To Recap:
James 1:13 ¶ 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.
Temptation is an attractive invitation to a fatal process.
Desire + attraction offer = suffering > death
Excuses that are used
-I just couldn’t help myself.
-I never would have done it if she hadn’t ____________.
-Why did God even allow me to be in a place of temptation?
-I don’t know what got into me?
As men, we need to take responsibility for our sin!
God has given us desire but we need to follow God’s guidelines in filling those desires.
Because there are right ways of satisfying our desires, there are also countless wrong ways to pursue them.
Ephesians 5:3 ¶ But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
God’s guidelines are not to torment us but to show us that His ways are pure, satisfying,
and fulfilling.
Yielding to temptation only increases our desires.
The more we yield, the stronger the temptation becomes.
Temptation is enticement to satisfy desires in a wrong way.
Satisfying our desires in the way that God intended provides a sense of satisfaction.
When we gratify a desire wrongfully, we will always be left with emptiness and a defiled conscience.
The more we yield to temptation and sin, the harder our hearts become.
Temptation will always operate on the premise of deception.
What is good is made to look bad and what is bad to look good.
What is fleeting is made to appear more important than what is enduring.
Satan is the mastermind of temptation.
Satan will short change us every time.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
2Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
1Peter 5:8 ¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Satan brings various kinds of temptations to believers, not only to entice us to sin but through trials, he wants to wear us down in hopes that we will give up.
In contrast, God allows times of testing, not to tear us down but to strengthen us so that we radiate His glory.
1Peter 1:6 ¶ Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
James 1:2 ¶ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Any temptation or attack from Satan must pass through God’s screening.
1Corinthians 10:12 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.
Whatever Satan does to believers is from without as an attacker, and not from within as a resident.
Can people today be demon possessed?
-yes, if they give themselves over to his ownership.
A person possessed by an evil spirit has no power in himself to find deliverance.
Sin gives access to the devil…especially when a person dabbles with demonic powers.
Jesus has the Power to overcome the enemy.
Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
And those who believe in Jesus Christ and have experienced the new birth are protected.
1John 5:18 ¶ We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
The enemy is real but…. 1John 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Hebrews 2:14 ¶ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.