Resisting Temptation: Strength in Christ's Love
Summary
As we journey through the season of Lent, it's a time to prepare our hearts and minds for Easter, reflecting on the profound love of Jesus and the sacrifice He made for us. This preparation often brings about spiritual challenges, as the enemy seeks to distract us from realizing the perfect love and divine purpose Jesus has for us. Today, I want to focus on the theme of temptation and how we can be prepared to resist it.
Temptation often catches us off guard, especially when we are vulnerable. I shared a personal story about a time when I reacted poorly in a moment of vulnerability, forgetting the blessings and gifts from God. This illustrates how the enemy exploits our weaknesses to lead us away from Christ-like behavior. However, Jesus understands our struggles, as He was tempted in every way yet remained without sin. This gives us hope and a model to follow.
James 1:13-15 reminds us that God does not tempt us; rather, we are tempted when we are drawn away by our own desires. It's crucial to recognize these internal struggles and prepare our hearts to resist them. In moments of temptation, we must remember that God reveals these situations not to shame us but to help us grow and be prepared for future challenges.
In Mark 14, Jesus instructs His disciples to "watch and pray" to avoid falling into temptation. This is a powerful reminder that spiritual vigilance and prayer are essential in overcoming the enemy's schemes. We must be alert and spiritually awake, seeking God's wisdom daily to navigate the trials we face.
Finally, in Matthew 3 and 4, we see Jesus being tempted by the devil, yet He stands firm in His identity as the Son of God. The enemy often attacks our identity, trying to make us doubt who we are in Christ. But we are children of the living God, created for good works, and we must not let the enemy's lies deter us from our divine purpose.
Key Takeaways:
- Vulnerability and Temptation: Temptation often strikes when we are most vulnerable, catching us off guard. It's essential to recognize these moments and remember that God provides us with the strength to overcome them. By staying spiritually vigilant, we can resist the enemy's attempts to lead us astray. [04:28]
- Internal Desires and Temptation: Temptation arises from our own desires, drawing us away from God's path. Recognizing these internal struggles is crucial in resisting temptation. God reveals these situations not to shame us but to prepare us for future challenges, helping us grow in our faith. [09:00]
- Watch and Pray: Jesus' instruction to "watch and pray" is a powerful tool in overcoming temptation. By staying spiritually alert and seeking God's wisdom daily, we can navigate the trials we face and avoid falling into the enemy's traps. [15:05]
- Identity in Christ: The enemy often attacks our identity, trying to make us doubt who we are in Christ. We must stand firm in our identity as children of the living God, created for good works, and not let the enemy's lies deter us from our divine purpose. [26:17]
- Divine Purpose and Temptation: We have a divine purpose to bring the glory of Jesus to the world. The enemy seeks to stop us, but we must remain steadfast, knowing that we are empowered by God to fulfill our purpose. Embrace the kingdom of God, where all solutions to our temptations are found. [29:22]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:00] - Preparing for Easter
- [04:28] - Vulnerability and Temptation
- [06:30] - Personal Story of Temptation
- [09:00] - Internal Desires and Temptation
- [11:45] - Recognizing the Enemy's Schemes
- [13:30] - Spiritual Vigilance
- [15:05] - Watch and Pray
- [18:23] - Daily Prayer for Wisdom
- [21:28] - Preparing for Crisis
- [23:45] - Peter's Denial and Lessons Learned
- [26:17] - Identity in Christ
- [29:22] - Divine Purpose and Temptation
- [31:45] - Embracing the Kingdom of God
- [34:00] - Closing Prayer and Encouragement
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. James 1:13-15
2. Mark 14:27-38
3. Matthew 3:13-4:11
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Observation Questions:
1. According to James 1:13-15, where does temptation originate, and how does it lead to sin? How does this passage clarify the role of God in our temptations?
2. In Mark 14:27-38, what instructions does Jesus give to His disciples to help them avoid falling into temptation? How did Peter respond to Jesus' prediction about his denial? [15:05]
3. In Matthew 3:13-4:11, how does Jesus respond to the temptations presented by the devil? What does this reveal about His understanding of His identity and mission?
4. Reflecting on the personal story shared in the sermon, how did the pastor's reaction to the unexpected situation illustrate vulnerability to temptation? [04:28]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding that temptation comes from our own desires (James 1:14) change the way we approach resisting temptation in our daily lives?
2. What does Jesus' instruction to "watch and pray" in Mark 14:38 suggest about the relationship between spiritual vigilance and overcoming temptation? How might this apply to modern-day challenges? [15:05]
3. In what ways does the devil's questioning of Jesus' identity in Matthew 4:3-6 reflect the tactics used to undermine our own sense of identity in Christ? How can believers stand firm against such attacks?
4. How does the pastor's story about the temptation to keep the money from the shop sale illustrate the subtlety of temptation and the importance of integrity? [09:00]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt vulnerable to temptation. How did you respond, and what might you do differently in the future to align more closely with Christ-like behavior? [04:28]
2. Jesus instructed His disciples to "watch and pray" to avoid temptation. What practical steps can you take to incorporate this practice into your daily routine? [15:05]
3. Consider a time when your identity in Christ was challenged. How did you respond, and what can you learn from Jesus' example in Matthew 4 to strengthen your sense of identity in Him?
4. The pastor shared a story about being tempted to act dishonestly in a business situation. Have you ever faced a similar ethical dilemma? How did you handle it, and what did you learn from the experience? [09:00]
5. How can recognizing that temptation often arises from our own desires (James 1:14) help you in identifying and addressing areas of personal weakness?
6. In what ways can you prepare your heart and mind during this season of Lent to better resist the enemy's attempts to distract you from your divine purpose? [29:22]
7. Reflect on the concept of spiritual vigilance. What are some specific distractions in your life that you need to address to stay spiritually alert and focused on God's wisdom? [18:23]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing Vulnerability in Temptation
In moments of vulnerability, temptation often strikes unexpectedly, catching us off guard. It is during these times that we must be especially vigilant, as the enemy seeks to exploit our weaknesses and lead us away from Christ-like behavior. By acknowledging our vulnerabilities and relying on God's strength, we can resist the enemy's attempts to lead us astray. Staying spiritually vigilant and aware of our surroundings helps us to be prepared for these challenges. [04:28]
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (ESV): "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
Reflection: Identify a recent moment when you felt vulnerable to temptation. How can you prepare yourself spiritually to respond differently in the future?
Day 2: Understanding Internal Desires
Temptation often arises from our own internal desires, drawing us away from God's path. Recognizing these desires is crucial in resisting temptation. God reveals these situations not to shame us but to prepare us for future challenges, helping us grow in our faith. By understanding our internal struggles, we can better align our desires with God's will and resist the pull of temptation. [09:00]
James 4:1-3 (ESV): "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask."
Reflection: What internal desires have been drawing you away from God's path? How can you bring these desires before God in prayer and seek His guidance?
Day 3: The Power of Watching and Praying
Jesus' instruction to "watch and pray" is a powerful tool in overcoming temptation. By staying spiritually alert and seeking God's wisdom daily, we can navigate the trials we face and avoid falling into the enemy's traps. This spiritual vigilance requires a commitment to prayer and a constant awareness of God's presence in our lives. [15:05]
Colossians 4:2 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."
Reflection: How can you incorporate a practice of "watching and praying" into your daily routine to strengthen your spiritual vigilance?
Day 4: Standing Firm in Our Identity in Christ
The enemy often attacks our identity, trying to make us doubt who we are in Christ. We must stand firm in our identity as children of the living God, created for good works, and not let the enemy's lies deter us from our divine purpose. Embracing our identity in Christ empowers us to resist temptation and fulfill our calling. [26:17]
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection: In what ways have you doubted your identity in Christ? How can you reaffirm your identity and purpose in Him today?
Day 5: Embracing Our Divine Purpose
We have a divine purpose to bring the glory of Jesus to the world. The enemy seeks to stop us, but we must remain steadfast, knowing that we are empowered by God to fulfill our purpose. Embracing the kingdom of God, where all solutions to our temptations are found, allows us to live out our divine calling with confidence and strength. [29:22]
2 Timothy 1:9 (ESV): "Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to embrace and live out your divine purpose in the face of temptation?
Quotes
Church, good morning. It's a delight to see you. Thank you so much for this opportunity to share with you this morning. And as you know, we're into the season of Lent and we're fast approaching Easter as well. And for me, Easter is really, really important to me. And so in this week's run up to it, I started to prepare my heart and mind ready for Easter. [00:00:00]
And the reason why I do that is because I still struggle with the concept of how Jesus died for me. What he did for me because he loved me. What he accomplished for me because he loved me. What I am now because he loved me. And in my preparation for this, I also find that the enemy is more active around me. [00:00:29] (36 seconds)
Because he wants me to stop realizing the perfect love of Jesus. He doesn't want me to have that perfect plan that Jesus has for me. So he wants to do everything he can to stop that. And so this morning, Church, I want to talk about temptation. And we're going to look at some scripture together that just helps us to see it, resist it, and walk on. Amen? [00:01:05] (29 seconds)
Because Jesus has a purpose for you, you know. He has a divine purpose for you. And the enemy wants to stop that, break that, and drag you away from that. But before we look at the scriptures, I just wonder if there's a situation or something that has happened to you that if you've been prepared for it, you would have acted and said something differently. [00:01:23] (27 seconds)
And then suddenly, without warning, this huge, fully grown husky came charging across our pathway. Obviously, he slipped his lead and bashed into Harvey. Harvey went boom. You know, I had to grab the husky dog, you know, from the collar and to bring him back whilst trying to see if Harvey was okay. And then within about three or four seconds, this red-faced young lady came running towards us. [00:03:43] (32 seconds)
And she said, I am so sorry. I am so sorry. I am so sorry. But I didn't hear that. Okay? This is where I messed up. This is where I think, yeah, I failed the test. Because what came out of my mouth wasn't any naughty words. Okay? I promise you that. Okay? But it was just sheer emotion of what happened to my dog. [00:04:23] (28 seconds)
What she didn't realize was I took weeks and weeks and weeks to convince Lorraine that I could have a 12-stone dog. You know? We spent months and months and months saving to have this dog so we could buy him and purchase him, but also to keep him. You know? So that, all this emotion just came out of me. Okay? Why am I telling you this story? [00:05:00] (26 seconds)
I'm telling this story because the enemy always wants to catch us off guard. So we're in our most vulnerable states. You know? What happened was I forgot in all my trade to this lady that actually Jesus says all good gifts come from above. And I knew that Jesus knew that I always wanted a Newfoundland and we had a gift given to us. [00:05:36] (23 seconds)
He provided the finance so we could afford to have him. He gave us the opportunity to change our work circumstances so we could have him. But I forgot all that. What came out of my mouth was all this emotion. And the lady said to me, I think you're a bit upset so I'm going to leave you now. Yeah. Lady, you go. [00:06:15] (23 seconds)
And what happened was, you know, when I sat down and I thought about it, actually, you know, I was really wrong. You know, I made this lady out to be that she was wrong. You know, I turned it around to benefit me because I was surprised by how I was at the vulnerable state. It wasn't a Christ-like thing that I did. [00:06:41] (24 seconds)
You know? So I just want to talk about that. You know, that we are prepared for when the enemy does things. Especially at times when we are most vulnerable to react. But, you know, as I said, I reacted in not rather a Christ-like way. Thank you, Jesus, for forgiving me. I haven't seen that lady again. Lord Jesus. She's probably moved, yeah? [00:07:21] (24 seconds)
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