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Topical - Tell Me About Temptation ::
Luke Tattersall introduces a six part sermon series on the temptations you might not have even noticed.
Source: Perspective Vol3 No3 ©Perspective 1999
Temptation sounds like an old fashioned word. We tend to think that it is an affliction that other people suffer from. And we can tend to over look some of the temptations that we, as Christians, often face. We often give into them because we don’t view them as temptations. I’m always reluctant to tackle a “topical” sermon series. They can often be a vehicle for a pastor to preach about his “pet topics”. Preaching a topical series requires great care. You need to be sure that you’re saying what the Bible says, and not just stringing a few verses together to take your hobby horse for a ride.
For me, this series on Temptation came about for three reasons:
1) I’d just read a book called “Temptations Men face” by Tom Eisenman. What struck me about the book was that many of the “temptations” he mentioned were subtle ones that we as Christians may not view as temptations – things like success and love.
2) I like to occasionally do a topical series because it makes me work harder as a communicator. I find it far more difficult to write a topical talk than to preach on a passage – particularly as you need to create your own structure and flow, rather than relying on the structure of a Bible passage.
3) It gave me the chance to look at a few subjects in a more detailed way (success, popularity and anger). These things may come up in your normal preaching but doing a topical series gives you the chance to pull together a few passages and ideas on the subject.
OVERVIEW
There were six talks in the series.
The first was an introduction, looking at what temptation is. The next four talks described some specific but very subtle temptations that Christians face. I wanted to show how these temptations can lead us in a way that is contrary to the way God wants us to live.
The six talks were titled as follows:
1. Temptation – What is it and how does it work?
2. The Temptation to be Successful
3. The Temptation to be Liked
4. The Temptation to be Loved
5. The Temptation to Let Off Steam
6. Team Work Against Temptation
THE TALKS
TALK 1 – Temptation – What is it and how does it work?
Introduction
Sounds like an old fashioned word, not used that much today. The dictionary says that temptation is “an inducement to do evil”. Three things go together to make temptation:
1) the Temptation.
2) the Tempted and
3) the Desire.
Sounds like an old fashioned word, not used that much today. The dictionary says that temptation is “an inducement to do evil”. Three things go together to make temptation:
1) the Temptation.
2)the Tempted and
3) the Desire.
There was a great line in a Joan Armatrading song that summed up Temptation: “Temptation drags you down – takes you where you want to be.”
A temptation is only a temptation if there is a desire within me to do that thing. One person can see $50 that someone has left on a table and can be tempted to steal it. Another can only think of handing it in or trying to give it back.
Temptation then is an inducement to do what we know is wrong.
What makes temptation hard to resist is that it is often the very thing that we would like to do.
Three Important Facts About Temptation:
(1) Temptation is only a problem for some
Temptation is only a problem for those who are serious about living faithfully in their relationship with God. If you don’t care about how you live in God’s sight then many things won’t be a temptation – you’ll just do them!
(2) Temptation is not Sin
Some people make the mistake of thinking that being tempted is wrong or sinful. Temptation is not a sin. Jesus was tempted. It is what we do with the temptation that counts. Temptation may lead to sin but it is not in fact sin (James 1:14-15). NB We should not place ourselves in situations where we will be tempted.
(3) There is a way out
The good and bad news is 1 Corinthians 10:13. It is good news because if we are serious about serving God then no temptation stands in the way of us doing that. It is bad news because we no longer have an excuse for sinning. We can’t say “the temptation was too great” because it wasn’t.
Genesis 3 – A Case Study in Temptation Three elements necessary for temptation:
1. The TEMPTATION – the fruit on the tree God told them not to eat.
2. The TEMPTEES – Adam and Eve
3. The DESIRE – to be the boss, to be like God. The ESSENCE of TEMPTATION is to deny that God knows what is best for us. The ESSENCE of TEMPTATION is refusing to take God at his word.
Conclusion
If we’re serious about our relationship with God then temptation will be a real issue. At the heart of all temptation is the fact that we question if God really does know best for us. We need to be convinced that God does know best for our lives.
TALK 2 – Temptation to be Successful
Introduction
Temptations come in all shapes and sizes and the bigger ones are normally easier to resist than the smaller ones. The temptations that are often hardest to resist are the ones that don’t look much like a temptation. Success may sound like more of a blessing than a temptation but it can be a very subtle temptation.
If temptation is “An enticement to live a life contrary to the way that God would have us live” then success can be a serious temptation. The lure of success has great potential to lead us away from living the way God wants us to.
Temptations come in all shapes and sizes and the bigger ones are normally easier to resist than the smaller ones. The temptations that are often hardest to resist are the ones that don’t look much like a temptation. Success may sound like more of a blessing than a temptation but it can be a very subtle temptation.
If temptation is “An enticement to live a life contrary to the way that God would have us live” then success can be a serious temptation. The lure of success has great potential to lead us away from living the way God wants us to.
By What Standard’.
How would you describe success”; If you were to ask the average man in the street then each person would offer a slightly different answer but essentially they would be the same.
The measure of success for most people is TV shows like “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous”. They’re the ones tint most people would say are successful. They are the ones who have made it – they’re living the life most people dream of. The Bumper sticker I saw on the back of a Ferrari sums up the world’s idea of success: “The one with the most toys wins”. Success is normally measured by the sum total of your possessions. Most people think that money and possessions will be able to give them fulfilment, happiness and security. Is that what Christians think? Be honest, Deep down don’t you think that rich people are successful people?
What’s the Price?
Success doesn’t come easily. No-one is going to give it to you. So what is the price for success? The movie “War of the Roses” summed up the price of success perfectly. There are plenty of Christians who make the mistake of adopting the world’s idea of success – wanting that car, job, level of income. And everything else – including God and family – gets pushed into second place.
The Successful Fool
The Parable of the Rich Fool – this man was CONVINCED that he’d made it – SUCCESS was now his middle name. He thought that he now had all that SUCCESS could offer. He thought he was now FULFILLED. He thought he had SECURITY. He thought he had CERTAINTY about his FUTURE. But his success was not really able to give him any of those things. God says he is a fool because he is nor rich at all. Only God is able to provide fulfilment, security and a certain future in Jesus.
Godly Success
True success means being rich toward God knowing Jesus. We should no longer pursue what the world calls success – we should be seeking first God’s kingdom and his righteousness.
How Successful are You?
What measure of success are you working with – the world’s or God’s?
TALK 3 – The Temptation to be Liked
Introduction
We can easily see in children the desire to be liked – to fit in. But the desire is just as strong in adults – we just disguise it a bit better. There is nothing wrong with being liked but it does become wrong or a temptation when it means we are enticed to live in a way that is contrary to the way God wants us to live so that we will be liked or so that we will fit in.
We can easily see in children the desire to be liked – to fit in. But the desire is just as strong in adults – we just disguise it a bit better. There is nothing wrong with being liked but it does become wrong or a temptation when it means we are enticed to live in a way that is contrary to the way God wants us to live so that we will be liked or so that we will fit in.
Pleasing God not Pleasing Men
The desire to be liked or to fit in is one we face constantly – home, work, sport, socially, etc. EG. There you are with your friends or your family and the CHOICE has to be made – DO YOU DO WHAT PLEASES GOD or WHAT PLEASES YOUR FRIENDS. At that point God seems to be a LONG WAY AWAY and your FRIENDS are RIGHT THERE. Your acceptance by them may depend on what you say or how you behave.
Don’t Compromise Behaviour or Standards
Often the pressure to fit in – to be one-of-the-boys – will mean we’re called on to modify our behaviour or standards. Have you ever found yourself in z situation where your friends ask you what you think on a particular matter? You know that if you tell them what you believe as a Christian then it probably won’t go down too well! Don’t be diverted.
Don’t Compromise the Gospel
Probably the greatest danger we face as Christians is to compromise the Gospel in order to fit in or to be liked by men. Paul was accused of that – 1 Thes 2: 1-12. There are whole denominations that have fallen into this trap. They want to shape the church by community standards and values. Liberal theologians have come up with a Gospel that is easier to believe:
Some DENY that Jesus ROSE FROM THE DEAD. Some DENY that Jesus performed MIRACLES. Some DENY that Jesus is the ONLY way for people to be SAVED. Some DENY that there is a HELL. All this is done with the VERY BEST of INTENTIONS. They SUPPOSE that they are making it EASIER for people to believe. They suppose that it will make the church more acceptable in society. They suppose we will be liked.
Being Different
The Bible says that as Christians we are different and we should be different (Romans 12:2, Jn 15: 18-19)
Do You Have to be Hated?
Some Christians make the mistake of thinking that you have to be hated by everyone in order to be a Christian. We don’t have to make people hate us. Nor does being z Christians mean we will be hated. But we have to be prepared for the world to dislike us. We shouldn’t be surprised!
Conclusion
Matthew 5:10-12
TALK 4 – The Temptation to be Loved
Introduction
There have been some big changes in societies attitudes toward sex and marriage in the last 50 years. The divorce rate is now close to 50%. Love and sex seem to be seen as the same thing. There are big enticements in our society to live in z way that is contrary to the way God wants us to live.
There have been some big changes in societies attitudes toward sex and marriage in the last 50 years. The divorce rate is now close to 50%. Love and sex seem to be seen as the same thing. There are big enticements in our society to live in z way that is contrary to the way God wants us to live.
God’s Pattern for Men k Women
Gen2 – two become one flesh. Jesus says “What God has joined together let not man separate”. Marriage is meant to be a life-long union. Marriage used to illustrate the relationship God has with his people – bride and Bridegroom. Sex is something for the marriage relationship. There are plenty of people outside the church who think that the church is opposed to sex. That’s not true. Sex is a wonderful thing to be enjoyed in the right relationship.
God’s Pattern Under Attack
The world has a very different view to God. Society says sex before marriage is OK – op before you buy principle. Faithfulness is seen as an optional extra to marriage. We call ADULTERY and AFFAIR, which sounds more acceptable. In the quest for love people are willing to try to find it wherever they can.
A Case Study in Adultery – 2 Sam 11
This passage is an awesome example of adultery and its consequences. David knew that it was wrong – but that is one of the amazing things about temptation. If you sit and dwell on it long enough you can convince yourself it’s okay. David was willing to look for love in all the wrong places. A lady I know had a husband who thought that they should be open in their relationship – that he should be allowed to see other people. He moved in with another woman and was later devastated when his new lover wanted to have an open relationship and see other men. He felt betrayed!
Father Knows Best
The world will tell us there’s a whole range of ways to find love – but we need to be convinced that Father knows best. There are countless people who are the casualties of searching for love in the wrong places.
TALK 5 – Temptation to Let Off Steam
Introduction
It’s a temptation everyone faces – doing your block, losing your cool, chucking a wobbly, having a melt-down, going ballistic or letting off steam. It’s all summed up in one word ANGER. What makes you angry? (Give some examples)
Is it Wrong to Get Angry?
God gets angry – He’s “slow to anger and abounding in love” – but none the less gets angry. Even Jesus got angry – see Mark 3:5. Anger itself is not a sin. There is righteous or justified anger. Our anger is seldom justified and rarely righteous. Not all anger is right!
The Trouble with Anger (Eph 4 26. Jas 1 19-20)
In your anger do not sin. The sin can be what you anger leads you to DO, THINK or SAY. Imagine one of your family members steals something valuable from you. In a sense you could be justifiably ANGRY about has happened. But the question is what are you going to do with your anger? Are you going to store up the anger and plan your revenge? Are you just going to keep a mental record of the incident? Or perhaps you could go and steal something of theirs? Then again you could always tell everybody you know about the terrible thing they have done and try to give them a bad name? Anger has the power to destroy relationships – but it is not the anger itself, it is what you do with that anger. We all know horror stories where one family member has not spoken to another for years because they refuse to let go of their anger. We should be slow to anger James 1:19-20
Dealing With Anger (Hb12:14. Ro12:17. Evh 4:26)
The Bible give three tips for dealing with anger: (1) Be a peace maker, (2) Don’t let the sun go down on your anger and (3) Don’t let the devil get a foot-hold…
TALK 6-Team Work Against Temptation
Introduction
The STRUGGLE that we as Christians have with TEMPTATION is a struggle that will only cease for one of two reasons:
The STRUGGLE that we as Christians have with TEMPTATION is a struggle that will only cease for one of two reasons:
l. It will cease because our life on earth comes to an end
2. Sadly it can also CEASE for another reason. It can CEASE when we decide to stop struggling and give in to temptation.
To know how to best face temptation we need to understand the plan God has for us and the strategy he has for dealing with temptation.
Understanding the Plan
We need to understand the plan that God has for each of our lives.
a. Set Free (John 8:31-36) We have been SET FREE from SIN.
b. To Be Conformed (Romans 8:2S-30) We have been SET FREE for a purpose.
God’s plan for us is that we should be conformed to the image of his son. We can only be fulfilled and complete as people when we are living according to the plan of the one who made us.
Temptation – A Good Thing and a Bad Thing
Temptation can be BAD – it can draw us away from God. But it can also be a good thing – see Romans 5:3-4 James 1:2-4.
Adopting a Strategy
If that’s the plan God has for us, then we need to think about the strategy we’ll adopt so that we’re working with God in that plan.
i) Fallen People in a Fallen World
Like Dirty Harry says “A man’s got to know his limitations”. The same is true for Christians. I met a man in Mullumbimby some time ago who believed that now he was a Christian he was SINLESS. He believed he’d never sin again. He thought that this should be true for all Christians. Christians do sin – they do give ’ in to temptation. We shouldn’t be content with that. We shouldn’t accept that as the norm – but we must realise that it does happen.
ii) Word dc Prayer
We need to be serious about both if we are serious about living as God’s people.
iii) Remember Where You’re Going
If we had our HEARTS and MINDS fixed on what God has in store for us in heaven then I’m sure we’d be LESS TEMPTED by many of the things that this world sets before us.
iv) Playing the Team Game (Heb 10:19-25)
eg. Weight lifting – the importance of having someone “spot” for you.
Conclusion
We have a saviour who was tempted in every way Jesus as we are – Heb 4:15-16. He knows what it’s like. Talk to Him. And Trust Him
At the time of writing, Luke Tattersall was minister of Mullumbimby Presbyterian Church.
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