Facing Temptation
Text: Luke 22:31-32
“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
I. Realize that Jesus was tempted (Hebrews 4:15)
A. Tempted to seek a lawful thing in an unlawful way—(Matthew 4:3,4) “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 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.
B. Tempted to make a public display of His power for the honor of His own name. (Matthew 4:6) “And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
C. Tempted to accomplish God’s plan, but not in God’s way—(Matthew 4:8,9) “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” It was God’s will to give to Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in all their glory. Satan’s temptation to His was to step out of God’s plan, avoid the cross with all its agony and receive the promised blessings from the Father without fulfilling the Father’s will. Satan is constantly ready to offer all the promises of God to anyone who will step out of God’s will to receive them. Abram tried to hasten God’s will when he took Hagar to bear the promised son. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God. To substitute anything else to try to win the world is to fall to the temptation of the enemy.
D. Tempted to save Himself from the cross. (Matthew 27:40-43) “Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.”
II. Learn the difference between temptation and sin.
Many people struggle to know the difference between temptation and sin. Temptation itself is not sin. It is helpful to understand these facts about temptation:
A. God created us with natural desires
1. Hunger for food
2. Desire to be accepted
3. Desire to be loved and to love
B. Temptation is only possible through Satan’s appeal to our natural desires
C. Temptation occurs when Satan stimulates a natural desire and offers to fulfill it in a way that is sinful
D. Sin occurs when our will unites with the desire that Satan has kindled in the mind. When we make the decision to pursue the wrong desire, it is then that it becomes sin.
E. God does not always remove our desires or appetites but He gives courage and grace to resist temptation.
F. We cannot be isolated from temptation, but God can insulate us from the power that it would otherwise have over our lives. We can be victorious over temptation!
III. Stand on God’s promises regarding temptation.
A. You are not alone. I Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man…” Other people have faced the same temptation you are facing and have been victorious over it.
B. God sets the limits. I Corinthians 10:13 “…but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able…”
C. There will always be a way of escape. I Corinthians 10:13 “…but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it…”
D. There is a reward for the victorious. James 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.”
E. The Spirit of the Lord will fight for you. (Isaiah 59:19b) When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. (KJV)
