Temptation
Part One
Part One
By: Pastor David M. James
1 :Mirian Webster: the act of tempting or the state of being tempted especially to evil : enticement
2. An enticment or invitation to sin, with the implied promise of greater good to be derived from following the way of disobedience.
Who is tempted in the Bible?
1. Man:
· Paul:, Rom. 7:14-25NIV (the things I do, I do not want to do)
· David: with his murder & adultery Bathsheeba II Sam. 11
· Moses: with his temper, weenieness, murdered an Egyptian, buried him in the sand and hid for 40 years, weenieness, could not speak so God arrainged for Aaron to speak for him. Exodus 4:14, Aaron had not seen him for 40 years and at that exact time was walking toward Moses. After they were reaquainted, called of God, and Moses never shut up after that.
· Samson: with his sexual prowless: cost him his ministry, Judgeship and his life, Judges 14
· Solomon: weakness for strange women I Kings 11, 700 wives, 300 concubines (1000 wives) cost King Solomon his relationship w/God, his kingdom was torn from him after he died.
Abraham fear and weenieness.Gen. 20 Abimeleck/ Sarah sister. Isaac followed the same patern w/Rebecca Gen. 26
Gehazi (Elijah’s servant) with his lust for wealth, Naaman II Kings 5, became a leper
John Mark with his fear, , deserted Paul and Silas in Acts 15
Peter with his lies, proud spirit, racism, Matt. 26 (denied JC), Gal. 2:12, ate with Gentiles until the Jews showed up, and he separated himself from them.
James & John, sons of Thunder, Luke 9:54 Samaritans.
2. God, Do you think God is ever tempted? (to destroy Israel dancing naked around a golden calf) Exodus 32:10, Deut. 9
3. Jesus, Matt. 4:1-3, 5-6, 8-9NIV, (bypassing the cross) Heb. 2:18AMP
Who tempts?
God, James 1:13-15KJV
Satan, From Genesis 3 to Rev. 21:3, Rev. 12:10 accuser of the bretheren.
People/family/friends (show up Thursday/Sunday) TV shows on Sunday/Thursday
Soul,
Why do we fall prey to temptation?
TBN Christian dream: “I just want to be saved, serve God, be a great light in the darkness, and be free from temptation”.
1. Temptation, is the root of our approval in God. No temptation means no proving ground.
2. Temptation is not sin, yielding to temptation is where sin begins in our life.
3. Sanctification Process
4. We want it. Looking twice at our weakness. (taught to me by my Father)
5. Were duped into it. Were set up.
6. Were weak in some areas. (what you feed will grow strong) Generational curses, geographical cultures, Were just tired of fighting sometimes.
“Satan always wraps temptation in a package I know. “I want to un-wrap” Warren Wiersby.
We often cultivate relationships with people whom are a temptation in and of themselves.
We allow ourselves to be talked into going into situations, that are a great temptation.
We choose to pay for and watch entertainment that we know are a temptation to sin.
Part 2
What is the remedy:
1. Christ has to be the focus of our deliverance. Heb. 4:15AMP
King David came against Goliath “in the name of the Lord” I Sam. 17:45
Paul always pointed his position on Christ. II Cor. 10:3-5NIV
Because of Heb. 4:15, “He is Able”, (High Priest is un-able). We can (1)take and (2)make our filthy thoughts of temptation obedient to Christ.
1. Take: He understands. Christ already walked your road on tempting thoughts and overcame.
Do not ignore the thoughts, acknowledge them and take those thoughts to Him.
2. Make: Weigh the tempting thoughts against what Christ taught in the Word, make them obedient. We must know the Word! How do we get to know the Word?
Our stubbornness opens us up to temptation. The original Greek word for strongholds is
Ochuroma okh-oo'-ro-mah NT:3794. Which means the logic and reasoning you will use to defend your arguments and the wrong beliefs that you want to protect. (handout)
Stubbornness to the truth, is rebellion, which is as whitchcraft I Sam. 15:23aKJV.
Obey: leave them at Christ feet, using the Word against them and do not pick them back up.
We set up little idols/shrines in our heads, us. They must be demolished and set up Christ as the
head.. America is the most idolorious nation in the history of the world. (Look how much money we spend on products for ourselves)
Perhaps we need to consider taking continuing education on Biblical Theology beyond the weekly Bible study. (correspondence courses by mail/Web Ashland Theological Seminary)
1 Cor 10:13-15 NIV
13 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.
When Jesus when tempted, He answered Satan, “It is written” 3 times. The 3M’s: Meditate, memorize and mouth out Scripture. Psa. 19:14KJV
14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. (self promotion, me, myself, I)
The moment the test (tempting) begins, the way out is available.
2. Accountability: most are too proud to use this. ( I have almost given up on this doctrine)
Confession before the church asking for help. James 5:16AMP If you truly want the help, you will take the heat, better heat now than for an eternity.
In 44 years I have never encountered a believer, whom in the course of truly trying to shake a temptation (stronghold), and allowed his life to be examined, that the end result was: they pursued entertainment more than prayer/fasting on the matter, PATIENTLY!.
The body of Christ has lost the doctrine of pressing in, Ps 42:1-3 NIV
Prov 9:16-18NIV
Temptation is a known fact of the Christian Life that will pursue you to your grave.
But I believe we have touched on 3 great weapons against temptation:
Using scripture about Christ to destroy the strongholds within us
True Accountability to one another in the Body of Christ
Relentlessly pursue God for strength one area at a time.
