WELCOME Deeper Life Studies
Goal of this lesson: To teach how temptation comes to us, and what we should do when temptation comes our way.
In the time you have been a Christian, there is little doubt that you have faced temptation. It is possible that you have even yielded to some temptation that has come your way. It is important to realize that you will never outgrow temptation. As long as you live for God, temptation will strive to destroy your walk with God. Think about it like this: If you are being tempted, Satan doesn t have you yet. If you are never tempted to do wrong, he probably already has you.
Genesis 3:1-6 1: Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2: And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4: And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
I John 2:15-17 15: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16: For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17: And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
A. Genesis 3:1-6 records the first temptation. 1 John 2:15-17. Compare these scriptures Eve experienced: 1. The (lust of the eyes). She saw the tree was good to look at. 2. The (lust of the flesh). She perceived it to be good for food. 3. The (pride of life). She knew it would make her wise.
James 1:13 Lesson Seven 13: Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
James 1:13. It is essential for us to realize that there is a difference between (trial) and (temptation). 1. Discuss: Does God ever tempt us? What does tempt us? 2. Discuss: Does God allow us to go through trials? 3. Discuss: What are some trials that we may face? 4. Discuss: What purpose do trials have?
Matthew 7:24-27 - the parable of the two men who built on the rock and sand.
Matthew 7:24-27 24: Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26: And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
What is the difference between the two men in this story? Why are people tempted by different things?
James 1:13-15 13: Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15: Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
James 1:13-15. a. God doesn t tempt us. b. Every man is tempted. c. Our lust (the word means desires ) is the basis of our temptation. d. Lust results in sin.
You Can Stand Above Temptation
A. Job was able to. When he had lost everything and his wife encouraged him to curse God and die, he refused to do so.
B. The Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against Satan. (Isaiah 59:19)
Isaiah 59:19 Lesson Seven 19: So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
I Peter 1:6 6: Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (Temptation precedes rejoicing.)
Ephesians 6:13. (To overcome we need the whole armor of God.) 13: Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
II Peter 2:9 9: The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (God will deliver out of temptation.)
Pride sets us up to be tempted.
I Corinthians 10:12-14 12: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
How can we avoid temptation?
1 Thessalonians 5:22. 22: Abstain from all appearance of evil. (Tells us) Stay away from the appearance of evil.
James 4:7. By submitting to God and resisting the devil. 1. Note that submission to God precedes resisting the devil. 2. Only in submission do we start resisting the devil.
James 4:7 Lesson Seven 7: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Ephesians 6:10-18. What six things make up the whole armor of God?
Ephesians 6:10-18 10: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14: Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15: And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
1. loins girt about with truth 2. the breastplate of righteousness; 3. feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 4. the shield of faith 5. the helmet of salvation, 6. the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Practical Advice Lesson Seven 1. Matthew 26:4 1 Pray that we enter not into temptation. 2. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Stay away from anything that has the appearance or potential for evil. 3. What you look at opens the door to temptation. Pornography, many romance novels, most movies, and soap operas open the door to wrong thoughts. In computer terminology - Garbage In, Garbage Out! 4. Be careful of what happens when you re depressed or under pressure. There are times when Satan will subtly send temptation your way. 5. Don t get too big for God to deal with you.
Matthew 26:41 41: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
What about when I sin? A. l John2:1. 1. We are not to sin. 2. But if we sin, we have an advocate (spokesman, attorney) with the father.
I John 2:1 Lesson Seven 1: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
I John 1:9 9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
There are some sins that seem only to be conquerable by an individual becoming accountable to a mature Christian friend. Situations like repeated temptation to sexual misconduct, returning to addictive behaviors, and such can best be dealt with by confession and accountability. In accountability, the person battling temptation asks a mature Christian to help them be accountable on a regular basis. They agree on how often they will meet (generally monthly). They also agree on the questions that will be asked by the mature believer.