Monday, April 22, 2013

Overcoming Temptations To Secure Your Destiny

 
 Temptations are meant to scatter ones glorious destiny. 

Joseph is a classic example of someone who escaped temptations and by that act secured his destiny as the prime minister of Egypt.

It is your turn to overcome those temptations and secure your glorious destiny.



What is temptation?
1.     An enticement to be engaged in evil or disobedience
2.     A test or trial (A test aimed at spiritual growth

Purpose of temptations:
1.     To Trap You Into Sin
SIN = Satan’s Property. You will have to pay Rent.
It Satan’s Toy. He will come for it and slap you.

2.     To Undermine The Plan And Authority Of GodGenesis 3:4-5
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
3.     To Stray Man From The Will Of God.
John 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Devices Of Temptations:
Temptations start from our mind.(KITCHEN OF THOUGHTS)
James 1:14 – 15
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Three Main Devices of Temptations
1John 2:16 - For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:..
1.     Lust Of The Fresh
2.     Lust Of The Eyes
3.     Pride Of Life
Satan Used This Three Devices to Tempt Adam and Eve
Genesis 3:6 - And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

1.     Lust of the Eyes – “Pleasing to the eyes
2.     Lust of Fresh – “good for food
3.     Pride of Life – “to make one wise

Satan Used The Same Devices To Tempt Jesus In The Wilderness
Mathew 4:1 - 11
1.     Lust of Fresh – “command that these stones be made bread” Verse 3
2.     Lust of the eyes – “sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them” – Verse 8
3.     Pride of Life – “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” – Verse 9

Is Temptation Sin?
NO. Jesus was also tempted
Hebrews 4:15 - …” but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Why Do People Fall into temptations?
Because there is temporally pleasure. (Counterfeit Pleasure)

Moses Example - Hebrews 11:24 – 25

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Strategies To Overcome Temptations:
1.     Be Word LoadedMathew 4:1 – 11 “It is written”
2.     Be alertI Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
3.     Pray - Matthew 26:41 - Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
4.     Resist - James 4:7 – “… Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”
5.     Retreat or Flee 2 Timothy 2:22 – “Flee also youthful lusts
Joseph is a classic example –
Genesis 39: 6 - 12

Benefits Of Overcoming Temptations
1.     Angels will minister to you
Matthew 4:11 - Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
2.     Salvation - Matthew 24:13 - But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.



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