Christians Expositor
1995 Preacher Study Notes
If the Apostle Paid, a mature man physically and spiritually, had to practice daily caution and self-control in order to overcome the temptations of the flesh, how much more must we, my brothers and sisters in Christ? We need to become aware of the ways we can face, and then overcome, the temptations that confront us.
Our discussions will focus on teaching how to recognize a temptation, how to respond to a temptation, and then how to use spiritual tools for successfully overcoming a temptation.
I. Knowing What Is And What Is Not Spiritually Acceptable.
- A. A conscience is designed to work based on knowledge
(I Corinthians 8:7-12; Romans 2:15-16).
B. If we are unaware of the truth, either willfully or ignorantly, our conscience will not function correctly. This can result in our being deceived (1 Corinthians 4:4-5; Acts 23:1; 1 Timothy 1:12-16). Ignorance causes us to be unable to recognize temptation because we simply do not know what is, and is not, sinful. br />
C. We may be tempted to go ahead and act upon a desire fully aware that we do not know whether the specific act is right or wrong. There may be a hesitation, an awareness that we are unsure. To this the Bible warns, “... to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean ... he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:14, 23, NKJV). So, when we are tempted to do something and we are unsure if it is right or wrong, we must choose to do that which will not offend our conscience or cause us to lose our confidence before God.
D. Our responsibility then becomes to compare (I Thessalonian 5:21) the doubtful act with the Scriptures so that we can “walk by faith” (2 Corinthians 5:7) and “live by faith” (Romans 10:17). Romans 10:17 tells us that our faith comes from the Word of God. Walking by faith then means living in agreement with the instruction of the Word of God (I Thessalonians 4:1). The Bible is only a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path (Psalms 119:105) if we are guided by and follow its teachings: “For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light” (Proverbs 6:23) When we know what is right, and then do what is right, we have “confidence before God” (1 John 3:19-22)
E. We must allow the Word to instruct us as to the nature and character of temptation and sin (John 17:17; Hebrews 5:14). We cannot depend on an uneducated conscience to serve us effectively.
F. Even though we must be able to identify temptation if we are going to deal with it, knowledge alone will not bring about victory over temptation.
- A.Overcoming temptation is not possible without a personal commitment to do what we have learned and know to be right(Romans 12:1-2) Once our conscience has been instructed by the Word of God, we must actively and deliberately obey the word, not be a passive hearer who would “delude” himself into thinking that knowledge is obedience (James 1:22-25). Someone who understands the Word and yet will not act upon it soon forgets “what kind of person” he is (compared to what he ought to be), and decimates or sears his conscience (1 Timothy 4:2). We must make an unqualified personal commitment that when tempted, we will do what we know is right, without reservation.
B.We must focus on our areas of personal temptation before the opportunity presents itself, and make a decision as to what we would do. Role play: “what would I do if ...?” If we find ourselves vacillating, then we need to “purify our hearts.” James 4:8 records, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (cf. James 1:6-8) implies a lack of purity or focus (single-mindedness) in our hearts.
C. We must allow God’s judgments to restrict our choices
(Malachi 3:2-3), or we will not overcome temptation.
- A.We must actively stop impure thoughts in order to end impure actions (Matthew 15:19). 2 Corinthians 10:5 reads. “We demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (NIV). Proverbs 23:17 reads. “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the Lord always.”
B.Memorize specific scriptures that have to do with your problem area(James 1:21; Hebrews 10:16) The sword of the spirit (Ephesians 6:17) needs to be where the battle is, that being in our hearts and minds (1 John 2:24; Colossians 3:16). Jesus, when tempted, was helped by God’s word in His heart (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). Psalms 119:11 reads “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!”
C.Pray(Hebrew 4:l6) Matthew 26:41 reads, "All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious ) and watch and pray that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Amplified).
D.Make yourself accountable to another(James 5:16; Galatians 6:2). Regularly check up each on each other’s progress.
- A.We need to take responsibility for our weakness, and spiritual growth (James 1:13-14). We need to stop shifting blame for our failures to others, or our environment. We need to take responsibility for and control of our spiritual environment, i.e. music, TV, friends etc. (I Corinthians 15:33-34) .
B. Remember that the moral aspirations that God has provided for us are not out of our reach or beyond the limits of our ability to keep. Look for the providential way of escape: “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13; NASB: cf.
I John 5:3: 2 Peter 2:9) Philippians 4:13 reads, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
C.We may get discouraged because of the habitual nature of sin. Often, sinful behavior has been reinforced with temporary pleasure (Hebrews 11:25). Therefore, we need to attack and break the routines that make sinning easier. We must not make “ ... provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13:14).
D.Remember and practice the presence of God (Psalms 139:7-12; Proverbs 15:3; 1 John 3:19-20; Hebrews 4:13) In Proverbs, the father reminds his son, “For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, and be embraced in the arms of a seductress? For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He ponders all his paths.” (Proverbs 5:20-21; read vv. 15-23). Just because we may forget the presence of God does not mean that He is not always present. Remember the song, “There’s An All Seeing Eye Watching You.” In a negative way, remembering God’s presence allows the God-given feelings of guilt and shame to motivate us not to choose sin (1 Corinthians 15:34; 2 Thessalonians 3:14). And in a positive way, it encourages us to know that God is always for us (Matthew 28:20), and is always prepared and willing to “help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
E.Do not neglect Christian fellowship. Fellowship is part of God’s design to help us in our struggle to overcome sin. We help each other through encouraging one another (Hebrews 10:24-25; Galatians 6:2).
F.Remember who you are. You are God’s "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a harlot is one body with her? For He says, ‘The two, shall become one flesh.’ But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body” (I Corinthians 6:15-20, NASB).
G.Remember Christ. “Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin” (Hebrews 12:3-4).
H.If it seems that all else has failed, remember the judgment (Romans 14:12; Ecclesiastes 11:9), and fear God (l Peter 1:17; Matthew l0:28; Hebrews 10:26-31).
“Now flee from youthful lusts; and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
(2 Timothy 2:22 ).
If you are caught up in a sin, remember the prodigal son. He knew things were better back at his father’s house, but he had to act on his decision to “get up and go” (Luke 15:18) back to his father before things would change. Once the young man made up his mind to go home (repent), he got up and came to his father. But while he was a long way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him, and kissed him (Luke 15:20, NASB). Remember, when we fail God wants us to come home through repenting of our sin (Acts 8:22) confessing our sin (I John 1:9) and asking for prayer (James 5 :16).
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