Sunday, January 29, 2017

What Tempts You?

Week 4 or our Bible Study

Read Genesis 3: 1-6


Image result for the serpent tempted eve

Look at how Satan works to destroy Eve and Adam 
(and this is how he tries to destroy you and me)

First he questions the Word of God to cause Doubt
"Did God really say....."

Then he denies the Word of God and Ridicules the Word of God
which distracts us from the Truth of the Word of God
"You will not die..."

Now weakened in the Truth of His Word, Satan lays out the Temptation
"...you will be like God"


 Do you see Satan working like this in today's world?
(would love to see your thoughts in the comments below)


I think Satan has created enough doubt and ridicule over the millennia  that it has resulted in a secular society that not only doubts God exists, but ridicules those who continue to believe in and follow Him


Read 1 John 2:16

John warns us to beware of things that appeal to the flesh, the eyes and our pride.

The lust of the flesh are things that gratify our physical senses.
For Eve that was finding the fruit to be "good for food"
For us it might be gluttony of food, or alcohol, or drugs or sex.


Image result for hedonistic lifestyle


The lust of the eyes are those things that we see and desire to have.
For Eve she saw that the fruit was good, it was a delight to her eyes.
For us it is those material things we must have, no matter how we get it our who we hurt:  wealth, car, clothes, jewels.
It could also be as simple as video gaming so much that we isolate ourselves from family, friends and time with God.


Image result for gaming obsession addiction

Pride may be the easiest way to lead us to sin.
For Eve, Satan said she would be like God--that implies power---and pride.
What do some people do to achieve popularity? celebrity? power?

Image result for oscars red carpet


How does Satan do it?  How does he tempt us?

First he tries to make us believe God nor he exists.

I think this is his greatest accomplishment!
How easy it is for him to lead us down a path of self destruction if we don't believe in God or Satan.


Who defines right and wrong if there is no God?
Without God's morality, what couldn't Satan lead us in to?

Think of how secular (godless) society 
floods our sense with sinful things 
and normalizes them?

Dress provocatively
Be sexy.
Have lots of Sex
Party! Party! Party!
Drink / do drugs to be popular
Disrespect authority
Want it? Take it!
A little lie never hurt anyone.
Abortion is not murder

Image result for no god

Another ploy of Satan is to trick believers into thinking he is God.

From this point of view he can lead "believers" astray.
And you get the development of Cults, or so called Christians who hate others.
(google the westboro baptist church)

Image result for westboro baptist church

When you think of the titles the Bible gives Satan
I think it becomes easier to understand who and what he is:

The Accuser
The Great Deceiver
Father of Lies
Evil One
The Adversary
God of this World
Prince of this World
The Enemy 



How can we Avoid Tempation?

1. Identify temptations that are hard for you to resist.
(what would that be? gossip? pride? popularity?)

2. Pray about the temptation
(Ask God to help you recognize sin and give you the strength to  walk away)


3.  Avoid the Temptation--avoid situations that put you at risk
(You may have to loose friends to do so)


4. Use the Bible for Inspiration
(for some example scriptures click here )


5. Use the Buddy System
Surround yourself with Christian friends--they will help you and strengthen you.

6.  Use Positive Language to help you overcome the temptation.
For example, don't say: This is too hard
Instead say: God can help me, its not too hard for Him.

7. Give yourself an "out"----See the escape.
For example if you are tempted to lie and not hurt someone's feelings you can find other words telling the truth that are uplifting.


Image result for 1 corinthians 10 13




Sin Promises:  Freedom, Wisdom, Pleasure

BUT

Sin Delivers: Bondage, Guilt, Shame



9 comments:

  1. But why shouldn't people do all those things?
    I mean, I can FEEL that it's wrong...but WHY?

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    Replies
    1. i believe the things that God does not want us to do are because they are unhealthy. It is unhealthy to be promiscuous, to abuse drugs and alcohol. It hurts relationships when we lie, or gossip, etc.

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    2. What if you have a lot of, er, sex with your spouse?

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    3. think about it---"go forth and multiply"......and he made it an enjoyable act, one that promotes bonding and healthy relationships, he just commands that it is within the context of marriage

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  2. Within the context of marriage, and also within the context of reproduction, surely? Yet how come so many people use contraception...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In the context of marriage---here's my theory: in today's culture we are more concerned with things than having children. We don't want more kids than we can afford. We would rather have 2 parents working for that big house, SUV, cell phones, computers, wifi, latest fads, etc then live humbly with many children. I am not condemning this, I just think it is our culture today.

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    2. But - but they could just avoid having sex at all until they're ready for children, if they so desperately don't want them?

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    3. absolutely! I think that shows us the power of lust / desire.

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