A Tempting Truth!!

 

A Tempting Truth!!

The devil made me do it! We use this term flippantly but what are we actually saying?

As a child of God, you were purchased at a high cost and you are no longer your own. You are no longer bound to sin because at the moment of your salvation your stony heart was replaced with a new heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). 

 

1 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.”

 

In a culture filled with moral depravity and pressures, Paul gave strong encouragement to the Corinthians about temptation. He said: (1) wrong desires and temptations happens to everyone, so don’t feel you’ve been singled out; (2) others have resisted temptation, and so can you; (3) any temptation can be resisted, because god will help you resist it. God helps you resist temptation by helping you  (1) recognize those people and situations that give you trouble, (2) run from anything you know is wrong, (3) choose to do only what is right, (4) pray for God’s help, and (5) seek friends who love God and can offer help when you are tempted. Running from a tempting situation is your first step to victory. 

 

1 Timothy 6:11 and 2 Timothy 2:22 tells us to flee or run away from temptation and lusts. 

 Running away is sometimes considered cowardly. But wise people realize that removing themselves from temptation is often the most courageous action to take. Timothy, a young man, was warned to run from anything that produced evil thoughts. Perhaps you experience a reoccurring temptation that is difficult to resist. Remove yourself physically from the situation. Knowing when to run is as important in spiritual battle as knowing when and how to fight. 

 

Temptation: define is an enticement to evil by arguments, by flattery, or by the offer of some real or apparent good. 

 

When we are talking about temptation we aren’t just talking full out sin. We are talking about anything that may distract you from God and your focus on him. This could be something as simple as watching tv instead or reading your bible or praying. 

 

 

Is it a sin to be tempted?  No, it is not a sin to be tempted but it can lead to sin. When temptation is acted upon then it becomes sin. Kinda like being tempted to eat a snickers bar. Once you reach out and grab the bar, then you begin to unwrap it, and eventually taking a bite. That is how temptation works. It makes something to look good (enticement), then the lust (desire) happens, till you finally indulge it. 

 

All men / humanity is tempted.  Temptation is a tool that Satan uses to try to destroy Christians and their witness to others. 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 

 

 

God can’t be tempted so he doesn’t tempt. James 1:13-18 “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: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.  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.” 

 

 

God knows how much temptation we can handle, and he won’t allow us to be tempted more that we can handle. God created us. Hebrews 4:14-16 “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” 

 

 

God also allows us a way to escape the temptation. 

We could follow the advice to Timothy and flee. 

James 4:7-8 tells us to Resist the devil and he will flee.  

We call / ask in Jesus’ name. As we discussed last week the name of Jesus is a powerful name. At the name of Jesus demons flee (Paul’s rebuking the demon Acts 16:16-18)

 

 

How can we bear the temptation?

How did Jesus handle temptation? Using scripture Matt 4. “it is written” 

Prayer Matt 26:41 “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

 

Fellowship with other believers. Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting (lifting up, encouraging, supporting) one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” 

 

 

I’ll Close with this illustration.

A scene from Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress portrays Interpreter bringing Christian to a wall where fire is blazing from a grate.  A man is trying to douse the fire with water. Then Interpreter shows Christian the other side of the wall, where another man is secretly pouring oil on the fire to keep it ablaze. Interpreter says, "You saw the man standing behind the wall to maintain the fire, teaching you that it is hard for the tempted to see how this work of grace is maintained in the soul." Satan tries to quench faith, but Christ keeps it alive.