Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Opening the Door to Hope: Temptation, 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, 03/09/14


@March 9                temptation  1 cor 10:12-13

 

12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.


series – opening the door to hope.

The journey of Lent to easter

 

Temptations – Jesus resisted temptation – lent is a good time for us to talk about temptations

The more I talk of temptation, the more I find myself discussing sin

Story of gods relationship w man does not begin w sin, but w love

The msg today is not about who much we are all great sinners.
It is about temptations that are real and what we can do to overcome them and live as God intended us to live.

My brain divided temptation to sin into 3 categories

Sins of commission- things that we did

Cheat on taxes.  Angry to kids.  road rage.

Sins of omission- things that we did not do……….

How can that count?

 

James 4:17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Not doing something that I should………..

·        not helping others,

·        not listening to my soul,

·         not working on me

 

third category……from which it all springs……sins of self

it is after all about me


Problem of temptation is real

 

I saw it on our faces on Ash Wednesday

 

Its serious

Not in a guilty way but its serious like real life. Real life problems

 

On ash wed I saw happy people., sad people, tragic people, searching

In times of temptation

·        I don't want to be alone

·        Look me in the eye

·        Mark me

·        Give me a rosary. A cross.

·        Touch me

·        Give me strength

 

The problem of temptation is real
Only a relationship with God can fill the mystery of this loss
When we try to fill this other ways, we end up broken, and lost on the sea of life

source of temptations
first important step is to take responsibility for your sin, and temptation
who is responsible?


1. flip Wilson- the devil made me do it.

The devil probably did not make you do it

The devil is not omni-present.  Not the opposite of god

1 peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith

Resist him and he will flee.  Don’t spend your life worrying about the devil.

Draw near to God


2. Sin is a natural part of human living – Paul - spirit wars vs the flesh

James 1:13-14
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.


What are some of the big ones
for someone else it may not be big, but it might be for you
some one can shop – you cant

Someone can drink – you cant

Someone can………. you cant

 

What are the things that take over in your life

The things that take the place of God?

Someone else might be able to do it, but you know that things destroys you

only you know if it is sin to you, but you do know.

What are some of the big ones……..
Sexuality – a blessing
can also lead to - Infidelity -pornography
vinyards and pleasure are celebrated

but  can lead to Addiction- Drinking- drugs - Eating
its not money, but the Love of money –

lead s to stealing, cheating, coveting

Ultimately temptation and sin is all about pride
Its about me- envy coveting pride
I will do what I want
It is my money,
It is my life

No one questions me

is God trying to make our lives difficult?
Why is God against this stuff?

1. god wants to save us from the pain

Paul Harvey tells an incredible story describing how Eskimos kill a wolf simply by coating several layers of frozen blood on a sharp knife sticking out of the frozen tundra. Apparently the wolf picks up the scent, and after circling the knife warily begins licking the frozen blood. He begins to lick faster and faster as the desire for blood literally drives the wolf wild. So great becomes his craving that the wolf never notices the sting of the sharp blade on his tongue as the blood being consumed gradually becomes his own. Morning finds the wolf lying dead in the snow.

it is bad for us -
succumbing to temptation leads to brokenness and guilt

2.  sin is the great deceiver- always promises what it cannot deliver
you thought this was cool, but now you see it hurts

the farmer who picks up the snake – you knew what I was when you picked me up

The good news is this
God will make a way for you to get out of it

You do not have to succumb habitually

fight temptations- w chocolate or ?
-Put your mind somewhere else
-Make good choices
-avoid compromising situations
-Don’t put yourself in positions of temptation
-stay connected to Christian friends
find new friends

pray read scriptures [find words of hope]
Jesus is tempted in the wilderness Mt 4 - how did he counter? by the word

Call upon the name of the Lord for strength
take it to Jesus cast your cares upon him for he cares for
1 peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

lord give me strength – take one step in the right direction.

One step after another

conclusion

As we face temptation, let us remember-

There is something powerful about claiming the name of Jesus

As the old song says, There is power in the blood.

We have hope in. Christ


and so we turn to him. We throw ourselves upon him.  We trust in him

one day, one step at at time

12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure

 

that way is Jesus Christ. – lets pray.

 

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