WEBVTT
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When temptation gets the better of us, our first instinct is to look for someone to blame.
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The situation, the other person, even God.
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We hide, we explain, we point anywhere but at the desire underneath it.
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In James 1, 13 through 15, he traces it honestly back to the source.
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When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me.
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For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.
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But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
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Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.
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James walks the whole chain backward.
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Sin doesn't start with the act, it starts with a desire we keep feeding in the dark.
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And there's freedom in that because if the root is a desire, it's something God can actually meet and heal the moment we stop hiding it and bring it into the light.
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Let's begin by thanking God that we can bring anything to him without being ashamed.
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Thank him that he is completely pure, that there is no darkness in him to hide from.
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And thank him that in Jesus you are already made right with him, so you can be honest about what's still being healed.
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Now, let the Holy Spirit search your heart for a moment.
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Ask him to bring up the desire underneath the temptation that keeps tripping you up, what you actually reach for in a weak moment.
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Name it to God out loud or in the quiet, instead of hiding it.
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And ask him to go to the root and turn that desire back toward himself.
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Nothing left to blame, nothing left to hide.
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Quietly tell him, I'm not hiding this anymore.
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Meet me at the root and heal it.
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We give you what we've been hiding, and we trust you to cover us with forgiveness and grace.
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Amen.
00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:11.519
When temptation gets the better of us, our first instinct is to look for someone to blame.
00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:15.759
The situation, the other person, even God.
00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:23.760
We hide, we explain, we point anywhere but at the desire underneath it.
00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:31.280
In James 1, 13 through 15, he traces it honestly back to the source.
00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:36.560
When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me.
00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:42.159
For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.
00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:48.799
But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:59.280
Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.
00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:02.960
James walks the whole chain backward.
00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:09.599
Sin doesn't start with the act, it starts with a desire we keep feeding in the dark.
00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:22.000
And there's freedom in that because if the root is a desire, it's something God can actually meet and heal the moment we stop hiding it and bring it into the light.
00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:31.280
Let's begin by thanking God that we can bring anything to him without being ashamed.
00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:39.519
Thank him that he is completely pure, that there is no darkness in him to hide from.
00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:50.159
And thank him that in Jesus you are already made right with him, so you can be honest about what's still being healed.
00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:14.159
Now, let the Holy Spirit search your heart for a moment.
00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:24.479
Ask him to bring up the desire underneath the temptation that keeps tripping you up, what you actually reach for in a weak moment.
00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:33.280
Name it to God out loud or in the quiet, instead of hiding it.
00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:40.800
And ask him to go to the root and turn that desire back toward himself.
00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:53.039
Nothing left to blame, nothing left to hide.
00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:59.120
Quietly tell him, I'm not hiding this anymore.
00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:03.039
Meet me at the root and heal it.
00:05:23.600 --> 00:05:31.680
We give you what we've been hiding, and we trust you to cover us with forgiveness and grace.
00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:33.360
Amen.
