This is a message that we can all identify with.
A. We are all subject to temptations, on a daily basis.
1. I know that it cuts us to the heart when we
give in to those temptations.
a. We feel like we have failed God, self,
and those around us.
1.) Those who cave in to temptation
are torn apart with feelings of guilt
and frustration.
b. So often we have cried out to God and
pleaded with Him to remove the
temptations that keep bringing us to the
brink of sin.
1.) As often as we have cried out.....
our cries have gone unanswered.
a.) Why does God not take away
this problem.....we want to
serve Him........we want to
remain pure from this world.
Let us look to God’s word and see if we can understand.
A. We MUST UNDERSTAND!
I. Let us understand temptation.......just what it is......
A. TEMPTATION IS AN APPEAL TO
PLEASURE..........
1. It is an appeal to SELF-SATISFACTION.
a. Most commonly it is generated by satan.
b. Often, however, we can place ourselves
in the pathway of temptation.
B. We must understand.....IT IS NOT A SIN TO BE
TEMPTED.
1. Many who do not properly understand the
difference between the temptation and the
sin.
a. Temptation is the urge to fulfill some
kind of improper satisfaction of the
flesh.
b. Sin is the actual fulfillment of that desire.
1.) This can be an actual, physical,
enactment of these desires.
2.) Sin can also be committed in the
mind......through fantasy.....the
acting out of the sinful desire in the
mind.
C. Not only is temptation not a sin.......it is actually
an indicator of just how spiritually strong God
considers us to be.
1. God will not allow satan to bring any
temptation into our lives that we CANNOT
HANDLE.
I Cor. 10:13 - 13No 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.
a. It isn’t that we cannot handle these
temptations........it is more, the fact, that
we MAY NOT WANT TO RESIST!
1.) Spiritual fact..........God will never
allow satan to hit us with a
temptation that He knows we
have no power over.......
a.) Spiritual fact........We CAN
RESIST ALL
TEMPTATIONS!!!!!!!
D. The word “temptation” comes from the Greek
word peirasmos which can also be translated...
“test”
1. Thayer (on peirasmos) - An experiment,
an attempt, a trial, proving.....
a. Specifically - The trial of a person’s
fidelity, integrity, virtue, and constancy.
2. A temptation, then, is a test.....an opportunity..
to pass this spiritual challenge.
a. It is an opportunity for spiritual success.
b. It is an exercise which has been designed
to strengthen a person against satan’s
further attacks.
1.) This is the reason that James writes
what he does in James 1:2-4.
James 1:2-4 - 2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall
into various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith
produces patience. 4But let patience have its perfect work,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
** Far from being the horrible monster that we make it.....
temptations are actuality the opportunity to succeed
in the testing and training grounds of this life.
1. Temptations that are resisted, strengthen us against
further temptations.
ILLUSTRATION: Never a temptation.....go through life
living perfectly, in the Lord......last few
moments of life, satan hits us with our
biggest weakness....our greatest
temptation.........the sin that would so
easily get us..............ALL WOULD
BE LOST!
a. These temptations that satan
throws at us are his own
undoing.....if we will resist
them.
II. We must understand what a temptation is....we must
be alert to it....we must understand just how a
temptation FEELS!
A. A temptation GRIPS A PERSON!
1. Going back to our text in I Cor. 10:13.....we
find the word that is translated, “overtaken”.
a. Temptations....overtake....a person.
1.) The Greek word, used here, and
translated, “overtaken”....is the
Word - eilhjen - which comes
from a Greek root word -
lambanw......why do I tell you all
of this history?
a.) Because the definition means
something in the Greek that is
lost in the translation.
** lambanw - To take by the hand, to lay hold of, to trap
or take by craft, to capture.
2. A temptation grabs, grips, captures, arrests....
a person.
a. It is a VERY POWERFUL feeling.
B. Only when a person remains strong in the Lord,
and allows God to work in and through this
person......can this person hope to resist this
terribly strong pull.
1. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit.......
actively working in one’s life, can one expect
to resist temptations.
a. The natural man will give in to
temptation.....every time.
1.) This is because the natural man
lives for self and self-gratification.
2. The power to overcome temptation is there for
the one who draws near to God (Christ).....on
a daily basis.
James 4:8 - 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to
you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your
hearts, you double-minded.
3. This power to resist and overcome can only
be brought to fruition if the Holy Spirit of
God is present and active in this person’s life.
4. To overcome the temptations, we must resist
the devil.
a. Just how do we resist the devil....do we
tell him, “get thee behind me, satan”?
1.) We resist satan when we practice
doing good and overcoming selfish
impulses.
Romans 12:21 - 21Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good.
2.) We are told in the very next verse,
in James......to resist satan....draw
near.....IN EVERY WAY
POSSIBLE, to God.
C. The only way to break this choke hold on us is
with power that is greater than satan’s.
1. We can readily see that this is power that we
do not have......in and of ourselves...it is a
power that can only come from God.
a. WE CANNOT RESIST
TEMPTATIONS SIMPLY BY OUR
GOOD INTENTIONS OR WITH
OUR OWN STRENGTH....ALONE!
III. Let us understand......very definitely, understand.....
that we are not the “Lone Ranger”.
Eccl. 1:9 - 9 That which has been is what will
be, That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.
A. Countless thousands have been tempted........
are now presently being tempted.....and will be
tempted......IN THE EXACT SAME WAY....
AND TO THE SAME DEGREE AS YOU
HAVE BEEN!
1. In a way, it is a wicked form of pride that
would attempt to make our struggles a
private matter.
a. Sometimes I have to wonder if some
individuals think that they are going to
win some kind of prize for being the
most wicked sinner.....or for holding up
(or not holding up) under the worst
possible tests.
B. We need to confess our sins.
James 5:16 - 16Confess your trespasses to one another,
and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The
effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
1. When we follow this admonition, many
helpful things take place.
a. We realize the commonality of
temptations.
b. We can pray for and encourage the one
facing these temptations.
c. Those of us who have been tempted in
this same area can give good advice from
the vantage point of experience.
2. As original and unique as we may view our
weaknesses and areas of temptation....God’s
word begs to differ with you if you claim to
be the worst sinner that has ever come down
the pike.
I Timothy 1:15 - 15This is a faithful saying and worthy of
all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners, of whom I am chief.
a. We know how God used the Apostle
Paul.....we know how God forgave the
apostle Paul.....
1.) Let us not take a warped form of
pride in how “unforgivable” our
sins may be.
a.) When we give in to temptation
we do have a Savior who was
tempted in all ways, as you
and I......a Savior who under-
stands and has shed His blood
for your indiscretion.
IV. Let us understand the escape plan for this challenge of
temptation.
A. The plan of captivity that satan uses is simple......
he attempts to have us give in to THE
PLEASING OF SELF......WITHOUT
REGARD TO WHAT GOD WANTS!
1. If this is, indeed, satan’s plan......can we make
a wild guess as to how we can escape his
plot?
B. DENY YOURSELF!!!!!
Mark 8:34 - 34When He had called the people to Himself,
with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires
to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow Me.
Matt. 4:1-11 - 1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into
the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And when He
had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was
hungry. 3Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If
You are the Son of God, command that these stones
become bread.” 4But 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.’ ” 5Then the devil took
Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the
temple, 6and 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.’ ”
7Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not
tempt the Lord your God.’ ” 8Again, the devil took Him up
on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the
kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9And he said to
Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down
and worship me.” 10Then 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.’ ” 11Then the
devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to
Him.
1. We need to remove ourselves from the source
of the temptation (if at all possible).
a. This isn’t as easy as one might think...the
selfish side of mankind will not want to
go without a struggle.
1.) “Reasoning” sets in.
a.) “I can get the best of it.”
b.) “It’s not that bad.”
c.) “Others do it.”
ETC.
2. Perhaps we can rely on our firm grasp of the
scriptures to refute the temptations of satan....
as Jesus did.
a. This pre-supposes that we HAVE A
FIRM GRASP OF THE
SCRIPTURES.
3. We may need to exercise the wisdom
necessary to stay away from the source of the
problem.
a. This may involve......where we go.....
when we go.....and with whom we go.
Romans 13:14 - 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
** It is important to note....that in all of this, you may have
some great intentions.......but if your heart is not
converted and committed.....self will keep on dragging
us back to what we enjoy.
CONCLUSION:
If a temptation is an attempt to appeal to the gratification of
the flesh....while disregarding the will of God............then....
RESISTING temptation will, of necessity..........................
DEMAND SELF DENIAL AND
PHYSICAL...POSSIBLY MENTAL....SUFFERING!!!!
A. God’s word....Jesus Christ, speaking.....calls it our
“CROSS TO BEAR”
1. We must keep in mind that the “way of
escape” may well be over a bed of coals.
Let us stop calling upon God to remove temptations.
A. Let us start understanding and viewing these trials
as opportunities........not as a curse sent from God.
1. He allowed those temptations to be placed in
our lives, because HE KNOWS THAT WE
CAN OVERCOME IN THEM!
a. It is actually God’s plan to use these
trials and temptations to bring us to the
fullness of a Christian.
1.) We cannot try to take the “easy way
out.”
a.) Either by giving in to the
temptation.....
b.) Or by running from every
temptation.
** We have been given armor for just such situations......
let us use that armor and fight the good fight.
1. With God on our side.....WE CAN WIN!!
