Introduction:  One of the most beautiful roads in the world is found in Bolivia and is called the Yungas Road.  It is approximately forty miles long and yields amazing scenery.  It has mountains all around and in some places beautiful water beneath.  Tourists from all over the world have made the trip to Bolivia to see this road.  Though this road is known for its amazing beauty it is also known for its danger.  It is no longer in use, but when it was 2-3 cars drove off of its edge on a monthly basis.  On the average 200-300 travelers were killed each year.  The road was extremely busy and in places there was not room for two vehicles to pass each other.  Oftentimes buses and work trucks would line the edge, while other buses and work trucks passed going the opposite direction.  This road that is so alluring in one sense is the pathway to death for many.  This is much like temptation.  We are drawn into it by its appeal, but then in the end it is the worst road we could take.

1. THE ORIGIN OF TEMPTATION (James 1:13-14 [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: [14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
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1. Temptation Defined
1. To tempt someone is to test them or try them.
2. It is not always evil, yet in our passage it is evil for it is dealing with an enticement to sin.
2. The Lord is Not Responsible (James 1:13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
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3. Our Own Lust is Responsible (James 1:14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
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1. No one is tempted to do something that they do not care to do.
2. Temptation is only possible if you want to do it.
3. This explains the incapability for the Lord to be tempted with evil (James 1:13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
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2. THE PROCESS OF TEMPTATION (James 1:14-15 [14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. [15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
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1. The Drawing Away of Lust (James 1:14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
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1. This step is subtle and at first is more of a distraction.
2. It is a tug at the heart to pull you from the road you are on (Deuteronomy 30:17But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
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3. It is warring against the drawing of the Lord (Jeremiah 31:3The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
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4. There is no appearance of evil (Psalm 28:3Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
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2. The Way of Escape (1 Corinthians 10:13There 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.
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1. The temptation will not be above what you are able to bear.
2. The Lord will provide a way of escape so you do not have to sin.
3. The Enticement (James 1:14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
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1. No longer is it merely a distraction from what is right.
2. Now it is a desire to go the wrong direction.
4. The Product of Lust (James 1:15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
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1. When lust hath conceived
2. It bringeth forth sin
5. The Product of Sin (James 1:15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
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1. Sin, when it is finished
2. Bringeth forth death
3. THE ADMONITION CONCERNING TEMPTATION (James 1:16Do not err, my beloved brethren.
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1. Do Not Err
2. My Beloved Brethren
3. Illustration of things along the Yungas Road
1. The phrase “Dios te ama” meaning God loves you
2. The crosses along the way testifying to those who have died on its path
4. THE SPIRITUAL ASPECT OF TEMPTATIONS (James 1:2-4 [2] My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; [3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. [4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
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1. The Joy of Finding Temptation (James 1:2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
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2. The Fruit of Victory (James 1:3-4 [3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. [4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
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Conclusion:  Have you been drawn away from God’s will for your life, by the appeal of the side-roads?  Have you been led down the path of sin or disobedience to the perfect will of God?  It will end in death, maybe physical death, but certainly spiritual death.

Yield Not to Temptation

By:  Horatio R. Palmer