Trials And Temptations Series

Trials & Temptations - Week 2 June 2 , 2013

We are in the second week of a 2 part series on trials and temptations

Todays scripture is something that we ALL BATTLE with on a daily basis.

There are things and people that influence you and me for the wrong reason and the wrong purpose.

World –sometimes like a magnet that tries to pull us in the wrong direction

God calls us to live “in” this world but not be “of” this world.- Difficult Balance

Me: I experience this “tension” because I know that we are called to go out into the “mission” field and make a difference in the community we live in.

When temptation comes my way, sometimes I don’t recognize it.

We: go to church, spend time with God and friends and yet there is a force that tries to pull us away…

We find ourselves indulging in things that we think could be a gray area, but it feels good and we think it probably won’t hurt anybody/ nobody will find out.

All of a sudden, or so it seems, we wake up one day and ask ourselves, “How did I get here”? or “What did I do”?

This morning- I want to identify 3 types of temptations- Call them out!

1 John 2:15-17 (NLT)

Vs 15- Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

What else does the Bible have to say about the world?

1 John 4:4- “the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the Spirit who lives in the world.”

1 John 5:19 - “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under control of the evil one.”

John 15:18-19 -(Jesus talking) “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world.”

James 4:4 - “Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?”

** We Can’t love the World and love God at the same time!!

Our hearts and minds can’t be fully devoted to both. We will either gravitate toward one or the other.

The world will always fool you and never fully satisfy you!

?? What does the World offer you??

Vs. 16 - “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.” These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”

3 kinds of temptations the world offers:

1. Craving for physical pleasure (NLT) or Lust of the Flesh (NIV)

“Temptation to Feel”

Hedonism - “maximize your pleasures, your senses”

Examples:

Food- comfort food- (Hershey’s dark Chocolate or bag of Doritos at 10:00 pm)

Television- sitting in front of for too long

Drugs- stimulate your mind & body

Internet- get lost in Cyber world

Movies- get mind filled with worldly things

(Ex: Rated R Movies)

2. A craving for everything we see (NLT) or Lust of the Eyes (NIV)

“Temptation to Have”

I see it and I want it. I have to have it now!

Materialism- live for the acquisition of things.

You have heard: He with the most toys wins...what? Debt? Stress?

Examples:

Having the latest I-Phone ( Jean getting I – Phone 4s)

Latest Model- Car

Houses- upgrades, newer model, keep up with the Jones

Latest Styles- Clothes or Shoes- “Impulse Buying”

(Ex: I can go into Dick Sporting Good....its like the angels are singing.....)

3. Pride in our achievement and possessions (NLT) or Pride of Life (NIV)

“Temptation to Be”

I want to be worshipped

I want to be envied

I want to be “noticed”

Climb the company ladder- just for the “Title” of President, CEO

Motivation is wrong- want to get to the top- for the wrong reason

Status can become an Idol, damage our relationship with God.

Bragging or Boasting about our Degrees.

Temptation began at the beginning of time:

** Adam and Eve** - Fruit that was pleasing to the eye

**Jesus** faced temptations also...

Matthew 4:3- Satan told Jesus - “If you are the son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread” (Lust of Flesh)

Matthew 4: 8-9 - “took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” - “I will give it to you” he said “if you will kneel down and worship me”

Lust of the eyes - showed him all the kingdoms

Pride of Life- Kneel down and worship me

Vs. 17 - “And this world is fading away- along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever”