Faith IRL: The Temptation Trap - August 23, 2026 Second Service

THE TEMPTATION TRAP Gordon Dabbs, PhD James 1.12-18 Trials are the hard things that happen to us. Temptations are the bad things that look good to us. James 1.12 (NLT) 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. There is no testimony without the test. We cannot avoid temptation. But we can learn to recognize the trap before we crawl inside. James 1.13-15 (ESV) Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Pre-sin is fought with pre-decisions. Temptation gets stronger in the dark and weaker when we drag it into the light. A pre-decision is a gift your strong self presents your weak self. Hebrews 4:15 (ESV) [Jesus] in every respect has been tempted as we are. Lust of the flesh. Lust of the eyes The pride of life James 1.16-18 (NLT) So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming 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. Remember who God is and remember who you are.