James 1:14
DATE: 25 Feb, 2001
PM
PLACE: BBC Blarney
I.
Introduction (Hebrews 12:1)
A.
What are “besetting sins?”
B.
Did you know that we all have them?
C.
Did you know that we all have the command here to lay them aside?
1.
Not
just once at salvation - But every day!
2.
It is
an exchange
a.
Love of
money for the cross (Mark 10:21)
b.
Love of
self for a new life
c.
The
trap of our sinfulness for rest (Mt 11:28,29)
II.
Background
A.
We Are
Born with a Sinful Heart (Jer 17:9)
B.
My
sinful heart is the source of the strength of my “Flesh” (1Pet 2:11)
C.
“My
Way” is the life I live in my flesh – the opposite of being “in the
Spirit”
III.
Message – Strangers to Ourselves
A.
What
every person needs to know is, What is the ruling lust of my heart?
1.
Our
disposition; our natural things we do that are not of God
a.
In
other words, What drives my emotions?
b.
What
behaviour does my lust and desire fuel?
c.
Could
it be…
1)
To
always be FIRST in what you do – more than just ambition
2)
To be
accepted by everybody
3)
To be
right – not made right, but to be above others
4)
To get
even? Revenge
5)
To
2.
It is
not always apparent to us (Luke 9:55)
3.
It is
usually different in every person
a.
As
varied as there are “personalities”
b.
People
are affected by different temptations
1)
Music
affects some, and not others
2)
Cigarette
smoke affects some as a temptation, but not others
3)
Drink,
Money, etc
4.
My lust
is defined by what I think about
a.
Rock
music, filthy photos, cigarettes, drink, are all sinful and wrong, but only
tempt us if they are part of what we think about
b.
EX:
Look at fashion.
1)
The
fashions that affected people 20 years ago no longer affect people
(thankfully). The fashions are no longer desired
2)
The
desires changed when the thinking changed about how important it was to HAVE a
certain style
5.
My
controlling lust is what Christ died to conquer – have you let Him conquer
it yet?
6.
What is
the importance of this understanding?
a.
Unless
you are aware of what causes you to fail, temptation will constantly entangle
you
b.
If we
however remain ignorant of what “besets” us, we will all our lives live in
the same old paralysed state
7.
Let’s
look at what we are talking about – it is simply called “my way”
a.
Judges
17:6
b.
Psalm
81:12
c.
Prov
3:5, 7
d.
Prov
12:15
e.
Prov
23:4
f.
Prov
28:26
g.
Philp
2:21
h.
2Tim
3:2
i.
Jude 16
B.
Let’s
look at a great example of someone who did not know himself – King Saul in 1
Samuel 15:16-
1.
Thought
he was obeying the Lord’s command
2.
Thought
he could blame others for his own way (15:21)
3.
truly
thought his way was not just good enough for God, but even BETTER than what God
had asked for (15:22)
C.
How Does
Anyone ever Change? Or Be Changed?
1.
See your
own way as “stubbornness” (15:23) – fixed like a rock – must be broken
up (Luke 20:17,18) – stubbornness can not see itself!
a.
That’s
why you need godly friends – who will always be truthful, and honest, and
straight-up with you, all the while loving you!
b.
That’s
why you need a strong Bible-preaching church
c.
That’s
why you need a strong King James Bible – to break you
d.
That’s
why you need time of real prayer in earnest for the Holy Spirit to work on your
cold hard heart!
2.
See that
our way is actually a rejection of the word of God (15:23) – such a serious
sin – as idolatry (worship of my self)
3.
See that
our own way can NEVER please God (Rom 8:5-8)
4.
Repent of
our own way – surrender your life into the hands of such a Saviour as Jesus!
5.
There is
no greater work than the work of repentance, and there is no greater fruit than
when repentance has allowed the forgiveness of Christ to cleanse and make us
fully whole!