18th July 2021 – Overcoming Temptation by Rev Benson Kuira ~ The Power of the Word Series

Romans 7: 7 – 25

Have you ever found yourself struggling with something in life? We struggle with trials and temptations all the time.

As observed by Apostles Paul:

For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do (Romans 7:15 NKJV)

There is a war within us; we find ourselves doing things we do not want or like:(

Three sources of temptations:

1. The Devil
2. Our flesh (self desires)
3. The world (attraction to earthly pleasures)

1. The devil

God TESTS us to grow us. The motivation is love. Overcoming tests affirms our competence.

TEMPTATIONS are aimed to strangle our growth. To destroy us. The architect of Temptation is the devil.

God allows trials to come our way. But Satan uses the trials to tempt us.

Job 1: 7-10 – God tested Job. He allowed job to be tested. Job did not succumb to the trial by the devil. With that Job was approved faithful to God.

The devil blackmails us when we sin. He blocks us from seeking forgiveness from God.

2. Our flesh/desires

God never tempts us. It’s our own desires raging within us.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed (James 1:13‭-‬14 NKJV)

3. The World

The World- Life without God, self seeking, earthly pleasures, …

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world (I John 2:16 NKJV).

Pattern of temptation:

1. Desire
2. Enticement/Deception
3. Sin
4. Death

Joshua 7: 20 illustrates the pattern of temptation

Temptation and attitude:

How you choose what happens to us (attitude) informs our path to temptation.

It is not sin to be tempted, our response to it that makes it sin or not!

We will always be tempted. Temptation gets us out of fellowship with Brethren and God. BUT…

God loves us so much that he will give us a way out of temptation:

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
(I Corinthians 10:13 NKJV)

WHEN GOD ALLOWS IT, YOU CAN HANDLE IT!

Joseph with Potiphar’s wife…God gave Joseph way of escape (Genesis 39: 1- 23)

Remind the devil IT IS WRITTEN: Pray the Word, speak the Word…

Ephesians 6: 10- 16 encourages us to put on the full armor of God you overcome temptation.

Prayer keeps all pieces together.

God bless