Untitled Sermon (5)

Triumphing Over Temptation

Many of you went pumpkin festival. When you walk around you see so many tasty treats to eat just like this. You know caramel is so sticky. I was wondering what the record was for eating something like this.

Caramel apple (onion) eating contest

You may be wondering why we are having a caramel apple eating contest on Sunday morning in church.

Believe it or not this contest meets all the criteria of what the Bible says all temptations that we encounter have.

Today, I want to talk about triumphing over temptation.

Turn with me

(NIV)

On Not Loving the World

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

The greatest war generals, coaches, leaders all know their enemies like

back of their hand.

They look for tendencies and character flaws that they can use to exploit their opponents’ weaknesses.

Preparing for battle starts with knowing your opponent. Studying every piece of information, you have on them. Asking others who have had encounters with them what they have learned through their victories and defeats.

Ask any coach and they will tell you that you need to know your opponent in a competition. Kobe’s football team studies game film of their opponents weekly.

You need to know your competition if you own a business. I remember years ago when there was a gas war. Every time one gas station would lower their prices the competitor right next door would lower theirs immediately.

In a war the general of an army makes plans to bring about the end of a war.

When I think of the greatest battle plan ever, I think of the movie “Home Alone.”

Home alone

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WRsLGElv1fc

(NIV)

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Your life is a battle. You have an enemy that is trying to kill you. You better wake up and prepare for battle.

1. When fighting against temptation who are we fighting against?

Know your enemy!

(NIV)

The Fall

3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”

4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Satan is the craftiest. His name is the deceiver.

(NIV)

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

4:1–11pp—,;

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

says that he disguises himself as an angel of light.

I think most people have this idea that Satan is this scary guy in a red suit holding a pitchfork. The Bible says that he masquerades around in many different costumes. He comes in and tries to make everything beautiful. You see something desirable just like that caramel treat that I had up here earlier.

I am here today to say do not be deceived ()

While we are being tempted, we are always looking for something better and we are always left with nothing…left with regret…left with a mouth full of onion

I have heard the saying “the devil made me do it” many times in my life. Is that true?

That is just an excuse that dates back to the original sin. When God asked Eve why she ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil what was her response? The Devil made me do it!

2. If we want to defeat temptation in our lives we need to acknowledge that we are the problem.

(NIV)

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.

We have all heard the saying “curiosity killed the cat,” but I’m here to say that your own curiosity can lead your life down a destructive path.

If we are being honest with ourselves today, we have to acknowledge that our curiosities have given Satan a powerful tool to use against us in our lives.

When you stop and think about your life is there really anything new under the sun or does every temptation fall into three categories. Lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.

If you aren’t evaluating your own tendencies regularly then you are leaving the front door, the back door, and every window in the house open.

(NIV)

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

If your eternal life is important you will evaluate your weaknesses. You will bar up the windows and dead bolt the doors of your heart.

(NIV)

28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

(NIV)

5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

(NIV)

4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,

Know your enemy, know that you can be your own worst enemy, but know that you can overcome because God is faithful.

God has equipped you to overcome Satan and yourself!

(NIV)

13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

(NIV)

6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

(NIV)

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wlov5b8r34