FULL ON FOR GOD
SESSION 18 - DEALING WITH TEMPTATION
·
What is it?
o
Picture of dog with its head on table looking
longingly at the biscuit on a plate within such easy reach
o
An opportunity to move into sin or an opportunity
for victory
o
The experience of being incited to sin i.e. fall
short of the glory of God
o
An object/objective that appeals to a pre existing
inner desire and attempts to draw you towards the object and away from God’s
best
o
A test; a trial of your resolution
o
When overcome, a step on the way to Christian
maturity – something God can work together for good Rom 8:28
o
But also Satan’s primary tool for pulling Christians
down and preventing us fulfilling God’s primary call to be for the praise of
His glory Eph 1:12
·
Things to know:
o
1 Cor
o
God is working hard in your spirit to help you obey
God: Phil 2:13 God is always at work in you to make you willing and able to
obey his own purpose (GNB)
o
But we experience conflict with our sinful nature
(seated in our physical body and our soul (mind, will, emotions)) which has
always wanted us to gratify its sinful cravings and desires (Eph 2:1-3)
o
Heb 4:15
§
Jesus experienced temptation but did not sin
§
So experiencing temptation of itself is not sin,
what matters is how we handle the temptation: Martin Luther: ‘You cannot
keep birds from flying over head but you can keep them from building a nest in
your hair.’
§
Jesus sympathises with us in our weaknesses
§
He has been tempted in every way just like us so He
really understands
o
Heb 2:18
§
Jesus suffered when he was tempted; so shall we
§
But He is able to help all who are being tempted
o
All the resources of heaven are available to anyone
undergoing temptation and these are far greater than any power the devil has: 1
John 4:4
o
But we have to learn to fight God’s way: submit to
God first (agree with Him), resist the devil and see him flee: Jas 4:7
o
The battle may be costly but giving in would be
costlier: John White: ‘Evil indulged in eventually becomes evil that
controls.’
o
Whatever it feels like God is always in charge:
§
1 Cor
§
When you are tempted God will also provide you with
a (godly) way out
o
The devil may tempt you but he has no power to make
you take the bait.
·
Practical lessons to be learnt from comparing how Eve and Jesus dealt
with temptation: Gen 3:1-6; Luke 4: 1-13
o
Choose before you ever get tempted to follow God’s
pattern for your life
o
Satan dresses up to look attractive: 2 Cor 11:14
o
Don’t argue or converse with the devil – he’s better
at it than you are (Jesus didn’t)
o
In the face of temptation know and use God’s Word
immediately, authoritatively and confidently
o
Don’t discuss (with the devil inside your head),
worry about, think about, revisit the temptation, that makes it stronger – use
God’s Word and then turn away at once to something more wholesome
o
Know God well enough to trust His character
o
Recognise that your mind, reasoning faculties, head
knowledge and experience, your physical body and your emotions have all been
part of the sinful nature, are corrupted and therefore open to attack by the
devil. They are far less reliable as a
source of truth than God’s Word. If you
trust them more than God’s Word, you will fall
o
Don’t try to tough it out on your own. Dark, secret and alone are Satan’s
tools. Bring your struggle into the
light before you have gone too far down the road, share with a trusted
Christian friend who can join you in prayer and be accountable
o
Put distance between yourself and forbidden fruit
·
Know the power of the cross and how the sinful nature has been
crucified with Christ
o
Rom 6:6; 2 Cor
MOT CHECKPOINTS:
58 Frankly
examine your weaknesses. In what
circumstances and with which people are you most likely to fall into sin?
59 What
practical steps could you take to avoid that happening?
60 How
well do you know the Word of God and how confident are you of its truth? Are you relying on someone else’s knowledge
rather than your own?
61 Do
you really know God personally and trust in the integrity of His character?
62 To
whom could you go to make yourself accountable in times of temptation?
TAKE TIME THIS WEEK TO REFLECT ON WHAT THE CROSS HAS DONE FOR YOU:
Rom 6:6
&
2 Cor
Rom
8:5-11
1 Jn 3:8b