No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Those are comforting words for everyone who struggles with temptation. The apostle Paul was writing to a group of Christians who were surrounded by various temptations and enticements for sin. Therefore, with pen in hand he reminds them that when tempted there is a way of escape.
There is not a person who has cast his shadow across this earth, including Jesus Christ, who has not faced temptation. Moreover, there is not a single person who has ever lived, except Christ, who has not yielded to it at one time or another and suffered the consequences. Temptation is an inevitable part of our fallen world.
Temptation has many faces, for example:
• Material temptation, which can be defined as the lust for things.
It might be as big as a house or as small as a ring. It might be as bright and dazzling as a brand-new car or as dull and dusty as an antique roll-top desk. Yet, who has not felt the burning passion of lust for things? Moreover, who has not at times yielded to it unwisely? Discipleship Journal says materialism is the #1 temptation in America today.
• Then there is what we call personal temptation, which is the lust for fame, for authority, for power, or control over others.
It might be as simple as lust for a title like "CEO" or "President" or "Doctor" or "Professor’ or "Admiral." There is nothing wrong with those titles or those positions, until lust comes and says, "You deserve that, for what it will mean to you”.
• Finally, there is sensual temptation, which is lust for another person or in reality, lust for the person’s body.
I am referring here to the hedonistic desire to have and enjoy that, which is not one’s own, either legally or morally.
All temptation falls into one of these three areas – MATERIAL, PERSONAL or SENSUAL.
Temptation is a strong for in our battle of our two natures, That is why Jesus prayed in the model prayer; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Matthew 6:13)
St. Anthony – "Expect temptation with your last breath."
Edward Sanford Martin said, “Within my earthly temple, there’s a crowd;
There is one of us that’s humble, one that’s proud;
There is one that’s broken-hearted for his sins;
There’s one that, unrepentant, sits and grins;
There is one that loves his neighbor as himself,
And one that cares for naught but fame and self.
From much corroding care I should be free
If I could once determine which is me”.
Source "My Name IS Legion," in Masterpieces of Religious Verse, ed. James Dalton Morrison (New York: Harper, 1948), 274.
Everyone struggles with Temptation – I heard about three preachers who spent a day on the lake fishing, after a while each decided to share the temptation each struggled with most as a way of confessing their sins to one another. The first preacher said – my sin is Greed, and I struggle every week with that temptation in fact a few weeks ago, I took some of the collection and used it for personal gain. The second preacher said each week I face the temptation of drinking and from time to time, I dip into the sacramental wine at the church. The Third preach said, boy, I am in trouble – I struggle with gossip and I cannot wait to get this boat back to shore.
How do we escape temptation? The Bible gives us an example of a woman facing temptation her failure will give us several lessons on how to escape the trap of temptation.
Let us look at the temptation of Eve and draw out some lessons for us today
READ TEXT GENESIS 3:1-7
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, ’You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ’You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’" "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
1. The Temptation of Eve
A. We are first introduced to the Tempter
57 verses into the Bible and we are introduced to the Tempter
Verse 1 tells us, the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made.
(NKJV) Verse 1 reads, Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.
The Bible wants us to know who we are dealing with when it comes to temptation. It is from a crafty and cunning enemy.
James 1:13, When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.
B. Notice the tactics of the Tempter
• He waited until Eve was alone – At the beginning of our text, we find Eve strolling through the garden all by herself. It was in her isolation Satan was able to do his work.
• In a recent survey, 1000 people were asked would they commit a crime if they knew they would not be caught or if no one would ever their deed. Amazing, 78% said they would either steal money or bring physical harm to someone. Solitude can be an open door for temptation.
• He took advantage of what was forbidden. THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL
God was very clear in what they could and could not do Gen 2:16-17, And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
Satan understands the place where you and are I most likely to stumble and fall into temptation. He is aware of our weakness and he seeks to exploit them.
Eve had the whole garden at her disposal, but the one thing she could not have was her downfall.
Men, that is why we must be careful with what enters in our eye gate, as men, we are driven by sight and so pornography and suggestive pictures have an allure we must guard ourselves against.
Teen-agers, must avoid the desire to please peers rather than pleasing God, most often they find themselves in tempting situations out of a need to belong or fit it.
Just as Satan was aware of Eve’s weakness, he is aware of ours as well.
• Finally he distorted God’s word
Eve addressed Satan and tells him she is not to eat from the tree because she will die – Just as God had said (she added we cannot touch it) WHICH GOD DID NOT SAY! BUT OUR FOCUS IS NOT ON EVE BUT ON SATAN – notice his response – in Gen 3:4-5, "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Satan’s words contained some truth – there eyes would be opened – but they would not be like God instead they would be like Satan in that they would be violating what God said.
It is amazing how many people fall into sin because they violate what God’s word says about a certain subject.
GOD CALLS US TO BE SEXUALLY PURE – Ephesians 5:3, But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Yet when we violate His word, we justify ourselves and say God will understand. After all God would want be to be happy!
BE MINDFUL OF MATERIALISM – 1 Tim 6:10-11, For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Yet we wonder why we cannot give, as we should, it is not because we do not want to give, but it is because we are caught in the trap of materialism. Listen to what the apostle John said in his first letter; Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world-- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-- comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. I John 2:15-17
GUARD OUR TONGUE – 1 Pet 3:10-12, For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." We involve ourselves in white lies and false testimony or we share a little tidbit just between a few friends and then we wonder why God is not pleased.
LISTEN – Hebrews 4:13, Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
C. Notice the Triumph of Sin.
Gen 3:6-7, When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Eve gave into Satan’s perfect plan
• She saw the fruit – Literally, she set her eyes upon it
• She desired the fruit – she moved from looking at the fruit to actually wanting to have the fruit (DESIRABLE). The word desire carries with it the idea she would be satisfied, if she ate the fruit. The problem with sin is when we look at the desired object we believe it will meet a need or we will be happy or life will be better.
• She ate the fruit, she fell into the trap and she sinned.
The results were devastating
• Verse 6 tells us she led her husband down the path giving him some fruit.
• They lost their innocence – they realized they were naked, which prompted shame. Adam tried to cover their nakedness with leaves, but it was hopeless.
• In their shame, they hid from God – Gen 3:8, Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Their relationship with God changed they went from be servants in fellowship to people of rebellion.
• Removed from a paradise and placed in a prison – of guilt and shame
From that day on Adam would have to work for survival, Eve would have pain in childbirth, both were a constant reminder of the devastating consequences of sin. Yet there was one more consequence – they died. Their bodies would succumb to the aches; pains and aging and finally they would die.
ALL BECAUSE THEY SUCCUMBED TO TEMPTATION
HOW CAN WE BE VICTORIOUS OVER TEMPTATION TODAY?
1. Avoid compromising situations, which make us open to temptation.
Eve found herself in the garden near the tree and that was her undoing – she was defiantly at the wrong place at the wrong time.
• If you struggle with gossip avoid people you know who are inclined to spread half-truths 1 Cor 15:33, Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
• If alcohol is a problem stay away from bars and parties where you know it will be freely available
• If greed is a difficulty, don’t be involved with money matters which can lead one to steal, learn to be content in your situation, by trust God and seeking His Kingdom.
• If sensuality is a problem be mindful of the chat rooms on the internet or the movies you watch and buy.
2. Find someone to hold you accountable.
When faced with temptation Eve thought she had no place to go she was alone with the tempter and he took advantage of her isolation.
KEYS TO ACCOUNTABILITY
• Strong convictions – Adam came along but he was just as weak and failed her
• Must be someone you admire and respect
• Someone you trust so that you can be open with your struggles
• You must be willing to share with that person.
• ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE ONE AREA WHERE I BELIEVE WE FAIL MISERABLY FOR CHRIST (PERSONALLY AND CORPORATELY)
• Everyone in this room needs 3 people in their life when it comes to accountability - Paul someone flowing into your life. A Timothy – Some whom you are teaching and you need a Barnabas, someone who is encouraging you. Do you have those people in your circle of influence?
3. Another Key to defeating temptation is to know the Bible.
Did you see what Eve said in response to the Serpent – Gen 3:2-3, The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ’You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’" God never said they could not touch the tree. He said, they could not eat from it. Because Eve did not know what God had said she was open to the tactics of Satan – He lied to her, (you will not die) and then he questioned God’s motives. (You will be like God).
Friends God’s word is very clear and when we add to it or take away from His word, we are opening ourselves up to the tempter’s traps.
Susannah Wesley said of Bible, The Bible will keep you away from sin or sin will keep you away from the Bible.
Ps 119:11, I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
4. Develop a strong prayer life.
James 4:8, Draw near to God and He will draw near to you
Jesus understood the value of prayer in resisting temptation when he said in the model prayer, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matt 6:13
CONCLUSION – The temptation and fall of Adam and Eve is possibly the saddest example of God’s people not listening to Him. Yet at the end of the fall, there is a ray of hope. God promises Adam and Eve there is a one who will come that will take away their sin. At the time it was just a mystery how would be accomplished all they knew is that would be a child from woman – Gen 3:15, And I(God) will put enmity between you(Serpent) and the woman (Eve), and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
They did not understand exactly what that would mean but he gave them a preview in verse 21, The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
The Lord provided them garments from an animal – it was in this action God was already laying out the plan; there would have to be a blood sacrifice to cover our sins.
The most devastating results of succumbing to temptation is someone has to die cover our sins. That someone is Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21, God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. THE OLD HYMN SAYS IT BEST…
Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.
That is the good news if we have succumb to temptation – Jesus did pay it all.
Are you facing a temptation today? Take heart with the words from Paul
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
But if you fall take comfort in the words of God - Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool, PRAYER
