That’s Tempting

In this message from "A Faith That Works," Pastor Ron opens James 1:13-18 and addresses something every believer wrestles with: temptation. Titled "That's Tempting," the message covers the pattern temptation follows, and the considerations James gives us to gain victory over it.

The Pattern of Temptation:

James is clear right from the start — don't blame God. God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. Instead, verse 14 lays out the progression: each person is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Desire conceives, gives birth to sin, and sin — when full grown — brings death. Understanding this pattern is the first step toward breaking it.

The Consideration — God's Goodness:

James's antidote to temptation is a clear view of God's character. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. God only gives good things. He brought us forth by the word of truth as firstfruits of His creation. So why would we trade His goodness for the empty glitter of sin?

Victory in Practical Terms:

Pastor Ron closes with a principle he's never forgotten: fat fish take no bait. When you fill yourself with God's word, prayer, and fellowship with His people, temptation loses its glitter. But when you're spiritually empty, you grab at things that will never satisfy.