February 10, 2008am    How To Overcome Temptation   Mat. 4:1-11

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

Remember the KIDS IN CHURCH:  Can you see the temptation in our children? 

3-year-old Reese:  "Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Harold is His name.  Amen."

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A little boy was overheard praying:  "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it.  I'm having a real good time like I am."

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After the christening of his baby brother in church,  Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.  His father asked him three times what was wrong.

Finally, the boy replied,  "That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys."

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One particular four-year-old prayed,  "And forgive us our trash baskets  as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."

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A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service,

"And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?"  One bright little girl replied,

"Because people are sleeping."

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A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3.  The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake.  Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.  "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,  'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'  Kevin turned to his younger brother and said,   "Ryan, you be Jesus!"

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A father was at the beach with his children  when the four-year-old son ran up to him,

grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore where a seagull lay dead in the sand.

" Daddy, what happened to him?" the son asked. "He died and went to Heaven," the Dad replied.  The boy thought a moment and then said,  "Did God throw him back down?"

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A wife invited some people to dinner.  At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said,   "Would you like to say the blessing?"  "I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied.   "Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife answered.

The daughter bowed her head and said,  "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"

Scripture Text:   Matthew 4:1  Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. ^2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ^3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” ^4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

^5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ^6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

^7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test. ^”

^8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ^9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” ^10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” ^11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. ^[1]

How to overcome temptation as given by the example of our Lord when He was in the desert fasting and praying: What is temptation? 

1.      Temptation will come.   Temptation is an enticement to sin.  Being tempted isn’t a sin, but giving in to temptation is when a person sins.  Temptation doesn’t come from God, but He allows us to be tempted, but always provides a way of escape. 

2.      Temptation comes from the devil, the world, and our own fleshly desires for example the Garden of Eden.

3.      Temptation will be the strongest when you are the weakest.

4.      Temptation will hit you in your weak spot and play off of your needs and wants…  Hungry? 

5.      Temptation is deceptive and will even use the scriptures to mislead you.

6.      Temptation will offer you a short cut to glory.

How can we overcome temptation…  

1.      Beware of sin and the penalty thereof.  If you have already given in, then repent from our sin.  Remember the consequences.  Rom. 6:23

2.      Beware that temptation wants to take something good and turn it into something bad. 

3.      Be prepared.  Be wise and know what that it will come, but you are ready. 

4.      Be in prayer.  Remember the Lord’s model prayer.  Lead us not into temptation…  Deliver us from evil.

5.      Be in the scriptures.  Know what the Bible says so that you won’t be misled.

6.      Be in the Lord.  Depend on Him and the strength He gives.  Flee from the devil and turn to the Lord.   Don’t try to make God in your image.  Don’t penalize Him for not bending to your will. 

7.      Be committed to God and His plan for your life.  Give yourself to Him.  Don’t put God to the test. 

8.      Be patient with the Lord and wait for His reward.  He is faithful even when we aren’t. 

9.      Be saved by God and receive His nourishment, comfort, and strength as Jesus did from the angels.  He wants to save you. 

·         There will be temptation: 

·         1Cor 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

·         God will test our hearts:

·         1The 2:4 (NIV) On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.

·         God does not tempt, but we are tempted through our own nature and the devil.

·         James1:13 (NIV) When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

·         The only way to win over temptation is through God and His word or map.

·         James 4:7 (NIV) Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.