Growing through Temptation - Temptation is Satan’s weapon to destroy you/God’s tool to build you.  James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 1 Corinthians - No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation (test) he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it 11 Timothy 2:22-So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. James 1:13- Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. Growing in the Character of Christ: Galatian 5:22-23 -22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Every time we choose to do good instead of sin, we are growing in the character of Christ. The Fruit of the Spirit describes the characteristics of Jesus Christ. When The Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us, love joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…….Question: How does God produce these characteristics into our lives. Is the transition instant? No. Fruit always matures and ripens slowly. Character Development – It always develops a choice, and temptation provides the opportunity God can develop fruit in our lives by allowing us to experience circumstances in which we are tempted to express the exact opposite quality. Examples: · God teaches us to love by putting some unlovely people in our circles. It takes no character to love people who are easy to love. · God teaches us real joy in the midst of sorrow, when we turn to Him. Happiness depends on external circumstances, but joy is based on your relationship with the Lord. · God develops peace within us not by making things go the way we planned, but by allowing times of chaos and confusion. Anyone can be peaceful watching a beautiful sunset or relaxing on vacation. We learn real peace by choosing to trust God in circumstances in which we are tempted to worry or be afraid. · God develops patience by creating circumstances in which we are forced to wait, and are tempted to be angry or have a short fuse. Everytime we defeat a temptation we become more like Jesus. Note: The Lord uses the opposite situation of each fruit to allow us a choice. You can’t claim to be good if you have never been tempted to be bad. You can’t claim to be faithful if you have never had the opportunity to be unfaithful. Integrity is built by defeating the temptation to be dishonest. Humility grows when we refuse to be prideful, and endurance develops every time you reject the temptation to give in. 1. Satan identifies a sinful desire inside of you. Satan will whisper in your mind the thought to give into the desire. We think that Temptation lies around us, but God says it begins within us. If we did not have the internal desire, temptation could not attract us. Temptation starts in the mind, not in circumstances. St. Mark 7:21-23 21For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." 2. Doubt –Satan works on your heart to get you to doubt what the Lord has said about sin. Hebrews 3:12- Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 3. Deception-Satan will tell you that it is only a little sin. But a little sin is like being pregnant-soon your pregnancy will show itself. Satan will offer you a lie to replace what God has already said in His Word. You can get away with it, No one will ever know, It will solve your problems, It is only a little sin, Everyone else is doing it……… 4. Disobedience – When you act upon the sinful thought that you have been toying in your mind you fall prey to the trap that sin, satan and self have set for you. What can begin as an idea can be birthed into behaviour. James 4:1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions[a] are at war within you?[b] You will never outgrow temptation: To believe that you are beyond being tempted is to deceive yourself. Temptation can even be considered a compliment if you look at it in this light - Satan does not have to tempt those who are already doing his evil will, they are already his. Temptation is a sign that Satan hates you, not a sign of weakness or worldliness. It is a normal part of being human and living in a fallen world. The bible does not say when a person is tempted, it teaches that each person IS tempted. Everyone experiences being tempted, or enticed… James -16 - But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. It is not SIN to be tempted – Hebrews 4:15-For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Temptation only becomes a sin when you give in to it. You cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair. You can’t keep the Devil from suggesting thoughts, but you can choose not to dwell or act on them. Stay Alert-The Devil would like to catch you napping on God Matthew 26:41 -Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Ephesian -neither give place to the devil. Proverbs -27 -Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil. Proverbs -The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. Psalms 50:15 - And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. |
Pastor Sharon Therese Spencer
No comments:
Post a Comment