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Overcoming Temptation - Pastor Stuart Price
Overcoming Temptation
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Everyone faces temptations, Paul says it is common to man. But God is faithful, He knows and sees everything we will ever face and will have to overcome. He will make away out of the trap, if we will look for it and take it. What is temptation? It is an enticement or an allurement to sin against the will of God.
James explains temptation this way James 1:12-15 When tempted, no one should say God is tempting me of He cannot be tempted by evil. But each on is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after the desire has conceived it gives birth to sin, and sin, which it is full grown, gives birth to death.
Temptation in itself is not sin. Jesus was tempted. However, He was without sin. Temptation only becomes sin when we give into the temptation.
A husband and wife are having a coffee in a mall, a beautiful lady walks by and the husbands eyes follow her. His wife without looking up from what she was reading said ‘was it worth the trouble you are in!’ Charles Spurgeon said ‘Learn to say NO it will be of more us to you than being able to read Latin. The Great Wall of China is a gigantic structure which cost an immense amount of money and labour. When it was finished, it appeared impregnable, but the enemy breached it, not by breaking it down or going around it. They did it by bribing the gate keepers.
Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil its lust.
Temptation begins in the mind. The battle field between God and Evil.
In Genesis 3:1-6 please read. Satan, a fallen angel, knows the Word of God, but is a deceiver. ‘Did God really say....?’ Although she had not considered eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the thought is now planted in Eve’s mind. Prior to the thought, she was content.
Church we need the Power of the Holy Spirit called the Helper, to help us and empower us to make a stand against everything that will steal God’s presence and rob us of peace and joy.
James 4:7 Draw near to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you
Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not give into them
2 Corinthians 10:12 No weapon formed against you shall prosper.
Please read Ephesians 6:10-18
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Story of the Indian Youth!
Many years ago Indian braves would go away in solitude to prepare for manhood. One hiked into a beautiful valley, green with trees and bright with flowers. There as he looked up at the surrounding mountains, he noticed a rugged peak capped with dazzling snow.
"I will test myself against that mountain," he thought. He put on his buffalo hide shirt, threw his blanket over his shoulders, and set off to climb the pinnacle. When he reached the top, he stood on the rim of the world. He could see forever, and his heart swelled with pride.
Then he heard a rustle at his feet. Looking down, he saw a snake. Before he could move, the snake spoke. "I am about to die," said the snake. "It is too cold up here and there is no food. Put me under your coat and take me down to the valley."
"No," said the youth. "I know your kind. You are a rattle snake. If I pick you up, you will bite me, and your bite will kill me."
"Not so," said the snake. "I will treat you differently. If you do this for me, I will not harm you."
The youth resisted awhile, but this was a very persuasive snake. At last the youth tucked the snake under his coat and carried it down to the valley. There he laid it down gently. Suddenly the snake coiled, rattled, leaped, and bit him on the leg.
"But you promised," cried the youth!
"You knew what I was when you picked me up," said the snake as it slithered away.
So believers, if you have failed to overcome temptation, ask God for the grace to repent and His Power to resist the devil and temptation. Do this everyday!
Have an awesome week.
Pastor Stuart & Colleen