The attitude of Temptation
To begin with we have to see that Temptation does not come only to the evil, or to the weak in faith. Jesus himself was tempted for 40 days in the desert. Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Temptation is not sin! He was tempted, but not Tempted(or drawn away)
We have to decide what our attitude will be toward it! Because our attitude will determine our altitude!
James 1:1-4
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
· Wait a minute! Why should I consider any hardship PURE JOY? How is that possible?
· First of all let´s make a difference between facing a trial and falling into one. Just like in the example of Jesus, we will all face temptation, but we do not have to fall into it.
· Zb.. a forest full of traps, we all have to cross the forest, but if we know that the traps are there, we can avoid them, we do not have to put our foot in a trap! Going into a test with all the answers is not a scary thing. Right?
· Secondly because we know why we are crossing the forest, we are growing in the kingdom, we are doing the will of God, We have a great reward on the other side…
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Rom 5:3-4
3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings(Pressures), because we know that suffering
produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
· One of our first questions when something happens is “WHY”. We don´t understand why this is so hard, why me, why did god do this to me, or why did he allow this, why now etc..?
· Our attitides will be determined by what we believe about temptations and trials. By what we Know!
1. What is Temptation and where does temptation come from?
What is Temptation
TEMPTATION (to do Evil)
An enticement or invitation to sin, with the implied promise of greater good to be derived from following the way of disobedience. In this sense, God does not tempt man, nor can He Himself as the holy God be tempted <James 1:13> (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
TEMPTATION (to test or try out).
In the Old Testament, temptation can best be understood as testing or proving. The context is the covenant relation of mutual love and faithfulness between God and His people. The Lord tests to prove the true nature of faithfulness to Him. His purpose is not to induce His people to sin but to confirm their faith <James 1:2-4>. John 3:20-21 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light(of God´s inspection), that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Zb.. use the example of testing new glasses. (in Russia banging on the glass)
1. To see if it is fit to drink out of.(one good, one with a hole in it)
Where does temptation come from
· God is not the Tempter
James 1:13-17
13 When tempted, no-one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;(with evil)
· The Devil is the Tempter
Matt 4:3
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (I Thess 3:5)
· People say “But it comes from God Because he allows it to happen!”
1. The fact is God allows what you allow! We seem to go back and forth about the sovereignty of God. Does he control everything or not? What about the free will of Man?
1 Cor 10:13
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you(will be with you, will not leave you alone) to be tempted above that ye are able; but will(be) with(you in) the temptation also (he will be and )make a way to escape, that ye may be able (have the power) to bear it.
· You are only weak, when you do not rely on his strength. At that time you are open for your flesh to lead the way. James 1:14 but each one is tempted (to do evil) when, by his own evil desire…
· What about the Lord´s Prayer? If God doesn´t tempt us with Evil, why do we have to ask God not to tempt us? If it is the good kind of temptation or proving, shouldn´t I be asking him to do it?
Matt 6:9-13
9 "In this manner, therefore, pray: our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 You Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And You forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And You do not lead us into temptation, but You deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and Yours is the power and Yours is the glory forever. Amen. (NKJ)
I Believe that the Lord´s Prayer has been read wrong for years. Because it is read in a begging attitude instead of a confident I trust in my Father one.
2. How does temptation work?
14 but (1)each one is tempted (to do evil) when, by (2)his own evil desire, he is (3)dragged away and (4)enticed.
15 Then, after (5)desire has conceived, it gives (6)birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to (7)death.
1. each one is tempted: as we have said, we are all able to be tempted. As long as we are on this earth we will be subject to the temptations that are common to man.
2. his own evil desire: It´s not God´s desires that draw us away it´s ours. Often we are quick to blame the devil for the temptation, but God has given us the tools to reduce the chances of falling. NOTE: There are sources of temptation that have nothing to do with our personal choices, ie.. the curse of generations. This is like having a womb that is fertle for the seed. Unfortunately we are all like this in this world! The heart of man is only evil!
3. dragged away: This is the drawing away of our attention. We begin to feed on the thought of this sin. This begins in our thought life and can become an occasional thought till it is coming more and more often. It is at this point that we are most able to combat the Temptation! The Bible says to cast down the imaginations and the High things that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God, and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
4. enticed: This is where the actual hunger begins to develop. When the thought becomes more and more pleasurable. Where we choose to think about it. Where we play with the thought and no longer resist it. This is where the desire develops and our wills begin to give in. It is a little harder at this point, but still possible to cast it down.
5. desire has conceived: It is at this point that this temptation turns into Sin! At this point IF I had the OPPORTUNITY I would do it! This is where the scripture says “commiting sin in your heart”. At this point it´s time to repent of the SIN. Even if you did not do it in your heart, that is the only way to be cleansed of it. I Jn 1:9 is the only way! This picture is just like pregnancy. If there is no abortion, this seed will come to live in this world.
6. birth to sin: This is the actual action of Sin, brought forth. This is the point where Sin becomes a lifestyle. A way of Life( or better said a way of Death) Sin will separate fellowship with God, but if we do not remove it it will lead to the total seperation of Death. This is where our hearts become harder and harder. But the Blood of Jesus is still strong enough to make us free from the guilt, BUT there are sins that after you commit them you will carry the consequence the rest of your lives. You will reap what you sow. Singles stay pure, you will carry everyone you sleep with into your marriage. Even if you are forgiven!
7. death: This is the point where death sets in. It s the area between our seperation from God and Eternal death(Seperation) takes place. The world is here already. The christian that totally walks away from God is also here. If the two groups do not get right before physical death, eternal death will follow and then there is no salvation for them.
See the Chart: This is a downward progression that doesn´t happen all at once.
3. How do we defeat Temptation?
Let´s remind ourselves first what Temptation is:
What is Temptation
TEMPTATION (to do Evil)
An enticement or invitation to sin, with the implied promise of greater good to be derived from following the way of disobedience. In this sense, God does not tempt man, nor can He Himself as the holy God be tempted <James 1:13> (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
· We have to understand and know that God´s will is good for us. The reason we fall into so many temptations is because we do not believe that God´s gifts are good and perfect for us. We are convinced that the world has something that we will miss if we follow God!
James 4:1-10
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. (This is the safety switch in the system, God knows us)
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (You unfaithful ones, don´t you know that you will not find what you really need in the world system? It will simply make you an enemy of God)
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Tim 6:9-10
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
There are two ways to to do this: PRAYER and OBEDIENCE
The prayer of Recognition and the prayer of Protection!
Matt 6:13(recognition of your true source of blessing and the giver of good and perfect gifts)
13 And (You) lead us not into temptation, but (you)deliver us from evil….
Luke 22:40 + 46(the prayer for the strength of God in your life, a humbling under is mighty hand)
40 On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."
:46 "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
1 Pet 5:8-10
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.(NIV)
· How do we resist him?
2 Cor 10:5-6
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (KJV)
· If the battle is lost in the mind it will eventually be lost in your life.
OBEDIENCE
Rev 3:10
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
James 1:21-25
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-- he will be blessed in what he does. (NIV)
4. What good is it to have so much pressure?
Rom 5:1-5
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering(Pressure) produces perseverance;
4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (NIV)
Faith, Patience, Character and Hope.
James 1:2-4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (KJV)
James 1:12
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (KJV)