Dealing With Temptations
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Objectives
Objectives
Understand what temptations actually are.
Identify sources of temptation.
Discuss the condition for lasting victory over temptations
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
We want to understand how to deal with temptation in order to mature as Christians, disciples and followers of Jesus Christ.
Temptation is the initial urging a person feels to commit sin
In itself, temptation or feeling tempted is not sin.
Temptation can become sin if not dealt with correctly.
We don’t want to be lacking in a proper attitude towards temptation, we want to know, develop, and have the right attitude towards sin.
Without the proper view and attitude towards temptation, it will compromise us and will result in sin, or rebellion, against Jesus.
Sources of Temptation
Sources of Temptation
Temptations to sin come from three sources.
Satan/Lucifer/The Devil.
From Genesis to Revelation, Satan is clearly depicted as the original source of temptation.
Neither newer or older Christians are immune to the threat of temptation. Both must know the tricks of Satan and realize that he will tempt us in whatever ways he can.
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
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2. The Flesh (Our human nature)
Our compromised and self seeking human nature, inherited from Adam and Eve when they rebelled (sinned/disobeyed), continues to want to do what feels good to it and what is easy.
Our human nature will continue to fight us and our Holy Spirit powered Born Again human spirit, for dominance.
It wants to do anything except submit to God’s Spirit and will (desire) for our lives, unless it benefits.
Old habits, likes, recreational activities, ways of thinking, etc., are all ways our human nature will try to ease us back into rebellion against Jesus.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
3. The World
This includes all the ways the world around us appeals to our human nature to influence us to conform to its’ ways and dictates.
Some of these temptations are: security in possessions or accomplishments; viewing life as livable joyfully and fulfilled apart from our relationship with Jesus Christ; artificial beauty or outward adornment; any other ideas that stand in contrast to what our Creator says is pleasing and acceptable as His Child.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:
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Conditions For Victory
Conditions For Victory
God, throughout His Word (The Bible), gives us conditions for achieving victory over temptation.
These are some of the most important ones.
Condition 1: Be Alert!
Many times we are defeated because we were not alert to the possibility of temptation.
We don’t want to think we are immune, think about temptation as a life threatening disease (i.e. HIV, Hepatitis C).
We also don’t want to think we can fight temptation.
This is like trying to fight a hungry lion with our bare hands, it will devour us!
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Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.
Revelation
1 Corinthians 16
Condition 2: Be Filled!
We can never successfully defeat temptation in our strength due to our compromised human nature that will want to give into temptation.
It is only by The Power of Jesus’ Spirit in us (The Holy Spirit/ Holy Ghost) can we gain victory.
It is through our relationship with Jesus Christ and obedience that we are empowered and make our human nature submit (time spent talking to Him in prayer, fasting, reading, renewed in spirit in service).
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Matthew 3:13-4:
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Condition 3: Be Quick!
We must deal with temptation as soon as it arises, DON’T put it off!
There is a definite progression of events leading from temptation that we have failed to deal with, to sin.
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
James 1:14-15
We have to be alert to the progression so that we can prevent the temptation from turning into sin.
The longer we wait to check up on a health issue, the worse the condition will get, the same thing with temptation.
Condition 4: Know Biblical escapes!
God promises us a way of escape for every temptation that comes our way, we have to avoid placing ourselves in temptation.
The Bible is filled with these examples of these “ways of escape”.
For this reason we must continue to prayerfully read and grow in our knowledge of God’s Word and ways.
It will directly affect the victory we achieve.
Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
Two important Biblical escapes are as follows:
Sexual temptation-flee it, run for your life, we will be unable to resist once we have embraced its lure ()
Satanic doubts- we resist by relying on what God says is true and right, not what Satan is lying to us about and trying to sell us on ( )
Condition 5: Obey in Trust (Faith.
In dealing with temptations, we must use the Biblical escape route (like a fire exit door) whether we “feel” like it or not.
If we rely on feelings to motivate you to deal with temptations, we have already lost the battle as our human nature is the same as satan’s.
We have to obey Jesus from trust (faith) in order to develop the lifestyle of living by faith.
Condition 6: Pray For Victory!
Prayer plays an essential role in achieving victory in the fight against succumbing to temptation as through it, and learning how to get into “The Spirit”.
The Bible instructs up to pray for both our personal victory and for the victory others.
Pray for our own victory:
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
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b. Pray for the victory of others:
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,
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