RAMPART Protected From Temptation Terry Baldwin

Transcription

1 August 23rd, 2015 RAMPART Protected From Temptation Terry Baldwin 1 ( TITLE SLIDE ) When Joy surrounds your heart you re protected from... Pride, Complacency, Selfishness, Religion. / Temptation We all are tempted every day - Even the best of Men are men at best - We are all vulnerable to temptation - But God promises a way of escape [ Philippians NKJV ] 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Paul loved the Philippians greatly and couldn t get to them when he wrote this letter - First Paul learned that Judeizers (legalism) were infiltrating the church... Calling them DOGS! - Paul now learned that WORLDLINESS was also creeping in - The Greek culture was all around them! - Problem with Worldliness is that it could lead to backsliding

2 - Life of SIN / Following Jesus / Back to the old ways of living 5 THINGS THAT CAN PROTECT US FROM TEMPTATION 2 1. If You Follow Someone You Will End Up Where They Are Going (Follow example) - Who you date, impacts your life - Who you hang with will affect you greatly - They are your advisory board on things of life QUOTES: Show me your friends and I ll show you your future Bad company corrupts good character - Many temptation we experience come into our lives through those we choose to spend our time with - We can experience unnecessary temptation [ Philippians a NKJV ] 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction Why should I not hang out with them???? Because their end is destruction. - If you aren t around people who are pushing you on towards God, then they will push you away. You are NOT strong enough to be around them without falling to the temptation - You can t lead them to God when you are sinning with them - They are heading towards destruction... Stay close to God, then you can lead them out

3 3 It s NOT all about Who you SHOULDN T FOLLOW It s also who you DO follow... [ Philippians 3.17 NKJV ] 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. - Follow them AS they follow Jesus - How to forgive, how to seek forgiveness - Learn from their mistakes - AS they are living... EXAMPLE... not just words!...if you follow someone, you will end up where they are going 2. Your Belly is not your Friend Belly is a picture for all your desires of this world other than for spiritual things [ Philippians 3.19 NKJV ] 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame CAUTION: about overweight and out of shape people BUT we live in a super size obese society - Americans tend to look towards food for comfort... Comfort Food - According to U.S.News: Americans top of list of Obese adults & kids - Our Belly can be our god

4 4 Appetite for... - Spending / Do you need it? Do you have money for it?... but it feels good - Technologies / Must have the newest colored iphone - Anything that takes the place of God... ANY GOOD THING can be our god... That s a BAD THING [ Philippians NKJV ] 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, - Their glory is in their shame... (world s glory is fading) - When we worship Jesus we get to experience HIS glory - Worship anything else you get to experience that glory... Shame, Sorrow, Disappointment, Remorse, Regret, DISSATISFACTION... [ Ecclesiastes 5.10 NIV ] Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. There are temptations from without ( Internet, billboards, TV, Friends ) BUT there are also temptations from within us. [ James NLT ] 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

5 5 - Yes there are external people and external influences that tempt us to sin - We are ALSO tempted from within our own hearts - We need to recognize we have a fallen nature When we put ourselves around temptation, there is within us desires that springs up - Our belly is NOT Our Friend - Living to give in to every desire will only lead to sin and to death!!! - Death of marriage - Death of a calling - Death of a ministry SIN SUCKS - Sucks away Joy / Potential / Pleasure The very thing you look to sin for... you are really turning your back on it - Turning your back on the ONE who gives lasting Joy - Lasting Pleasures - Lasting Peace - Ultimate Satisfaction - You can end up like Esau trading your birthright for a bowl of soup CHALLENGE: Take one day a month to fasting food... - Every time you feel like eating... read the word, Pray - Eat food that comes from heaven not just here on earth When you do that it just shows you... - I don t have to give in to every desire - You have greater strength afterwards

6 6 3. It s Not Your Past That Should Mark You But Your Future [ Philippians 3.20 NKJV ] 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Phillipi was a Roman colony - Considered a roman citizen - perks Protection - illegal to whip Roman - Romans can not be crucified Though they lived far from Rome (800 miles) Rome was technically their home - They dressed like in Rome - They talked like in Rome - Enjoyed same pleasures as in Rome Though we are Christians & we live far from heaven, Heaven it is technically our home Paul says... we are citizens of heaven Once you put your faith in Jesus, - You re transferred OUT of the kingdom of darkness / into the Kingdom of Light - This world is no longer your home - Your name is written in the Lamb s Book of Life / That book is in heaven - Though we live far from home, Heaven is the kingdom we re citizens of

7 7 - We are resident aliens living abroad on official state business - Our past doesn t mark us - but our future WE live today... - In this world BUT NOT of this world - We are ambassadors ROYAL REPS - Clothed with the righteousness of Christ - Taking off the works of lawlessness... putting on the armor of light - We died with Christ, to the citizenship of this world AND rose to walk in newness of life - Our lives are meant to be marked by our future, not our past - NOT where we are coming from, but where we are going to 4. You are what you think [ Proverbs 23.7 NKJV ] For as (a man) thinks in his heart, so is he. Thoughts are powerful!!! - Thoughts life controls the outcome of your life - Thoughts are like a rudder on a boat Why Paul contrast how those who live for their belly and those who live for God... he brings attention to our thoughts [ Philippians 3.19 NKJV ] 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame who set their mind on earthly things.

8 The World thoughts are focused on God is my belly... - I want to smoke that... - I want to eat that... - I want to swallow that... - I want to wear that... - I must have that... 8 Only things of this earth are stuck in their heads - This life, this life, this life... How are WE suppose to think??? [ Colossians 3.22 NKJV ] Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. LET S BE HONEST... - It s very difficult to live in this world and not of this world - It s all we have ever seen - NOW... God comes in and saves us - We re told everything we ever knew is a Lie... - We re told Up is Down / Down is Up - God is NOT our belly / Jesus is God - It s easy to act like this world and lifestyle is our home - We Must learn to THINK different... - Set your mind on things above... Something we must physically do Confess it... This world is NOT my home I am a pilgrim / My home is where Jesus is I m an ambassador in this word I m going to go home soon!

9 Im leaving all this behind Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 9 When we do that, temptations are not as strong 1 John 3.3 And all who have this eager expectation (hope) will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. - When you set your mind on things above... - You will be able to set aside the sin that so easily entangles you You are what you think... so think often of heaven Band come forward please There s No Stronger Motivation Than Anticipation You get ready for what you look forward to - Around February... look forward to Vacation in Florida - The more you think about it, I will be swimming... Swim suite... - You go tan / You work out / Lose weight [ Philippians NKJV ] 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

10 Not only is our citizenship in heaven... So is our Savior! 10 - Jesus is alive today, in His new body - We will also be in our new body when He comes back - The loved ones will be there - We Eagerly wait this day - No more dying, crying, saying goodbye... The more we foster these thoughts... - We will have power to lay aside temptation - We will be given strength to handle the trials that we must face - When we dare to believe what Jesus says He will do... - We will have strength inside us facing each day PRAY Open up alter for prayers WORSHIP