Jesus: Our Strength Against Sin's Enticements
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truth that Jesus must be everything to us if we are to resist the enticements of sin. The core of our spiritual journey is to reach a place where honoring Jesus is more valuable than succumbing to the desires of our flesh. This requires a deep surrender to the belief that Jesus is our all. We delved into the wisdom of Proverbs, focusing on the instruction to not consent to the enticement of sinners. This is not merely about avoiding sin but actively resisting it through the power of the Holy Spirit within us.
We acknowledged that while we live in a fallen world, and sin is unavoidable, we have the strength to resist it. This strength does not come from our own might but from the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. The message emphasized the importance of listening to wise instruction, which involves not just hearing but doing. True wisdom is demonstrated in our actions, not just our knowledge.
We also discussed the importance of having a counsel of wisdom around us, ensuring that the voices we listen to are aligned and on one accord. This unity in wisdom helps us avoid the pitfalls of sin and the enticements that lead to destruction. The message concluded with a call to action, urging us to be transparent about our struggles and to seek accountability. By doing so, we can avoid the traps of sin and walk in the light of Christ, experiencing the redemptive power of Jesus in our lives.
Key Takeaways:
1. Jesus as Our Everything: To resist the enticements of sin, we must truly believe that Jesus is everything to us. This belief empowers us to prioritize honoring Him over satisfying our fleshly desires. When Jesus becomes our all, we find the strength to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. [33:51]
2. The Power of the Holy Spirit: Our ability to resist sin does not come from our own strength but from the Holy Spirit within us. By surrendering to the Holy Spirit, we gain the power to say no to sin consistently. This surrender is key to living a life that honors God. [38:48]
3. Listening and Doing: True wisdom is not just about hearing wise instruction but acting on it. Listening with the intent to obey is crucial for walking the path of wisdom. Our actions should reflect the wisdom we receive, demonstrating our commitment to living a life that pleases God. [42:31]
4. Counsel of Wisdom: Having a counsel of wisdom around us is vital for spiritual growth. This counsel should be unified and aligned, providing consistent guidance that helps us resist sin. A diverse yet harmonious counsel ensures that we are not led astray by conflicting advice. [49:13]
5. Transparency and Accountability: Being honest about our struggles and seeking accountability is essential for overcoming sin. By acknowledging our weaknesses and inviting others to hold us accountable, we create a supportive environment that fosters spiritual growth and victory over sin. [01:10:05]
YouTube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [33:51] - Jesus as Our Everything
- [35:27] - Worship as a Lifestyle
- [37:06] - Introduction to Proverbs
- [38:48] - Power of the Holy Spirit
- [39:35] - Freedom from Sin
- [42:31] - Listening and Doing
- [43:48] - Wisdom and Honor
- [45:56] - Balanced Instruction
- [49:13] - Counsel of Wisdom
- [50:31] - Unity in Wisdom
- [52:38] - Esteem through Wisdom
- [54:36] - Avoiding Sin's Enticement
- [56:36] - The Nature of Sin
- [58:26] - Inspecting Character
- [01:00:57] - The Invitation to Sin
- [01:02:15] - The Enticement of Greed
- [01:04:27] - The Trap of Sin
- [01:06:21] - The Path of Destruction
- [01:08:43] - Knowing Our Flesh
- [01:10:05] - Transparency and Accountability
- [01:12:38] - The Call of the Flesh
- [01:18:00] - The Lure of Sin
- [01:22:57] - The Success of Sinners
- [01:24:41] - Eternal Perspective
- [01:26:29] - The Deception of Sin
- [01:28:13] - Self-Inflicted Destruction
- [01:29:29] - The Trap of Sin
- [01:30:51] - The Worth of Godly Success
- [01:31:44] - The Foundation of Righteousness
- [01:32:45] - The Path of Unjust Gain
- [01:33:57] - The Betrayal of Sin
- [01:34:55] - Walking in Wisdom
- [01:36:09] - Redemption through Christ
- [01:37:15] - The Power of Repentance
- [01:38:15] - The Redemptive Picture
- [01:38:57] - Surrendering to Jesus
- [01:39:45] - Invitation to Salvation
- [01:40:46] - Rededication and Surrender
- [01:42:37] - Communion and Reflection
- [01:43:38] - Prayer and Benediction
- [01:44:15] - Closing Remarks
- [01:45:04] - Every Member Ministry
- [01:48:38] - Baptism Celebration
- [01:59:07] - Final Benediction
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Proverbs 1:8-19
2. Romans 6:12-14
3. James 1:14-15
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Proverbs 1:8-19 teach about the importance of listening to parental instruction and wisdom? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on having a counsel of wisdom? [49:13]
2. According to Romans 6:12-14, what are believers instructed to do with their bodies, and how does this relate to resisting sin? [39:35]
3. In James 1:14-15, what is the process described that leads from temptation to sin, and ultimately to death? How does this align with the sermon’s discussion on the enticement of sin? [01:11:52]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers to resist sin? [38:48]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon interpret the phrase "Jesus as our everything" in the context of resisting sin? What does it mean for Jesus to be more valuable than our fleshly desires? [33:51]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between listening to wise instruction and acting on it? How is this related to the concept of true wisdom? [42:31]
3. How does the sermon explain the importance of having a unified counsel of wisdom, and what are the potential dangers of having conflicting advice? [49:13]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that transparency and accountability can help believers overcome sin? [01:10:05]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you prioritized something over Jesus. How did that decision impact your spiritual journey, and what steps can you take to ensure Jesus remains your everything? [33:51]
2. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to resist sin. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to empower you in that area this week? [38:48]
3. Think about the wise counsel you currently have in your life. Are there any voices you need to add or remove to ensure you are receiving aligned and godly advice? [49:13]
4. How can you practice listening with the intent to obey in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to ensure your actions reflect the wisdom you receive? [42:31]
5. Consider a struggle you are currently facing. Who can you invite into your life to hold you accountable, and how can you be transparent about your challenges? [01:10:05]
6. Reflect on the enticements of sin that you find most challenging. What specific strategies can you implement to avoid these traps and walk in wisdom? [01:11:52]
7. How can you cultivate a lifestyle of worship that goes beyond lip service and reflects a life surrendered to God in every situation? [35:27]
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus as Our Ultimate Priority
To resist the enticements of sin, we must truly believe that Jesus is everything to us. This belief empowers us to prioritize honoring Him over satisfying our fleshly desires. When Jesus becomes our all, we find the strength to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. [33:51]
Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 2: Empowered by the Holy Spirit
Our ability to resist sin does not come from our own strength but from the Holy Spirit within us. By surrendering to the Holy Spirit, we gain the power to say no to sin consistently. This surrender is key to living a life that honors God. [38:48]
Galatians 5:16-17 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."
Reflection: Identify a specific temptation you face regularly. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to empower you to overcome this temptation today?
Day 3: Wisdom in Action
True wisdom is not just about hearing wise instruction but acting on it. Listening with the intent to obey is crucial for walking the path of wisdom. Our actions should reflect the wisdom we receive, demonstrating our commitment to living a life that pleases God. [42:31]
James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
Reflection: Think of a piece of wisdom or instruction you have received recently. How can you put it into practice today in a tangible way?
Day 4: The Value of Wise Counsel
Having a counsel of wisdom around us is vital for spiritual growth. This counsel should be unified and aligned, providing consistent guidance that helps us resist sin. A diverse yet harmonious counsel ensures that we are not led astray by conflicting advice. [49:13]
Proverbs 11:14 (ESV): "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety."
Reflection: Who are the people in your life that provide wise counsel? How can you intentionally seek their guidance this week in a specific area of your life?
Day 5: Transparency and Accountability
Being honest about our struggles and seeking accountability is essential for overcoming sin. By acknowledging our weaknesses and inviting others to hold us accountable, we create a supportive environment that fosters spiritual growth and victory over sin. [01:10:05]
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"
Reflection: Is there a trusted friend or mentor you can share your struggles with? How can you invite them to hold you accountable in your spiritual journey?
Quotes
"It's a good thing that they just sang your everything to me, because as we're in this series and continue in this series in Proverbs, according to wisdom, one of the things that today's message will require is that you really believe that Jesus is, is everything to you." [00:32:45] (18 seconds)
"What is it that we do, or how is it that we will resist? How is it that we will not give in to the enticement of the enemy, or into the enticement of sinners, or into the enticement of our flesh? It's going to be that we truly have gotten to a place in our walk and in our lives where we believe that Jesus is more valuable, more important to honor than the desires of our flesh that dishonor him." [00:33:04] (25 seconds)
"We have the ability to not yield to it. We have the ability to say no. Why? Because we have the enabler living inside of us. We're not saying no in our own strength. Remember at the end of the Steadfast series, we talked about that. We're not saying no in our own strength. We're not saying no because we mustered up enough sin. And sometimes people are like, well, I just finally got fed up with life. That's great. So you'll say no for two weeks." [00:38:38] (27 seconds)
"The enduring, steadfast, sustaining no to sin and yes to Jesus comes through a surrender of the Holy Spirit. The more we surrender to the Holy Spirit, the more we surrender to the Holy Spirit. Spirit, the more we say no. The more we yield to the Holy Spirit, the more we say no. The more we don't quench and grieve the Holy Spirit, the more we say no." [00:39:10] (20 seconds)
"This idea of listening is the idea of hearing and doing. It's to listen with the intent to obey, to listen with the intent to do what it is that I have heard. This is why James tells us to what? Not be what? But be. Hearers don't mean nothing. Hearers don't help. Hearing the word don't. Do nothing. It just puts information into your brain." [00:42:31] (27 seconds)
"What brings about a walk that is honorable and pleasing to the Lord, what brings about the strength to resist is when we do what it is that we have heard from the word or what we have heard from the instructions that has been given to us. And so to make it plain, to listen to wise instruction is to walk the path of the instruction. It's really simple. If you tell me you're listening to me and you don't do nothing, I say you heard me." [00:42:57] (26 seconds)
"And I think that that's really important when we talk about, in 2025, making sure that we are people that have a counsel of wisdom around us, right? Making sure that we're people who aren't just finding yes men and yes women to say the things that we want them to say, but that we have a counsel, that the instructions that are being given to us are not one individual, given, but they're given through a counsel of people. We need to have a counsel of wisdom in our lives." [00:48:00] (31 seconds)
"The danger is we may have a counsel of wisdom, but the counsel of wisdom ain't on one accord. And so you got your one counsel of wisdom you go to to tell you what you want to hear. You got your other counsel of wisdom you go to to tell you what you don't want to hear. Then you got your other counsel of wisdom that try to blend it all together for you." [00:49:26] (23 seconds)
"You can be prideful and fall or you can be transparent and free. Right? And I'm calling us to be transparent and free. But you got to be transparent so that your counsel can actually accountability is trash if it can't hold you accountable to the real stuff your accountability partner checking on you on everything that you ain't struggling with get you some real accountability get you some people that you're going to talk that talk talk with you got to have it." [01:12:53] (31 seconds)
"Judas chose to partner with a gang of people for money to sell out an innocent man, right? And how did Judas' story end? Hung him from a tree. His own destruction, the very thing that he desired became the very thing that would destroy them. But then I think about you and I. I think about those who have witnessed the power of Jesus in our lives, know of his sacrifice, know how he shed his innocent blood, and that blood is what has covered us and made us pure, right? But like Judas, we betray him after experiencing him for lusts that we know won't last, for that relationship that we know dishonors him, for schemes that we know dishonor him, for a mouth that dishonors him. Whatever your fleshly desires is, every time that we give into it, we are answering the call, to betray Christ. Every time." [01:33:30] (57 seconds)
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