Bible Text: James 1:12-18 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Mighty in His Power
Our Temptations
Worrying or being anxious
Procrastinating or putting things off
Eating too much
Spending too much time on media
Being lazy
Spending more money than they could afford
Gossiping about others
Being jealous or envious of others
Viewing pornography or sexually explicit material
Abusing alcohol or drugs
James 1:12-18 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.  And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, God is tempting me. God is never tempted to do wrong and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.  He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.
Life will tempt and test our faith and obedience
Genesis 22:1-2 Later on God tested Abraham’s faith and obedience.
The purpose of testing and temptation is to strengthen our character and deepen our faith in God.
Faith dissolves due to a lack of attention, development and discipline
1 Corinthians 10:13 But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.
The Discipline of Resisting Temptations:
Honest (accurate) self-awareness, assessment
Open communication (listening) to the Lord and His Word
Appropriation of the Power (gifts) of the Holy Spirit
Accountability with other believers (community)
Knowing the Word of God (standard and practice for our faith)
Forgiveness: a powerful tool when we fall and fail (1 John 1:9)
The Battle of Isolation
Remember:
Others have resisted temptation and won and so can you
He is ALWAYS present with us
Temptation can be resisted because God will help you resist it
Recognize people and situations that can tempt you
Run from anything you know is tempting
Choose to do what is right, and learn boundaries
Pray (ask) for the Lord and Holy Spirit’s help
Seek friends (community) who love God and support you
Jesus is NEVER indifferent to our temptation
Luke 22:31-34 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers…
Jesus says three things to Peter:
Satan is out to kill, steal, or destroy (our faith).
The Lord is interceding (for us).
We are going through a refining, training process so we can be helpful, useful to others.
Our Battle is Ignorance and Illiteracy of God’s Word
Mark 1:9-13 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan…
And immediately coming up from the water He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan…
Matthew 4:3-11 …the tempter came to Him, he said, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
…set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: He shall give His angels charge over you, and, in their hands they shall bear you up…Jesus said to him, It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God.
…took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, Away with you, Satan! For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve… 
There are times when we are going to face difficult moments in life not because of our FAILURE(S) but because of our OBEDIENCE.
We Battle the Power of Desire with the POWER of the Holy Spirit
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Romans 7:21-25
1 Peter 5:8
Our God is a GIVING God
James 1:16-18 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. 
We are to live as God’s FIRSTFRUITS
That we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures…