Overcoming Temptation in Christian Living

8/22/2019 Overcoming Temptation in Christian Living

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Temptation


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Definition

Webster - to entice to do wrong bypromise of pleasure or gain

Wiki - Desire to perform an actionthat one may enjoy immediately or inthe short term but will probably laterregret for various reasons: legal,

social, psychological, health-related,economic, etc.


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y temptations have been mymasters in divinity.! "Martin Luther#

$very temptation is an opportunity todo the right thing

%atan&s primary weapon to destroyus

'od wants to use it to develop us


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Character qualities ofJesus

'ives right to a choice ( every time we doright ( we grow in character of )hrist

'alatians *:++-+

esus is perfect love, joy, peace, patience andother fruits in a single person

ow does oly %pirit produce these /fruits0

1ruit always matures and ripens slowly


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An Important Truth!

'od develops fruit of the %pirit by allowing us to e2perience

circumstances

in which we are tempted

to e2press the e2act opposite 3uality


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How does Temptationwork?

%atan is entirely predictable

4 step process - 4 D&s D esire

D oubt

D eception

D isobedience


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Desire

5lways beware of shortcuts

Does temptation lie around us or inus0 ark 6:+7-+


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Doubt

%atan&s usual ploys 8s it really wrong0

Did 'od really say not to do it0

Didn&t 'od mean this prohibition forsomeone else or some other time0

Doesn&t 'od want me to be happy0

ebrews :7+


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Deception

%atan is the 1ather of lies 9ntruths or half-truths

8t&s only a little sin! don&t fall forthat


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Disobedience

8f we finally act on the thought we&vebeen toying with in our mind What began as an idea gets birthed into

behaviour

ames 7:74-7;


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Oercomin Temptation


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"efuse to be intimidated

1rightened>demoralised by temptingthoughts0

We&ll never outgrow temptation

?ible says, Whenyou&re tempted,..!not if

5 compliment0 5 sign that %atan hates you, not a sign

of weakness or worldliness


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"efuse to be intimidated

@ou cannot keep birds from flying overyour head but you can keep them frombuilding a nest in your hair.! "Martin

Luther# We can&tkeep the Devil from

suggesting thoughts

?ut we canchoose not to dwell>act onthem

Aot dwell on them - easier said than

done


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"econise the #attern

)ertain situations that make us morevulnerable

We need to identify them because 7 Beter *:C

%atan surely knows them

e knows e2actly what trips us up, and

he is constantly working to get us intothose circumstances


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"econise the #attern

5sk ourselves "8dentify# When am 8 most tempted0 What day of the

week0 What time of day0!

Where am 8 most tempted0 5t work0 5thome0 5t a neighbour&s house0!

Who is with me when 8&m most tempted01riends0 )o-workers0 %trangers0 5lone0!

ow do 8 usually feel when 8 am mosttempted0!

?e prepared


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"equest $od%s help

+4-hour hotline

E and call upon e in the day oftroubleF 8 will deliver you, and youwill honour e.! "Psalms 50:15#

esus is sympathetic to our struggle"Hebrews 4:15# 1aced the same temptations we do

understands our weaknesses!


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"equest $od%s help

)ommon reasons why we do notE Don&t want to be helped "we think we

know what's best for us#

$mbarrassed to ask 'od for help "keepgiving in to the same temptation overand over#

ebrews 4:7;


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"efocus attention

Gesisting a thought ( reinforces it


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"efocus attention

)all from temptation ( ang up

Bhilippians 4:C

onitor our media intake


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"eeal strule to afriend

Geveal our struggle to a godly friend>support group

$cclesiastes 4:/-7J

ames 4:;


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"esist the Deil

ames 4:6

%piritual wimps0 ?e a man

$phesians ;:76 - 5rmour of 'od 7st step - elmet of salvation

+nd step - %word of the %pirit - Word of'od


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"esist the Deil

Don&t try to argue with the Devil "hehas wa more e!perien"e#

Weapon that makes him tremble -the truth of 'od emorising %cripture essential

H Kuick access to it, whenever tempted


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"ealise our ulnerabilit&

Aever get cocky = overconfident

)ultivate 'od-confidence

7 )orinthians 7J:7+ "Message#


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Take Home #oint!

Documents

Overcoming Temptation in Christian Living