How To Win Over Temptation

Pastor’s Pen…

The famous playwright Oscar Wilde once said, “I can resist anything…except temptation!”

 

The temptation has been a problem for the human race ever since Adam and Eve began a careful examination of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. In Numbers 20 Moses was tempted to exercise his anger at the Israelites by striking the rock a second time, when God had told him explicitly to speak to the rock. In 2 Samuel 11 David yielded to temptation when he observed Bathsheba bathing on a nearby rooftop. In Matthew 4, Jesus resisted three temptations launched by Satan, to turn stones into bread to satisfy hunger after a 40 day fast, to foolishly leap off the Temple in order to create a spectacular rescue, and to bow before Satan in exchange for being granted rule over the kingdoms of the world-- which was ultimately His right as God’s Son.

 

In Matthew 4:3 Satan is identified as the tempter. The problem is, when we hear his name, what often comes to mind is a Halloween costume, a character wearing a red suit, wardens and a long pointed tail. But Paul in Second Corinthians warns that Satan can be transformed into an angel of light. He is the ultimate deceiver, and in many places in Scripture we are warned of his ”wiles” or methods. (2 Corinthians 2:11)

 

Sadly, in our day resisting temptation has gone out of style. In many ways even Christians today are living like the church in Corinth, where pride, divisions, sexual immorality and lawsuits against other believers were the order of the day. In warning the Corinthians about temptation, the apostle Paul pointed back to the history of Israel (10:6-11), where the Israelites yielded to lust, idolatry, immorality, tempting the Lord, and complaining.  Apostle John identified three major areas of temptation of which we need to be aware-- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. (1 John 2:16)

 

Temptation as described in our text (1 Corinthians 10:12, 13) can be defined as a solicitation to do evil.  But as we will see in our message, it can be overcome!

 

Let me again thank all who help sanitize our facilities for services each Saturday morning in preparation for Sunday worship. Also, to those who make it possible for us to ‘live-stream’  on Facebook at 10:45 each Sunday morning, and to post each message on our website (www.fccwylie.org) each Sunday afternoon. We continue to hold our Sunday services with all safety protocols and pre-service sanitizing in place. No Sunday school yet, and the nursery is not available.  We will continue following the protocols as outlined by GA-18 guidance.  Face masks, social distancing, no physical contact. We use bulletins printed untouched by human hands, with songs, etc. printed therein, and pre-packaged communion elements. Offering plates are located at the rear, or giving can be done online at www.fccwylie.org.

 

If you still feel uncomfortable attending, you can join our live-stream on Facebook (at 10:45 am) which includes communion and the worship hymns, or the website, where the message is posted each Sunday afternoon.  We are blessed to have the technology available that allow us to still worship, and those in our church family who have the expertise to post the service online.

 

 

Now let’s examine 1 Corinthians 10:12, 13 to learn four keys to winning over temptation.

 

I.               Avoid overconfidence like the plague (v. 12)

 

II.              Accept the fact that we are all tempted (v.13a)

 

III.            Acknowledge our absolute dependence on God for victory (v. 13b)

 

IV.           Actively pursue the “way to escape” God provides (two aspects)

 

·      Escape

·      Endure

Applications:  (A-B-Cs)

Avoid overconfidence                                                                                                                   Be aware of our areas of weakness                                                                                              Call on the Lord when facing temptation                                                                                     Develop daily dependence on the Lord                                                                               Energize yourself through God’s Word

Prayer items: 

Barbara’s son and daughter-in-law COVID-positive. Barbara is under quarantine. Continue praying for her step-daughter Angie and three children in the loss of Angie’s husband

Donna Hancock, dealing with COVID 19. She has several other health complications

Kim Ramsey would appreciate our prayers for her health and her son Kevin

Our India translator, Sarita Samuel, hospitalized in Nagpur, surgery

Feel free to contact me with urgent prayer requests, and I will endeavor to include them in my weekly ‘Pastor’s Pen’ texts

Next Sunday John Royal will be filling the pulpit for me as we will be away. You will want to hear his inspiring message!

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RADIO THIS EVENING: The COVID 19 crisis has hit the senior population harder than virtually any other group. This weekend on Encouragement Live Don Sapaugh, CEO of Restoration Senior Living and co-author of The Search for Peace, joins me to address the challenges and joys of caring for seniors.  

Encouragement Live can be heard Saturday at 7:05 PM central time on American Family Radio (www.afr.net) and on theworshipchannel.org.  Re-broadcast Sunday 9 pm on The Worship Channel.

May our Savior’s grace and peace continue to encourage you as you trust in Him during these challenging times.

Don Hawkins, D. Min.                                                                                                                          Interim Pastor