1. John Hunter in his book, "Knowing God's Secrets" tells of how as a young Christian, seeking to live for God, he was much distressed by the problem of temptation. He describes how he encouraged himself with the thought that some day day temptation would no longer be a problem in his life. He imagined that as he grew older he would assume a tangible form of holy respectability which would solve all the problems of temptation and that he would eventually arrive at the state where he would be free from temptations baleful effects. As the years had passed he stated that he had learned two basic realities: 1) Temptation was just as strong and subtle as it was years ago; 2) That he was just as weak as he ever was and just as prone to failure.

2. What John Hunter learned should be and must be learned by every believer. It matters not how long we have been saved, temptation is as strong as ever and we are as weak as we have ever been. I think of a quote I came across many years ago that I think is excellent: "Temptation plus opportunity equals trouble."

3. A person may be tempted to commit a certain sin but not have the opportunity to fulfill their temptation. One the other hand, a person may have opportunity to commit a certain but not be tempted. It is when the two get together that you have trouble.

4. In our text James speaks of temptation and the trouble caused when the two come together. He used the word “temptation” twice in the previous verses but did so with the ideal of the trials believers face (Cp. verses 2 & 12). Now, beginning in verse 13 he refers to temptation in the sense that we often think of when we use the word “temptation.” James now uses the word in the sense of a solicitation to do wrong.

5. British writer Oscar Wilde once said, “I can resist everything but temptation.” James tells us why it is important to resist temptation. Let’s notice the text.

1. THE PRESENCE OF TEMPTATION!

1. James spoke of “trials” as a definite matter (Cp. Vs.2). He now speaks of “temptation” as a definite experience. Notice carefully verse 13, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." Notice carefully that he does not say  “if” but “when.” It is not a matter of if temptation will come, but when.

2. He spoke of trials as something experienced by every man (Cp. Vs.9-10) and he now speaks of temptation as the experience of “every man.” We read in verse 14, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." James speaks of "every man."

3. I think of 1 Cor. 10:13, ”There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man.” The word "common” speaks of that which is human, that which is after man. It matters not if your are young or old, rich or poor, man or woman, temptation involves  “every man.”

4. John White in "The Fight" stated: “You will be tempted. The kinds of temptation may change. Candies for kids, sensuality for the young, riches for the middle-aged, and power for the aging…As long as you live, you will be tempted.”

5. Notice more carefully what James had to say about the presence of temptation…

A. Temptation Cannot Be Attributed to God

1. Again notice verse 13, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." There were some in James day who taught that God was indirectly responsible for the existence of evil in the world. Some Jewish rabbi’s taught what was called yetzher ha’ra, which means “evil impulse.” They taught that this “evil impulse” was part of man’s original created nature, thus God was indirectly responsible for temptation. 

2. The poet Robert Burns wrote: 

Thou knowest Thou has formed me
With passions wild and strong
And listening to their witching voice
Has often led me wrong.

3. Burns seem to suggest that God was responsible for the wild and strong passions of man and these passions were often the target of temptation. Yet James tells us that no man can say that God is responsible for temptation. James was saying, "Don’t even remotely suggest that God has anything to do with your temptations.” The very ideal is absurd. Why?

4. For one thing, God Himself lacks the capacity to be tempted. God cannot be tempted. He has no vulnerability to evil and is utterly impregnable to its onslaughts. Secondly, God does not tempt us to sin. We can’t blame God for temptation.

5. I have often heard those in the homosexual community say, "God made me this way.” To justify such a theory is to severely twist and pervert the scripture. God is not directly or indirectly responsible for temptation, or the sin that results from temptation. Secondly notice:

B. Temptation Cannot Be Avoided By Man

1. Again, “every man” experiences temptation. Why? James speaks of the desires that we have. He speaks of "lusts." When we hear or use the word it is always associated with illicit desires. The word James used refers to a deep, strong desire or longing of any kind, good or bad. 

2. It is true that God created within man certain desires. We thirst and hunger. Those are God-given desires.  We have a desire to be happy. We are attracted to the opposite sex. God made us that way. He put within us this attraction or desire. All of these are God-given desires. They are not bad desires, but good. But with the entrance of sin there arose a system that seeks to get us to fulfill those desires in a way God never intended they be fulfilled.  

3. I read about what was called "export-rejects" in Britain after WWII. In a drive to boost the economy and build export of consumer goods, such things as china, pottery, cloth goods were sent abroad. The people of Britain never saw these goods. They were all sent overseas. Yet, they could buy what was called an "export-reject." The object wasn't good enough to be sent overseas because it was faulty in its manufacture. It was released to the home market. The British people bought these "export-rejects" and paid a high price to obtain them.

4. The fulfillment of God-given desires outside of God's plan is to accept a second rate fulfillment (faulty product), and as we shall see, at a high price. We must all understand that we all have certain desires and longings. James speaks of the as our "own lusts." One thing may be a temptation to one person but not a problem for someone else. What is a problem to you, may not be a problem to me. What is a problem to me may not be a problem to you. There are our "own lusts."

5. I heard about three preachers talking over lunch. One suggested they confess their sins one to the other. One said, "That's a good idea. I'll go first. I hate to admit it, but I take an occasional drink." The second spoke up and said, "I would not want others to know about it, but I like to gamble." They both looked at the third preacher and said, "We have confessed our sins, now its your turn." The third said, "My sin is gossip and I can't wait to get out of here." As I said, we all have our "own lusts." There are those particular problem areas of specific temptations we personally have to deal with.

6. In 1 John 2:16 we are given a trinity of temptation. John speaks of the "lust of the flesh.” This describes a consuming passion to do. Secondly, he speaks of the "lust of the eyes.” This describes a consuming passion to have. Lastly, he speaks of the "pride of life,” which describes a consuming passion to be.

7. All temptation could be placed into one or all of these categories. They all describes a world system that is constantly pulling at us to fulfill the longings we have been given by God outside of His plan. These temptations seek to get us to abuse God given longings. 

8. Again, the point is that no one is immune to temptation. As John Hunter said, “The words of the Lord Jesus in John 3:6 are just as true today: “that which is born of the flesh is flesh” – and it will always be flesh! I may work on the flesh and seek to improve it. I may educate the flesh and seek to add many social graces to its basic content. But when all is said and done, it is still the flesh…” 

9. What was he saying? No matter who or when, temptation is present and a constant force to be reckoned with. Secondly notice:

 2. THE PROCESS OF TEMPTATION!

1. In verse 14, we are not only reminded of the presence of temptation but we also see the process. We see how temptation works or how we are tempted. James uses the picture of a hunter and a fisherman to describe the process of temptation. He speaks of being “drawn away” and being “enticed.”  He has spoken of “lusts” and now  he speaks of “lures.”

A. Luring The Believer Away (Enticement).

1. The words "drawn away" speak of being snared in a trap. The picture is that of a hunter setting a baited trap. There is a steel trap that would be alarming rather than attractive to the hunted prey. To draw the prey to the trap, the hunter puts something inside the trap to appeal to the desires of the animal and to lure them away from their course and into to the trap.

2. In the first place, understanding temptation is to realize is that the pull of our flesh and the world not has the goal of getting us fulfill our desires in way God condemns, but has the ultimate goal of pulling us away and drawing us away from God. 

3. We as believers seek to  serve God, honor and loving Him, yet the world and the flesh is continually seeking to draw us away from and to interrupt our fellowship with God. This is the aim and objective of temptation. We also see the matter of:

B. Luring The Believer In (Entrapment).

1. The word "enticed" is a fishing term that speaks of baiting the hook. The fisherman knows that a bare hook will not be attractive to the fish. So he puts a nice juicy worm on the hook. Mr. Fish comes swimming along and the bait is too attractive to resist, it appeals strongly to his desires, so he is drawn away and then drawn in. He takes the bait, but in the bait is a hook.

2. Temptation is not only a process of being drawn away (from God) but also being drawn in (into sin). I remind you that the devil is a pro at fishing. He knows the kind of bait to use on each of us. He is very skillful in knowing what appeals to our desires. He knows what to put in the trap and put on the hook to draw us away and draw us in.

3. John White gave this illustration. “Have you ever fooled around with a piano? Open the top. Press the loud pedal. Then sing a note into the piano as loudly as you can. Stop and listen. You will hear at least one chord vibrating in response to the note you sang. You sing and a string in the piano picks up your voice and plays it back. Here, then, is a picture of temptation. Satan calls and you vibrate.” 

4. He goes on to say that the appropriate response is not to vibrate to the voice of the devil, but to release the loud pedal and close the top of the piano. The devils bait is always tempting, but we must never forget the price for taking his bait. This leads us to the third things James speaks of in our text. Notice:

3. THE PRODUCT OF TEMPTATION!

1. We read in verse 15, "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James describes the product or end result of yielding to temptation. Notice:

A. The Conception Of Sin.

 1. The word "conceived" describes a woman conceiving a child. Up to this point, James has described someone being tempted. The devil has baited his hooks and traps to entice us. At this point no sin had been committed. It is not a sin to be tempted. It is a sin when we yield to temptation. This conception speaks of a person yielding to temptation in their heart and mind.  There is that moment when the will joins the desire, but at this moment sin is only conceived. 

2. What is this conception? A person begins to think about it, imagine it, and then within the decision is made to yield. It is what Alexander Ross described as an “unholy marriage” between desire and opportunity, inclination and incitement.

3. I think of David and his sin of adultery with Bathsheba (Cp. 2 Sam. 11). We read in verse 2, “he saw.” A naked woman bathing was the temptation. At this point no sin had been committed. But we read in verse 3 that David  “sent and enquired.” It was at that moment that sin was conceived. David begin to think about the woman he saw. Whenever sin is conceived it is only a matter of time when there will be a birth to sin. We read in verse 4 that David “took her.” He yielded first in his heart and mind, and it was not long before what was conceived was born.

4. D.L. Moody said: “You can’t keep a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from building a nest in your hair.” We may not be able to avoid temptation, but we can prevent its conception. Furthermore we see:

B. The Conclusion Of Sin.

1. We see that once sin is conceived it "bringeth forth." The words literally mean, "ceases to be pregnant." There is the birth that I have been describing. What is the result of this birth? When the sin has been yielded to, James tells us the fruit and result is “death.”

2. James is not talking about physical death. The word is descriptive of a “stillbirth.” Sin never produces what it claims it will or what you think it will. Sin always paints a pretty picture. It always tells you that it will make you happy. Or, to put in other words, sin will tell you that it will give birth to joy and happiness. But sin always produces stillbirths. You yield to that which you think will fulfill your desires but what you end up with is a stillborn experience.

3. The word "death” literally means “separation.” You find yourself separated from God and the things of God. You find yourselves separated from real joy and real happiness.

4. Is it no wonder that James says in verse 16, “Do not err.” The words means, "don’t be pulled away." James is telling us not to let Satan's bait pull us away. As believers we should always remember that temptation plus opportunity equals trouble.