THE CHRISTIAN AND HIS TEMPTATIONS.

Mt. 6:13; 26:41; Jas. 1:12-15.

INTRO:

1. Living the life of a Christian is not a bed of ease or life of idleness.

A. It requires much toil and labor.

B. It will be a constant fight with temptation.

2. The Christian's greatest danger is succumbing to temptation.

A. Remember the song that we sing: "Yield Not To Temptation, For Yielding Is Sin".

I. WHAT IS TEMPTATION?

A. It is the enticing or inducement to yield to the lust of the flesh. Jas. 1:14. To put to trial for proof.

1. After one becomes a Christian he has the same desires and temptations facing him that he had before.

2. He does not receive a "second blessing" as some may claim, to remove the temptation from him.

B. It is a trial or testing of one's faith and loyalty to God.

1. Read Jas. 1:12; Job 1:6-2:10.

2. Note the temptations put before Christ. Mt. 4:1-11.

II. SOURCE OF TEMPTATIONS TO DO EVIL.

A. Not from God. Jas. 1:13.

1. God tries or proves His children but does not induce them to do evil. Gen. 22:1,2.

2. God does permit us to be tempted but not beyond our capability to overcome. 1 Cor. 10:12,13.

B. From Satan. Mt. 4:1; 1 Cor. 7:5.

1. Satan's avenues of sin. 1 Jno. 2:15,16.

2. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Gen. 3.

3. They were tempted in three ways:

a. Lust of the flesh--good to eat.

b. Lust of the eyes--delight to behold.

c. Pride of life--make one wise.

4. Christ was tempted in the same way.

a. Lust of the flesh--stones to bread.

b. Lust of the eyes--kingdoms of the world.

c. Pride of life--cast thyself down.

C. One can be tempted from within. Jas. 1:14; 1 Jno. 2:15,16.

III. TEMPTATIONS ARE SURE TO COME.

A. By no circumstances, environment, or conditions are we exempt.

B. Not by character or spiritual power.

1. Jesus was tempted right after receiving the spirit. Mt. 3:16; 4:1.

2. Not by Sonship. Mt. 3:17.

3. Not by solitude. Jesus was alone on occasions. Mt. 4:2.

IV. BENEFITS OF TEMPTATIONS.

A. To be tempted is not to sin, but only when one yields to the temptation to sin.

1. There is a song that I have already mentioned that says: "Yield Not To Temptation, For Yielding Is Sin."

B. To man who yields it is a curse--but the man who overcomes is blessed. Jas. 1:2-15.

1. One who yields is made weaker--one who overcomes is made stronger.

C. It worketh patience. Jas. 1:2,3.

D. It will increase our desire to go to heaven where we will be free from all temptations. Phil. 1:21-23.

E. He shall be crowned. Jas. 1:12.

V. OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS.

A. God's people can overcome any temptation. 1 Cor. 10:12,13.

B. What is the way of escape?

1. The way of escape is through preparation. Psa. 119:11.

a. Jesus overcame because He filled His heart with the word. Mt. 4:1-11.

2. By way of prayer and watchfulness. Mt. 26:41.

3. By way of strong purpose. Dan. 1:8; 1 Cor. 9:27.

a. Man with his heart set is hard to move.

4. May ;be by way of flight. 1 Cor. 10:14; 2 Tim. 2:22.

5. May be by way of fight. Eph. 6:10-18; 1 Tim. 6:12.

6. By avoiding bad company. Psa. 1:1,2; 1 Cor. 15:33.

7. By attending all the assemblies of the church. Heb. 10:25.

a. Such is needed to strengthen us.

b. Neglecting worship services is the first step toward apostasy.

c. It is a long, tempting step from Sunday morning to Sunday morning, leaving off Sunday evenings and Wednesdays.

d. It is said that : seven days between worship periods make one weak.

8. Keep busy for the Lord--idleness is the devil's workshop.

C. With regard to overcoming temptation, finding the way of escape provided by the Lord:

1. Reminds me of hogs rooting up the wire fence and getting into the peanut field.

a. You, as a person can run yourself until you fall over with exhaustion trying to chase the hogs through the hole they have made in the fence without success.

b. But if you put a hog catching dog in pursuit the hogs will find the hole very quickly and leave the peanut field.

1) It is all a matter of want to. We must look for the escape that the Lord has provided.

CONCLUSION:

1. Are you a victim of temptation? Have you succumbed or yielded to such?

2. The Lord has made provision for those who fall.

3. To you that have fallen, get up (repent), confess and pray.

4. To you that are still in the grasp of Satan and have not become children of God, then you too can overcome temptation by: Hearing God's Word. Believing in God and His Word.Repenting of your sins. Confessing with your mouth what you believe in your heart, that Jesus is the Son of God, and then be baptized by a burial in water for the remission of your sins.

A. Then live soberly, righteously, and godly the rest of your life and heaven will be your home.

5. Paul tells us that as Children of God we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us. Phil. 4:13.

By Jim Sasser

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