for Fighting Lust” (11.5.01), http://bit.ly/1QPk5AX.