Connecting – Part 7

This newest series of messages on Internet Pastor is called “Connecting”.

Matthew 6:13 (NIV)
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

We are continuing our series on connecting with God and others. We continue to remember our word pictures; welded in to the building (support), joined in to the body (use our talents and gifts), grafted in to the vine (produce fruit), born in to and adopted in to the family of God (peace, hope, security, etc.)

Today we are going to talk about temptation and how to avoid it (be delivered from it).

Temptation is more than just doing the “really big bad stuff”. We are tempted by all sorts of things.

The temptation to do what works. Not necessarily the right thing but what works.

The temptation to do what’s easy.

The temptation to do what is self-serving or best for me.

The temptation to do what’s unimportant.

The temptation to do what I’ve always done.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Circle “provide a way out.” We are going to talk about the way out today. There are five things to consider.

1. My pattern of vulnerability

What are the circumstances that are in place before you give in to temptation. A lot of times we haven’t taken the time to figure out what leads up to us acting out. What makes us vulnerable? If you want to overcome you have to take a good look at this pattern.

Matthew 26:41 (NIV)
41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Watch and pray. Take a look at your pattern so you know how to pray.

Here is what you need to ask yourself:

When am I most tempted?

Where am I when I am most tempted?

Who am I with when I am most tempted?

What is it that is most tempting to me?

How do I feel right before I’m tempted?

You need to know these things. You need to identify your pattern of vulnerability. Watch. Don’t just pray. Watch and pray.

2. Make plans to avoid the pattern.

Proverbs 4:26-27 (TEV)
26 Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right. 27 Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don’t go one step off the right way.

You want to avoid the I gotta have it, and I gotta have it now.

If you do things on the computer that you shouldn’t, make plans to keep yourself out of trouble.

3. My heart needs to be guarded.

Temptation always starts inside of you. We think temptation come from some outward source. The trigger might come from outside, but the temptation is actually inside you.

James 1:14-15 (NIV)
14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

So you’ve got to guard your heart. Be careful what you allow in.

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

4. My help comes from the Lord.

When you are feeling tempted, you need to pray. What kind of prayer? Are you ready? HELP!

Do you know that God is sympathetic to your situation?

Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV)
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. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

5. My focus needs to change.

I change the direction of my thoughts. I refocus on something else. I shift my attention. If you’re watching something on TV that you don’t like, you don’t sit there and go, “I’m not going to listen…I’m not going to listen… I’m not going to listen… I am not going to listen…” No. You just flip the channel.

That’s how you handle temptation. Don’t just go “I’m not going to do it, and I try and resist by sheer will power. Change your focus. Don’t resist, refocus.

Did you know in the Bible not once are you told to resist temptation? We are told to resist the devil and that’s a whole different issue. The key to overcoming temptation is not resistance, it’s a change in focus.

Whatever gets your attention gets you. The battle for sin always starts in the mind.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

Come back often to see the latest sermons or bible studies on your Online Pastor site. We are blessed to be your Pastor Online!