Download The Holy Spirit #8

Bikers Church Sermon Notes
30 April 2017
Life lessons from James #10
The caution about temptation.
Above all, we must be especially alert against the beginnings of temptation, the enemy is
more easily conquered if he is refused admittance to the mind before he knocks.
St. Frances
By Pastor George Lehman
We have spoken about the cause and course of temptation. Now we look at the caution
about temptation.
James 1:16-17 (NIV) – 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good
and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly
lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
God is trustworthy. He is the same today, yesterday and forever more!
James concluded his word about temptation with a flashing yellow caution light
designed to get our attention. “Don’t be deceived”.
In other words, “Don’t get off course or go in the wrong direction”.
The Greek word ‘deceived’ describes a ship that strays from its designated route.
Hebrews 3:13 (NIV) – But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,”
so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Remember James is writing to believers. It is possible for us to be deceived and get off
course.
That’s why James warned us not to be deceived about three specific things.
#1 Don’t be deceived about sin.
The truth is, many are deceived about sin.
Quote:
Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and
cost you more than you want to pay. R. Zaccharias
Today many of the so-called learned look at sin as an archaic [outyds] concept. They say,
“Let’s be more enlightened/relevant [verlig]”.
In our age of widespread unbelief of biblical truth…
Bikers Church Sermon Notes
30 April 2017
…with little to no restraint on behaviour or acceptance that moral absolutes exist…
…we should not be surprised that many people end up doing as what Judges 21:25
says.
Judges 21:25 (Ampl) – In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did
what was right in his own eyes.
The culture says, “If it feels good and right to you – do it.”
Sadly we have raised a couple of generations who have few, if any, moral absolutes.
That’s why it becomes more and more difficult to convince them that sin exists and has
consequences.
James sends out this warning: “Don’t be deceived”.
1 Corinthians 6:18-19 (NIV) – 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man
commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do
you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have
received from God? You are not your own.
In the old covenant God had a temple for His people. But in the dispensation of Grace,
God has a people for His temple.
Keep pure for Him.
#2 Don’t be deceived about the Saviour.
James 1:17 (NIV) – Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the
Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
God is the author of all that is good.
He is not the cause of sin or of suffering.
So don’t be deceived – anything and everything good comes from God alone.
James reminded us that our “Father of lights” does not change like some shifting shadow.
Your life may have its shadows, but they are never caused by God’s turning away.
Don’t be deceived about the light and love of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Bikers Church Sermon Notes
30 April 2017
Lamentations 3:22-23 (Ampl) – 22 It is because of the Lord’s mercy and lovingkindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.
#3 Don’t be deceived about salvation.
The only way to have victory over temptation and sin is to know Christ personally.
When you confess your sin, accept God’s forgiveness and acknowledge Jesus as His Son
and Saviour and Lord.
You receive a new God-given nature.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (Ampl) – Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the
Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and
spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
Salvation (the new birth) changes our desires. It causes old things to go and new things
to come into our lives.
David said it well:
Psalm 32:5 (Ampl) – I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide. I
said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord [continually unfolding the past till all is
told]—then You [instantly] forgave me the guilt and iniquity of my sin. Selah [pause, and
calmly think of that]!
You may not be the person you want to be, but you’re not the person you used to be.
When Jesus takes up residence in your life, you begin to love what you used to hate and
hate what you used to love.
The things you used to like to do and places you used to like to go, holds no attraction
anymore.
Things like praying, reading your bible and going to church is now your passion.
When you sin and mess up you are quick to repent. Only God can give a good gift and
change a life like that.
Remember that song: “Tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree.”
If he saw the ribbon he would go in. If he didn’t, he would start life somewhere else.
When he came round the corner he saw to his joy and delight hundreds of yellow ribbons
on the oak tree.
Bikers Church Sermon Notes
30 April 2017
Some of you may have wondered off the course – like that man.
You want to go back home and begin again.
If that’s true for your, know that God has tied His own ribbon around Calvary’s tree.
He welcomes you home with open arms.
Prodical son:
Luke 15:20 & 24 (Ampl) – 20 So he got up and came to his [own] father. But
while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with
pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him
[fervently].
24 Because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!
And they began to revel and feast and make merry.
*****