Temptation

Message Notes:

Sermon #6 in series on the Lord’s Prayer:

•Matthew 6:13 — “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (the evil one).”

•Key theme — temptation

Byron starts the message with two stories about temptation and fishing.

•There is a deceptive snare / power related to our temptations.

•Our attitude toward temptations often lead us to believe that we can handle them. They cannot hurt us.

•We are tricked by the fact that they rarely present themselves in all of their devilish ugliness. Instead they normally come disguised as “everything you have ever wanted.”

Matthew 6:12 main idea — this verse represents a confession that we are sinners who need a Savior.

Matthew 6:13 main idea — This verse is a recognition & admission that I am “susceptible” to even more sin due to the brokenness in me and the sinful deceitfulness out there.

Another parallel passage that speaks to the subject of temptation:

•James 1:13-14

•There is something inherently attractive / alluring / enticing about the object itself.

•There is something distorted in me that is attracted to the forbidden.

Another important passage related to temptation is Hebrews 4:15

•Jesus is sympathetic to our condition.

•He was tempted in “every respect” as us with out sinning.

•An important distinction: There is a difference between temptation and sin. In other words, you are not sinning simply because you are being tempted.

•The Bible does not say how long I can ponder or “feel” a temptation before it becomes a sin.

Overcoming Temptation: Four principles

•Confess Your Struggles/Temptation — (James 5:16) “Confess your sins to one another…"

•Avoid Your “Triggers” (people/places/things) — (1 Thessalonians 5:22) “Stay away from every kind of evil.”

•Be Decisive about Your Struggles/Temptations — (Matthew 5:29) “If your right eye causes you to sin…”

•Stop Feeding Your Lusts

Discussion Questions:

Where, or in what aspect of life, do you wrestle with the most difficult temptations?

•What percentage of your temptations are related to the intrinsic attractiveness of the object of your temptation, and how much is your temptation rooted in your own personal brokenness?

Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. What does this tell you about temptation?

Byron shared the following strategies for dealing with temptation. Which of these is most helpful to you? 

Overcoming Temptation: Four principles

•Confess Your Struggles/Temptation — (James 5:16) “Confess your sins to one another…"

•Avoid Your “Triggers” (people/places/things) — (1 Thessalonians 5:22) “Stay away from every kind of evil.”

•Be Decisive about Your Struggles/Temptations — (Matthew 5:29) “If your right eye causes you to sin…”

•Stop Feeding Your Lusts