Take Heed in times of Temptation

Take Heed in Times of Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:12,13 -Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

The Greek word for Temptation is “Peirasmos” (Pa-ra-smo’s) which means an experiment, attempt, test, trial and proving.

Paul is telling us to take heed, be aware that if you think you are above falling, that’s the time you are the most vulnerable.

He also tells us that God is faithful and will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear, but that means what we are able to bear in Him, apart from Him we have no chance of turning away from temptation, He gives us the strength, He makes the way of escape, we just have to recognize it and follow His direction.

2 Peter 2:9 says that The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations

Adam & Eve tempted …………

In Genesis 3 we have the first account of temptation regarding man, Eve was tempted by the devil and gave in to the temptation, her failure to uphold God’s command and resist temptation led to her tempting Adam with the fruit and he also crumbled under the pressure of the temptation and created what we now know as the ‘Fall of man”.

The problem was that Eve did not recognize the disguise of the enemy, she was not aware of her surroundings, likewise Adam also did not recognize the error that Eve had made and he himself also fell into sin through the submission to temptation.

Mark 14:38 - Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

To watch and Pray means to be aware of your surroundings and recognize what temptations are around you, and to be in constant prayer for God’s wisdom and guidance in times of temptation.

Temptation in itself is not a sin, it isn’t a sin to be tempted, it is a sin to give in to the temptation

our example ……….

In Matt 4 Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan but yet did not sin, because He did not give place to the temptation, He resisted Satan and denounced the temptation with the word of God, three times He was tempted and three times He countered the temptation with the word … It is Written, It is Written, It is Written.

It also said that He had just fasted 40 days and 40 nights and was hungry, He was at His weakest physically but yet at His strongest Spiritually. Like Jesus, we also will be tempted when we are most vulnerable and at our weakest, that’s why we must be prayed up, sober and alert.

Hebrews 4:15,16 - For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 2:17,18 - Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Jesus knows what we feel and knows what we face when we are tempted, He has been there!

Psalm 95:8 - Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness (KJV)

Drawn away …………….

James 1:12-15 - Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

A lot of times we are tempted because we let our minds stray, we get our focus off of the word of God and onto ourselves and our flesh, in fact, most of our times of temptation comes from our own selfish desires.

David’s temptation ………..

In 2 Samuel chapter 11, King David was drawn away by his lust, he saw Bathsheba bathing on the roof top one night and called for her to sleep with him, that led to her conceiving his son which led to David having her husband killed. As a result, the son they conceived together died,
Desire led to temptation, temptation led to conception, conception gave birth to sin, and sin brought death. “For the wages of sin is death” - Romans 6:23
The flesh is weak …………..

1 John 2:16 - For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

Romans 13:14 - But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Galatians 5:16-18 - I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

We must be led by the Spirit of God and put on Christ, If we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Samson tempted ………………

A classic example of weakness of the flesh is found in Judges chapter 16, Samson who was a strong and mighty man, who had killed thousands of philistines, many with the jawbone of a donkey, had been tempted by Delilah to tell her the source of his strength , instead of resisting and fleeing he chose to play games with her until he finally told her where his strength came from, shortly after he was lulled to sleep and his locks of hair were removed leaving him weak and defenseless, after that his vision was taken and eventually death.

Like Samson, the enemy wants to find our weakness, remove our strength and render us helpless, its when we are lulled to sleep that we are stripped of our strength and our sight is taken from us leaving us weak with vision!

Though now for a season …………

1 Peter 1:6 - Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (KJV)

Hebrews 11:24,25 - By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. (KJV)

Temptations will come and go, there will be seasons when temptations are more than other times, these are the times that we must be strong in faith like Moses and resist, he chose to suffer as a result of rejecting the temptation of sin rather than have the temporary pleasures of iniquity. There is pleasure in sin … but only for a season, after that there is hurt, and pain and regret.

Joseph’s temptation ………………..

A great example of withstanding temptation is in the story of Joseph, Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and thrown into prison. During his time as a slave, Joseph was entering his masters house to do some work assigned to him when his maters wife grabbed him and persisted that he lay with her, immediately Joseph ran and fled from the house leaving his garment in the hands of his masters wife.

Joseph could have given in to temptation, but he didn’t, he was a man of integrity, he chose the way of purity over the temptation of iniquity, as a result he was imprisoned but he also was soon exalted by God to a place of leadership and authority. All because he chose to do the right thing and flee temptation! “What the devil meant for evil, God meant for good” - Genesis 50:20

To Him who is able …………

Jude 24 - Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.

2 Peter 1:10 - Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

Only God can give you the power to overcome temptation, and also by knowing who you are in Him and making your election as a child of God secure in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Submit to God / Resist the devil ………………

James 4:7 - Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:8,9 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour Resist him, steadfast in the faith..

The only way we can withstand temptation and resist the devil is to be fully and completely submitted to God. When we are submitted to God we are submersed in Him, when we are submersed in Him it confuses the devil, it frustrates him, and though he may tempt us and attack us, it has no effect on us because we are enveloped in the power of the Spirit, we have the strength to resist, we have the power to overcome!

“Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen” - Matthew 6:13


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