***THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST CHAPTERS OF THIS BOOK! EVERYONE READ THIS. COPY,PASTE, AND PRINT IT OUT. PUT IT IN YOUR WALLET YA PURSE....MEMORIZE IT. IF I WOULD'VE HAD THIS WRITTEN DOWN AND ON MY PERSON I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINGS.....***
Happy is the man who doesn't give in and do wrong when he is tempted, for afterwards he will get as his reward the crown of life that God has promised those who love him.
○ James 1:12
On the path to spiritual maturity, even temptation becomes a stepping-stone RATHER than a stumbling block when you realize that it is just as much an occasion to do the right thing as it is to do the wrong thing. Temptation simply provides the choice.
THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
· Love
· Joy
· Peace
· Patience
· Kindness
· Goodness
· Faithfulness
· Gentleness
· Self-control
God develops the fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you're tempted to express the exact opposite quality!
HOW TEMPATION WORKS
All temptations follow the same pattern…..
1. Satan IDENTIFIES a DESIRE inside of you.
i. Sinful - revenge or controlling others
ii. Legitimate/normal - to be loved, valued, treasured
iii. Temptation starts when Satan suggests (with a thought) that you give in to an evil desire, or that you fulfill a legitimate desire in a wrong way OR at the wrong time.
1. ALWAYS BEWARE OF SHORTCUTS
2. Temptation always starts in your mind, not in circumstances
a. Mark 7:21-23
b. James 4:1
2. Satan tries to GET YOU TO DOUBT WHAT GOD has SAID ABOUT THE SIN
i. Is it really wrong? Did God really say not to do it?
ii. Didn't God mean this prohibition for someone else or some other time.
iii. Doesn't God want me to be happy
iv. Hebrews 3:12
3. Deception
i. Satan is incapable of telling the truth. Anything he tells you is untrue OR a half-truth
ii. Satan offers his lie to replace what God has already said in his Word.
iii. A little sin is like being a little pregnant: It will eventually show itself
4. Disobedience
i. You finally act on the thought you've been toying with in your mind
1. What began as an idea gets birthed into behavior
2. You'll give in to whatever got your attention
3. You believe Satan's lies and fall into the trap that James warns about
a. James 1:14-16
OVERCOMING TEMPTATION
· Refuse to be intimidated
○ You'll never outgrow temptation
○ In a sense consider temptation a compliment
§ Satan doesn't have to tempt those who are already doing his evil will; they're already his
§ Temptation is a sign that Satan hates you, not a sign of weakness or worldliness. It's a normal part of being human and living in a fallen world.
○ 1 Cor. 10:13
○ It's not a sin to be tempted. It only becomes a sin when you give in to it.
§ You can't keep the Devil from suggesting thoughts, BUT you CAN choose not to dwell or act on them
□ For example, many people don't know the difference between physical attraction/sexual arousal, and lust. THEY'RE NOT THE SAME
¨ Attraction and arousal are the natural spontaneous God given responses to physical beauty WHILE lust is a deliberate act of the will.
¨ Lust is a choice to commit in your mind what you'd like to do with your body. Attraction isn't lust until you begin to dwell on it.
○ The closer you grow to God, the more Satan will try to tempt you
§ Sometimes when you're praying, Satan will suggest a bizarre or evil thought just to distract you and shame you. Don't be alarmed or ashamed, realize that Satan fears your prayers and will try anything to stop them. Treat the thought as a distraction from Satan and immediately refocus on God.
· Recognize your pattern of temptation and be prepared for it
○ There are certain situations that make you more vulnerable to temptation than others.
○ You need to identify them because Satan surely knows them!
§ He knows exactly what trips you up, and is constantly working to get you into those circumstances
§ 1 Peter 5:8
○ Ask yourself
§ When am I most tempted?
□ What day of the week? What time of day?
§ Where am I most tempted?
□ Work, home, neighbors house, bar, airport, motel, out of town?
§ Who is with me when I'm tempted?
□ Friends? Coworkers? A crowd of strangers? When I'm alone?
§ How do I usually feel when I am most tempted?
□ Tired? Lonely? Bored? Depressed? Under stress? When I've been hurt or worried? After a big success or spiritual high?
§ Avoid those situations as much as possible
□ The Bible tells us repeatedly to anticipate and be ready to face temptation
¨ Matt. 26:41
¨ Eph. 6:10-18
¨ 1 Thess 5:6,8
¨ 1 Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8
□ Eph. 4:27
□ Wise planning reduces temptation
¨ Proverbs 4:26-27
¨ Proverbs 16:17
· Request God's help
○ God wants you to ask him for assistance in overcoming temptation
§ Psalm 50:15
James 1:12
DAY 26
P2P: Every temptation is an opportunity to do good
V2R: God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. - James 1:12
Q2C: What Christ like character quality can I develop by defeating the most common temptation I face?
Image from www.deviantart.com "Temptation" by blackimage9
0 comments:
Post a Comment