Tag: overcomer

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.14  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.                                             - I Corinthians 10:12-14

As we continue our study on temptation we are going to focus on this universal fact: everyone must deal with temptation. No one is immune to it and it is going to affect you. We will fully examine this in more detail and learn better how to deal with it.

your temptation is not unique to you.

• Each temptation is common
• Each individual is unique.
• Satan knows your weakness.

Beset – skillfully surrounds you

• Gluttony
• Lust
• Gossip
• Anger
• Deceitfulness
• critical spirit

Your temptation will usually be in your area of weakness.
Your area of weakness is not unique to you. I Corinthians 10:13 –
Truth (God’s Word) is our way out

the lies we follow.

• I just cannot help myself.
• it runs in the family.
• it is what I have always done.
• the devil made me do it.
• I am strong enough to overcome it myself.
• it is God’s fault. He allowed it to happen
• I prayed, but that did not work.
• I cannot be perfect

Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

James 1:2-4 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.

Stop worrying and start waiting on him.

Psalm 46:6-11  The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8  Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9  He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.11  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

I Corinthians 2:1-5  And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.2  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.3  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

the truth about your temptation

• It is not unique to just you.
• It is based on a lie from Satan.
• The truth is what gives you the power to say no.

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Temptations are limited and not allowed to be stronger than your ability to resist.

• God is faithful
• You have the ability to overcome it.
• Reminder – Temptation comes from Satan, the solution comes from God

James 1:13-22  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: 14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.16  Do not err, my beloved brethren.17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

God does not hide when you are faced with temptation. – The opposite is true.

• He comes near to you.
• He gives you the way out.
• He is still there.

II Timothy 3:11-17   Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

• Your temptation does not make God angry with you.
• God says to the temptation – you cannot cross this line.
• Satan’s abilities are limited by God. (Read Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6; 1:21-22)

God limits my temptation to my ability, not to yours.

• You have God’s full attention when temptation comes.
• God does not automatically increase your strength.
• God does enable you through obedience to His word.

verse 12   Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

Your abilities are tied to your current circumstances.

Life’s situations can determine your severity of temptation – REMINDER – GOD WILL ALWAYS MAKE A WAY OF ESCAPE.

Draw on His compassion and mercy!

Lamentations 3:18-26 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: 19  Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.20  My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.21 ¶  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.22  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.24  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.25  The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.26  It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.14  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

I Corinthians 10:12-14

Temptation is Satan’s tool to lead us into sin, and it is a highly effective tool. He uses it to lead us from holiness to unholiness and righteousness to unrighteousness. Anyone who says they are never tempted is a liar and they are deceiving themselves.

Temptation is the primary reason we desire to sin.

Genesis 3:1-6   Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.4  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

All sin is preceded by a temptation that has overcome you.

EVE

• You will not surely die – temptation deals with a known truth that is in opposition to sin. It minimizes the danger of sin and maximizes the imagined benefits.
• Attacks the character of God – your eyes will be open – breeds doubt about the word and character of God.
• All temptation is based on at least one massive lie – you will be like gods
• Temptation always incites lust to know and experience evil – you will know good and evil

Without temptation, you would never have a desire to sin

Temptation is extremely dangerous when on thinks they cannot fall into sin.

Understand, any of us can fall into any sin at any moment.

– Satan is aware of this!

Pride will always lead to a fall

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 19   Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. – Proverbs 16:18-19

• Destruction always accompanies pride.
• Arrogance about sin is pride – be careful how to look at Others who have fallen into sin

And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation

Jesus in Luke 22:40

And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8  (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: -II Peter 2:7-9

• An active prayer life is key to defeating temptation

Temptation seeks to overcome you.

I Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

• Even while doing spiritual activities, temptation can overcome you.
• They come and overtake you – they take control, grasp, the control to use you
• They attempt to hold you down until you sin.
• Temptation only exists until you yield to the sin – the sin brings guilt, shame, defeat, feelings of inferiority, separation, fear
• Temptation is defeated when we resist and do not yield.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

James 4:7-10