The Lord empowers and helps you so that you overcome temptations (2 Corinthians 2:14)
God will not give you temptation above your ability to resist, and He will always make a way of escape. Here’s WINNING OVER THREE MAJOR TEMPTATIONS IN LIFE shared by Ps Lathur Badoy. Using the right weapon, we can defeat the enemy of our soul! To watch the video, click this link.
Two common lies of the enemy of our souls, the devil:
(1) Just once won’t hurt
(2) Now that you have ruined your life, you are beyond God’s use, and might as well enjoy sinning.
Temptation leads to trouble. Trouble with God and trouble with people. We must overcome temptations. And we can- with the help of the Lord
HOW TEMPTATION WORKS:
- First, he lays out the bait.
- Second comes the appeal.
- Third, the struggle begins.
- Fourth, the temptation ends with the response.
SPECIAL TIMES WHEN THE DEVIL TEMPTS US (Luke 4:1-2)
- First, a time of spiritual high.
- Secondly, when we are exhausted and emotionally drained.
- Third, when we are alone.
WINNING OVER THREE MAJOR TEMPTATIONS IN LIFE
1. OVERCOMING THE TEMPTATION TO DO IT YOURSELF (Luke 4:3)
Satan is suggesting to Jesus that there must be something wrong with the Father’s love since “His beloved son” was hungry. Satan was tempting Jesus to disobey the Father’s will by using his divine power for his own purposes. (Luke 4:4)
Jesus in his answer was saying, “I will not complain. Neither will I take matters into my own hands. I will trust my Father and his word.”
HOW TO OVERCOME THE TEMPTATION TO DO IT YOURSELF
You and I can overcome the temptation to do it yourself by trusting God’s love, wisdom, and power. Believe that you are precious to God and he really cares for you. Believe that God knows what’s best. You may not understand how he is working things, but believe that he knows what he’s doing. Trust in God’s power to do everything that needs to get done. Make no mistake about it: God can do what people cannot. There is no limit to God’s power or ability.
2. OVERCOMING THE TEMPTATION TO TAKE THE EASY WAY (Luke 4:5-7)
The devil was offering Jesus a kingdom without the cross. Why go to all the trouble and pain to win the world when it can be handed to you on a silver platter? No suffering, No Struggling, No Sacrifice. But a crown without the cross would mean that there would be no forgiveness for our sins. (Luke 4:8) Our world teaches us to avoid pain, to take the easy way, the path of least resistance. Avoid sacrifice. (Acts 8:18-21)
HOW TO OVERCOME TO TEMPTATION TO TAKE THE EASY WAY
Firstly, by realizing that there is proper time for everything and a needed process to reach or accomplish things that are really important or valuable. Secondly, realize that character is more important than comfort in God’s scale of values. Finally, we can overcome the temptation to take the easy way by reminding ourselves that we are called by God to impact the lives of others and not just please ourselves. (1 Chronicles 21:24)
3. THE TEMPTATION TO NOT BELIEVE IT UNTIL YOU SEE IT (Luke 4:9-11)
If Jesus gave in, it would be the equivalent of saying to God –“I won’t believe in you until I see you SHOW it to me by MY terms.” (Luke 4:12)
There are many subtle ways that we can put God to the test. (2 Kings 7:1-2; 2 Kings 7:16-17)
HOW TO OVERCOME THE TEMPTATION TO NOT BELIEVE UNTIL YOU SEE
You and I can overcome the temptation to not believe until you see it by believing that the Lord will surely fulfill all his promises. Trust in the Lord’s solid character and unquestionable faithfulness. He will not fail you. (Exodus 14:21-22)
YOU NEED TO BE WATCHFUL ALWAYS (Luke 4:13)
Margaret Thatcher: “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” The Devil will always be lurking in the shadows, watching, waiting for the next vulnerable moment.
1 Corinthians 15: 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Discussion Question:
- What temptation do you struggle most out from the three major temptations identified in the message?