PP2010-30 DATE
ESCAPING TEMPTATION!
1Co 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; . (KJV)
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (KJV)
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (KJV)
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
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.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
INTRODUCTION: Everyone will face temptation of some kind. The answer to your temptation will be tucked away somewhere within the temptation itself. 1 Cor. 10:13 promises that. “…but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Jesus escaped temptation – How? By using the Scripture. Mt 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (KJV)
Joseph escaped temptation – How? Ge 39:10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. (KJV)
David escaped temptation – How? Many occasions of his intimacy with the Lord. The book of Psalms is filled with David’s experiences with temptation.
Paul escaped temptation – How? Ro 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (KJV)
Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;
Each vict’ry will help you some other to win;
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue;
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
Shun evil companions, bad language disdain,
God’s name hold in rev’rence, nor take it in vain;
Be thoughtful and earnest, kindhearted and true;
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
I. WHY TEMPTATION COMES
Temptation comes because of several different causes:
A. It Is Normal To Be Tempted. 1Co 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. (KJV)
1. It is common to man. Every person experiences temptation. Don’t think you are the only one that has to contend with being tempted of the devil.
2. God is faithful to deliver.
God will always provide a way of escape. The problem with most is that they do not want an escape. They enjoy the sin they are committing.
B. To Try Our Faith.
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (KJV)
1. It brings joy.
2. It brings patience.
The trying of our faith will bring strength. The more we overcome temptation the stronger we become against temptation. When I stopped smoking, over 40 years ago, I was tempted to take the habit up again and again, but after several weeks that temptation left. Now when I see someone smoking I never have the desire to smoke. I gained strength over the temptation.
C. To Bring A Crown Of Life
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (KJV)
God’s expectation of each of us enduring temptation is part of the everyday Christian walk. We are to gain strength daily for the trials and temptations of the next day. If we fail today we will not gain what tomorrow brings by our victory over the present temptation. Paul said: 2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (KJV) This begins and ends with how we handle daily temptation. Don’t expect a crown if you haven’t been strong in overcoming temptation.
II. THE CAUSE OF TEMPTATION
Jas 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
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.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. (KJV)
A. Temptation Is Not From God. …..God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
There are some places in the Bible that say God tempted a certain person. That always refers a time of testing. God will test a person to see if they are ready for a certain assignment.
B. Every Man Is Tempted In Himself.
1. Is drawn away.
2. By his own Lust – “Enticed” – To be entrapped or deluded.
Your temptation comes – my temptation comes when we let our lusts run without check or control. Our pastor said recently that we choose to sin. Prior to salvation we didn’t have that choice – since salvation we do have choice – each of us choose which sins we commit. Sin is a small matter in its commencement; but by indulgence it grows great, and multiplies itself beyond all calculation. No one ever took the first drink of alcohol with the intent of becoming an alcoholic that has no control over himself, and eventually destroys his body, his life and his family.
Then when lust hath conceived,…. – “Conceived” means “to clasp” or “to seize”. Be not mistaken. Lust will bring conception – there is no abortion available for this conception. Our society seems to think that man can correct anything. Either by abortion or by some law – not so. This conception brings forth birth – in this case the birth is not life – but death. The end result of this conception is death to the one who insists on sinning at will.
III. THE CURE FOR TEMPTATION
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (KJV)
“Endureth” means - to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; figuratively, to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere:--abide, endure, (take) patient(-ly), suffer, tarry behind.
To stay under the pressure – remain strong – to undergo the depths of temptation – to bear the trials – to persevere – to suffer patiently. There is a cure. There is a way out – there is victory in every temptation.
1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (KJV)
The cure is by faith – the same faith that brought salvation also brings victory over any certain sin. How did you know you got saved? Not that you felt good – you may have felt good but your feelings was not the confirmation of your salvation. Not that you wanted to sing gospel songs. You know you got save because of the promise of the Word of God.
Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (KJV)
You know you are saved because you did what the Word of God instructed. Your faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. That same faith that brought your salvation will also bring your victory over any certain domineering sin.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. (KJV)
The word “faith” in Vs. 8 is the same word in 1 John 5:4.
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. If we could obtain victory by works then we would have place to boast and faith was not complete within its self.
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (KJV)
Ga 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (KJV)
There are many references in the N.T. of “Christ in you” and “You in Christ” and “Abiding in Christ”. These are not figures of speech, but literal, and actual blessed fact. Many look upon Him as an external Savior, one who did a saving work on the outside. We must come to the knowledge, by faith, that Jesus Christ is actually and literally within us. Even more than that, He Himself constitutes our very life, taking us body, mind and spirit into union with Himself, while we retain our own identity, free will, and full moral responsibility.
All we need to do is to ask Him and allow Him simply do His work and His will in us and with us and through us. Our body is His, our mind is His, our will is His, and my spirit is His. Not merely His, but literally a part of him. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” Jesus Christ Himself, becomes my life.
That’s what Paul meant in Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (KJV) He didn’t say, “To me, to live is to be Christ like.” Nor, “To me, to live is to have Christ’s help, nor “To me is to serve Christ.” He went far beyond that to the bold, glorious claim, “To me, to live is Christ.”
This victory in our life comes when absolutely surrender ourselves to Him, our will to His will, making Him the master of our life just as He is our Savior. He will occupy and overwhelm us with Himself, and fill us with Himself – filling us “with all the fullness of God.” Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (KJV)
Does this mean that the believer will never sin again? No, of course not. We will have our own free will until the day we die. But it does mean that the change that takes place at salvation will be more and more experiential and more visible.
Some of those changes that will be evident are:
1. The believer will enjoy a fellowship with God supremely richer than anything ever experienced before.
2. There will be a new kind of victory over the besetting sins that once throttled the believer as he learns to trust in Christ for this victory.
3. The joy of heaven will be more possible to experience and to enjoy.
All of this is granted because of Christ lives in me.
IV. HOW DOES THIS VICTORY COME?
A. Surrender To Christ Absolutely and Unconditionally.
He must become Master of all you are and all that you have, then telling God that you’re ready to have His whole will done in your entire life, at every point, no matter the cost.
This commitment will stop most Christians today. Only a very few are willing to take their Christianity to this level. This means it is no longer you, but Christ in you that makes all the decisions for you.
Many or probably most Christians make the mistake that victory depends upon their ability to fight against sin and eventually gain victory over it. That is not correct. 1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (KJV) The word “faith” used here is the same “faith” in Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. (KJV)
It is our faith in God’s grace that brings salvation. And the same faith that brought salvation also brings Christian victory over the world and its lusts.
B. Believe And Accept Romans 8:2. Ro 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (KJV)
Not that His Spirit will or can do this, but that He has already done it. The law of sin and death is like the law of gravity. We have not choice in the matter. Once that law has been broken then we are at freedom to make the choice whether to live in victory or not.
Bear in mind that this is all a quiet act of faith. Faith must believe God in entire absence of any feeling or tangible evidence. God’s word is sure. God’s word is safe. God’s word is better than any physical evidence. We are able to say, “I know that His grace is sufficient for me.”
Our life then not only belongs to Christ, but is Christ. It will be a life of victory, because Christ cannot fail. Christ wants us to let Him do His work through us. He is not satisfied with being our Helper. He must be in total control. All of this is by faith in Him and is the result of His life in us.
Remember this – Christ Himself is better than His blessings – better than His power or even the victory He grants. He Himself is better than everything. He is God’s Best. We have that Best of God’s Gifts in His Son Christ. Ro 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (KJV)
The thing that each must decide is: What will you do about Temptation? How can you deal with Temptation? Is there a victory over our Temptation? Yes, there is, in Christ. It is in Christ and Christ only.
To him that o’ercometh, God giveth a crown,
Through faith we will conquer, though often cast down;
He who is our Savior, our strength will renew;
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
Ask the Savior to help you,
Comfort, strengthen, and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.
INVITATION
THIS SERIES AND DOZENS OF OTHERS ARE AVAILABLE ON A CD ROM DISK
THE DISK CONTAINS ALL THE WORK PUBLISHED DURING 35 YEARS OF MINISTRY OF PASTOR CASTEEL
THE DISK IS AVAILABLE FOR $75.00
CONTACT
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OKC, OK 73170
405-691-8701
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