EXPERIENCING TEMPTATION (5 OF 7)
Scripture: I PETER 5:8-9
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Experiencing Temptation (5 of 7)
Series: Life Choices
David Cawston
I Peter 5:8-9
INTRODUCTION:
There is a story told of an old priest who was asked by a young man, "Father, when will I cease to be bothered by the sins of the flesh? The priest replied, Son I wouldn't trust myself until I'd been dead for 3 or 4 days."
In many Christian circles, our attention is directed towards sinful acts instead of the temptation that precedes the sinful act.
Temptation, we are reminded, is not a sin.
In fact, Jesus himself was tempted and resisted.
Heb 4:15-16
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. NIV
But you notice that we choose to focus instead on the sinful activities instead of the cause which is temptation.
But the problem is, this focus does us great harm.
Yes, Jesus was tempted.
No, temptation is not a sin.
But dismissing temptation as unimportant is simply naïve.
Temptation is where we begin to defeat sin.
Every person is tempted – not just on an occasional basis – but repeatedly, every day, many times a day.
Temptations jump onto our pathways, enter our minds, flit across the vision of our thinking, and brush over our hands with untiring repetition.
But that's not all.
Temptations are often custom designed and custom timed by the evil one.
That's why when Jesus taught us how to pray, he said, "And lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
The actual translation of that is, "Let us not fall into the traps of the enemy, but deliver us from his schemes.
The enemy is well aware of your weaknesses!
He contemplates the perfect time to strike!
He plots the times when you are most vulnerable!
The February 26, 1974 edition of Insight told the story of Major William Martin, a British subject who is buried near Huelvo on the southern coast of Spain. Martin never kne ...
Series: Life Choices
David Cawston
I Peter 5:8-9
INTRODUCTION:
There is a story told of an old priest who was asked by a young man, "Father, when will I cease to be bothered by the sins of the flesh? The priest replied, Son I wouldn't trust myself until I'd been dead for 3 or 4 days."
In many Christian circles, our attention is directed towards sinful acts instead of the temptation that precedes the sinful act.
Temptation, we are reminded, is not a sin.
In fact, Jesus himself was tempted and resisted.
Heb 4:15-16
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. NIV
But you notice that we choose to focus instead on the sinful activities instead of the cause which is temptation.
But the problem is, this focus does us great harm.
Yes, Jesus was tempted.
No, temptation is not a sin.
But dismissing temptation as unimportant is simply naïve.
Temptation is where we begin to defeat sin.
Every person is tempted – not just on an occasional basis – but repeatedly, every day, many times a day.
Temptations jump onto our pathways, enter our minds, flit across the vision of our thinking, and brush over our hands with untiring repetition.
But that's not all.
Temptations are often custom designed and custom timed by the evil one.
That's why when Jesus taught us how to pray, he said, "And lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
The actual translation of that is, "Let us not fall into the traps of the enemy, but deliver us from his schemes.
The enemy is well aware of your weaknesses!
He contemplates the perfect time to strike!
He plots the times when you are most vulnerable!
The February 26, 1974 edition of Insight told the story of Major William Martin, a British subject who is buried near Huelvo on the southern coast of Spain. Martin never kne ...
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