In the ancient Greek writings, strange creatures called sirens appeared to sailors. They inhibited coral-encrusted Islands or rocky straits that were particularly hazardous to the ships. Sirens are usually depicted with the faces of women, the bodies of birds, and the voices of angels. Their songs were lovely, but ever so fatal. Their melodious voices and near-angelic appearance caused the sailors to veer from the safe, deep water channels and journey close to the dangerous Islands. Just when it looked like their ships would escape harm, the razor sharp shoals shredded the vessels and the sailor’s lives would be lost. There are similar voices calling out to Christians today. Like those mariners of yesteryear, YOU MUST TOO LEARN TO REFUSE THE SIRENS’ SONG.
THE SETTING
James 1:2-4 My brethren, COUNT it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3. KNOWING this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4. But LET patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ASK of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
WHEN YE FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS
- FALL INTO doesn’t mean a stupid accident; Translated “encounter, come across”
- “DIVERS” means “varicolored”; God arranges and mixes the experiences of life
Throughout the Bible are people who turned defeat into victory and trial into triumph. Instead of being victims, they became victors. No matter what the trials through faith in Christ we can experience victory. The result of this victory is spiritual maturity. In order to turn temptations into triumphs, we must obey four imperatives from James 1:2-5.
Ø #1. Count – EVALUATE your blessings with joyful attitude (1:2)
Ø #2. Know – understanding god KNOWS what’s best (1:3)
Ø #3. let – surrendering your will to god (1:4)
Ø #4. ask – believing god will bring you through (1:5)
FALLING SHORT: THE LIFE OF SAMSON
Ø Judges 13:24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. 25. And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Samson had spiritual power and performed feats that were unmatched by any other man. However, he was unconscious of his high calling. Samson became the hero of his tribe and he received much popularity. In the process of this fame he became careless with God’s power and ignored the traps of temptation.
HIS FALL INTO TEMPTATION WAS A PROGRESSION:
- 1) He married a Philistine woman of Timnah whom his parents objected to (Jud 14:3), BUT HIS MOTIVE was he "sought an occasion against the Philistines."
- 2) After an incredible victory Samson went to Gaza the chief city of the Philistines. There he saw a harlot, and could not control his passions.(Jud 16:1-3).
- 3) From Gaza Samson went to the valley of Sorek where he fell in love with another Philistine woman, named Delilah, The Philistine lords bribed her with a very large sum to deliver him into their hands. Jud 16:4-20)
OVERCOMING: THE LIFE OF THE JOSEPH
Genesis 39:6 And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. 7. And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9. There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: HOW THEN CAN I DO THIS GREAT WICKEDNESS, AND SIN AGAINST GOD?
JOSEPH’S IMPORTANT QUESTION: [HOW THEN] can I do this great wickedness, and sin AGAINST GOD? (Genesis 39:6)
Joseph gives two powerful reasons for his noncompliance:
Ø 1) GRATITUDE TO HIS MASTER to whom he owed all that he had.
Ø 2) HIS FEAR OF GOD in whose sight it would be a heinous offence.
A PERSPECTIVE OF GOD
- Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me:
- I Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
- Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10. And ye are complete in him.
- Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
TOOL FOR YOUR TOOL BOX: A VOW
Baptism is a lot like a wedding ring. Baptism is symbolic of the washing away of our sins. It is also symbolic of a new way of life. It has been said that Baptism is to the Christian faith what the wedding ring is to a marriage. It is a symbol. "Like the wedding ring, baptism draws a mark on the ground between the past and the future. Like the wedding ring, it says, "From this day forward, I stand with God."
Ø Each of you was given a twisty tie that you can bend into a ring for your finger as your symbol of commitment to God.
WEDDING VOWS
Ruth 1:16-17 Entreat me not to leave thee, Or return from following after thee, For whiter thou goest, I will go, And where thou lodgest, I will lodge Thy people shall be my people And thy God, my God And, may the Lord do so to me If ought but death part thee and me.
CONCLUSION
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that ENDURETH TEMPTATION: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
John 16:33 In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.
1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, THOUGH IT BE TRIED WITH FIRE, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
No comments:
Post a Comment