We continue tonight with some thoughts about growth to spiritual maturity. The last time we met we discussed how to deal with sin. Tonight we want to consider how to deal with temptation. How we deal with temptation will have a great impact on our spiritual maturity.
I. Defining Temptation
A. Note: Ge. 22:1
"And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am."
1. Here the biblical usage is to ‘put to the test’.
2. God is placing Abraham on trial.
Hebrews 11:17, "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,"
3. God never tempts us to do evil, but He does at times allow us to be tempted.
B. Note: James 1:12-16
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 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: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren."
1. Who does tempt us to sin?
2. Satan! He is called ‘the tempter’:
"And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." (Mt. 4:3)
"For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain." (lTh. 3:5)
3. God allows us to be tempted, but He also limits the amount of temptation.
a. Note: the example of Job.
b. lCo. 10:13,
"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."
4. Is temptation sin? N0! cf Heb. 4:15
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
II. The Pattern of Evil Temptation. (David)
A. The occasion of temptation.
1. It was a time of success for David.
2. It was a time of neglected duty.
2 Samuel 11:1, "And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem."
3. Temptation may come at any time in our lives but Satan will attack when we least expect it.
1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
B. The progress of temptation.
1. Note: Gen. 3:6, "Eve saw, coveted, and took."
2. The same progression is seen with David in 2Sa. 11:2-4. He saw, coveted, and took Bathsheba.
3. Jas. 1:13-15 in reverse:
a. Death is a result of Sin.
b. Sin is a result of Temptation.
c. Temptation is a result of Lust.
d. Lust - a strong carnal desire of any kind.
C. The harvest of temptation.
1. Death - of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah
2. Death - of the child born out of that adulterous union.
3. Death - of David’s fervor to serve God in righteousness.
4. He was to carry the scars of his sin for the rest of his life.
III. The purpose of testings.
A. Trials are designed to strengthen our faith.
1 Peter 1:6-7, "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 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:"
1. Abraham is a good example of this.
2. Job is another good example.
B. Trials are designed to assist our Christian growth.
James 1:3-4, "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
1. Enduring trials results in patience.
2. Patience perfects Christian character.
3. Ro. 5:3, "tribulation worketh patience."
C. Trials make us more like Christ.
1. Just as the husbandman prunes the branches of the vine that they may bear more fruit,
2. So the Father allows us to be tempted to purge away things in our life that hinder our spiritual growth, and to make us more like Christ.
IV. Deliverance from evil Temptation.
A. Remember God does not tempt us to do evil, but He sometimes allows Satan to.
B. However, God does limit the extent of the evil temptation.
C. 2Peter 2:9, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations..."
1. Sometimes by sovereign intervention
a. Ps. 121:7, "The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil..."
b. Mt. 6:13, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil..."
c. He can restrain the powers of darkness, He can remove our sinful desires, or He can alter our circumstances in order to remove the temptation from us.
2. But usually by spiritual provision.
a. The Word of God is the rule which guides our conduct.
b. The spiritual provision is offered to us through the Scriptures.
c. Eph. 6:11-18 exhorts us to be armed against the tempter - Satan.
d. lThess. 5:6 exhorts us to be watchful.
e. Mt. 26:41 exhorts us to be prayerful.
IV. Concluding thoughts. WE KNOW:
A. What temptation is
B. How temptation comes.
C. Why temptation comes.
D. How God delivers from evil temptation.
E. There is no excuse for falling for the tempter’s snares and traps!