Dealing With Temptation
Scriptures: Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 2:9-18; Hebrews 4:15; James 4:1-5; James 1:12-16; Matthew 6:19-24; Galatians 5:16-17; Romans 6:8-13; Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 19:16-22; Luke 12:13-15; Luke 10:38-42; I John 2:15-17
Opening: Life is full of temptations for the Christian. The world asks us to abandon godliness for a life of sin through fullfilling the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.Matthew 4:1-11
"Temptation is the devil's tool box designed to break your focus!"
Point: Jesus, in the flesh of man, was tempted in all points common to this life. These include: the lust of the flesh, Matthew 4:3; the lust of the eyes, Matthew 4:8-9 and the pride of life, Matthew 4:6 By overcoming these lusts, He proved that we can, too. Hebrews 2:9-18; Hebrews 4:15
Point: We are not tempted by God, as some suppose, but rather by our own desires. We struggle for what our fleshly man wants without acknowledging that God gives us what we need, if we ask for the right things, for the right reason. James 1:12-16; James 4:1-5
Point: Our temptations come, because our heart is not in the right place. We must walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh. Matthew 6:19-24; Galatians 5:16-17
Point: Being dead to sin, sin should not rule our lives. We should rather yield our bodies to God's service. Our affections should be on spiritual (heavenly) things, not earthly ones.Romans 6:8-13; Colossians 3:1-4
Point: We must shift our love from things of this world, to our heavenly Father, the God of all creation.We must behave as citizens of the kingdom of God.Matthew 19:16-22; Luke 1`2:13-15; Luke 10:38-42
Conclusion: Temptations won't go away. We have to deal with them. How? By putting them into perspective. We are tempted when drawn away by our own lusts. We lust, because our heart is in this world, not in heaven. If we walk in the Spirit, with our affection on the heavenly realm, like Jesus, we will overcome sin.
I John 2:15-17
†Rev. Brian Chavarria†
