Tag: Series "Discovering total and complete victory in your life

Hebrews Introduction part two

”Perfect”

Hebrews 2:10  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Resurrection was the exclamation point on perfection.

Luke 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Suffering precedes glory

Luke 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

Suffering leads to completion

John 19:30
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Jesus is the author of our faith

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

He is the beginning and the end of all we have –

Revelation 1:8 – I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

He makes all men who come to Him perfect regardless of their past.

Psalms 68:18-20 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.

He loads us up with blessings (benefits)

He is the only one and true God –

Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

John 14:6
Hebrews 7:19  For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Jesus alone is our justification – Man cannot justify Himself

Acts 13:39  And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.`

The law was never intended to bring justification –

Romans 3:20-21   Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Jesus did what the law could never do.

Romans 8:3  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:

Galatians 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

The purpose of the Law was to point us to Jesus.

Galatians 3:24 – Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

He is indeed our only hope.

Hebrews 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Hebrews 8:6   But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Hebrews 9:9  Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience.
  • Man’s goodness falls far short of perfection.
  • Only one could make the prefect sacrifice – Isaiah 53:10-11 – 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.

Hebrews 10:1-4 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.2  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.3  But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.4  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Hebrews 9:10-14 –   Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 11  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

  • We have entered into the throne room with Him – Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
    Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
    Acts 7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
  • We have become His 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.
  • He is the giver of all life – Acts 17:24-25 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
  • This tabernacle (our bodies) will give way to a heavenly tabernacle.
2 Corinthians 5:1

The Church in America is at the Crossroads

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. –Matthew 10:32-34

During the days of Nazi Germany there arose a Confessing Church movement that rose against the German Church movement, which became the religious arm of the Fascist Nazi Socialist movement. Of the 18,000 pastors in Germany during that time (from 1933 to 1945), less than 5,000 were aligned with the Confessing Church. Hence, only a remnant held fast to the biblical position with about half of the churches conforming due to political and societal pressure. Unfortunately, this demonstrates that, when push comes to shove, a large percentage of pastors, churches and so-called Christians will probably bow to pressure and allow the norms of culture to become their credo for Christianity.

We see the same thing today in churches in the USA and beyond. With the accelerated pace of the attack on religious liberty today, there could develop a great divide in the church between confessing churches and compromising churches similar to what happened in Nazi Germany. This will not be a divide based on denominational affiliation but based on the degree of loyalty to biblical fidelity. It is sad but true that more and more believers will be compromising core biblical values and standards rather than be stigmatized or persecuted and lose influence in society.

In John 12:42-43 we see that many contemporaries of Jesus believed in Him but would not confess Him because they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

“Jesus Christ, Mohammed, Jehovah, Allah. These are all names employed to describe an entity that is distinctly the same across the world. For centuries, blood has been needlessly shed because of the desire to segregate our faiths. This, however, should be the very concept which unites us as people, as nations, and as a world bound by faith. Together, we can bring about an unprecedented age of peace, all we need to achieve such a state is respect each other’s beliefs, for we are all children of God regardless of the name we choose to address him by. We can accomplish miraculous things in the world by merging our faiths, and the time for such a movement is now. No longer shall we slaughter our neighbors over differences in reference to their God. -Pope Frances, Monday, February 15th

John 12:42-43 – Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43  For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

The True Church vs the False Church

In the confessing church, Christ is over culture.
The compromising church accommodates Christ to culture.

Mark 8:36

II Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with nrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Psalm 1:1-6 – Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The Church of Truth vs the Church of Error

The confessing church holds fast to the Word of God in spite of opposition.

The compromising church alters the Word of God because of opposition.

Psalms 119:89  For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

1 Peter 1:25  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

The Heavenly minded Church vs the Worldly church

The confessing church puts the kingdom of God above their culture. The compromising church puts their culture before the kingdom of God.

Matthew 6:30-34
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Changing Methods vs compromising the Message

The confessing church alters their methods of preaching. The compromising church alters the message they preach.

I Corinthians 9:19-27 – For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Remnant vs Mainstream.

The confessing church is a remnant in the minority of church and state. The compromising church wants to be in the mainstream of both church and state. 

Matthew 7:13-20 – Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them

The Persecuted Church vs the Praised Church

The confessing church is penalized by the state government. The compromising church is applauded by the state government.

Revelation 2:8-11- And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

The Faithful Church vs the Conforming Church

The confessing church prophetically speaks truth to those in power. The compromising church conforms to those in power.

Acts 5: 27-31; 40-42 – 27  And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28  Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. 29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

40  And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

The Sound Church vs the Seeker Friendly Church

The confessing church desires the praise of God. The compromising church desires the praise of men

II Timothy 4: 1-8 – I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

TODAY’S AMERICAN CHURCH HAS GONE AFTER THE PRAISE OF MAN AND WANDERED FAR FROM THE GOD OF THE BIBLE.

John 12:42-43 –  Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43  For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

II Thessalonians 2:3   Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Seven Stages of Temptation (continued)

The seven stages

  1. The Look – drawn away.
  2. The Lust – our own desires.
  3. The Lure – the bait.
  4. The Conception – awakening of desires.
  5. The Birth – The following through with desire – committing the sin.
  6. The growth – Sin has finished its deadly deed.
  7. Death – Brings forth death.

The Birth – Quickly happens after conception in most cases

  • Time between conception and birth is that one last chance to change your mind and not sin.
  • The Holy Spirit will use this time to plead with you to stop!
  • Conviction will become very strong.
  • Mercy is offered – one more chance for the escape route to be taken.

At this point, WE MUST force ourselves to submit to the Holy Spirit before it is too late

James 4:1-10   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. 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. 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. 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.

Verses 1-3 the result of our own lust
Vs. 4- Spiritual adultery – cheating on God
Vs. 5 – Our natural spirit is on of lustful desires
Vs. 6 – Grace is offered to those who will humble themselves
Vs. 7 – Submission is the result of humility.
Vs. 8 – 9 – Repentance – I John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgives us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Vs. 10 – Deliverance – total victory over the sin

I have concluded that OUR way is always the same route – Humility that leads to submission will ALWAYS lead you out.

  1. Humility – the bowing before in subjection
    1. Submission – acceptance of another’s desires as more important than your own – accepting that His plan is always the best plan for my life.

James 4:11-17 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12  There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? 13  Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 5  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16  But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

  • We become judgmental
  • We begin to act like we are god over our own lives
  • We stop considering God’s will.
  • Pride takes over
  • We no longer desire Him, but our own pleasure
    takes us away from Him.
At this point, we lose all sight of Him – (Sin has blinded us from the truth.)

Guilt and shame become our controllers.

The deceiver continues his full-scale attack.

James 4:13-20 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. 19  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

  1. verse 16 – confess – Pray fervently (If need be, get counsel)
  2. Take counsel
  3. Return Home – He is always waiting with arms wide open

Let it stop here or it will continue to grow

The Growth

  • Anger leads to wrath
  • Wrath leads to murder
  • Lust leads to adultery
  • Covet leads to stealing
  • Love of money leads to more evil

I Timothy 6:9-12  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.11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

  1. It will cause you to depart from what you know to be the truth – Faith
  2. The result will lead you to greater sorrow
  3. Flee and seek after

Righteousness – integrity, virtue, purity of life, correct thinking,

Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

b. Godliness – respect for the things that our God’s
c. Faith – Faithfulness of things of God
d. Love – brotherly love (loving others in Christ)
e. Patience – steadfastness, consistency, endurance
f. Meekness – humility

But you young man, run for your life from all this.  Pursue a righteous life, a life of wonder, faith, love, steadfastness courtesy.

The Message 1 Timothy 6:11

Keep His word

1 Timothy 6:14

Seven stages of Temptation -part 2

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.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: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.

James 1:12-17
Last time we looked at the first two steps
  • The Look
  • The Lust

Today we will look at the Lure (the bait) and the conception

The Lure (the bait)

a. Entice – to attract artfully or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage
b. Allure – Powerfully attract, tempt
c. Enticement grows your desire
d. It awakens your desire for that which is forbidden
e. You become focused on just one thing – the forbidden

Proverbs 7:10-27   And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.11  (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:12  Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)13  So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,14  I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.15  Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.16  I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.17  I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.18  Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.19  For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:20  He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.21  With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.22  He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;23  Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.25  Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.26  For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.27  Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 16:25-33 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.26   He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.27  An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.28  A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.29   A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.30  He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.31   The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.32   He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.33   The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Two sides of enticements

The internal – the heart
The external – outside forces
External – RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Internal – GUARD the self-talk – DO NOT THROW GAS ON THE FIRE
Quickly put out the flame – change your focus
Pray for discernment to control your desires
Stop ALL internal enticements (you control what you allow your heart to follow)
Flee from all external enticements

The conception (Temptation reasons why you should choose to sin)

Temptation draws you away
Desire responds
Enticement fans the flame
(Now it is conceived —you decide to sin!
Tempted when?

James 1:13-14
  • When drawn away by your OWN lusts.
  • Enticed – baited
  • Conceived – Give way to sin

Enticement ends and conception begins the moment you decide to fulfill your own desire to sin
When sin is conceived, enticements sit down – it is finished
Desire takes over and sin is committed
3 Phases of enticement are

  • Desire – feelings
  • Defend – thoughts of pleasure take over
  • Decision – choice to sin is made

The desire phrase – giving emotional attraction to temptation
Your desire to respond grows
Desire takes over your thoughts (you begin to justify your sin
You then defend your sin – you rationalize that it is OK.
Choice – negative – you dismiss all reasons not to
Positive – emphasizes the reasons not to

YOUR EMOTIONS ALONE WILL NOT LEAD TO SIN – YOUR MIND AND WILL HAVE TO GET INVOLVED.

SIN HAPPENS WHEN YOUR REASONS TO SIN OUTWEIGH YOUR REASONS TO STAY HOLY

Most powerful reasons to commit sin come when you take a reason not to sin and turn it into a reason to sin

Decide phase – final choice – this is the conception

  • You begin to plan how you will
  • You decide when you will
  • Feelings begin to dictate over reason – thinking takes over in your conscious mind – not your subconscious mind – your thoughts are now wide open

Questions to ask –

  • What am I feeling that I want to do?
  • How long have I been feeling this way?
  • What am I thinking?
  • Am I looking for reasons to commit this sin?
  • Am I trying to justify the sin I want to commit?
  • What am I planning to do?
  • When and where am I planning to do this sin?
  • Have I pictured this in my imagination?

These questions will help you decide where you are at

At this point, Stop and recommit your heart and life to Him and to the truth: do this out loud.

  1. I am committing to living holy in all my conduct
  2. I submit to the Lord and choose His will for my life
  3. I yield to the Holy Spirit and His will for my life
  4. I deny myself the lust of the flesh
  5. I realize this is only a common temptation that everyone faces
  6. I believe the Lord is limiting this temptation to what I am able to bear
  7. I believe the Lord is making a way to escape right now
  8. I know the Lord is not the cause of this temptation
  9. I know the Lord is the giver of every good and prefect gift
  10. I know the Lord loves me and wants what is best for me
  11. I know this sin not only displeases the Lord but it will hurt me
  12. I have been drawn away by this temptation by my own lust
  13. I have felt my desires drawing be toward temptation
  14. I take every thought captive for Christ and stop my thoughts of this sin
  15. I am fully aware of this temptation and I will not be deceived
  16. I know this temptation is aimed at my destruction
  17. I choose to turn my back on this temptation
  18. I submit fully to Christ and I resist this temptation in the name of Jesus
  19. I present myself and all my members a instruments of righteousness
  20. I thank the Lord for His shed blood and my eternal salvation
John 8:32

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 8:12

Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Seven Stages of Temptation, part 1

The blame game

Genesis 3:11-13

   And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?12  And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.13  And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
  • Adam – you gave me the woman
    • Blamed God
    • Blamed Eve
  • Eve – Blamed serpent – Satan
  • Satan – Blamed God – “Hast not God said”
Sin always comes with a price!

 Genesis 1:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

The ultimate cost for man– both physical and spiritual death.

For the Serpent – Genesis 3:14-15 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Eve’s curse Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.   

Adam’s curse – 17-19 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Sin leads to loss of innocence

Genesis :6-11 – 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.7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.  9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Attacking the blame game Ultimately, in the end, we all blame our sin on God

James 1:13-17 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.

  • Satan tempts with sin (evil)
  • God gives only Good Gifts.
  • God is NEVER the author of temptation.
  • God is always the author of everything good in your life:

-Forgiveness, mercy, grace, love, compassion, church,
loving family, provision, life itself.

Seven stages of temptation

  • The look – when he is drawn away
  • The lust – One’s own lust
  • The lure – enticed – the bait
  • The conception – lust has conceived
  • The birth – brings sin
  • The growth – finished – full grown
  • The death – brings forth death
“The Look“
  • The open door
  • It opens the door from the protection and the protector
  • You are drawn away – you go from safe to risky
  • You must be aware of the LOOK
  • REMEDY – draw back immediately
“The Lust“

1.) Identify:

  • Person who tempts you
  • Situation that tempts you
  • Activity that tempts you
  • Place that tempts you
  • Those thoughts that tempt you

2.) Your own lusts – these are eagerly awaiting a willing heart!

Daniel 1:8  

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

  • You are drawn away by what you allow to enter your heart
  • Temptation tempts you because of what is in the inside, not what is on the outside
  • “she tempts me” it is your lustful heart tempts you
  • I saw it and could not help myself, so I took it – your covetous heart is the source of your temptation
  • They just made me so angry – you unforgiving heart was the source of your temptation
  • Temptation distorts a God given desire

It pushes the God given desire past the normal limit into excess.

It pushes the God given desire to find fulfillment in areas that are off limits.

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