Knowing your enemy #3 Temptation

TEMPTATION

2 Corinthians 10:4–5 ESV

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

2 COR 10:

YOU WILL BE TEMPTED SO BE PREPARED

OPENING STATEMENT

CAST YOUR MIND BACK TO THE LAST TIME YOU FACED A REALLY APPEALING TEMPTATION-

TA

SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO DO

HAVE

OR MAYBE NOT DO

SLIDE - DID YOU WALK AWAY?

DID YOU WALK AWAY?

MAYBE YOU DEBATED WITH YOURSELF

RATIONALISED WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD GET AWAY WITH

DID YOU GIVE IN TO IT

TELL YOURSELF YOU WONT FEEL GUILT OR STRUGGLE WITH IT

DID YOU EVEN REALISE WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE TIME OF THE TEMPTATION

I HAVE A WORD FOR YOU

STRATEGY SLIDE

STRATEGY

THE ENEMY - YOUR ENEMY OUR ENEMY - THE DEVIL

HE HAS A STRATEGY AND HE STICKS TO IT

message version on screen

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Eph 6:12

looks for someone to devour

LIONS ATTACK SICK, YOUNG OR STRAGGELING ANIMALS

HE LOOKS FOR VICTIMS THAT ARE ALONE OR NOT ALERT

SLIDE - (ALONE NOT ALERT)

IF YOUR FEELING ALONE, WEAK AND HELPLESS

AND IF YU ARE CUT OFF FROM OTHER BELEIVERS

OR EVEN IF YOU SO FOCUSED ON YOUR SITUATION

THESE ARE THE TIMES WHEN WE ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO ATTACKS

I AM JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU A DEFINITION OF A TRIAL VS TEMPTATION JUST SO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

SLIDE TRIAL VS TEMPTATION

TRIAL=

TIME OF TESTING WITH A GOAL OF STRENGTHENING THE PERSON

TIME OF TESTING WITH A GOAL OF STRENGTHENING THE PERSON

USED FOR STRENGHTHENING

TRUST GOD DEEPER WAY

GOD ALLOWS TO MAKE US STRONGER SO HE CAN USE US MORE EFFECTIVELY

TEMPTATIONS

INTENDED TO ENTICE OR LURE YOU TO DO EVIL.

IT IS AIMED AT OUR EVENTUAL DESTRUCTION

USE STORY OF JOB

USE STORY OF JOB AS TRIAL

USE STORY OF DAVID AS TEMPTATION

JOSEPH FLED TEMPTATION

TAKES US ON A JOURNEY WITH JESUS, RIGHT AFTER HE WAS RECOGNISED AS THE MESSIAH BY JOHN THE BAPTIST AND ALSO AFTER HE WAS BAPTISED, GOD ACKNOWLEDGED HIM, THIS IS MY SON WITH WHOM I AM PLEASED...

1ST TEMPTATION-

TO CHANGE THE STONE INTO BREAD, JESUS WAS FULLY MAN SO HE HAD PHYSICAL NEEDS, HE NEEDED:

FOOD, WATER, AIR, SECURITY AND SHELTER. JESUS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT GOD WAS HIS PROVIDOR AND THAT HE DID NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT HOW HE WAS GOING TO GET FED, HE JUST HAD TO KEEP HIS EYES ON THE AUTHOR OF HIS FAITH.

THE ENEMY KNEW JESUS HAD NOT EATEN OR DRANK ANYTHING IN 40 DAYS, HE WAS HUNGRY AND THIRSTY AND WEAK. THE DEVIL WAS SAYING COME JESUS YOU NEED THIS NOW, DO IT!

HENRY NOUWEN TALKS ABOUT THIS BEING RELEVANT. SO WHAT IF JESUS COULD TURN THE ROCK INTO BREAD? WOULD THIS PROVE RELEVANT? IS IT NECESSARY TO US THAT JESUS IS ABLE TO DO MIRACLES, OR IS IT NECESSARY TO US THAT JESUS CAME TO SAVE THE WORLD FROM ETERNAL DEATH. JESUS COULD HAVE WOWED US, BUT HE KNEW WHY HE WAS HERE. HE HAD NOTHING TO PROVE TO THE WORLD.

2ND TEMPTATION –

TO THROW HIMSELF OFF THE TOP OF THE TEMPLE AND LET GOD RESCUE HIM, BECAUSE HE QUOTED SCRIPTURE TO JESUS

JESUS DOES NOT ENGAGE HIM BUT RATHER QUOTES “IT IS ALSO WRITTEN DO NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST”

SATAN WANTED TO STEAL GODS PLAN FOR JESUS, INSTEAD OF HIM DYING ON A CROSS, HEWAS SAYING COME ON JESUS, DO SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY GOING TO MAKE THESES PEOPLE FOLLOW YOU, BE SPECTACULAR, GIVE THEM A SHOW OF A LIFE TIME, SOMETHING THEY WILL NEVER FORGET.

3RD TEMPTATION

SATAN SHOWED JESUS THE WHOLE WORLD AND TOLD HIM THAT HE COULD HAVE IT ALL; ON CONDITION HE WORSHIPED HIM THEN AND THERE. JESUS KNEW THAT THE WORLD IS FINITE AND WHAT HE HAD COME TO DO WAS GIVE LIFE EVERLASTING.

JESUS AGAIN DOES NOT ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION BUT RATHER REBUKES HIM, “AWAY FROM ME SATAN, FOR IT IS WRITTEN, WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY”.

HIS STRATEGY IS TO FOCUS ON OUR NEEDS

NEVER SHOW US THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE SIN

FOCUSES ON IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION

1. KNOW THE WORD OF GOD

THE ENEMY KNOW THE WORD OF GOD ALSO BUT IF WE ARE IN THE WORD AND KNOW ALL OF THE WORD WE CANT ALLOW HIM ACCESS

TELL OURSELVES THE STORIES

2 Corinthians 10:4–5 ESV

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

2 COR

2. DO NOT ENGAGE THE ENEMY

3. WALK AWAY, RESIST. - HALT

HUNGRY

ANGRY

LONELY

TIRED

RULE NUMBER ONE - THE ONLY RULE REALLY

YOU WILL BE TEMPTED SO BE PREPARED