Temptation

This sermon is not an original thought for key points. Some points used from multiple sources found on Sermon Central. The points have been expanded upon and added too in this manuscript preached at First Baptist Church, Ardmore, OK

TITLE: TEMPTATION

SCRIPTURE: ST. MATTHEW 4:1

I recall hearing about an article years ago from the Denver Post -- "Like many sheep ranchers in the West, MS. LEXY FOWLER has tried just about everything to stop crafty coyotes from killing her sheep. She has used odor sprays, electric fences, and 'scare-coyotes.' She has slept with her lambs during the summer and has placed battery-operated radios near them. She has corralled them at night, herded them at day. But the southern Montana rancher has lost scores of lambs -- fifty last year alone. "Then she discovered the Llama - the aggressive, funny-looking, afraid-of-nothing llama -- LLAMAS DON’T APPEAR TO BE AFRAID OF ANYTHING, she said –

• When they see something, they put their head up and walk straight toward it

• That is aggressive behavior as far as the coyote is concerned, and they won't have anything to do with that

• Coyotes are opportunists, and llamas take that opportunity away

• These Lamas illustrate what James spoke of in: "Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you"

• The moment we sense Satan’s attack through temptation is the moment we should face it and deal with it for what it is

It has been rightly stated - “WHEN YOU FLEE TEMPTATION, BE SURE YOU DON’T LEAVE A FORWARDING ADDRESS.” There is a common misconception concerning temptation. Many believe it is a sin to be tempted. It is not a sin to be tempted; the sin comes when you give in to that temptation. The HYMN Writer penned the words – YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION, FOR YIELDING IS SIN. EACH VICTORY WILL AID YOU SOME OTHER TO WIN.

• Yield Not to Temptation

• Don’t Even Stop

• Don’t Even Slow Down

• Don’t Even Glance

• Like the Young Folks say – Whenever Temptation rises - Just Keep on Pushing

Let’s look at this Verse again. DO YOU BELIEVE THE DEVIL HAD THE ADACITY TO TEMPT CHRIST? The devil came after Jesus. He had the Guts to come after Jesus – Emmanuel – God with Us. You better believe devil has no problem coming after us and Tempting us

• The devil knows better than you what Tempts You

• Your Wife or Girlfriend did not see when you quickly glanced at that young lady that walked by

• The devil saw it

• You smiled when that man on the job gave you a compliment and then made a fresh remark

• The devil saw it

• The devil hears you when you talk about you would like to have that nice car or big house

• The devil hears you when you complain you struggle and don’t make enough money

• The devil hears you when you always talk about what you Don’t have

• The devil hears you when you complain your husband or wife never take you anywhere

Let me tell you how temptation works.

• Temptation comes from our Own Desires which Entice Us

• JAMES 1:14-15 -- “BUT EVERY MAN IS TEMPTED, WHEN HE IS DRAWN AWAY OF HIS OWN LUST, AND DESIRES. THEN WHEN LUST HATH CONCEIVED, IT BRINGETH FORTH SIN; AND SIN, WHEN IT IS FINISHED, BRINGETH FORTH DEATH”

The key here is the word - “OWN” – My temptation is not your temptation. What may tempt you would not bother or tempt me at all. When we are drawn away of our own Lust and Desires. And you better believe the devil knows exactly what that is. He knows exactly what he is doing.

• I am convinced he knows what tempts us better than we know ourselves

• Devil has been at this since being cast out of heaven thousands of years ago

• He has been at this a long time

• We talk about we have been saved for 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 years

• We walk around like we are Super Spiritual

• Say Dumb stuff like the Devil is Confused when we Praise God

• He is not working in our Praise

• He is working in our Problems

• He is not working in our Praise

• He is working in our Predicaments

• He is not working in our Praise

• He is working in our Pains

• He is not working in our Praise

• He is working in our Pride

• He is not working in our Praise

• He is working in our Perturbation

• He is not working in our Praise

• He is working in our Perfidiousness