✎ If it were possible for you to be a super hero for a day, which one would you choose? Would you want to be the amazing “Spiderman,” the man of steel “Superman,” the invincible crime fighter “Batman,” or the super speedy “Flash Gordon?” Ladies, would you choose to be one of the super hero men, or would you rather be “Wonder Woman,” the “Bionic Woman” or perhaps “Bat Girl?”
✎ Let’s get a little more practical; with which of the following Biblical characters do you identify with most? (Sorry ladies, they are all men, so think about the characteristics you share with one of these individuals.)
▸ SAMPSON
[1] He was set apart by God for a special purpose.
[2] He took a vow of obedience.
[3] He was given great ability and physical strength.
▸ DAVID
[1] He was a great leader, chosen by God to be the king.
[2] He courageously stood up against the giant Goliath.
[3] He was called a “man after God’s own heart.”
[4] He worshiped the Lord through the Psalms.
▸ ELIJAH
[1] He fearlessly spoke the word of God to King Ahab, Jezebel, and the prophets of Baal.
[2] He exposed Baal as a false god on Mt. Carmel calling fire from heaven.
[3] He was used by God to preform miracles.
[4] He heard the still small voice of the Lord.
▸ PETER
[1] He was chosen by Jesus to be one of the disciples.
[2] Recognized that Jesus was the promised Messiah.
[3] Preached the word of God and thousands were saved.
[4] He was a man of faith; he had no silver or gold, but lifted a cripple to his feet.
As admirable as each of these individuals may have been, each of them also shared another characteristic which we cannot overlook. Just because the Spirit of God used them in great ways, none of them were immune from temptation and sin. Whenever they forgot to yield to the control of the Holy Spirit, they each soon yielded to sin.
Each of us is not immune to temptation. You and I must learn to rely upon the power of the Holy Spirit resident within us to overcome temptation and sin. God will enable us to “Overcome Every Temptation–Every Time.”
+ Galatians 5:16-26 16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature [FLESH–“sarx”]. 17For the [flesh] desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the [flesh]. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19The acts of the [flesh] are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the [flesh] with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (NIV)
1. HAVING THE HOLY SPIRIT RESIDENT IN OUR LIVES DOES NOT GUARANTEE VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION.
God’s expectation is clear! As believers we should live our lives free from sin.
+ 1 Peter 1:15-16 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (NIV)
If only it were that easy; if only we were instantly sanctified, set free from the power of sin, at the moment of our salvation.
What happens when we are saved? At the moment you ask Christ to forgive you of your sin you are cleansed of all sin and the Holy Spirit takes up residence in your life. We are as the Bible says “a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17); we have been saved, but we still live in our bodies–what Paul calls the flesh. With God’s Spirit resident in your life a conflict or struggle for control begins between your flesh and the Spirit.
+ Galatians 5:17 The [flesh “sarx”] loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the [flesh] desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. (NLT)
Who will win the battle for control, the Spirit or the flesh?
▸ SAMPSON
The Spirt of God came upon him in power, but nevertheless he was seduced by Delilah. Sampson was physically strong, but spiritually weak because he came to believe that his great strength was his own and not from God. Sampson was so accustomed to doing great things through the power of the Spirit that he was unaware when God’s Spirit left Him (Judges 16:20-21).
▸ DAVID
The Holy Spirit came upon David when he was anointed to be king; however, he yielded to his own lust and had an affair with Bathsheba. When David was unable to cover-up his sin, he had Bathsheba’s husband killed (2 Samuel 11). This from a man with a heart to seek after God!
▸ ELIJAH
He overcame the prophets of Baal, but when Jezebel threatened to kill him, Elijah was overcome by the temptation of fear and worry. He found himself in the pit of depression running away from the place where God wanted him (2 Kings 19). It seems that when Satan can’t get us with blatant sin, he wares us down with the grind of everyday life.
▸ PETER
The Holy Spirit came upon Peter on the day of Pentecost, but he was overcome by temptation and prejudice to live a hypocritical double standard regarding Gentile believers (Galatians 2:11-14).
The Bible tells us that we who believe are the temple of the Holy Spirit; God’s Spirit lives in you (1 Corinthians 3:16)! Furthermore, you can be “filled with the Spirit” and speak in other tongues (Acts 2:4). However, just because you are the temple of the Holy Spirit,” or even if you are “filled with the Spirit” does not mean you are now above yielding to sin. DON’T IGNORE SATAN’S SUBTLE DECEPTION; if we believe we are incapable of sin, then we are dangerously close to sin.
+ Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction. (NIV) First pride, then the crash—the bigger the ego, the harder the fall. (MsgB)
+ 1 Corinthians. 10:12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin. (NLT)
2. THE HOLY SPIRIT ENABLES BELIEVERS TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION BY PRODUCING HIS HOLY CHARACTER IN US.
+ Galatians 5:19-21 The acts of the [flesh] are obvious. . .(NIV)
A. THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES SIN OBVIOUS; there is no grey area. God’s Spirit works His character into our lives by convincing us of what is right and wrong.
Sin is obvious; obvious that is to those who have the Holy Spirit within them. For those who have not accepted Christ and do not have His Spirit NOTHING IS OBVIOUS! The non-believer does not see sin, but shades of grey; right and wrong are only a matter of opinion.
+ Romans 1:21-22, 25 21. . .their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools. . . 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie. (NIV)
We live within a culture that wants to be “politically correct,” where truth is relative and standards of morality are determined according to situational ethics. Politically correct thinking and situational ethics tell us that there are no absolutes, that what is right or wrong depends upon the individual or the situation at a given time. Even in the midst of a mixed up and confused world, the Holy Spirit makes known what is right and wrong.
How does the Holy Spirit make sin obvious to us? How do we come to recognize what is right and wrong?
1. The Spirit makes sin obvious by His presence in our life.
✎ How many of you know what I mean by having your shoulders talk to you? We’ve all seen it in cartoons and movies. An individual is confronted with a choice and suddenly with a little puff of black smoke a little devil stands on the left shoulder saying, “Just do it.” Then over the right shoulder with a puff of white smoke an angel says, “You better stop and think about this!”
Without the Holy Spirit in your life, there is no “little angel” to encourage you to do what is right. You are left to just do whatever you think may be best. . . or to take the advice of that little devil.
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would, “convince the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment” (John 16:8 NLT). The Spirit makes it plain what is right and wrong; SIN BECOMES OBVIOUS.
Jesus called the Holy Spirit, “THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH” (John 16:13); He will not lead us into error, but will show us accurately what is right. We won’t see things in shades of grey because the Holy Spirit will make the truth know to us.
2. The Spirit makes sin obvious through His Word.
Because the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of Truth” He confirms and validated the scripture as the Word of God. The Bible is not just another book; it is more than just words printed on a page. The Bible is alive! It’s living and active judging the thoughts and intentions of our hearts (Hebrews 4:12).
+ Psalm 119:9, 11 9How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. . . 11I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (NIV)
To know what is right is one thing, but to do the right thing is another. The Spirit doesn’t just make sin obvious to us; He gives us the “want to.”
B. THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES A DESIRE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. God puts a hunger for righteousness within us, and then satisfies that desire as we cooperate with the Spirit and His holy character being developed in us (see Matthew 5:6).
God wants to do a work within us “from the inside out.” The desire to do what is right contradicts our fleshly desires; the Spirit and the flesh are at war with each other. However, God enables us to fulfill the desires of the Spirit; He will give us the “want to.”
Wouldn’t it be great if that was all there was to it–that the Holy Spirit just turned on a switch in our heads showing us what is right and wrong and then turned on another switch giving us the desire to do the right thing? Remember, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives does not guarantee that we will have victory over temptation and sin; don’t forget about Sampson, David, Elijah or Peter.
The Spirit empowers us to overcome temptation by developing His character within us. The Spirit will make sin obvious to us by His presence in our lives and through the Word of God. The Spirit will even develop His holy character in us by giving us the want to, a God-given desire to do what is right. However, there is one more important step.
3. THE HOLY SPIRIT ENABLES BELIEVERS TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION AS WE DAILY CHOOSE TO “LIVE BY THE SPIRIT.”
+ What did Paul say? Galatians 5:16, 25 16I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. . . 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (NIV)
A. THE FIRST STEP TO LIVING BY THE SPIRIT IS TO YIELD TO GOD. In order for us to “live by the Spirit” we must choose to cooperate with God; each of us must participate with God so that we can be empowered to overcome temptation and sin.
God leaves the final choice up to you. The Holy Spirit is resident within you to give you the strength you need to say no to sin. The Spirit makes sin obvious to us; we know right from wrong, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO CHOOSE WHAT IS RIGHT.
+ 1 Corinthians 10:12 Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence. (MsgB)
We need to develop a “God-confidence,” to yield and depend completely upon the Lord. Apart from God we will fall flat on our faces. We yield to temptation and give sin a place in our lives when we fail to yield to God.
+ 1 Corinthians 10:13 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it. (MsgB)
We can “live by the Spirit.” God will not let us down when we choose to yield control to God. God wants us to overcome every temptation–every time. God will see us through the temptation; He will make a way of escape.
B. THE SECOND STEP TO LIVING BY THE SPIRIT IS TO RESIST THE DEVIL. We need to say a “Yes” to God, and shout “No” to the devil.
+ Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their [FLESH, “sarx”] to his cross and crucified them there. (NLT)
Let’s choose to not give the devil any opportunity; resist him by nailing your passions and desires to the cross of Christ. Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ;” I put the longings of my flesh on the cross so that I might live for Jesus (Galatians 2:20).
Many of us find it easier to gratify every physical urge that we have instead of crucifying our flesh. Crucifixion is painful, but if we are going to resist the devil then we must be willing to put the desires of the flesh to death in order to live by the Spirit.
▸ Men, we don’t have to live our lives on a “testosterone high.” We can choose to control our sexual impulses or burst of anger. We can be men of God.
▸ Ladies, you don’t have to give into an “estrogen roller coaster” of moodiness or depression. God can give you the strength to control your emotions.
▸ None of us have to live for our stomach; we can choose to eat to live instead of living to eat. We don’t have to be a glutton and eat everything in sight, nor do we have to be anorexic and starve ourselves to death.
▸ We don’t have to seek pleasure though alcohol or narcotics, nor do we have to drown our problems in a bottle or make them disappear at the end of a line of coke.
▸ We don’t have to believe the lie from the media and entertainment as to what it takes to be a man or a woman. We are made in the image of God.
God gave His Son Jesus to set us free from the power of sin; we can be forgiven and made new. Jesus has given us His Spirit to live within us in order that we might live a life that is pleasing to God.
Too often we are just quick to make excuses or cast blame for our behavior. “I couldn’t help myself.” “It’s all your fault.” “The devil made me do it.”
You don’t have to give in to temptation and sin. You can overcome the passions and desires of your flesh with God’s help. Resist the devil; don’t give him a place in your life.
+ 1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (NIV)
God is bigger than the devil. The Spirit of God will empower you to overcome every temptation–every time.
Conclusion:
1. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is not a guarantee that we will overcome temptation and sin.
2. However, the Holy Spirit will develop His holy character within us. The Spirit will make sin obvious and will give us the “want to.”
3. The Spirit will make us over comers as we “live by the Spirit.” We can choose by the power of the Spirit to yield to God and resist the devil.
Now I’m sure there is only one question that remains unanswered in your mind, “HOW?” How can we overcome temptation–every time?
✎ The story is told about a man who had two German shepherds; one was named Righteousness and the other Sin. Everyday these two dogs would fight for the control of their master. At first it was a real dog fight. Some days Righteousness would win, and other days Sin would take the victory. The man grew tired of the daily war; he wanted these dogs to get along with each other. He had a talk with them but that didn’t seem to help much. Finally he had an idea and one of the dogs began to gain the upper hand and win most of the dog fights. In time the other dog reluctantly submitted to the stronger dog; the dog fight was over and the dogs were tamed. When asked how he got his dogs to cooperate with each other, the man said, “It’s simple. I FEED ONE AND STARVE THE OTHER.”
Let me encourage you to do something practical so that “Righteousness” can win over “Sin” in your life, enabling you to overcome temptation every time.
1. Begin each day with a simple prayer asking God to help you. Ask the Holy Spirit to make sin obvious, to give you the desire to do what is right. Develop a God-confidence through these daily times of prayer.
(Now don’t stop with prayer; it’s a good start, but it’s not enough. Remember the man had a talk with his dogs, but it didn’t help much. The dog fights continued until he began to feed one dog and starve the other.)
2. Read and meditate upon God’s Word everyday; feed “Righteousness” within you. Only as we put God’s word within our hearts can the Spirit of God put it to use and lead us in His ways.
Don’t stop with just feeding your mind and spirit with the word of God. Starve your flesh; starve “Sin.”
3. Take the 50-Days to Pentecost challenge and go on a TV fast; in other words, crucify your flesh and it’s desires. If you don’t think you can go without TV all together then before you turn it on make sure that you have spent at least 30 minutes with God and 30 miniutes with your family. Take care of what’s really important first; feed righteousness! Yield to God and resist the devil. Each of us must choose to cooperate with God if we are going to have victory over temptation and sin in our daily lives.
The most deadly sins don’t leap upon us; they creep up on us! Satan will use the most subtle means to try to lead us into sin, but you don’t have to fall on your face; you don’t have to give in to sin. Overcome every temptation–every time; it’s possible through the power of the Holy Spirit within you.
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Portions are taken from a teaching series 50-Days to Pentecost, by John Palmer.
