The Grip of Temptation (1Corinth 10:12-13)
Illus: Can you see him running, he is running with all his might. Look at the beads of sweat popping out on his forehead. Each step that he takes is labored; he is exhausted from the struggle. Can you see the fear in his eyes as he looks back over his shoulder? Something’s got a hold on him and won’t let go. It’s like some invisible force that has attached to him and won’t let him go. No matter how hard he fights it, it’s still there. The relentless enemy keeps drawing the prey closer and closer. As the victim is reeled in, like a fish that has taken the lure, the emotions of shame and disgrace overshadow his soul. The thoughts, ”Oh my God, Oh My God why did I fall in this trap” pierce his fear shattered mind.
All the Angels of Heaven begins to weep as another one is overcome by that deadly beast; TEMPTATION.
What temptation is and is not!!!
1. Girl sunbathing
2. donuts
TEXT: 1Corinth 10:12-131 2 If you think you are strong, you should be careful not to fall. 13 The only temptation that has come to you is that which everyone has. But you can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, he will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand it.
TEXT: James 5:8-9
8 Control yourselves and be careful! The devil, your enemy, goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat. 9 Refuse to give in to him, by standing strong in your faith. You know that your Christian family all over the world is having the same kinds of suffering.
TEXT: James 1:12-1512 When people are tempted and still continue strong, they should be happy. After they have proved their faith, God will reward them with life forever. God promised this to all those who love him. 13 When people are tempted, they should not say, “God is tempting me.” Evil cannot tempt God, and God himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But people are tempted when their own evil desire leads them away and traps them. 15 This desire leads to sin, and then the sin grows and brings death.
Samson Story
1. an angel appears to Manoah , Samson’s mother
2. commanded not to drink wine, nor beer
3. Told that her son was to be a nazirite
4. Hair not to be cut ,not eat anything unclean
5. The Lord would use Samson to deliver from the philistines
6. Samson grew in strength
7. TEMPTATION
1. Temptation 1—young Philistine woman
Samson kill a lion honey in the lion carcass
The wager, the riddle ,
Out of the eater comes something to eat
Out of the strong comes something sweet
2. Temptation 2 revenge – destroys 30 philistines and crops
3. Temptation 3- Delilah
1. Seven bow strings
2. New never used rope
3. Seven braids of hair attached to a loom
4. Told Delilah his secret
5. Ended up blind
Temptation has caused many to fall
When we give in to temptation, we offend the Holy Ghost and loose our influence on other people. Our confidence becomes shaken and we are rendered in- effective in our battle against the Devil, so resist temptation and don’t give Satan a door into your life!
Temptation comes in many forms ( sex, drugs, alcohol, porn, perversion, idols, etc.)
Body: How Temptation gets a hold on you
1.Temptation is a system, devised by Satan to trap you
a) Entry points
1. The Eyes (Don’t LOOK )
2. The Ears (Don’t LISTEN)
3. The Nose (Don’t SMELL )
4. The Mouth (Don’t TASTE or TALK )
5. The Touch (Don’t GRAB A HOLD, IT WILL GET YOU)
b) Second you think about it( PLEAD THE BLOOD OF JESUS OVER YOUR MIND, CAST DOWN THE THOUGHTS)
c) Then you are consumed with a desire for it
d) Next you justify it
e) Then you wait for the opportunity
f) LOOK OUT! as you grab it; it grabs you
2. Temptation originates from Satan
3. Temptation is always wrapped in a beautiful package
4. Temptation comes to our weakness, and at our weakest time.
5. Temptation are based on lies
a)(the grass is greener)
b) no one will find out
c) It’s not really that bad
d) everybody is doing it
6. Temptation works on our feelings and emotions
a) someone did you wrong, so this is alright
1) they cheated me; so I’ll take this
b) what’s fair for the goose; is fair for the gander
c) I really deserve this
d) our relationship is bad
e) I don’t need to go to Church today
7. Temptation over rides our better judgement
a) we know better
8. Surrendering to temptation is SIN: SIN separates us from GOD.
9. Giving in to temptation is addictive
a) When we give in to a temptation; the next temptation is harder to resist.
10. Jesus makes a way of escape from all temptation
Renember DON’T LOOK, LISTEN,TASTE,SMELL, or TOUCH
PLEAD THE BLOOD OF JESUS AND RUN AWAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN
