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Temptation: How Do We Fight It? 1 Corinthians 10:12-13. Pastor Matt Zwitt November 20, 2011. Temptation is a trial that is an invitation to either glorify God or fall into sin. The word for trial and temptation in the N/T is the same Greek word.
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Temptation: How Do We Fight It?1 Corinthians 10:12-13 Pastor Matt Zwitt November 20, 2011
Temptation is a trial that is an invitation to either glorify God or fall into sin. • The word for trial and temptation in the N/T is the same Greek word. • Every single moment of our life is a temptation…a temptation to not believe or believe Christ, a temptation to not trust or trust, to not obey or obey. • Five means to fight temptation and three reasons why we can defeat it.
1. We fight temptation by staying humble • We must be careful not to judge other people for sin they struggle with. • Prov. 11:2: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace. • Prov. 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty Spirit before a fall.” • Peter and Moses • We can take no credit for not struggling with any form of sin. • Gal. 6:1: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
We stand by grace and grace alone. • If we have not become as sinful as we could, it is not due to our willpower or wisdom, but to the merciful grace of God. • We must remind ourselves of how sinful we are everyday of our lives. • Luke 18:9-14 • In our fight with sin, don’t stand upon tradition, years of experience, teaching, self power/success, family status, or past history. • None of these will keep us from sin. • Stand upon the Rock of Jesus Christ.
2. We fight temptation with prayer. • Matt. 6:13: “And lead us not into temptation.” • Matt. 26:41: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” • Luke 22:40, 46: Twice Jesus says, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
3. We fight temptation with other brothers’/ sisters’ advice and counsel. • Our temptations are never an isolated event. • All temptation is common to man (vs. 13). • We are not alone in this battle • Many will say they feel like they don’t have a choice, but to sin. • There is always a choice.
4. We fight temptation by the Word of God and the Spirit of God. • Jesus was tempted all 40 days in the wilderness (Luke 4:2). • His temptations did not cease after the wilderness (Luke 4:13). • Jesus took on theenemy (without food by the way) and defeated every temptation. • He did this by the Spirit of God (Matt 4:1). • He did it by the Word of God (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10). • If Jesus needed the Spirit and Word of God to fight temptation, I assure you so do we.
5. We fight temptation by depending on Jesus. • Heb. 2:18: “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” • There is no sin, no addiction, no habit, no secret, no idol, no stronghold that Jesus cannot help us with. • Heb. 4:15: “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.” • Jesus is able to help us because he underwent every form of temptation and defeated them all.
1. We can defeat temptation because God is faithful (vs. 13). • 4 times the N/T says “God is faithful.” Three of the four in Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:9, 10:13, 2 Cor. 1:18). • God not only can defeat our temptation, but He will because of His character. • We do not have a God who saves us and then leaves us to fend for ourselves in this battle. • He gives us His very own Spirit to walk with us.
2. We can defeat temptation because God is sovereign. • Paul says “He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability.” • How can He do this? • Because He is sovereign…over the devil, our sin, even our own desires. • Raises the question, “If God is sovereign, wouldn’t the best way for Him to end/help us with temptation just be to send Satan (the tempter) to hell? • Yet God chooses not to (for now) and the reason I think is because He gains more glory by having us rely upon Him to defeat our temptations.
3. We can defeat temptation because God always provides a way of escape (vs. 13). • My early years as a believer. • We must be careful and intentional to look for it. • Most often it is His Spirit and His Word. • If we cannot discern His Spirit and if we do not know the Word of God, we will fall to temptation almost every time. • If Jesus needed the Spirit and Word of God to fight temptation, then so do we.