Nov 30-Dec 6-08 Pay Attention To Temptation!

Pay Attention to Temptation!

1 Corinthians 10:12 NET So let the one who thinks he is standing be

careful that he does not fall. 13 No trial has overtaken you that is not

faced by others.


And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will

also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.


Paul's warning is as necessary today as it has ever been. For we, like all who

have gone before us, are fallen, temptable, and subject to thinking and doing what is wrong. Few teachings of

Scripture have more practical implications for day-to-day living.


Opportunities for temptation are almost endless. And since human

nature is not getting any better, nor is any of us immune to the

corrupted appetites of the flesh,


we need to take Paul's warning seriously and watch out for

temptation, or we will surely fall. Yet Scripture offers several alternatives for dealing with

temptation as we find it:


(1) We should avoid temptation whenever possible.

Proverbs 4:14 NET Do not enter the path of the wicked or walk in the way of those who are evil. 15 Avoid it, do not go on

it; turn away from it, and go on.


Often we know beforehand whether a certain set of circumstances is

likely to lead to sin. Therefore, the obvious way to avoid sin is to avoid those circumstances.


Paul described a "a way out " from temptation. (1 Cor. 10:13) Often the escape is to stay away from the

place or the people where temptation lurks.


As believers, we can help others in this regard. We can avoid setting

up situations that encourage people to do wrong.


Teachers, for example, can help students avoid cheating by

making assignments, giving tests, and communicating expectations in ways that reduce the need or

incentive to cheat.


Likewise, business owners and managers can devise procedures

that don't needlessly place employees in a position where they might be tempted to steal cash, inventory, or equipment.


It's not that a teacher or employer can't trust students or employees, but that no one can trust human

nature to be immune from temptation.


(2) We should flee from powerful temptations. Earlier in this letter, Paul warned the Corinthians to flee sexual immorality.


1 Corinthians 6:18 NET Flee sexual immorality! "Every sin a person

commits is outside of the body" — but the immoral person sins

against his own body.


Here he warned them to flee idolatry.

1 Corinthians 10:14 NET So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.


Elsewhere he warned Timothy to flee the lust for material possessions and wealth,


1 Timothy 6:9 NET Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into

temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and

destruction.


10 For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in

reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves

with many pains.


11 But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.


as well as youthful lusts.2 Timothy 2:22 NET But keep away from

youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart.


The message is clear: Don't toy with temptation. Flee from it!


(3) Chronic temptation is something we need to confess and offer to Christ, and ask for His cleansing work.


Some temptations are powerful inner struggles, with thoughts and attitudes that graphically remind us of how fallen we really are.


What should we do with that kind of temptation? Rather than deny it or try to repress it, we should bring it to Christ. He alone is capable of

cleaning up the insides of our minds.


(4) Finally, we must resist temptation until it leaves us. When Christ was tempted by the devil, He resisted until the devil went away.


Matthew 4:1 NET Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After he fasted forty days and forty nights

he was famished.


3 The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God,

command these stones to become bread."


4 But he answered, "It is written, 'Man does not live by bread

alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.' “

(Deu. 8:3)


5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, 6 and said to him, "If you are the Son of God,

throw yourself down.


For it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you' and

'with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' "

(Psalms 91:11-12)


7 Jesus said to him, "Once again it is written: 'You are not to put the

Lord your God to the test.' " (Deu. 6:16)


8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and

their grandeur.


9 And he said to him, "I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and

worship me."


10 Then Jesus said to him, "Go away, Satan! For it is written: 'You

are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.' "

(Deu. 6:13)


11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to his needs.


James encouraged us to do the same.

James 4:7 NET So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee

from you.


Resistance begins by bathing our minds with the Word of God and

standing our ground.


We have the promise, after all, that the temptations we experience will

never go beyond the common experiences of others, or beyond

our ability to deal with them.


1 Corinthians 10:13 NET No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by

others. And God is faithful:


He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with

the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.

That is great news!(Word In Life Study Bible)


How do we act when our “gut” tells us we’re about to do something

wrong? God uses our “gut feelings” as a “Caution Caution

LightLight,” to tell us if we proceed danger is ahead.


Or better yet, God uses our “gut feelings” as a “RED LightRED Light” telling us to STOPSTOP and look at what we

are about to do. Our “Gut Feelings” is our “God Instilled”

conscience.


The more we study “God’s Word,” the more our

conscience is brought alive and actively helping guide us to think, act, and do what is proper to the

glory of God.

Nov 30-Dec 6-08 Pay Attention To Temptation!

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