Don't Take The Bait

Don’t take the bait

2 Timothy 2;22-24

Illus: two fish (Bass –Carp)

One time there was two fish who were best friends. They we an odd couple, one was a high-strung bass the other a laid-back carp. One day they were swimming around talking about girl fish and enjoying each other’s company. Then suddenly, a worm drops in front of them, the bass says dinner is served. The carp yelled lookout it’s a trap.

The bass said it looks alright to me and swam toward it. The carp said there is a hook and line there, the ole bass said I’ll just get a nibble. He got a nibble and boy that sure is a good worm. The carp said leave it alone, but the bass was already caught by temptation. He lunged and took the worm and the fisherman set the hook and reeled him in. WATCH OUT FOR TEMPTATION

TEXT 2 Timothy 2;22-24

22 Run from temptations that capture young people. Always do the right thing. Be faithful, loving, and easy to get along with. Worship with people whose hearts are pure.

23 Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments. These only lead to trouble,

24 and God’s servants must not be troublemakers. They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient.

Here is a definition of temptation; "the act of enticement to do wrong by the promise of pleasure or gain..." Now isn’t that just like the devil, getting us to do wrong by promising us something good.

• There’s another fisherman out there, he’s got the right bait for you, he knows what you are attracted to

•

• Temptation That Leads to Sin Always Follows The Same Pattern

Pay close attention:

Step 1: The Bait is dropped

Step 2: The inner desire is attracted to the bait.

Step 3; Sin occurs when we yield - when we bite the bait.

Step 4: Sin ends up in tragic consequences - we end up cooked and fried.

"...but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin when it is full-grown, gives birth to death...."

When you fish you must provide a bait that interests and entices the fish.

That’s exactly the way temptation works with us - the bait is dropped and it is something that looks good to us, appeals to us, interests us, And we have a choice to make as we look at the bait dangling on the hook.... To bite or not to bite....

Now notice when sins occurs - it occurs when we grab the bait, we can cut off before then and we are okay... For you see, to be tempted is not a sin, but giving in is SIN

In the Old Testament we find 2 men (2 fish) who both had bait dropped right in front of their eyes; a bait that looked good to them, interested them, appealed to them.......one saw the danger and swam away, the other bit the bait and ended up in the frying pan.

1. Joseph

2. David

PRACTICAL WAYS TO HANDLE TEMPTATION

1) Counteract Temptation, Don’t Tolerate It

2) Use the Right Resistance

Just as all sickness is not cured by the same medication, not all temptation is handled by the same resistance. We must fit the resistance to the attack.

Sensual sin --- run

Gossip --- hold your tongue

Laziness --- work

Bitterness --- forgive

Hold back and not give the Lord what is his ---- give

3) Remind Yourself That The Passing Pleasure of Sin will soon be replaced with greater pain

4) Control Your Thought Life Through The Memorized Word

5) Claim The Promise

"The only temptation that has come to you is that which everyone has. But you can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, He will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand it."

1 Cor 10:13

Let me be more specific; if certain movies make you weak and bring within you certain desires that you can’t handle, you’re not counteracting temptation, you’re tolerating it! Fertilizing it! Promoting it!

(Internet - pornography) a big problem today for many Christian men..

If you are weakened by relationships that you have with certain people - you need to avoid them.

If you have a problem with gambling don’t hang out at a casino,

If you have a problem with drinking don’t go to certain parties

Temptation to sin is nothing to play around with - there are places, and situations you need to stay out of.