DEALING WITH TEMPTATION Dr. Kenneth Jones
Questions What Tempts You? Who Tempts You? (Does the devil really make you do it?) Why is it so hard to resist? How Can you resist? Why Did God put that Tree there?
Lead Us Not into Temptation Temptation is a desire to perform an action that one may enjoy immediately but later regret for various reasons Test to our faith: James 1:2-4; 1 Peter1:6-7 Temptation is about submission to Influence that usually preys on our fleshly, carnal nature to draw us away from the Spirit s influence No one is Immune from Temptation. Even Christ endured temptation (Hebrew 4:15) Equation: Involves the following factors: Requirement +Influence + Desire =X (Results/Consequence) (Ability to Resist) (Submission)
Temptation Temptation is more than making you do evil. It's about getting you to change your desired or divine course, your mind, belief, or direction For example, trials tempt us to forsake God and pursue our own course of Action Satan tried to get Jesus to change His divine, appointed course. He seeks to block our inheritance as sons of God by enslaving us to sin (Galatians 4:7) You have a divine, appointed course whether you believe it or not The steps Of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord (Psalms 37:23)
Analogy of Temptation
Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-7) Presentation of God s Word Standard or Law (Genesis 2:15-17) God placed a tree in the midst of the garden Influence - Satan (Genesis 3:1) An Enchanter; the serpent is the personification of sin and rebellion Presentation of an option or change in command Some believed the woman was the weaker or that Adam had not told her what God had said Satan mis-aligned the Word of God Yea God hath said From the beginning, Satan has tried to undermine God's people by undermining God's Word Eve did not fully understand God or just mis-quoted it Desire The Woman saw that the fruit was: Good to Eat- the lust of the flesh Pleasant to the eyes the lust of the eyes To make one wise the pride of life Commission of the Act She Ate of the Fruit and gave to her husband Result: Death
Why Did God Put that Tree There? James 1:13: 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. There was nothing essentially evil about the tree or the fruit of the tree. Adam only had to deal with one temptation whether or not to rebell against God s command not to eat of it. Why, then, did God allow Satan to tempt Adam and Eve? God allowed Satan to tempt Adam and Eve to force them to make the choice The tree was man s first test of his dependency upon God; that he would allow himself to trust and obey God s Word and commands If there is never a command, never something forbidden, then there can never be choice; and God wants our love and obedience to Him to be defined through the exercise of choice.
Jesus in the Wilderness Luke 4: 1-14 Driven and led by the Spirit The Holy Spirit placed Jesus in a place of temptation Satan considered him in a weakened state and used the same tactics there is no change in his game Jesus resisted by standing on God s Word His dependency was on the words of His Father Satan left Him to look for another opportunity - Satan doesn t give up easy; He is the tempter Results: Jesus returned in the Power of the Spirit and began ministering Usually promotion comes after each test
R s of Temptation Reason: Two thoughts A Reason Why You are going through the Temptation Reasonings: What thoughts you employ when faced with a temptation Rejection You will either reject the temptation or reject God s Will Rescue or Relief 1 Corinthians 10:13 is a promise from God The way of escape is not mere relief from he pressure but leads us to a place where we are able to bear it until we overcome it Recompense If you take the easy way or Sin way out, there will be consequences to pay Reward- If you endure, bear, and overcome, there will be rewards, earthly and heavenly
Mistakes Christians Make 1 Corinthians 10:12 Overconfidence in self Let Him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall: You must understand that you are vulnerable to temptation Understand your vulnerability so you can garner protection Even Superman knows that Not Trusting God in the midst of the Temptation God is faithful and has a better option He knows your strengths and vulnerabilities They confuse Temptation with being a sin They say you can t stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can prevent him from making a nest there To entertain and to surrender to temptation leads to sin Satan makes us feel condemned for the thought encouraging us to go on and commit the act
Blessed is the Man Who Endures James 1:12: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Get rooted and grounded in God s Word so that you will be able to endure temptation Luke 8:13: They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Year of 2013 Blessings or Curse The Number 13 has a two-fold promise (See Notes) The number 13 is not an evil number as the devil has gotten us to believe. But rather it is a number of great promise and blessing. The number 13 is a number of great blessings given by God. There is coming a great apostasy where many of you will be tested in your relationships, your finances, and your faith, but 2013 doesn t have to be an evil year, but a blessed year as you stay rooted and grounded in God and His Word and resist the temptation to alter or change your divine course
Pray Father I know that my faith, my relationship with You, and my commitment and strength will be tested through the trials of life and attacks from Satan who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy my relationship with you and hinder my inheritiance. I thank you that You are faithful and that You truly know me. You know my strengths and weaknesses and You will not place or allow me endure more than I am able to bear. Forgive me Lord for those times I have submitted to Temptation and now I ask you to help me Lord, so that I may choose Your will and Your Way over my fleshly desires and appetites, my emotions, and my pride. Allow me to see the escape You have for me to flee and give me strength and wisdom to endure temptation. I desire to live victoriously over sin and to receive the crown of life set aside for those who endure to the end.