“Temptation”
INTRODUCTION: Have you been tempted lately? Personally, I’m not tempted to sin very much … only 40-50 times a day!
There are 2 words in the Greek that the Bible uses for “temptation”.
1.- PEIRAZO – this is a testing for the purpose of seeing what is good OR evil in something … to find the defects in something. When I had a BIOPSY done on the tumor in my ear and nose, they did a TEST (“peirazo”) for the purpose of finding out if there was good or evil in it.
This is the term that is used when Satan TEMPTS you to sin. He is looking for the DEFECTS in you … to tempt you to sin. This is a NEGATIVE process. The PURPOSE is to get you to sin.
2.- DOKIMAZO – this is a testing for the purpose of APPROVING something. The expectation is always for GOOD results. When you take a test at school, the teacher doesn’t give it to you for you to FAIL … but to PASS. When you test the spaghetti sauce while you’re cooking it, it’s to see how GOOD it is … NOT how BAD it is.
This is the kind of TESTING that God gives you. 1 Peter 1:7 – “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” This is a POSITIVE process. The PURPOSE is to make you stronger in your faith.
NOW – The TESTING that God gives you, comes from WITHOUT. The TESTING (“temptations”) that Satan gives you, comes from WITHIN. HOWEVER … the TESTING of God (through the influence of Satan) can be turned into TEMPTATIONS.
• ILLUSTRATION: The teacher gives you a TEST at school … but you are TEMPTED to cheat.
• EXAMPLE: God sent the Children of Israel into the wilderness, and TESTED them with no water. The PURPOSE was to get them to turn to Him and trust Him as their supplier. INSTEAD … they turned it into a TEMPTATION, and murmured and complained against God.
Let’s briefly take a look at the temptation of Jesus, to give us an idea of how Satan works in tempting us. Matthew Chapter 4 – all turn.
1.- IT’S NOT A SIN TO BE TEMPTED – 4:1. Jesus was “led” into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be TEMPTED of the Devil. This was a genuine TEMPTATION (“peirazo”) of Satan. BUT … it was also a TEST (“dokimazo”) from God. Satan wanted Jesus to FAIL (“peirazo”). God wanted to prove the genuineness of Jesus (“dokimazo”).
2.- TEMPTATION COMES AT OUR WEAK POINTS – 4:2. Jesus was hungry. Satan appealed to the INNOCENT desire of Jesus for food.
Satan knows YOUR weaknesses. They might not be a temptation to the person sitting next to you. Satan knows YOUR weakness, and this is where he attacks YOU.
• The temptation of ADULTERY might have no effect on you. BUT .. it might be a real temptation to someone who is having marital problems … OR … has a problem with lust.
• The temptation to STEAL might have no effect on you. BUT … it might be a real temptation to someone going through financial difficulties.
• The temptation to CHEAT ON A TEST might have no effect on you. BUT … it might be a real temptation to a poor student who has bad grades and hasn’t studied for a test.
Satan will attack you at your weak points.
3.- SATAN DISGUISES HIS TEMPTATIONS – Satan takes INNOCENT things, and PERVERTS them into making them a sin.
Have you ever noticed that Satan only tempts you with things that you want to do anyhow?
• I have never been tempted to eat beets! BUT … I have been tempted to eat chocolate!
• Satan has never whispered in my ear … “Look at that man over there … he sure is good-looking, isn’t he?”
• When I need to be studying for Sunday’s sermon, Satan never tempts me to go horseback riding (which I hate) … BUT … he might tempt me to go fishing.
Look at how Satan tempted Jesus:
4:3 – This would be a miracle. Jesus loved doing miracles … He did lots of them. It validated Him and His ministry as coming from God. There’s nothing wrong with turning stones into bread. He turned water into wine.
How would this be WRONG? It’s WRONG, because:
• Jesus doesn’t take His orders from Satan.
• Jesus doesn’t have to prove anything to anybody … to Satan, or you, or me.
• Jesus had always looked to His Heavenly Father to meet all His needs. He’s not going to act independently of God … to by-pass God. God will supply His need – 4:4.
4:5-6 – How could this be wrong? It would have showed the people below that He was really God, and that God would take care of Him. God later protected Him when Jesus preached in Nazareth, and the crowds tried to throw Him over a cliff (Lk. 4:29-30).
It’s WRONG, because Satan was tempting GOD! 4:7. It’s one thing to fall off a roof and ask God to catch you. It’s another thing to intentionally step in front of a Mack truck, and say: “If there really is a God in Heaven, protect me!” SPLAT!!! That’s tempting God. Jesus wasn’t going to engage in the Devil’s horse and pony show.
4:8-9 – How was this a temptation to Jesus?
• Jesus DESIRES the time when He will set up His Kingdom … and fulfill God’s promise to Israel.
• Satan was offering Jesus a short-cut to by-pass the suffering of the cross.
Jesus would rather wait 2000 years, and suffer the cross, than get instant gratification. Jesus never took the easy way out. It’s so much EASIER, NOT to give the Devil a hard time, ISN’T IT?
NOTICE – Each time, Jesus quoted Scripture to the Devil – 4:10. Where did He find the resource to fight and defeat temptation? He found it in the Scriptures … by looking to God and His Word. It must have worked – 4:11.
Let’s take a look at how the Devil tempts YOU and ME. James 1:12-16 – all turn
1:12 – Here we see the 2 different words for “temptation”. “temptation” = “peirazo” … “tried” = “dokimazo”. What Satan means for FAILURE … God means for BLESSING. DOKIMAZO … the testing for the purpose of APPROVING something … the POSITIVE test … for the PURPOSE of strengthening your faith. It comes from God.
1:13 – God never brings “peirazo” temptation into your life. He ALLOWS the Devil to tempt you to sin … for the PURPOSE of turning to Him for strength. 1 Cor. 10:13 – all turn.
• 2 Peter 2:9 – “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations (“peirazo”),”.
• 1 Peter 1:7 – “That the trial (“dokimazo”) of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
• James 1:2-3 – “temptations” = ‘peirazo” … “trying” = ‘dokimazo”.
Let’s examine HOW SATAN TEMPTS YOU. That will give us a better understanding of how to have victory over temptation.
1:14 – Sinning ISN’T just a SINGLE ACT … it’s a PROCESS.
1.- DESIRE – 1:14
“lust” = any kind of desire … not necessarily sexual or evil. EX.: You can “lust” after God’s Word. “desires” aren’t all bad. It’s when we try to fulfill them outside of God’s will that it becomes a sin. EX.:
• FOOD is normal … GLUTTONY is a sin.
• SLEEP is normal … LAZINESS is a sin.
• THIRST is normal … DRUNKENNESS is a sin.
• RECREATION is normal … STREET FIGHTING is a sin.
2.- DECEPTION – 1:14
Satan usually DECEIVES us into sin. How does he do this?
• “drawn away” – carries the idea of ‘to bait a trap’.
• “enticed” – carries the idea of ‘to bait a hook’.
No animal will intentionally step into an un-baited trap. No fish will intentionally bite an un-baited hook (I’ve tried it!). You have to hide the hook in the bait. Satan uses BAIT. He HIDES the danger of the sin by the ATTRACTION of the bait.
EXAMPLE – King David saw the beauty of Bathsheba (the bait) … BUT … he hid the hook of adultery and murder.
Satan is a master of disguise. He knows how to disguise the hook, and use the bait that appeals to you.
3.- DISOBEDIENCE – 1:15
Lust gives birth to the decision to submit to temptation … and to sin. It’s NOT a sin to DESIRE … OR … to be DECEIVED. EXAMPLE:
• DESIRE – a fish likes worms (no sin) … “I want it.”
• DECEPTION – the fish wants to eat the shrimp on the hook (no sin) … “I can have it.”
• DISOBEDIENCE – the fish chooses to eat the shrimp (sin) … “I will do it.”
• DEATH – the fish becomes SUPPER! … “I did it.”
NOTICE – If the fish had said “NO!” to it’s desire to eat the shrimp, it would still be swimming in the ocean.
4.- DEATH – 1:15 – Romans 6:23 - “The wages of sin is death.” We need to get out eyes off the bait … and look ahead to the consequences of our yielding to temptation.
Temptation always tells you that you will be SATISFIED when you yield. BUT … you know that it never satisfies. It always bring about guilt, shame, and consequences.
CONCLUSION: 1:16 – HOW? Mt. 26:41 – all turn. “temptation” = ‘peirazo’. “watch and pray” –
“watch” = What is your weak point? For some fish, it’s worms … shrimp … artificial lures.
“pray” – Your strength comes from the Lord. Don’t nurture your desires … look to God for strength … He has given you a way to escape … HIM!
STAND – PRAY
HYMN - #409 – “When We Walk With The Lord”
OUTLINE FOR HANDOUT:
“Temptation”
INTRODUCTION: There are 2 words to describe “temptation”:
• PEIRAZO – “temptation” – looking for defects – NEGATIVE … Satan’s temptations.
• DOKIMAZO – “testing” – looking for approval – POSITIVE … God’s testing - 1 Peter 1:7 – to strengthen your faith.
You can turn the TESTING of God can be turned into TEMPTATION.
Matthew Chapter 4 – The Temptation of Christ
1.- It’s Not A Sin To Be Tempted – 4:1
2.- Temptation Comes At Our Weak Points – 4:2
- Satan knows your weakness.
3.- Satan Disguises His Temptations – He perverts the innocent.
- 4:3 – God will supply His needs – 4:4
- 4:5-6 – Satan was tempting God – 4:7
- 4:8-9 – It’s easier not to give the Devil a hard time.
Jesus always used Scripture against Satan – 4:10-11
HOW DOES SATAN TEMPT YOU AND ME? James 1:12-16
1:12 – What Satan means for failure, God means for blessing.
1:13 – God allows Satan to tempt you, to turn to Him for strength – 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Peter 2:9,1 Peter 1:7, James 1:2-3.
SINNING IS A PROCESS … NOT A SINGLE ACT:
1.- Desire – 1:14 – “I want it.” – “desires” aren’t all bad.
2.- Deception – 1:14 – “I can have it.” – Satan hides the hook in the bait … he’s a master of disguise.
3.- Disobedience – 1:15 – “I will do it.” – the decision to sin.
4.- Death – 1:15 – “I did it.” – Romans 6:23
- Get your eyes off the bait, and onto the consequences of the sin.
- Yielding to the temptation never satisfies.
CONCLUSION: James 1:16 – HOW?
- Matthew 26:41 – “watch and pray”.
• “watch” – Know your weak point.
• “pray” – look to God for your strength … He has given you a way to escape.
PRISCILLA BAPTIST CHURCH – Ray Scott, Pastor
