Untitled Sermon (70)

TEMPTATION

SCRIPTURES: Read and make comments on the following before you study the lesson:

James 1:12-15 1 John 2:15-17 Ephesians 2:10-20 Matthew 4:1-12 MEMORIZE: 1 Corinthians 10:13 1 John 2:15-17 It has been a popular joke for years to say, ''The devil made me do it" While it is true that Satan tempts us, there is far more to temptation than bis work. It has been characteristic of human nature since Adam and Eve sinned to place the blame for our disobedience on someone else. All of the blaem for sin falls directly upon the individual who sinned, regardless ofthe source of temptaion. One of the most difficult things for human beings to accept is responsibility for their own actions when they are wrong. Making excuses reveals our sinfulness. To have a victorious Christian experience, one must understand the sources of temptation, the type of temptation and the ways to avoid and overcome temptation. Temptation is a constant problem for the Christian. Conquering temptation must be a momentary and habitual practice. The Christian's guard must never be down. Even a momentary lapse means certain defeat INTERNAL TEMPTATION James 1:12-15 There are two usages of the word for temptation: one is a trial or testing which is not an allurement to evil; the second is a solicitation to do something wrong. It is the second meaning of the word that is being considered in this lesson. LUST= DESIRE ENTICE= LURE 📷What one thing do we know about the source of temptation? 2. Why do we yield to temptation? 3. What does this imply about basic human nature? 4. Do we need an external suggestion to be tempted? Explain.

S11-2 5. Can we blame Satan for every evil thing that we do? Why? 6. Even when temptation does come from an external source, where does the ultimate responsibility lie? 7. Will Godever ask me about the source of temptation? cf. Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10 8. There is progression in the process of temptation, as found in James 1:14, 15. List the steps below: STEP ONE: STEP TWO: STEP THREE: STEP FOUR: Place each stepin one of the circles to show the progression. 📷

Sll-3 9. True (T) or False (F)? a. It is wrong to be tempted. b. It is impossible to avoid all temptation. c. We must always give account for our response to temptation. d. God judges us for being tempted. e. We are enticed when the temptation corresponds to our inner desires. 10. At what level should we deal with temptation? 11. Why is it too late to deal with temptation later? Pause right here and ask God to help you learn to deal with temptation upon the first suggestion. Here is a suggested pattern for prayer in dealing with tempta­ tion: 📷"Make me sensitive to the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit, so that I will recognize the temptation to sin at the enticement level and claim victory through the blood of Jesus Christ before lust conceives and brings forth sin." EXTERNAL TEMPTATION 1 John 2:15-17; Romans 12:2 "World" here refers to human institutions and civilizations as organized upon humanistic values and under the influence of Satan-Ephesians 2:2. I 12. 📷How does the world lure us to evil? I 13. What is your relationship to God if you love the world? 14. What two things are mutually exclusive? ) 15. How are we tempted through the eyes? 16. How are we tempted by the flesh? 17. Why is pride such a powerful motive in temptation?

Sll-4 18. What two things does God forbid relative to the world? 1 John 2:15; Romans 12:2 19. What do we know about Satan's plan of attack? Ephesians 6:11 20. What makes the battle difficult for the Christian? Ephesians 6:12 21. Note how Satan tempts us in the following passages: 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 1 Peter 5:8 2Peter2:1, 14, 18 I Timothy 3:6 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 1 Timothy 6:7-10 1 Thessalonians 3:4, 5 Galatians 6:1 CONQUERING TEMPTATION 22. In what three areas did Satan tempt Christ? Matthew 4:1-12; 1 John 2:15-17 v.3 v.6 v.8,9

Sll-5 23. How did Christ handle temptation? Matthew 4:1-12 24. What provision has been made for our victory? 2 Peter 1:3 25. Why is theexample of our Lord Jesus Christ an encouragement in the struggle against sin? Hebrews 2:18; 4:14-16 26. In Genesis 3:15 we have thefirst promise of a Savior who would conquer the serpent (Satan). How does the death of Christ relate to our victory? John 16:11; Revelation 12:11 27. How are we to handle satanic temptation? James 4:7 28. Using Genesis 39:7-13 and 2 Timothy 2:22, write a brief statement about how to handle some areas of temptation. 29. Thegeneral pattern for victory over Satan is given to us in Ephesians 6:13-20. Each piece of the armor speaks of Christian character as personified in Jesus Christ. These are not primarily doctrinal concepts. Personalize each piece of armor in the following list TRUTH RIGIITEOUSNESS GOSPEL OF PEACE FAITI-I SALVATION

S11-6

WORD OF GOD

PRAYER

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK: Every day for one week, take one aspect of the armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-20 and think about it carefully. Write down three ideas about that piece of armor that will help you obtain victory over temptation. Try to think about it throughout the day.