This month we’re talking about “The Power of God’s Word.” Each of us needs more of the power of God’s Word in our lives and families. Our nation needs more of the truth and power of God’s Word in every way. God’s Word is true, it’s authoritative and it’s available for every one of us.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The Bible is useful, it’s essential, to equip believers to do the good work that God has for us to do.
Today, we’re going to talk about one of the most important uses of the Scripture. My message is entitled “How To Resist Temptation.” Anybody here been tempted lately? We’re all tempted on a regular basis. The good news is that it’s not a sin to be tempted. As we’ll see today, even Jesus was tempted. The problem arises when we give in to temptation. Giving in to temptation is sin. The results of sin are always negative, in our own lives and in the lives of those around us. The problem of temptation goes back to the garden of Eden. There the serpent began by tempting Eve to eat from the forbidden tree.
Genesis 3:6 (NIV) When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Note the three elements of the temptation. The fruit of the tree was good for food – it appealed to a physical desire – the lust of the flesh The fruit of pleasing to the eye – it appealed visually – the lust of the eye. Finally, the fruit was desirable for gaining wisdom – it appealed to the boastful pride of life. These three elements of temptation are listed in:
1 John 2:16 (NASB) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
These three aspects of temptation cover all the types of temptation that we encounter in life. They are not from God, but from the world and the prince of this world, Satan. He seeks to entice us to give into temptation and so bring pain, misery and destruction into our lives. Not only does giving in to temptation affect each one of us, it also negatively impacts those around us, our spouses, our families and others that relate to us. God wants to teach us today how to resist temptation through the power of God’s Word.
We’re going to look at story from Jesus’ life in which He was tempted in these same three ways and resisting temptation using the Word of God.
Listen to or watch my July 8, 2012 message How To Resist Temptation.