This one verse is just loaded with truths so pertinent that we need two messages to parse it context. Today we address the goodness of God to us and next week the immutability of God for us. Last time we spoke about temptations and the struggles we have dealing with them. I don’t like talking about issue unless I can give you from God the means to deal with them. That is the objective today. Don’t you wish temptations came with a warning like those in the pharmaceutical commercials on TV?  You know they give you about 50 seconds dedicated to telling you how wonderful this drug is and then finally there is a 10 second warning given at 90 miles an hour telling you all the harmful side-effects you may experience includes nausea, vomiting, constipation, bloating, gas, stomach pain, headache, dizziness, tired feeling, swelling in your hands, feet, or torso. Diarrhea, irritability, dry mouth, loss of earring, sore throat, insomnia, swollen lips and hair lost. Oh, yeh after hearing all that I really want that pill. Temptation does not come with these warning our flesh, the world and Satan are too deceitful for that.

Remember that temptation itself is not sin. Yielding to temptation is the sin. Don’t let Satan put you on a guilt trip because thoughts of temptation enter your mind. Jesus Himself was tempted yet never sinned (see Hebrews 4:15). Temptation is an inward solicitation resulting from an outward test. Temptation is a real, and often daily, experience that every believer must learn how to handle. But temptation itself is not a sin. God loves you.

James told us “Don’t you be deceived, my beloved brethren, every good thing bestowed in every perfect gift is from above.” That’s all God ever sends. God will bring the test for spiritual maturity and perfection.

To overcome temptation we must not only remember that it does not originate with God but that as James continues in … (1:17a) every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the father of lights

I God’s Love & Goodness Trumps Temptation

1. In the original Greek there are two different words for gift, to emphasize the perfection and inclusiveness of God’s graciousness towards us. The word good (agathos) means “being good in its character or constitution and beneficial in its effect.” God is the source of nothing but good. “Good gifts”, speaks of the act of giving. God is a giving God. And no matter how hard you may look no one gives more than God.

2. “Perfect gift” refers to the object of the gift. The word perfect (te’-lā-os) means “complete or lacking nothing.” It describes a gift that is perfectly matched to the person or the situation. It will perfectly meet the need of the recipient. Perfect also means there is nothing evil that comes from God. We enjoy a lot of good things, whether it’s friends, health, employment, family or whatever. We must come to the attitude and understanding that all things good come from God and God is always good.

a) Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

3. The case he is making is that in contrast to the temptations to do evil, all good and perfect gifts come from God. Understanding this truth is critical in overcoming temptation. The devil will try to convince us that God is holding out on us, that He is not doing all He should for our good and happiness. God loves you and has provided all the resources you need.

  I like to give you seven aspects in overcoming temptation:

1. Admit that you have a problem. Isaiah 55:6-9

Rationalizing sin will never cure it. Whatever sinful thoughts we are troubled with, we must confess them to God. Be honest with Him who searches our hearts and minds and knows our thoughts. Confess your weakness to God. 50% of a problem resolved is to admit there is one.

2. Believe that God can make a difference in your thought life.

There are no doubting victorious Christians. In Hebrews 11:6, we learn that without faith, we cannot please God; if we are to approach Him for strength or wisdom, we must believe Him capable of supplying it. Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. God is to us a God of deliverances… (Psalms 68:19, 20).Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us [with benefits, even] the God of our salvation. He that is our God is the God of salvation;

Though we are urged to “walk worthy of the calling with which [we] were called” (Eph. 4:1), we live in a world where we face distracting enticements. Maybe we’re offered a job that pays well but requires that we compromise biblical principles. Our calling is always to do God’s will. When we are

confronted with a temptation to stray from God’s way for our life, we must remember that we have a higher calling as servants of Jesus.

3. Examine yourself. If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear me (Psalms 66:18).

God gives no blessing to Christians that hold out on Him. If our minds are to be renewed, we must be painfully honest-both with God and ourselves. Search out and confess those thoughts that displease Him.

4. Take the “way of escape!” Proverbs 4:14-15

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

Don’t put yourself in the place of temptation. Get away from the source of your temptation. One thing that is different about this generation that we live in now, that no other generation has ever live in is in the area of sensual temptation. Never in the history of the mankind would we have had access to the sensual immoral things like we do in this world today. There is one thing we all better be doing is respect sensual temptation. This sin is readily available today in mega proportions.

If you are tempted to drink, don’t hang around liquor. Learn to say no. If someone keeps pushing you away from God, get away from them until you have conquered your temptation. If necessary, stay away from people and places that are pulling you down. Know what your weakness is and avoid it.

5. See God as the only refuge.

We live in a society geared to human pride and self-sufficiency. Even Christians sometimes forget that only God is our true deliverer. David acknowledged as much: O give us help against the adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain (Psalms 60:11). Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. (Psalms 62:8)

6. Trust God to give you the victory. I Corinthians 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

He is faithful! If you really believe that, you will deal with your temptation by making “no provision for the flesh.” He says with the temptation God will always provide the way of ekbasis or escape. There’s always a path to victory. There’s always an ek’bassett is the Greek word, literally an exit. There’s always an escape hatch. There’s always a parachute. There’s always a way out.

Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus was in all points tempted like as we are and it says He was made like unto His brethren. In His enduring temptation He suffered the temptations that are common to man. That’s why He is such a faithful and merciful high priest to whom we can go and know we find one who understands.

7. Seek the help of a Christian friend. Psalms 1

Two kinds of friends are to be avoided: the harsh, legalistic type and the over-lenient type. Go to someone who will help you turn from sin without turning from you. Ask to pray with that person. The Bible reminds us that we are to bear…one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

Conclusion:

There must come a point when we are revolted at our own vileness. It is at this point God wants the Christian to resolve to “go all the way with God’s way.” This means conforming every thought to the holiness required in Scripture. There is the temptation for believers to forsake communion and fellowship with each other. Satan will tempt you to forsake these vital meetings- that it doesn’t matter. What we do- does matters. Forsaking the assembling is a symptom of spiritual heart trouble. You will never become spiritually strong with a poor spiritual diet thereby always struggle with temptations.