The Promises of God - Lesson 16 To Help Us When We Face Temptation
Introduction:
1. According to 2 Peter 1:4, God has given us "exceeding great and precious promises." 2. This lesson is a study of "God's promise to help us when we face temptation." 3. This promise is stated in 1 Corinthians 10:13. 4. Let us begin by examining . . .
Discussion:
I. WHY WE NEED GOD'S HELP WHEN WE FACE TEMPTATION (Matthew 26:41).
A. Jesus told His followers to "watch and pray" so they would not "enter into temptation." B. Jesus also revealed the reason: "the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
II. SOME HELPFUL INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN IN JAMES 1:13-15
A. To avoid entering into temptation, we must identify the source of it. 1. It should set our minds at ease to know that God is not the source of temptation. a. (vs.13) God cannot be tempted with evil, and He does not tempt anyone. b. To prevent a possible misunderstanding, we must keep in mind that the Bible addresses 2 types of "temptation": 1) the trying of our faith (James 1:2-3) 2) an enticement to commit sin. c. This explains how God "tempted" Abraham (Genesis 22:1; Hebrews 11:17). d. God allows us to be tested, but He does not entice anyone to commit sin. e. Just the opposite is true (2 Peter 2:9 -- "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations"). f. If God is not the source of temptation, who is? 2. Satan is the source of temptation. a. (Matthew 4:1) Following His baptism, Jesus was led "into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." b. (Matthew 4:3) Satan is identified as "the tempter." c. Satan is also identified as our adversary (1 Peter 5:8). B. To avoid entering into temptation, we must understand how it works. 1. According to vs.14, we are tempted when we are lured away by our own desires and enticed (this temptation process is illustrated by what happened to Eve in Genesis 3:1-6). 2. This verse teaches that the temptation process is both "universal" as well as "personal." a. The temptation process is universal in that it relates to "every man." b. The temptation process is personal in that it relates to our individual desires. C. To avoid entering into temptation, we must stop it at this point. 1. Some helpful instructions are given in James 4:7-8a. 2. Perhaps it will help us to look at 2 men who faced similar temptations. a. Joseph resisted Satan (Genesis 39:7-12). b. David did not resist Satan (2 Samuel 11:2-4). D. To avoid entering into temptation, we must be aware of its consequences. 1. Desire that is allowed to conceive will result in sin. 2. The final result of sin is "death" (Isaiah 59:2). E. This information presented in James 1:13-15 will help us in facing temptation. F. Let us turn our attention to some . . .
III. ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS
A. "Prayer" will help us to avoid entering into temptation. 1. In His model prayer Jesus taught His followers to pray: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13). 2. We must depend upon prayer because "the flesh is weak." B. "Hiding God's Word in our hearts" will help us avoid entering into temptation (Psalm 119:11). 1. This great principle sustained Jesus when Satan tempted Him (Matthew 4:1-11). 2. Jesus showed how temptation can be faced without entering into it.
