Temptation

Temptation

Matthew 4:1-11

DENVER POST: "Like many sheep ranchers in the West, Lexy Fowler has tried just about everything to stop crafty coyotes from killing her sheep. She has used odor sprays, electric fences, and 'scare-coyotes.' She has slept with her lambs during the summer and has placed battery-operated radios near them. She has corralled them at night, herded them at day. But the southern Montana rancher has lost scores of lambs--fifty last year alone. "Then she discovered the llama--the aggressive, funny-looking, afraid-of-nothing llama...'Llamas don't appear to be afraid of anything,' she said. 'When they see something, they put their head up and walk straight toward it. That is aggressive behavior as far as the coyote is concerned, and they won't have anything to do with that... Coyotes are opportunists, and llamas take that opportunity away.'" These Lamas illustrate what James spoke of in: "Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you" (4:7). The moment we sense Satan’s attack through temptation is the moment we should face it and deal with it for what it is. - - Barry McGee:Sermonillustrations.com

It has been rightly stated that “When you flee temptation, be sure you don't leave a forwarding address.”

There is a common misconception concerning temptation. Many believe that it is a sin to be tempted. It is not a sin to be tempted; the sin comes when you give in to that temptation. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us - James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Some people are so burdened and discouraged when they face a great temptation. They feel so much guilt over the temptation that they don’t even put up a fight against it. Each and every one of us faces temptation daily… NO ONE IS EXEMPT! Proof that it is no a sin to be tempted is found in our text for today.

We read that even our Savior was tempted – The writer of Hebrews stated in Hebrews 4:15 that “Our High Priest understands our weaknesses, for He was tempted just like we are, yet he did not sin.” Even though Jesus was tempted, we find that He was “without sin”.

This shows us that there is hope for us when we face temptation. - I Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

I find it encouraging that there is a way of escape from temptation.

When you face temptation, deal with it immediately! “It is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it” - Benjamin Franklin

Do not allow temptation to linger in your life… when you do you chances of fleeing that temptation decrease greatly. You must realize that sin is more powerful than you are …It will destroy you if it has an opportunity. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

I would like to look at the life of our Savior and this event where Satan tempted Him and preach on the subject of - “Temptation”

I. You Will Face Temptation v1-8

Temptation is a fact. It is real, it is constant and IT IS POWERFUL!

v1 ¶Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

Jesus had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. As a result of His fasting, HE was physically hungry.

Consider the preceding events found in Chapter 3 - Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Jesus went from this awesome scene at His baptism right into the wilderness. Satan knew what he was doing …he is the great schemer and he had a plan! He is still that way today! HE IS STILL A SCHEMER! He does not want you to be useful or fruitful for God. He will go to great lengths to trap you and entice you to sin.

1. The Enemy Will Attack After Spiritual Highs