INTRODUCTION
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• Today we are going to address an issue that haunts many relationships. If we are not careful we can allow things to latch onto our relationships that can drain the life right out of them.
• Have you heard of parasites?
• The dictionary defines parasites as follows: a plant or animal that lives on or in another, usually larger, host organism in a way that harms or is of no advantage to the host
• Parasites are nasty little things that live off something else; they are harmful and in cases can drain the life right out of a host.
• Here are a few for your viewing pleasure.
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• 25% of the world’s population has these.
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• These have been known to grow 20 feet inside a person.
• Fortunately, because of where we live and our level of hygiene, we don’t have to worry about these guys very often. But parasites are very real and diminish the quality of life for millions of people on our planet.
• I want to suggest to you that there are relational parasites in this world as well. This type of parasite diminishes the quality of relationships in our world. These relational parasites are just as nasty looking as the pictures we viewed.
• In the film we’ve been talking about for the last few weeks, Fireproof, Caleb Holt struggles with parasites in his own life. Watch this clip and you’ll see what I mean.
• PLAY CLIP.
• CLICK TO NEW PP SLIDES #1
• As you can see, Caleb had allowed a parasite to latch onto his marriage that was killing it!
• Parasites latch themselves to people who fall to the temptations that surround them. We are going to examine some issues concerning temptation so that we can be prepared to protect ourselves from the parasites that surround us that are more than willing to drain the life out of you and your relationships.
• Let’s begin by looking at 1 Corinthians 10:13
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• 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV) No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
• From this passage let us examine 3 facts about temptation that will help us to fight off parasites.
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SERMON
I. Three facts about temptation.
• It is important for us to understand some things about temptation. When we understand some of the facts, we can better defend ourselves.
• The greatest problem facing human beings today is temptation. The greatest problem facing human beings today isn’t famine or wars or natural disasters.
• Those are problems and they require lots of attention. But our biggest problem isn’t a circumstance, it’s a state of the heart issue. It’s temptation. If we weren’t tempted, it would be very hard to get into trouble.
• If we didn’t get into trouble, we wouldn’t start wars or starve our neighbors, or take things that aren’t ours, or hurt the people we love, or hurt ourselves the way we so often do. Don’t you agree? The greatest challenge facing humanity is temptation.
• The first fact is:
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1. Every temptation you face has been faced by others.
• Notice that verse 13 tells us that no temptation has overtaken us but such as common to man.
• We are not alone in our struggles; you are not the only one who has dealt with the temptation you are faced with. One of the tools in Satan’s toolbox is isolation.
• If he can make you feel alone, you WILL fall and fail.
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2. You have the power to resist from God.
• It may seem at the time that this is not true, but that’s just a lie from the Evil One, trying to lower your resolve and your resistance.
• God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability,
• If you feel powerless, you will fall and fail!
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3. God provides a way of escape.
• but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
• Your job is to look for that way out and take it the minute you find it.
• If you feel trapped, you will fall and fail!
• Let’s turn to 1 John 2:16
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• 1 John 2:16 (ESV) For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
• From this verse we see another important fact that will help us to fight off the parasites that will drain the life out of a relationship.
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II. Three types of temptation.
• There are three basic types of temptation we all deal with.
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1. The lust of the flesh.
• The lust of the flesh is what we call, “Materialism,” or “Sensualism.”
• Materialism is the temptation to consume things that don’t belong to us or weren’t meant for us in excessive measure.
• Sensualism is the desire to stimulate our senses beyond what God intended or in ways God never intended. Sexual lust falls into this category.
• Lust is an overmastering desire; the word can be used in both negative and positive lights. When you have an overmastering desire to please God that is good.
• When we have cravings of the body, we have to be careful not to be driven by them.
• In Luke 4, when Satan is trying to temp Jesus, he starts with the lust of the flesh.
• Satan tempts the material/sensual side of Jesus: “Jesus, make yourself some bread. It will taste so good and feel so good in your stomach. Bread is a good thing, and you’re fully capable of making some. Come on, do it now. Luke 4:3
• The second on is the lust of the eyes.
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2. The lust of the eyes.
• The lust of the eyes we call, “Greed.” Greed is the temptation to possess things that aren’t ours or that we don’t need.
• It is the desire for more and more and more, we can never get enough!
• In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had succumbed to this when Satan told Eve she would be like God if she ate of the tree. Genesis 3:5
• When Satan tried to tempt Jesus, he offered Him the whole world if Jesus would bow down to Him. Luke 4:4-7
• Satan is offering Jesus possessions here. It’s the temptation of the lust of the eyes: “Have this without working for it.” “Possess this, it can be yours. Take a short-cut for it.”
• Then we have the pride of possessions or the pride of life.
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3. The pride in possessions.
• The pride in possessions is called, well, “Pride.” Pride is the temptation to want to be well-thought of. It’s the temptation to elevate ourselves in the eyes of others in ways that put others down, make us appear better than we are, or compete with God’s rightful place and glory.
• Satan threw this one at Jesus also when he invited Jesus to throw Himself off the highest point of the temple because the angels would not allow Him to fall.
• This third temptation is the pride of the heart. If Jesus throws Himself off the high point of the Temple, everyone will see the angels come and rescue Him and they’ll all say, “Look at Him, He really is the Son of God!” and they’ll worship Him and Jesus will look good.
• Now that we see that parasites have three basic forms, let’s look at how to protect ourselves.
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III. How to protect yourself from dangerous parasites.
• This list seems long, but they are easy to explain.
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1. Pray for protection.
• In the model prayer in Matthew 5, Jesus tells us we are to pray for deliverance from evil and for us not to be lead or drug down the path of temptation.
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2. Make a covenant with yourself.
• In Job:31:1 Job proclaims:
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• “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? Job 31:1 (EVS)
• Ladies, this won’t be a covenant you need to make, but if you’re going to break free from whatever is slowing you down, you’ll need to make a covenant, a pact, a deal ahead of time with your mind that you will not start the process of indulging in that which has previous tempted you.
• Men, this is step one for us. Make a covenant: When you see an attractive female, you will not let your mind go to the next step. Seeing her may not be helped, but It’s a decision to let your mind. Letting it go to your mind will allow parasites in.
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3. Look for a way out.
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 says God provides a way of escape, look for it!
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4. Divert your thoughts.
• When you start to focus on what you should not, think of something else.
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• 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV) destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
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5. Remove yourself.
• 2 Timothy 2:22 tells us to flee from evil.
• If you are in a situation where you will pick up a parasite, LEAVE!
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6. Learn from your mistakes.
• Evaluate and learn from your mistakes. If there is a repeated circumstance, like driving past a donut shop alone, that triggers a temptation, drive home another way.
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7. Ask for forgiveness and resolve to do better.
• I am sorry goes a long way. 1 John 1:9!
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IV. Love Dare Challenge #4
• We have 2 of them, they are for EVERYONE!
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1. Look for parasites in your life that hinders your relationships.
• Look for them, root them out, if you let them go, they will slowly drain the life out of your relationships!
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2. Practice the seven steps on protecting yourself.
CONCLUSION
• Do you really want these in your life?
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• PARASITES DRAIN THE LIFE OUT OF YOUR MARRIAGE. THEY’RE NORMALLY IN THE FORM OF ADDICTIONS LIKE GAMBLING, DRUGS, OR PORNOGRAPHY. THEY PROMISE PLEASE BUT GROW LIKE A DISEASE AND CONSUME MORE AND MORE OF YOUR THOUGHTS, TIME AND MONEY. THEY STEAL AWAY YOUR LOYALTY AND YOUR HEART FROM THOSE YOU LOVE.
• Please make sure your get these parasites out of your life NOW!
