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Saturday 8 June 2013

Temptation - Sunday Sermon Review

June 2, 2013 Sunday Sermon Review
Topic - Temptation
Speaker - guest speaker Mr. Niko Engbrecht

I would like to suggest you also study the blogpost on temptation that I wrote in January 2013. You can link to the post here Temptation blogpost

Here is some of what Mr. Niko Engbrecht said:

This is an important topic - Temptation
God frees us.
Satan uses temptation in our lives.

The text  for today is:
 1 John 2:15-17  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Mr Engbrecht said that he uses the KJV.

There are three categories of temptation.
1) the lust of the flesh
2) the lust of the eyes
3) the pride of life

Temptation is a desire to do something that is not the will of God. You have the choice to give in or to not do it. It is your decision. You have a way of escape. You do not have to sin.

Why do we get tempted?
James 1:13-15  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.

*God does not tempt - you cannot blame God
* it is our own fault - the devil will seek to tempt us where we are the most vulnerable, 
* the devil will attack where you are vulnerable
* the devil is sneaky, he does not like losing so he comes in the back door
* it is our choice to give in or to be strong and stand against it

Jesus was tempted in each of the three categories of temptation. 
 Jesus withstood them all. Jesus was 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness being tempted by the devil.

1) Lust of the Flesh - Jesus was hungry, this was a temptation of the flesh. Jesus withstood this
Matthew 4:3-4 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Our application of lust of the flesh - doing things that make us feel good without looking at God - temptation may be for drinking, smoking, doing drugs, boredom, video games, 
We need to be reading the Bible, spending our time in fellowship with other believers, volunteering. There are a lot of souls that need to be brought to Jesus still. Find something to do that will expand the kingdom of God.


2) Lust of the Eyes - the devil offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. This was the temptation of the eyes. Jesus quoted Scripture. 
Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Application - men looking at the ladies with lust have already committed adultery. This is a sin against God.
 Ladies please help the men in this area - dress modestly don't wear the short shorts and skirts etc., examine yourself.
God wants a woman to profess godliness being holy and self controlled. Be modest in shopping jewelry and clothing.
We need to be loving God and obeying his commandments. Study the word of God and apply it!


3) Pride of life -  You shall not tempt the Lord your God.
Matthew 4: 5-7 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Application - Don't sell your souls to the devil - 
music and movie industry. Many popular celebrities and movie stars have sold their souls to the devil. They openly admit it. Why would we as Christians follow them?
Don't follow the celebrities - Put God first in your life, Study the word of God so you will know it.
Mr Engbrecht stressed the importance of reading and studying the Bible and made this comment " I love the Bible - it has the answers to everything".
Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding

Teach your children -What is our strongest weapon against temptation? It is to quote Scripture. Jesus quoted Scripture passages from the Old Testament to the devil.
Jesus was prepared with Scripture. - quote Scripture to yourself and to the devil, then we will not take the devil's bait. When we are saturating ourselves with Scripture there is no room for temptation. We are not hungry for temptation. Fill your heart with Scripture every morning. Develop an intimate relationship with Jesus. Then temptation and sin will have no room in our lives. If we fill our minds with worldly things we will drift away from the Lord. We will lose our desire for God and we fall into sin.
Ask God for guidance and for forgiveness.

We are to hunger and thirst for God - read and study the Bible by yourself and with others.
Examine yourself if you are in the faith - having no hunger for the word of God is an indication that you are in need of seeking Jesus for salvation.

Matthew 7:7-8  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

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