Strengthening Faith: Overcoming Temptation and Embracing Humility
Summary
In my sermon, I emphasized the importance of overcoming temptation and maintaining a strong relationship with God. I used the imagery of a tree planted by a stream, flourishing and prospering, to illustrate the spiritual growth that comes from deep-rooted faith. I stressed the need to refuse to entertain temptation, recognize the wickedness of sin, and avoid it at all costs. I also highlighted the importance of regularly readjusting our spiritual lens to maintain a clear perspective on our faith journey. I used the story of Joseph and Potipar's wife to illustrate the dangers of false accusations and the importance of maintaining integrity in the face of temptation.
In the second part of my sermon, I emphasized the importance of humility and reliance on God in our spiritual battles. I referenced James 4:7, urging the congregation to submit themselves to God and resist the devil. I warned against the danger of restraint bias, the tendency to overestimate our ability to control impulsive behavior. I also drew from the teachings of Paul, reminding the congregation that we are up against a powerful enemy and must armor up with the help of God. I concluded my sermon with a prayer, asking God to strengthen those struggling with temptation and to bring hope to those who feel hopeless.
Key Takeaways:
1. Refuse to entertain temptation, recognize the wickedness of sin, and avoid it at all costs. (26:56)
2. Regularly readjust your spiritual lens to maintain a clear perspective on your faith journey. (27:36)
3. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and resist the devil. (11:24)
4. Be aware of restraint bias, the tendency to overestimate our ability to control impulsive behavior. (11:58)
5. Armor up with the help of God to fight against the powerful enemy. (10:48)
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. James 4:7 #!!11:24!!#
2. Psalm 1 #!!26:56!!#
Observation Questions:
1. What does James 4:7 tell us about our ability to resist temptation?
2. How does Psalm 1 describe the person who delights in the law of the Lord?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does James 4:7 instruct us to deal with temptation and the devil?
2. What does it mean to be like a tree planted by streams of water as described in Psalm 1?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a recent situation where you had to resist temptation? How did you handle it and what could you have done differently based on James 4:7?
2. How can you make the law of the Lord your delight as described in Psalm 1? What practical steps can you take this week?
3. How can you apply the concept of "refusing to entertain temptation" in your daily life?
4. How can you "readjust your lens" regularly to maintain a godly perspective in your life?
5. Can you think of a specific area in your life where you need to "rightly recognize the wickedness of sin" and "relentlessly avoid it at all cost"?
Devotional
Day 1: Overcoming Temptation Through Refusal
We must learn to refuse to entertain temptation. This is not about avoiding the world, but rather about not partaking in the sinful actions of the world. We are called to be in the world but not of it, and this includes not entertaining the temptations that come our way ([26:56]).
Psalm 1:1 - "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent temptation you faced. How did you respond? How could you better refuse to entertain such temptations in the future?
Day 2: Recognizing the Wickedness of Sin
We must rightly recognize the wickedness of sin. Sin is not a trivial matter, but a serious offense against God. Recognizing this helps us to resist temptation and live in a way that honors God ([27:36]).
James 4:7 - "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Reflection: How do you view sin? Do you see it as a serious offense against God? How can this perspective help you resist temptation?
Day 3: Avoiding Temptation at All Costs
We must relentlessly avoid temptation at all costs. This requires humility and a reliance on God's strength, not our own. We cannot fight the supernatural in the natural and expect to win ([11:24]).
Ephesians 6:11 - "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes."
Reflection: What steps can you take to avoid temptation in your daily life? How can you rely more on God's strength in these situations?
Day 4: Regularly Readjusting Our Lens
We must readjust our lens regularly. This means continually examining our perspective and aligning it with God's truth. This helps us to see situations as God sees them and respond in a way that honors Him ([26:23]).
Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Reflection: How can you regularly readjust your lens to align with God's perspective? What changes might this require in your life?
Day 5: Guarding Ourselves in Success
We must guard ourselves in moments of success. It's in these moments that we can become complacent and let our guard down, opening ourselves up to temptation. We must remain vigilant and reliant on God, even in success ([12:18]).
1 Corinthians 10:12 - "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!"
Reflection: Reflect on a recent success. How did you guard yourself against temptation in this situation? How can you continue to guard yourself in future successes?
Quotes
1. "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers. We are called to be in the world but not of the world. However, if I'm an alcoholic and I'm really trying to get clean, the last thing I'm going to do is start ministering to people in a bar." - 24:58
2. "What good ultimately comes out of rated R movies and rated R TV shows for our soul? Satan has set up to draw us slowly away from the heart of God and what he wants to do and produce in you joy, peace in the midst of these unforeseen pits that we find ourselves in." - 15:27
3. "God doesn't want us to lean into sin and even give into the small ones because what it does is it hinders the relationship with him. Like any good father or parent, they desire more than anything a strong relationship with their child. God's not ready to strike you down, he's ready to shower you with grace and remind you how much he loves you." - 18:24
4. "When I regarded God as a tyrant, I thought sin as little. But when I knew him to be my father, then I mourned that I could ever have kicked against him. When I thought God was hard, I found it easy to sin. But when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against one who loved me so and sought my good." - Charles Spurgeon, 18:24
5. "2011 was the worst year of my life and it ended up being one of the best years in my life because of what God had revealed to me not only about myself but more importantly about him. For the first time in a long time, we said 'God, we're here for you'. It's no longer 'here's my plan God, you have to be part of it', it's 'hey God, take us where you want us'." - 30:45
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