Temptation

So we wanted to talk about temptation.

What is temptation ? Ask the people Ben said call on people

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Temptation is the intentional enticement of a person, by some bait —usually pride, always self-gratifying—to disobey God’s revealed Word. The predicate may be demonic or fleshly, but the object is always the distortion of God’s world and the defiance of God’s mission in the world. -Damani

James 1:12–15 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” - Damani

The closer we get to God the more we get attacked in certain areas. The more we are able to lean on Jesus and lean on the word, trusting him, is how we are able to beat temptations. That is why its important that every time we get certain feelings and thoughts, that we bring it to light, we bring it christ. We dont let it sit and fester because then a seed is planted and then eventually something bad will come about later.

2 Corinthians 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”

1 corinthians 10:13 - Ben

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

tied to 2 peter 2:9

2 Peter 2:9 ESV

then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,

The word

Psalm 119:11 “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Matthew 13:22 “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.”

adam and eve + Jesus. Same temptation, going against God’s Word

Genesis 3:1–5 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Damani

Matthew 3:17 “and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””

Matthew 4:3–4 “And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

in both of these cases we see that Jesus the second adam, and adam and eve were both tempted by satan the same way, questioning Gods word, the same way he does today against us. Using Gods word and living by his word is the one of the only ways to defeat satan and his kingdom and also temptation. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, if you dont know the word, if you dont seek out God, if its just you alone, you will fall to temptation.

Jesus Section

Ben

Luke 22:39–40 “And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Damani

Hebrews 2:18 “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

1 Peter 4:12–13 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

Jesus said: Pray that you may not enter into temptation. He being our high priest was tempted in every way which we are tempted today. He overcame every temptation that Satan, The world, and the flesh (bearing a human body) that was sent his way. Being our high priest, He is the High priest forever in the order of melchizedek and through Him we have torn the veil and have fresh access to the Father. Therefor, He also is able to help us while we are being tempted. Think about times when you are in the midst of temptation and you begin to pray, and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. He is faithful to empower you to prevent you falling into the sinful nature of your flesh, however, many times once we have finished praying we then fall right back into the same temptation. Through this fiery trial we are tested, and we bear the same sufferings that Christ suffered through while He was on this Earth. When you call upon His name, this allows His glory to shine through you and defeat the temptation you are in the midst of. But we have to stay in constant connection with His Spirit so we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Through the mind of Christ we have the ability to see what we face is just a result of temptation and we are able to walk by the Spirit.

Holy Spirit/ Encouragement Section

Ben

We are to remember, most importantly, that it is not a sin to be tempted. It is what you do after the temptation that can lead to sin. Remember that Temptation starts with a thought then it moves to imagination then some form of justification then we make a choice then we sin.

We are Never above temptation , Our God will never tempt us, and he will always provide a way out.

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Damani

The Holy Spirit helps us overcome and resist temptation and scripture tells us how. proverbs tells us a way to resist and eliminate temptation.

Proverbs 4:14–15 “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.”

Another way The Holy Spirit helps us overcome temptation is when we follow his promptings

Galatians 5:16-18 and 24-25 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 24-25 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”