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TranscriptIntroduction
Welcome to Part 2 of our series entitled How Your Children Respond to Sin. Make sure you catch every episode each week so that you’re learning along with us about this vital topic.
I finished our last episode by making this observation: The unique benefit of this series is not merely opening our eyes to the reality that our kids are sinners, but—more importantly—recognizing how our kids respond to sin. When we understand and can identify the various responses, we will be able to help them overcome sin and glorify God far better than when we’re ignorant of the responses to sin. That’s our goal, and I pray you are excited to continue that today. I’m your host, Aaron Brewster. I’m a biblical family counselor, author, conference speaker, husband, father, and former homeschooling parent. God is my passion and helping Christian families glorify Him is an amazing privilege, and I pray that this study will better equip you to worship God in your parenting. As always, please check out the description of this episode in order to access the free notes, transcript, and related resources. Now, let’s dig even deeper into the topic of temptation. Topic
On our last episode I mentioned a few key concepts about temptation that came from James 1:13-15. Now, I will repeat those observations today, but the majority of our study will come from the verses that precede and follow verses 13-15. In fact, it’s the truth from the entire chapter that I pray will inform our parenting and help us help our children to overcome temptation to the glory of God.
But before we jump into that, I want to take a moment to remind you that this podcast—Truth.Love.Parent.—is just one of the resources offered by Truth.Love.Family. If you never have, you should visit TruthLoveFamily.com to learn more about us and see the other resources we offer, but an even better thing to do is to download the Evermind App. The Evermind App has a growing collection of unique resources not only from Truth.Love.Family., but also from Faithtree Biblical Counseling & Discipleship, the Celebration of God, and AMBrewster Ministries. You can easily create a free login for the Evermind App using the link in the description of today’s episode. Check it out. Now, I’m going to approach today’s topic differently than I normally would. I’ve spoken about temptation a lot, but I want to understand it today through the lens of a singular passage of Scriptures. I also—for the most part—want to work through the passage from beginning to end. Now, I don’t want to be a reductionist. There are so many amazing truths we will read and basically skip right over. My point today is to consider this chapter from the very precise perspective of temptation—what it is, how it works, and how to overcome it. To that end, I’m going to start by reading verses 13-15, and then we’re going to go back and work through the whole chapter from verse 1, and I’ll comment on it as we go—helping us understand how each portion of the chapter relates to our topic of temptation. I look forward to getting our James Bible study onto the Evermind App. Be sure to create an account so you can be one of the first to gain access to that teaching when it’s available. Okay, let’s start with . . . 1. An Overview of Temptation James 1:13-15, “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 fully matured, it brings forth death.” Though the chapter and verse breaks are not inspired, Stephen Langton did a pretty good job—for the most part—of dividing the thoughts in logical and thematic places. I say that to say that this truth about temptation comes basically in the middle of chapter one. That means that there is important information that organically leads into that discussion and naturally follows that idea. So, let’s see how it all works together as it applies to temptation in our’s and our kids’ lives. 2. A Right View of Temptation James 1:1-27, “James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are in the Dispersion: Greetings.” We will never react correctly to temptation if we don’t understand our identity in Christ. If we are here to worship ourselves, then what appeals to the lust of our flesh, eyes, and pride will be exactly what we want. But when we recognize that we are bond servants of God, we can view temptation for what it really is. “2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance. 4 And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” The word translated “trials” can refer to both the holy testing that comes from God as well as the sinful temptation that comes from Satan, the World, and our Flesh. God says here that we can know for certain that when we encounter temptations, God allows it into our lives so that we can respond correctly—thus strengthening our faith and growing in our perseverance and spiritual maturity. Now, someone might say, “Well, that doesn’t sound fair. Knowing how hard it is to reject temptation, why would God allow us to be tempted in the first place?” The answer is clearly laid out in I Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” During every temptation, we have a choice: we can choose to give into our lusts, or we can trust God and take advantage of the escape that He always faithfully provides us. God never allows us to be tempted above what we are able through His grace and power. That means that every time we trust Him and take His escape, we are strengthening our faith and becoming more like Christ. Now, what are some practical takeaways? A. Your kids cannot benefit from trials if they are not born again. The greatest responsibility you bear as a parent is to share the Gospel with your children and introduce them to God. B. Though it would be a sin to tempt our kids, it’s also foolish to try to shield them from all temptation. God’s promises to you about temptation are there for your kids as well. He won’t allow them to experience temptations they cannot overcome in His strength and for His glory. We have an episode entitled Prepare Your Kids. Don’t Protect Them. | fighting the urge to shelter your kids. In that episode we talk about the fine line between throwing your kids into temptation they shouldn’t face versus preparing them to overcome temptation. C. Teach your kids about how God wants to work in their temptation. Everything you’re going to learn on today’s episode are truths your kids need to understand. Use the episode notes and have them listen to this episode along with you. Review this content when we all inevitably forget. This content is evergreen. Lord willing, it will always be here and accessible for you. So, we had an overview to temptation to get our focus right, and we considered a right view of temptation. Now let’s look at . . . 3. The Necessary Ingredients for Overcoming Temptation Right on the heels of “And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” In verse 5 the Scriptures says,“5 But if any of you lacks wisdom.” Our ability to understand and respond correctly to trials, temptations, and testings is directly related to our wise usage of the truth we have. Therefore, if we lack wisdom, we need to do whatever it takes to get it. Now, before I read the rest of this portion of the text, let’s be reminded that wisdom is not knowing or understanding something. We need to learn truth and understand it, and then we need to use that information in a way that pleases the Lord. That is wisdom. Therefore, in order to respond wisely in temptation, we need to know about sin, our own propensity to it, our identity in Christ, and God’s goal for our temptation. And then . . . starting in verse 5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, doubting nothing, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” The first necessary ingredient for overcoming temptation is wisdom, but the second ingredient is faith. We need to believe God’s word concerning temptation, but we also need to believe that submitting to God in wisdom is absolutely necessary. If we doubt God’s plan for how we are to live wisely, we’re going to be perpetually unstable—sometimes we’ll respond correctly to temptation, but sometimes we’ll fail in our foolishness. Then the passage continues, “9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to boast in his high position; 10 and the rich man is to boast in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with a scorching heat and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.” I’m not going to spend much time here, but I will make the observation that humility is the third ingredient to overcoming temptation. We have to humbly recognizing our responsibility to submit to God, His plan, and His wisdom. Let’s make this practical. A. Teach your kids to be wise. Check out our Teach Your Children to Learn Series in order to learn more about knowledge, understanding, and living wisely. B. Teach your kids to believe God. I would argue this is probably the first and foremost thing we should teach our kids. Still, we need to constantly be reminded to trust God. And C. Teach your kids to be humble. Arrogance is thinking too highly of oneself, but pride is thinking of oneself at all. On the inverse, humility is not thinking about ourselves. Humility is considering God’s will and the best of others. And that all makes sense. If we’re humbly trusting God and—therefore—living wisely, we will be rejecting temptation and not giving in to sin. And all of this leads to . . . 4. God’s Goal for Temptation And this is where James wraps back around to his initial comments and says, in verse 12, “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” As we persevere in our faith under temptation and pass the tests that are given to us, the ultimate goal is the crown of life we will receive in glory. In I Corinthians 9:25-27, Paul says, “Now everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” This is another beautiful way of describing the process of saying “No” to temptation and growing in Christ, and—ultimately—pursuing that incorruptible crown to the glory God. Hebrews 11:10 teaches us that Abraham lived the way he did because “for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” And then verses 13-16 tells us, “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been remembering that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now, they aspire to a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He prepared a city for them.” I share these verses because the practical reality we need to hold out before our kids is the future glory we will one day inherit. A. We need to set an eternal vision for our kids. But setting a vision isn’t good enough. B. We need to live in the reality of that eternal vision. Our family culture and vocabulary need to focus on and live in the reality of that future city whose builder and maker is God. In order to help our kids overcome temptation, we need to create an environment in which they keep before their eyes that incorruptible crown of life promised to those who love Him. When our kids have the right view of temptation, and understand the necessary ingredients of overcoming temptation, they can pursue God’s ultimate goal for temptation. However, all of that will not benefit them if they don’t understand . . . 5. The Greatest Obstacle in Temptation “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 fully matured, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good thing given 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 would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.” I spoke about this last time, so I won’t dig too deep here. The main point is that our sinful lusts are our own worst enemies. No one can make us sin, but we will definitely sin every time we worship self and feed our desires. Therefore we must . . . A. Help them understand the nature of temptation and the role their heart plays. B. Teach them the consequences of sin. Sin always hurts. It always produces some kind of death. But the second half of that portion reveals that we must all . . . C. Understand Who God is, who we are, and what that means for us. We sin, and sin is bad, but God is eternally and completely good. He is unchanging and immutable. And it is His will that we be a kind of first fruits. What does He mean by that? He wants us to blossom into His ultimate plan for us. We are to putt off the old man and his lusts and put on the new man which is being created in holiness so that we can bring forth good fruit through God’s power and to His glory. Your kids are the absolute biggest obstacle to them being one of those first fruits. We must keep this ever before them, especially when they’re tempted to blame everyone else for their sinful choices. And finally, James 1 teaches . . . 6. How to Have Victory over Temptation “19 Know this, my beloved brothers. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, laying aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in gentleness receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But become doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he looked at himself and has gone away, he immediately forgot what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious while not bridling his tongue but deceiving his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” Let’s pick this apart. In order to help our kids overcome temptation we must . . . A. Teach our kids to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. This kind of personality is the only one that will carefully and wisely consider the situation and reject the temptation of lust. B. Help our kids put off their sinful choices. And how are they to do this? They will never accomplish this if we don’t . . . C. Teach and reprove our kids with the Word of God. They need to receive the implanted Word, and they need to actually do what the Scripture says. So . . . D. Help them correct their behavior by obeying the Bible. When our kids confess their sins and ask forgiveness, we need to help them learn to address what they’ve seen in the mirror of God’s Word and do something about it. And then we need to . . . E. Help them keep before their eyes God’s expectations. We need to be faithful doers of the Word who bridle our tongues, are pure, love those whom God has put into our lives, and strive to keep ourselves unstained by the world. Conclusion
That my friends is what temptation is, how it influences our kids, God plan for temptation, and how to overcome it to His glory.
If you’ve never listened to the very end of an episode, please do. It’s there that I reveal the topic for next week. But I always want to ask that you share the current series with your pastors and friends and family. I also remind you to take advantage of the resources and products that were advertised during the show, and I invite you to email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at (828) 423-0894 if you need some personalized biblical counsel in helping yourself or your family overcome temptation. And then I finish with the topic for our next show. Now that we have a growing understanding of what sin and temptation are, in Part 3 we’re go to look at the very first response your kids have to all sin, and it may surprise you. We’re going to discuss what it means that your child’s first response to sin is knowledge. I’ll see you then.
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