How to Have POWER Over Temptation
Matthew 4:1-11
June 3, 2007
Morning Service
Introduction
Mark was very poor at spelling. On examination day he was stumped by many difficult words. Softly the tempter whispered, "Look at Jane’s paper; she’s an honor student and always gets them right!" Mark heeded the suggestion and copied several answers. The teacher noticed his actions and was greatly surprised, for she had always thought of him as an honest boy. When it came time to collect the completed work, she observed that Mark was having an inner struggle. After bowing his head for a moment, he suddenly tore up his paper. Although at first he had yielded to temptation, he finally decided to take a zero rather than be dishonest. Calling the boy to her desk, the teacher said, "I was watching you, Mark, and I want you to know that I’m very proud of you for what you did just now. Today you really passed a much greater examination than your spelling test!"
Temptation is one of the universal issues that Christians deal with. The truth is that everyone deals with temptation on one level or another. If you believe that you are above being tempted, you’d better check your pulse because if you have one, you can be tempted.
Things that tempt us
• The juicy bit of gossip that you are dying to repeat
• The television show that you feel convicted about watching but keep watching anyway
• The snide remark that is on the tip of your tongue for your co-worker
• The co-worker or neighbor that you like to flirt with
Anything that dulls our desire for God, to us it is sin - Susanna Wesley
This morning I want to look at a passage where Jesus dealt with the issue of temptation on a personal basis. If you have your Bibles open them to Matthew 4:1-11.
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ " 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " `He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ " 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: `Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ " 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ " 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:1-11
Honestly Talking about Temptation
Satan knows where and when the right moments to bring temptation to a person. When Satan came to Jesus he believed it was a time when He would be more susceptible to it. Notice what Satan saw that made this time a good one to target Jesus.
Jesus was in the wilderness alone without the support of anyone except God. Satan will target times when we feel like we are alone to tempt us. When we try to do things on our own, we get into trouble.
Jesus would have been under an amount of emotional stress by being in the wilderness. The Judean wilderness was not a hospitable place to be. Not only was in the wilderness, He was there fasting.
Jesus would have been physically vulnerable. This is why the first temptation dealt with physical needs. Satan not only tempted Jesus but tempted Him in the right areas at the right time. The strategy that Satan used was to focus on real needs and then place doubts about those needs in God’s ability.
13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15
How to have POWER over temptation
P – Pray
The first step to overcoming temptation is realizing that you cannot do it on your own. You will need the assistance of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was spiritually attacked by Satan, He had been praying and fasting. There is no way to over emphasize the need that we have for the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. You must surrender your control to the Holy Spirit to gain God’s control in your life.
Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge to Satan. John Bunyan
The key is to be prepared before you encounter temptation. Jesus was praying for forty days before Satan came to Him. Jesus was ready to deal with the temptations when they came His way. Jesus faced His time of temptation from a place of spiritual strength. The same needs to be true of you as well. Each day before you get going take time to pray. Not only will this help you get connected with Christ but it provides a spiritual anchor for rest of your day.
17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2:17-18
If you are going through a specific situation that is overwhelming ask for God’s help. He is waiting to help you through times of trial and temptation. There is never a time that He is not there for you. Even if it means admitting that we’ve blown it in a tempting situation. The more you rely on God, the more strength you will gain from Him. As time goes by those temptations should become easier to deal with.
O – Obedience
The second step to having power in times of temptation is simply being obedient with God. One of the classic examples of this is King David. God had given David specific instructions to be engaging an enemy in battle. Instead of obeying David stayed behind and it was during this time that he fell into sin with Bathsheba.
There must be a willingness to follow God’s direction once it is given. More often that not our spiritual troubles begin when we fail to obey the direction that god gives us. The moment you decide to stop following God and it is a decision. You stop walking on His path and strike out on your own. This always leads us into trouble.
There also must be a willingness to obey when God directs you. If God wants you to do something for Him today, that means today. Doing it next week is not being obedient. Delayed obedience is nothing more that disobedience.
W – Worship
This may seem like a strange suggestion but it works. When you feel tempted to do something you know is wrong for you. Take a moment to worship God. That’s right worship right where you are. Maybe that means listening to a praise and worship song, singing one to yourself or thinking of something to thank God for.
Why should we do this? God inhabits praise. When we praise God we are surrounded by His divine presence. The presence of God brings matchless strength into your day and into your situation. It is much easier to deal with a tempting situation if you have your focus directed toward heaven than having it focused on earth.
E - Examine yourself
One of the biggest problems for most Christians is being honest with themselves about their weaknesses. Take some time to carefully and closely examine your walk with Christ. Do an honest inventory of your spiritual life and then see where you stand in being in a dynamic relationship with God.
Intimacy inventory
John C. Maxwell The Recipe for Leadership Injoy Life Club Vol 12 No 9
My mind and mouth switch to automatic pilot during hymns and praise choruses
The last time God answered a specific prayer is a dim memory
I feel guilty when I hear someone telling what they learned in their quiet time and hope they don’t ask how mine is
I wonder where my joy went in serving God
I read my Bible and pray because I should not because I want to
I find myself critiquing the church service rather than growing from it
Those smiling, happy Christians get on my nerves
It’s been a long time since I have been “moved” spiritually
I am continually looking for ways to become less committed to the body of Christ
Seldom do I ask myself “What would Jesus do?”
Your relationship with God is your responsibility and it will take your effort to get it back on track. Think about your walk with Christ, is it where you want it to be? Is it where you know it should be? What needs to change?
R – Remove areas of temptation from your life
One of the hardest things to do is resist temptation if you are always in its path. There are things that we do that make us more susceptible to temptation. We put ourselves in the path of temptation rather than get away from it.
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12 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. 1 Corinthians 10:11-13
If you have an issue with alcohol, it makes sense to stay away from places that serve it. If you have an issue with gossip, avoid talking with people who encourage it or actively engage in it. If you have an issue with lust, avoid situations where sexually suggestive images are. EX: television shows know for promoting sex.
Conclusion
P – Pray
O – Obey
W- Worship
E – Examine
R - Remove
