We learn from James chapter one that we cannot blame God for our temptations. So, where do they come from? He answers that question. We are tempted by our own evil desires. We are tempted to sin because we have a sinful nature.

Main Points:

1. All of us face temptations. There has never been a person alive who didn’t face temptation. The Bible says, even Jesus was tempted but was without sin. This brings up a good question, where do our temptations come from? Is the devil tempting me, is God tempting me?

2. We cannot blame God for our temptations. God cannot be tempted, and he doesn't tempt anyone else. God is holy, and he doesn't want us to fail or fall. The truth of it is that temptation resides deep in who we are.

3. While we recognize that we have a sinful nature, we are not powerless in our temptations. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can resist temptation and live in a way that honors God.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

James 1:13-15 - "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after sin has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

Psalm 51:5 - “For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.”

Romans 5:12 - “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 - “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

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The love of money is a heart issue. It’s called greed. Greed is one of the enemies of our hearts.  Very quietly it slips in and begins to guide and direct our decisions.  The Bible calls greed sin because it can lead us to push God out of our lives.  Greed is dangerous because it blinds us to what is truly important.

Main Points:

1. The problem with the love of money is that it is never satisfied. When will you have enough? It doesn’t matter how much we possess, we still want more. The love of money can motivate any evil on this earth. 

2. Jesus identifies the love of money as a heart issue. Here is an important biblical truth: Satisfaction can only be found in Christ. Contentment can only be gained through a relationship with Jesus. Apart from living for Jesus, our hearts wander in search of fulfillment, only to never find it.

3. We rid ourselves of greed and materialism when we treasure Jesus above all things. He is our ultimate treasure. When we have Jesus we have everything we need. This is how we guard our hearts against the root of all evil.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 Timothy 6:10 - “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 

Luke 12:34 - “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

1 Timothy 6:6 – “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” 

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We have an adversary, and enemy, the devil who wants to attack our faith, bring confusion and discouragement and cause us to falter in our relationship with God. He doesn’t want us to be strong spiritually. He wants to do everything he can to hinder the spiritual growth of our families. He wants us to be ineffective in our work for the Lord.

Main Points:

1. It’s my experience that most Christians go throughout their day without much thought of spiritual warfare. I don’t believe we should expect a devil to be living under every rock, but the Bible is clear that you and I, as believers, are in a spiritual battle.

2. I’m guessing that everyone listening to this episode prays for God’s protection. I do too. Maybe in the mornings and evenings, you pray that God would watch over your family, protect them from harm, and keep them safe. We are praying for the physical protection of those we love. I certainly believe in God’s power to shield us from harm. 

3. But while you pray for physical protection, do you also pray for spiritual protection?

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Ephesians 6:12 - “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Ephesians 6:10-11 - “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Ephesians 6:18 - “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

But while you pray for physical protection, do you also pray for spiritual protection? This is what the Apostle Paul is referring to in these verses. Why pray for spiritual protection? 1 Peter 5:8 - “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

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We keep in step with the Spirit by a continual surrendering of our lives to the will of God. His will is revealed to us in His Word. As we follow and obey the Word of God, we are walking by the Spirit. As we abide with Jesus through prayer and worship, our hearts stay in tune with the Holy Spirit.

Main Points:

1. In the New Testament book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul instructs us to keep up with the Holy Spirit. God is leading our lives. We have put Him in the driver’s seat. We have yielded the control of our lives to Him. We have made Him the Lord of our lives. Our job is to follow. We don’t know where we are to go or how we are to live, so we must follow. 

2. As Christ's followers we have given up being the master of our own lives because we have discovered a better master. We’ve discovered that following Jesus is worth it and there is no better life to live.

3. As you draw near to God, listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit as He guides you to walk in step with Him.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Galatians 5:25 - “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16 - “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Galatians 5:24 - “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

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The Bible teaches us that repentance brings the refreshing of the Lord into our lives. Do you need to be refreshed and revitalized? Is it because you are carrying the weight of sin and need to come to the Lord with repentance?

Main Points:

1. Sin is a burden to carry. It’s a heavyweight. We’ve all felt the load of grief and weariness that sin makes us carry.

2. A critical part of our salvation is God’s call for us to repent of our sins. We hear a lot today about putting our faith in Jesus, but we must see that the Bible also calls us to repent of our sins. The full biblical definition of repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of action.

3. There is no peace, like the peace of knowing that your sins are forgiven and that you are in right relationship with God. You can find the serenity and tranquility of God’s presence when you know there is nothing between you and God.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 38:3-4 - “…there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin. My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.”

Acts 3:19 - “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…”

1 John 1:9 - “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

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Satisfaction apart from Christ is an elusive search. Our flesh craves more and more. More everything. More anything. No matter what we have, whether it’s money, possessions, recognition, sex, accomplishment, or experiences, we still want more. Yet, like Rockefeller, we have discovered that more doesn’t satisfy.

Main Points:

1. What is satisfaction anyway? The dictionary defines satisfaction this way. It is the fulfillment of our wishes, expectations, or needs, or the pleasure derived from this. From this definition alone we begin to understand why satisfaction from this life is so difficult to find.

2. Hear this truth today. Only Jesus satisfies. He is the only one who can fill the longing of your soul. Only Jesus can meet our inmost needs. 

3. Apart from Christ, our souls are thirsty. They are parched. We need living water that only comes from one source. This living water is a relationship with Jesus Christ. We take this drink, we experience this satisfaction as we place our faith in Him and begin a relationship with the living God.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Isaiah 55:1-3 - ““Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.”

John 4:13-14 - “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.”

Psalm 107:9 - “For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.”

Jesus told his followers in John 6:35 - ““I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."

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In the book of Galatians, Paul corrects some erroneous teachings and practices among the believers there. These Christians had been deceived and had come to believe they had to keep and obey the Law of Moses to be saved and in right relationship with Christ.

Main Points:

1. Christ was the fulfillment of the law when he died for us on the cross. Our salvation is not based on law-keeping, it’s based on faith in the Son of God who died for us.

2. It’s here that we recognize that we are not saved by doing good things. We do good things because we are saved. We live in obedience because God calls us to obedience. We serve and do good works because God asks us to do so. We are motivated by the great love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf.

3. Hear the call of our savior to lay down your flesh, your carnal desires, and your worldly passions. Let them be crucified with Christ. Embrace the life that comes through faith in the resurrected Savior.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Galatians 2:20 - “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

2 Corinthians 5:15  - “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

Galatians 5:24 - “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

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God has given everyone a general revelation of himself by displaying the beauty and power of creation. Though some reject this truth, it is obvious in the heart and mind of man that there is a God.

Main Points:

1. As we look around at our world, we see the clues God has left. When you stand at the Grand Canyon, you can’t help but be overwhelmed at the mighty power of God to create such magnificence. When you see the vast Pacific Ocean, the power of Niagara Falls, and the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains, you know there must be a creator.

2. I believe King Solomon was right when he said in Ecclesiastes, “God has put eternity on our hearts.” The longing we feel, the cravings we experience, and the unfulfilled desires all lead us to the one who can meet every need and satisfy our every desire. His name is Jesus. He is the Son of God, our Savior, and our Lord.

3. Seasons come and seasons go, but nothing in this life is completely satisfying. Solomon said, “It’s all vanity.” But through it all, we have a glimpse of something more. We recognize this world is not our home. Creation points to a God who is in control and one who has given us a Savior.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 1:20 - “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11 states God has “set eternity in the human heart.”

Psalm 19:1 - “The Heavens declare the glory of God.”

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Let this truth encourage you today. God knows you. He sees you. On this planet of almost eight billion people, God knows you. He loves you. He has a purpose for you.

Main Points:

1. While we often limit the extent of what we share with others, there is one who knows it all. God sees and knows all things. God has intimate knowledge about your life.

2. I suppose that for some this is a scary thought. “Wow! God knows everything, I mean, everything about me?” However this revelation is not to frighten us, it’s to encourage us. The God who knows more than anyone ever has or could, loves us deeply. He knows about your every struggle, weakness, temptation, and sin, and yet he has never given up on you. And He never will.

3. What a powerful thought. To be fully known and fully loved. What’s even more amazing is that this God of love is actively at work in our lives to help us fulfill His plan and purpose. You see, God’s love doesn’t just accept us as we are, it’s God’s will for us to reach our potential. This potential is to be like Jesus in our character.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 139:1-4 - “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.”

Ephesians 2:10 - “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

2 Timothy 2:19 - “God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his.’”

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Divine healing is a gift of God’s grace for all.  Just as salvation comes to us by God’s grace, healing does as well. We do not deserve it and cannot earn it. In the NT people did not view healing as a right, but as an act of God’s grace. We are in no position to demand God to give us healing.

Main Points:

1. In the church today there is a lot of false teaching about healing.   What the Bible teaches us is that healing occurs according to the will of God.  There is no magic formula.  God is concerned about our needs.  We bring them to him.  We pray.  But God is the healer.

2. Admittedly, the sovereignty of God is difficult to understand. Why does He heal some and not heal others? I do not know. But this is not for me to figure out or question. My responsibility is to do what I have been instructed to do in Scripture.

3. Let’s remain confident in our belief that God has the power to heal the sick and that this blessing is offered to us.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

James 5:13-15 - “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”

Isaiah 53:5 - “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes, we are healed.”

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