Tag: Grace

TOOLS FOR TEMPTATION, PART ONE

Remember, we are on a journey to holiness. Holiness is just beyond
the victory over temptation.

  1. You must first learn how temptation plots against you.
  2. You must know how to enjoy the true victory, one battle at a
    time.
  3. Victory is possible if we use God’s tools that He provides us.

This whole study, some four months into it, is all about complete
total victory over temptation and sin. Hang in there, we are about
halfway through.

  • Temptations are carefully timed
  • They are carefully, individually aimed
  • This began in the garden
  • This attack is at your weakest point
  • Satan tempted Jesus after 40 days of fasting
  • Expect attacks when you are coming out of a spiritual time of
    victory with the Lord (fasting, giving, serving, studying,
    prayer, etc.) these things can drain us of energy and strength –

We often feel after a spiritual time that nothing can affect us
now. THIS IS JUST NOT TRUE.

Temptation quotient

Use the scale below to gauge your risk for temptation.

Your Temptation Alert System

1 is the weakest, 10 is the strongest

Are you…

Physically exhausted/tired 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Energetic/strong

Discouraged/down 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Encouraged/up

Bored/discontent 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Challenge/content

Spritually depleted/empty 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Energetic/strong

Distant/alone 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Encouraged/up

Alienated, cold 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Energetic/strong

Internally hopeless/cold 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Energetic/strong

Insecure/unsure 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 encouraged/up

Bitter/angry 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Energetic/strong

Wounded/hurt 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 encouraged/up

Your Score

90-100 – You are already in heaven
80-89 – Very strong, but be alert to subtle pride and arrogance
70-79 – Strong, but need to depend more upon the Lord
60-69 – Adequate, but watch yourself – you are on the border line
50-59 – Weak, you are emotionally vulnerable
40-49 – Danger! Guard yourself – you are floundering
30-39 – Extreme danger! Call a Christian friend ask for help quick 20-29 – In critical condition – probably have already fallen into sin 10-19 – They are wheeling you to the morgue – Urgent prayer needed 0 – 9 – This is a bad dream pinch yourself and try again

Start with Daniel

Daniel 1:8
Daniel 6:16-17
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou
servest continually, he will deliver thee.17 And a stone was brought,
and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his
own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

If your score below 70, you are in serious need of prayer and help. Be careful what you do and where you go and what you look at.
Below 50, call that trusted friend and have them come along side of
you

Never call someone of the opposite sex who is not your spouse! This can lead to deep sin and serious consequences.
Temptation can be seriously increased when one goes to a member of the opposite sex for counsel.

The best way to combat temptation is to stay in the Word. Keep reading and applying the principles found in the Bible. Do a “spiritual” check up often! Find an accountability partner. A brother or sister in the faith. Get connected to a local Church if at all possible. Find an area of ministry to serve the Lord.

God’s new Temple

I Corinthians 6:19-20

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Today we conclude our series on moving forward in Christ.  The first was Our old nature.  Then we looked at Transformation, not reformation.  Last week was the New Creation we have become in Christ.  Today, we will look at our Bodies as God’s new temple.

I. God has paid for this new Temple.

A. It cost Jesus His blood.

Hebrews 9:27-28 – 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.


B. His blood and His alone justifies Sinners.

Romans 5:9 – Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.


C. His sacrifice was necessary to satisfy God the Father.

Isaiah 53:4-11 – Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.10 ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.


D. His blood provided total forgiveness for all your sin.

E. Man cannot become spotless without this blood.

I Peter 1:18-19 – Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:


F. His blood produces a never ending life.

John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 3:15-16 – That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

II. It cost God His son

Romans 8:3-4 – For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Mark 15:34  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

A. God sent the son for our sin.
B. Jesus was forsaken by God because of our sin.
C. Because of this sacrifice, we can be made righteous in God’s sight.

III. It cost you and I all our sin.

Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
I John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

IV. God is now the one who determines what this new temple can do.

I Corinthians 6:19-20   What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

A. Our body is not longer ours to control.
B. We have indeed been bought with a great price.
C. We our to glorify God in our body and our spirit. – Both the inside and the outside.

V. God’s simple plan of salvation.

A. One must see themselves as a sinner unable to save themselves.
B. One must see that they deserve to die for their sin –

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


C. One must believe that Jesus died to pay your debt and Jesus alone is able to pay for your sin.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.


D. Heart belief and outward confession

Romans 10: 9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.


E. One must call out to the Lord for salvation –

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Jonah Part 7

Jonah 3:6-10

6  For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.7  And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:8  But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.9  Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?10  And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Message delivered

Romans 10:14-17

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

  • The message of Grace must be delivered
  • The message of Grace is the responsibility of all believers

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The message of Grace has been silent

Matthew 9:35-38

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38  labourers into his harvest.

Message heard – The king called for national repentance and prayer

  • They can only hear what is delivered – until Jonah delivered the message, the city had not way of knowing
  • Only the message of grace and forgiveness can be heard
II Corinthians 2:12-16

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

  • Without the preaching of Grace, no one can be saved
Acts 26:15-18

  And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.16  But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17  Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Mercy granted

Romans 10:13 

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved

  • Hearing leads to repentance – faith cometh by hearing
  • Repentance leads to mercy and forgiveness
  • Acceptance leads to an abundant, joy filled life –
John 10:10 

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Mercy in action

Luke 15:7 

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance

He gives us Grace

 II. Corinthians 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 – 8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Hear Pastor Tilly’s personal testimony and message of grace

A.  This grace is always enough – 2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Humility brings about an abundance of this Grace (more and enough to share –

Proverbs 3:34  Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. 

James 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 

1 Peter 5:5  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 

I Timothy 1:14-17 –  14  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

  Grace produces mercy

Grace is made possible by the longsuffering of God

True Grace always leads to praise on the part of the one who has received that grace