Escaping The Squeeze Of Temptation Series

Escaping The Squeeze of Temptation

Series #2 Victory over Temptation

Pastor Glenn Newton July 10, 2005

I Cor. 10: 12-13 “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

Luke 11:2-4 “He said to them, "When you pray, say:

" `Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. ’ "

(Have ushers pass out rubber bands)

Everyone put on your Rubber band…. Double it up, make it tight… I don’t want you to lose it. If you have circulation issues, you might sit this little exercise out. In just a few minutes I’m going to ask you to tell me what it feels like to have a rubber band wrapped around your wrist, or your finger… what the sensation was, what the ultimate outcome might be if you don’t remove it… and you can tell me anything else that you think of.

You might be wondering what in the world is that crazy preacher doing? I know it’s not the first time you have probably wondered that… but this time I have a reason for my madness. This morning we are going to continue our discussion on Temptation. I want you to understand that you can personally, have Victory over Temptation. How many of you believe that this morning?

One of the most discouraging moments in life is the feeling I get right after I have given into temptation. That’s my lowest low when I realize that I have just given in “AGAIN” to whatever temptation that has been defeating me for some time… this feeling brings with it one of Satan’s biggest temptations that we can slid right into, and that is the feeling, the belief of hopelessness.

How many of you this morning know that God will forgive you when you ask Him? We have come to understand and love the fact that God, His Forgiveness doesn’t run out, right? It’s a truly an amazing thought.

But, even knowing I can be forgiven… I don’t want to have to ask forgiveness every single day for the same things do I? I mean, you would think we could break free from these things that we know are harmful to us, either physically, emotionally, and for sure, spiritually… you would think wouldn’t you? But maybe you wonder if you will ever escape temptation? Will you ever have victory over that sin that binds you and makes you feel helpless and hopeless. I want you to know this morning there is HOPE, and we are going to talk about how you can find it…. I promise you God isn’t hiding it from you.

Hey! How’s the rubber band? What does it feel like to have a rubber band wrapped around your wrist, or finger? What is the sensation? What would the ultimate outcome be if you didn’t get free from that grip? Your right, it would die and fall off.

We don’t want anyone to die and fall off because of the Squeeze of temptation do we? So let’s begin to look at what God wants us to do when we feel the Squeeze.

I Cor. 10: 12-13 “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

I want to go through and explain this passage, it’s just what we need to hear this morning and apply to our life. One thing I want to remind you of this morning, we have been talking a lot about this in our Men’s meeting every Thursday evening at 7pm…. It’s one thing to hear the Word, it’s a whole other thing to obey what you have heard. So today, hear it first, and then apply it to your life and God’s power will be unleashed in you.. Amen?

Verse 12.… Read.

Let’s be honest with ourselves right now. Sometimes we think we are a lot stronger spiritually than we really are. When we have been a Christian for a month or two, we are feeling invincible right? But the truth is we are still an infant in our faith.. There’s nothing wrong with this…. This is normal, just remember it takes time and spiritual growth for real spiritual strength to emerge in a person’s life.