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Victory Over Temptation
Song: A. Introduction The Devil would not mine if a believer studies everything in the Bible but ignorant of victory over temptation. B. Sources of Temptation The Temptation of Jesus 1. 1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:1-4). We can see from the above passage that the devil is the agent of temptation. He uses anything to tempt the believer. Jesus was tempted and we all must be tempted. The tempter will come to you no matter what you do: fast, pray, living a committed and consecrated life. Never you be of the illusion that you will be exempt from temptation. Yes you’re born again and filled with the power of the Holy Ghost but your flesh is not born again. 2. You need to start watching your life very closely the very moment you become conscious that you’re a believer; do not think that any suggestion that comes to your heart or mouth is necessarily from God. 3. 5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: 7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" (Matthew 4:5-10). 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13). 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). i. Drinking - 23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. (1 Timothy 5:23). You may then want to use this verse to justify your drinking habit. ii. Lies – Abraham told a lie and you may also want to think that it is right lying. iii. Worshipping idols/false gods - 25"Caesar's," they replied. He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (Luke 20:25, Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:17). iv. Polygamy – the devil may suggest that you go for another wife after all your first wife is barren. v. Why would the devil want to make Christ a King? The devil knew that Christ was King already but devil was indirectly telling the Lord to forsake the cross and just go for the crown. He was telling Jesus: ‘Just ascend and claim the crown, why would you want to die on the cross, beaten and crowned with thorns, labour for three years before claiming what’s rightfully yours?’ So in our lives, it is a test of our patience. While everyone was marvelling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44"Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men." (Luke 9:44). So have these things in your mind always so that you can resist temptation. vi. Over zealous: 5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (1 Corinthians 7:5). It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. (Proverbs 19:2). 1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. (Romans 10:1-3). Be careful in your effort to be zealous. Zeal is good but you must have adequate and be matured! You may want to keep your wife at arm’s length, so that you can watch and pray; but have you agreed with her? Yes you may have good intention for doing this, but the devil may tempt you. Wives too must not live in isolation from their husbands. Spinsters and bachelors must avoid idleness and unholy associations. vii. 3Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? (Acts 5:3). Our desire to do something for the Lord can lead us into temptation, so be vigilant. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 4:36-37). Ananias probably wanted to imitate or even outdo Joseph but he landed into trouble. Yes Ananias sold his own plot too but brought only a portion of the proceeds to the Apostles’ feet. The devil will tempt to the point that he will block your thinking faculty and keep flooding your heart with evil suggestions. C. How to Resist Temptation "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (Matthew 26:41). Do not be unnecessarily over-confident! Peter probably thought he was more spiritual and greater than the other apostles: 29 Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." 30"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times." 31But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same. (Mark 14:29-31). But made all these confessions in the flesh; did actually pray? Notice that he was among the apostles that slept and snored at Gethsemane. So go on your knees, watch and pray! D. How to Overcome Temptation 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13). 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. ( Hebrews 2:18 ). 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. ( Hebrews 4:15-16 ). Be alert! Walk carefully! Submit yourself to God! And above all, pray always! God bless you Evang. Oseh J.B. |