How To Handle Temptation

HOW TO HANDLE TEMPTATION

Luke 4:1-13

Introduction: An EXAMPLE of Temptation; How JESUS handled it.

I. THE FACT OF TEMPTATION.

A. Its Nature: Two ways the word "tempt" is used in the Bible.

· "God did tempt [test] Abraham" (Genesis 22:1)

· "God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone" to sin. Each one is tempted, when by his own evil desires he is drawn away and enticed." (James 1:13-14)

B. Its Universality: It happens to us all. (James 1:14)

· "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man..." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

C. Its Explanation: Why are we so easily tempted?

· Satan, " has blinded" our minds. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

· "The whole world is under the control of the evil one." (1 John 5:19)

· "I am... sold as a slave to sin...what I hate I do...it is sin living in me...that is, in my sinful nature...the evil I do not want to do this I keep on doing… it is no longer I who does it, but it is sin living in me that does it." (Romans 7 :14-20; James 1:14)

D. Its Danger; What's the big deal, if it happens to everybody?

· "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." (Mark 14:38)

· "After desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:15)

· "I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless." (1 Thessalonians 3:5)

II. THE NATURE OF TEMPTATION.

A. Temptation appeals in three areas: (1 John 2:16; Genesis 3;6; I Samuel 11:1-27; Luke 4:1-13)

· "The lust of the flesh" - an appeal to fleshly needs and desires;

· "The lust of the eyes" - an appreciation of & desire for beauty;

· "The pride of life" - an attitude of arrogance and inflated self-worth.

B. The Method of approach by which temptation comes is different for each person and circumstance.

III. HELP IN TIMES OF TEMPTATION.

A. Resolve to be pure.

· Settle the matter of your allegiance. Who is your Master?

n Matthew 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters."

n Romans 6:16 - "You are slaves to the one whom you obey..."

· "Daniel resolved not to defile himself... (Daniel 1:8)

· "My son, if sinners entice, do not give in to them." (Proverbs 1:10)

B. Resist the temptation.

· Fight the first impulse.

· Reject the evil thought before it becomes an evil deed.

· James 4:7 - "Submit yourself to God..." "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

· 1 Peter 5:8-9 - "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith..."

· Ephesians 6:11 - "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes."

C. Rely on God's strength.

· Ephesians 6:12 - "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against.. the spiritual forces of evil"

· 2 Peter 2:9- "The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation."

· 1 Corinthians 10:13 - "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"

· Hebrews 2:18 - "He is able to help those who are being tempted."

· 1 John 4:4 - "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."

D. Run from the source of your temptation.

· Sometimes running is an act of valor.

· Sometimes flight is the only sure deliverance from temptation.

· Temptation is often associated with a particular person or place.

· 2 Timothy 2:22 - "Flee the evil desires of youth..."

· Proverbs 5:8 - "Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of their house."

IV. ESCAPE FROM TEMPTATION. (I Corinthians 10:13)

A. God nowhere promises escape from temptation for the one who is careless, prayerless, or self-sufficient.

· Some enter temptation presumptuously - to show their power to resist.

· Others enter curiously - to taste the allurements of prohibited practices.

· Many are involved carelessly - taking no heed until the deed is done and guilt is involved.

· Some are involved imitatively - following the example of others.

· Yet others are involved pharisaically - pretending to show God grace through their sin.

REMEMBER - He who tampers with sin is certain to fall sooner or later. (Samson - Judges 13-17).

B. God nowhere promises escape from temptation for the one who cultivates it.

· Romans 13:14 - "...do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature."