“Experiencing God’s Best”
When we live within God’s boundaries, we experience God’s best.
Temptation is anything that promises satisfaction apart from God, at the cost of disobeying God.
It’s not a sin to be tempted. It’s a sin to give in to temptation.
Every Temptation confronts us with a choice.
The real issue with temptation is trust. At the root of every temptation are the questions: Is God truly good? Can God be trusted?
A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
John 10:10 (CSB)
HOW TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION
- Take responsibility
No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his
own evil desire.
James 1:13-14 (CSB)Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.” So the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Genesis 3:8-13 (CSB)2. Understand the deceptive process
Desire
But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. James 1:14 (CSB)
Deception
…when he is drawn away and enticed.
James 1:14 (CSB)
Disobedience
Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin…
James 1:15 (CSB)
Death
…and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
James 1:15 (CSB)
3. Stick with God’s Strategy
When you can run, RUN! Don’t rationalize.
So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.
1 Corinthians 10:12 (CSB)No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (CSB)
Recognize Satan’s lies and Replace them with God’s truth
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:16 – 17 (CSB)He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4 (CSB)
Choose to confess, not conceal
The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
Proverbs 28:13 (CSB)
Overcoming temptation doesn’t come from will power, it comes from God’s power.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15 (CSB)
Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 (CSB)
