The Battle Within: Fighting Temptation with Christ

Temptation in a Hostile Culture

Turn to Matthew 20. Matthew 26 36 to 41. I Have a one paragraph introduction and then I'm gonna go like this and everybody stand for the reading. So get ready with Matthew 26 36 41. We're talking about dealing with temptation in the Roman Empire.

Believers were sounded by ant surrounded by anti-christian an anti-christian morally degenerate culture a very wicked culture. There was the worship of false gods as Well as an idolatrous love of money status power and pleasure.

Greco-roman culture was awash in sexual immorality and perversions of every kind prostitution homosexuality adultery fornication virtually every lewd act under the Sun. In the first century of the church's history there was a strong pressure placed upon Christians to compromise with heathen society.

There was the outright hatred of believers persecution subtle pressure to conform to the status quo. And this is especially true in the economic sphere where paganism saturated business dealings negotiations and social ties.

Idolatry was interwoven to the fabric of culture. While Greco-roman culture was a daily challenge to Christians in many ways modern American culture is in some ways even worse. Europe and America are post Christian cultures and Believers are surrounded with temptations of every kind virtue.

Every aspect of American society is anti-christian the public schools the news media the arts universities medical philosophy the music industry fashion Hollywood and Yes, even Trump and that the conservative Trumpers.

Through modern technologies disgusting perversions are only the push of a button away. Because of our sinful natures and the ethical cesspool of modern culture Christians must learn to deal with temptations every single day.

Given the current situation we find ourselves and we need to carefully examine and heed Christ's warning given to his disciples. Regarding the danger of entering into temptation our Lord's imperatives and context are found in Matthew 26 36 to 41 that Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane and Said to his disciples sit here while I go over and pray over there.

And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and he began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then he said to them. My soul is exceedingly sorrowful even to death. Stay here and watch with me.

He went a little further and fell on his face and prayed saying Oh my father if it is possible at this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will but as you will. Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping and said to Peter what.

Could you not watch with me one hour. And here's our text. Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing. But the flesh is weak. Please be seated. Preliminary contextual considerations.

Christ’s Own Agony and Example in Gethsemane

Before our Lord's imperatives. There are a few important things to consider relating to our context of verse 41. First note that Christ's commands come in the midst of his own severe time of testing. After the Lord's Supper and the Apostles went out to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.

Gethsemane was a secluded olive grove Outside of Jerusalem just off the footpath that leads to the Mount of Olives. Near the entrance of the garden the Savior left eight of his disciples and took his inner circle.

His closest friends Peter James and John with him to pray. It is at Gethsemane that the Messiah is fully confronted with the deadly nature of the events. The dreadful nature of the events that are about to come upon it.

It is a time when Jesus contemplates. The severity of God's wrath the excruciating loss of fellowship with the Father and the pain of hell. Our Lord is going through intense anguish and sorrow. He is sweating profusely as he suffers and his deep agony of soul.

Christ leaves even his three closest friends behind. Moves forward throws himself on the ground and prays intensely to the Father. Jesus had entered Into a state of temptation. It is out of the severe time of testing that our Savior issues his commands.

Second note that the imperative flow directly out of Christ's own example. When our Lord entered a time of temptation, what did he do? He watched and he prayed. The Savior's instructions are intimately connected with his own practice.

The Messiah was tempted in all points as we are yet without sin. Hebrews 4 15. The disciples knew the importance of watching and praying by observing Jesus. If the sinless Son of God dealt with trials in this manner.

Then certainly we who are weak and sinful ought to do the exact same thing.

Third.

Our Lord's instructions were prompted by the Apostles failure to stay awake and watch and pray with Christ. The commands followed an implied gentle rebuke because the disciples were sleeping while the Savior was praying.

It was late at night and the Apostles could not stay awake. Jesus statement the Spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak implies that the disciples problem at this time was not an unwillingness to.

Pray.

But one of physical fatigue. Even when our Lord was in severe agony and distress He thought of the needs of his disciples. The Savior's love towards us never rests as. We consider our text. There are four main areas that merit our attention.

Hopefully we'll get through most of this. But I doubt we will. First what is temptation? How is it defined by Scripture? What is it? Second what exactly does it mean to enter into temptation? Third what is the biblical method for preventing our dealing with temptation and More specifically.

What does Jesus mean by these imperatives. Watch and pray literally in Greek? Present continuous tense. Keep on watching. Keep on praying. So what is temptation in? Order to understand our Lord's injunction.

We must understand the meaning of the word temptation. Greek pyrasm.

Erasmus.

It is important to define this word carefully. For the same word can have different meanings depending on the context. For example. The word is not always used in a negative sense of committing sin. Sometimes the term means a trial a tribulation a test a proving of something or even an experiment.

The word could be used in the context of testing the quality of gold or the strength of a bow. Thus the word can have a positive connotation. The word in the Greek Septuagint is even used to describe the purpose of God in Genesis 22 1.

It says that God tested Abraham. Same word. Jehovah tested or proved Abraham's faith by ordering him to sacrifice Isaac his only son. Likewise 2nd Chronicles 32 31 says that God tested Hezekiah. Jehovah wanted to know whether or not the king was filled with pride.

We know that the same Greek word has different meanings one of which is not necessarily Nated because although we often read that God tested a particular individual. We also read that God never temps anyone if you're tempted.

God didn't tempt you. James 1 13. But no one say when he is tempted. I am tempted by God for God cannot be tempted by evil nor does he tempt anyone? Jehovah's righteous just and holy and thus never temps anyone to sin or to commit evil.

The trials and tests that believers receive at the hands of God's providence are for their own spiritual good and clear edification. He's taken his children and he's developing them sanctifying them and this involves trials tests.

God lovingly separates the wheat from the chaff and the gold from the dross. The Apostle Peter describes this wonderful process. He writes this first Peter 1 5 to 7. You are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation.

Ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice that now for a little while if it need if need be. You have been grieved by various trials. That the genuineness of your faith being much more precious than gold that perishes though.

It is tested by fire may be found to praise honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. The captain of our salvation leads us by his providence to the trials tribulations and sufferings of life and He enables us to conquer by his precious blood and resurrection power.

You're gonna be tested. You're gonna go through trials. There's gonna be bad things. People are gonna say terrible things about you and it's all for your own good. Now when you're going through it, it's painful.

You may not enjoy it. That's that's true, but it's for your own good. The Savior leads us into battles for our own good. Romans 8 28 and following. He does not allow us to be wounded or crippled but rather tempered and refined.

Jesus strengthens us so that we may win many kingdom victories that we may crown our glorious King with many crowns. Another matter in which the word Pirosman is used as negative and. And it means temptation in the sense of enticement to commit sin it denotes a power argument operation or inducement towards sinning.

Temptation then in general is anything state way or condition that upon any account. Whatever has a force or efficacy to seduce to draw the mind and heart of a man. From its obedience unto God which God requires of him and to any sin and any degree of it whatsoever.

This meaning is the one given in our text and. Therefore what will be the main focus of our doctrinal and practical absolution of Jesus exhortation. This is what we're talking about temptation in the negative sense.

Temptation as a power of seduction towards it is a very broad term. It can refer to all the various external temptations the allurements of the world the subtle deception and solicitation of Satan. The arguments in a Tyson's of the unregenerate as well as all inner temptations arising from the sinful desires that remain in us envy unlawful lusts impure imaginations covetousness thoughts of unlawful revenge.

Etc. Etc. Etc. All of these forces can work upon us in virtually an infinite variety of ways. Now let's look at entering temptation. Now that we have an understanding Briefly of the meaning of temptation in the negative sense as an enticement to commit sin.

We need to consider another important question. What does it mean to enter into temptation? The phrase enter into temptation indicates that believers at times enter into more intense periods or situations of temptations.

And there are a number of reasons why Entering into temptation is a unique situation of spiritual danger beyond one's everyday average experience. Number one. The context of our text indicates that the disciples were about to enter a very high level of temptation.

For example Peter warned Christ warns Peter that Satan would attempt to sift him as wheat. Luke 22 31. The disciples were about to enter a period of severe testing where they would be tempted to deny the faith to save themselves and their families from torture and death.

Okay, I would say that's a pretty serious situation of temptation. After Jesus is arrested the disciples were scattered depressed and fearful and. The context reveals the urgency of our Lord's exhortation.

Number two. There are a number of passages in Scripture which cheat that there are periods or circumstances of special more intense temptations. A the Lord's Prayer. Matthew 613 we are told we lead us not into temptation.

These words assume that there are situations of temptation that go beyond the common everyday general temptations of life. If there were not periods of serious temptation Then this petition would be a request to leave off this body and earth altogether, which obviously it is not B and first Timothy Paul warns believers that those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare.

Six nine. The Apostle compares falling into temptation to becoming ensnared or entangled in a trap. It is an analogous to being caught in a net or falling into a pit.

See.

In first Corinthians Paul says no temptation is overtaken you except as a common demand. Ten nine. The Apostle speaks of temptation that as something that overtakes a man. The language reminds us of a person who is overtaken and tackled by a football player of someone overtaken and hit by a wave in the ocean.

Interestingly to be overtaken by temptation does not mean that the one overtaken has sinned for Paul says that God has provided a way of.

Escape and.

We see the life of Job.

D.

The Apostle Peter comforted Christians when he said 2nd Peter 2 9 the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations. Sometimes the godly become entangled, but God comes to rescue and deliver them.

And then we come to number three. We can learn a lot about what it means to enter in temptation by examining some historical examples of believers who became ensnared in temptation. As we look at these examples note that certain circumstances can come into a Christian's life which lead to a period of strong temptation.

A. There's the example of Job. This godly patriarch entered into temptation when by the permission of God Satan was allowed to change the circumstances of his life in a very negative direction for the testing of his soul.

Job suffered a number of calamities from disease the loss of family members property destruction and severe physical pain. Also Satan used his own wife and friends to attempt to shake his faith in God.

The devil skillfully used the circumstances of life as well as close friends and family members as tools of Temptation. Job entered into a period of temptation yet through God's grace. He prevailed. Job's faith was not shaken.

Be.

There's the example of King David who through various circumstances and spiritual negligence entered into temptation. Note how through a combination of factors David was ensnared by serious temptation.

First David was at the height of his power glory and popularity. The king at this time was filled with pride. Second David had been married for a long period of time and Apparently was not content with as many wives.

I think he had 15.

Third.

He had become careless regarding spiritual matters and his own vocation. Instead of attending to his civil and family duties. He was spending time in idleness and luxury. It was at this time of spiritual lukewarmness when all of these circumstances rendered him the most vulnerable that he observes beautiful Bathsheba bathing on a roof.

The Circumstances of David's life his spiritual carelessness pride and indolence coupled with outer enticements and inward lust led the king into the pit of temptation. He was entangled in the net of temptation the cords of which held him fast and tragically.

He succumbed David grievously sinned by committing adultery and then he committed murder to cover his sin. Very different response than a good old Joseph who's alone with a beautiful woman and he runs out the door so fast.

He leaves his coat behind. Number C letter C. There's the example of the Apostle Peter whom Jesus said Satan wanted to sift his wheat. There are a number of circumstances that made Peter vulnerable for an attack.

Jesus had been arrested and the disciples had been scattered. As A result the aid strength and counsel of the godly were unavailable to Peter. He's out there by himself. Also, the Apostles of this time did not yet understand the necessity of Christ's death for kingdom victory.

Thus. The Apostle was doctrinally vulnerable. Vulnerable. Before their understanding was enlightened and the resurrection occurred the faith of the disciples was weakened further. There was a great fear of arrest persecution torture and death.

All of these external and internal circumstances came together as They came together. Satan strikes to the words of those associated near the warmth of the fire. Are you not one of them? Do you not know him?

That's Matthew 29 26 69 75 that section. Peter entered into temptation and he fell. He not only denied Jesus Christ three times, but he did so emphatically with curses and his Galilean accent is what gave him away.

Christ’s Commands for Preventing Temptation

That brings us to our next major point Christ's injunctions for preventing temptation. Knowing that the disciples are about to enter a period of temptation Our Lord instructs them with a means of preventing and preparing for such times.

He sets forth two imperatives watch literally in Greek. Keep on watching. Don't stop and Pray literally keep on praying. These commands are central to a believer safety from temptation if we're to Persevere and protect ourselves from sinning.

We must understand and heed the Savior's commands. Now before we consider these imperatives, there are some preliminary issues that need to be discussed first. The command to watch should not be regarded as a command that only applies to the Apostles.

Christ's injunction is very broad and refers to the needs of every Christian to be alert to be on guard and Consider every manner in which situations may arise that bring us into temptation. We're like warriors.

We think of the battle ahead of time. We don't go into something blind. We know what we're gonna do ahead of time when we're tempted. We're supposed to. Second the command to watch presupposes a standard the infallible Word of God by which a believer can identify.

What is evil and what leads to iniquity? The Bible is a lamp to our feet a light to our paths. I'm 119 105. Watchfulness that is in accord with scripture can only occur when a person has obtained a competent grasp of the contents of the Bible.

Psalm 119 11. Your word I've hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you. Why does he hide it in his heart? So when that occasion arises he can quote scripture like Jesus did and say Satan get the blank out of here.

Paul says that we need to watch stand fast in the faith. Be brave be strong first Corinthians 16 13. Third the Savior's imperative assumes that there is a great danger when believers enter into temptation.

Many Christians fall into serious sin and are scarred for life because they do not consider temptation to be a big threat. There is a great danger and complacency and pride. You don't trust yourself. You don't lean into your understanding.

You don't go to natural law. You don't go to human reason. You trust in the Word of God and obey it. Scores of believers who have walked in the faith for many years have fallen into temptation and then failed grievously.

David was a mature believer when he brought ruin to himself his family and the whole nation. Yes, he repented. Yes, he completed the book of Psalms or at least that portion while he was alive. But he sinned grievously and just brought terrible consequences the rest of his life.

Remember and take heed all sin begins with entering into temptation therefore if you fear sin You need to fear temptation. If we have a biblical holy hatred of sin, then we must continually and diligently watch and be on guard against sin's entry point temptation.

Temptation is the gate Where the enemy of holy holiness gains entry therefore that is where the battle for godliness must first be fought. If we're to destroy the iniquitous fruit, we must strike its sins root.

We must not have a careless lukewarm Antinomian spirit watch. Be alert. Put on the whole armor of God be ready for it. Note that the Savior couples watchfulness in prayer. These two things are not brought together by accident.

The necessity of prayer is an acknowledgement that keeping ourselves out of temptation and Preserving ourselves in times of temptation is not something that is dependent on our own power. If you depend on your own power, you're gonna fall.

We must continually look to Christ for we are kept by his power his spirit. Our sanctification is dependent on our union with him in his death and resurrection and our perseverance is dependent upon his intercession and his preserving grace.

You got a high priest up in heaven who prays for you every day 24 hours a day. He's at God's right hand. God always answers his prayers. In order to be faithful to Jesus we must observe both duties. So let's look at the first one.

Keep on watching. Our Lord's first imperative is to continually watch or be on guard against temptation. This command is comprehensive for watchfulness encompasses every possible temptation that can come from the world the devil and even from within ourselves and There are a number of areas that merit our attention.

Number one watchfulness includes a Careful continuous close examination of our own hearts or minds. We need to hold up our hearts to God's law and identify our weaknesses sinful tendencies and Every area where there has been a prior pattern of failure or unfaithfulness.

Temptations that come upon us receive their power from our own inner lusts. James 1 14 to 15. But each one of us is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed then when desirous concedes it gives birth to sin and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death.

A Man who carries gunpowder around with him inside of his coat? May well ask that he may not be led where the sparks are flying. If we have a heart like a bombshell That is ready to explode at any moment.

We may pray and we may be kept out of the fire lest our hearts destroy us. Lean not on your own understanding. Trust not on yourselves. Always trust in God. Always look to the word. Human autonomy is the path to sin.

And this point is very important because we need to understand that nothing outside of us can force us to commit sin. The fruit did not force Eve to commit sin nor did Satan. The gold and beautiful clothing did not force Aiken to steal.

The very attract the best. Sheba did not force David to commit adultery. That bottle of liquor on the shelf does not force the drunkard to become inebriated. It is only when men and women make peace with sinful desires.

Contemplate them in their minds and then consent to them in the heart that sin breaks forth. Sinful acts always begin in the mind with an inner consent to lust with an internal agreement in the mind to commit sin.

So we must wage war against inner lusts in a biblical manner if we were to avoid entering into temptation and committing evil acts. The fight begins right here. People commit adultery. What do they do?

They make excuses. People who steal they make excuses. They justify sin in their minds. They cooperate with the temptation. They cooperate with the devil suggestions. First Peter 2 11. Beloved I beg you as soldiers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.

True mortification of sin consists not only in abstaining from the outward acts thereof but in the weakening of the root and power of sin within and. The inclinations and desires of the soul after the acting thereof which are here called fleshly lusts.

The flesh the old man. The law of sin that wages war in our members. It's all throughout the New Testament. It's our deadly enemy. The remaining corruption of our nature is the reason temptation is so dangerous.

Paul warns believers. Romans 7. There is a sin that dwells in us verse 17. The flesh verse 18. Loss seven and eight. The law of sin in our members verse 23. Our corrupt natures and sinful inclinations draw us toward what is evil and Wars against the law of our minds verse 23.

The Apostle often warned Christians about this inner war. Galatians 5 17. For the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are Contrary one to another so that you do not do the things that you wish.

The battle within raises an important question. How are we to watch against an enemy within that wages war against our desire to be holy and glorify Christ? We all know if you're regenerate if you could press a button, I'll never sin ever again.

I'll never have a dirty thought ever again. You'd press that button immediately, wouldn't you? There are a number of things that we can do. First we must carefully identify our own specific problem areas.

Some men have a problem controlling their anger while others may have a good amount of control in this area. Some people are often tempted to drink in excess of alcoholic beverages. There are others who are not tempted at all by alcohol.

Some professing Christians are drawn to an excess level of material things and to pride. Others however are very content with their station in life. Many men have a particular problem with the lust of the eyes.

The temptations related to sexual things. Very common. I know seven ministers who have committed adultery are no longer in the ministry seven. And that's only only over a period of a little over 40 years.

We must study and learn the state and condition of our own hearts. There must be an honest self-evaluation in the light of Scripture. Those who choose to live in self to set live in self-deception and refuse to judge themselves according to the Word of God have a false Self-understanding and are vulnerable to an attack in a weak area a cunning enemy will strike at our weakest point.

Therefore we must identify and strengthen our problem areas. There's a weak point in every one of us. Some have more than one weak point and. Remember the strength of a rope is to be measured not according to its strength and its strongest, but its weakest part.

Every engineer will tell you that the strength of a ship should always be estimated not according to her strongest, but her weakest part. For if the strain shall come on her weakest part and that is broken.

No matter how strong the rest may be the whole ship is going to go down and that's true of every one of us. Second. We must carefully watch and be on the alert against every circumstance that may be provoke or stimulate or inner corruption.

If a man has a strong desire to drink alcoholic beverages in excess and I've known many many many I Had one stay at my house. I just got two cases of killer IPA. I came back. I was gone a couple weeks.

They were gone. He should not keep alcoholic beverages in his house. And he should not go to bars or restaurants that serve liquor and he should not keep company with men who like to drink. If a man is struggling with sexual lust then he should not watch any TV programs or videos or look at magazines.

We'll pour gasoline on his corrupt embers. In our sex saturated culture this task will take continued diligence. King David Should not have been on that roof watching a beautiful woman taking a bath. Who's not his wife.

If you want to watch your bath take a wife, that's wonderful. But don't be looking at your neighbor's wife taking a bath. He should have known that he should have walked away immediately. Young Christian men and women should never go out on dates where they are alone and they can easily fall into the sin of fornication.

And the old days they call that you know having a chaperone in The past when our culture was much more directed by the Christian world in life view. There were many societal rules that flowed from biblical principles men and women until the 20th century dressed in modest attire.

Look at the bathing suits around 1910. The whole woman's body was completely covered. No, she didn't have a burka on but her bathing suit covered everything men if they took their shirts off to go swimming.

Would get an expensive ticket. It was against the law for men to expose their their top at that time.

And.

Women who their knees are too much of the thigh was exposed. They would get an expensive ticket. Men went around on beaches writing tickets. Even at the beach in the 19th century men and women were properly covered so that lust would not be stimulated today.

However, men and especially young ladies purposely dress.

Immodestly.

With a specific goal of inciting lust. Men are pigs. That's very easy and they know it. In The past it was generally understood that a man should never enter the house of a woman if her husband was not home.

Young men and women were not allowed to be alone together. If a parent could not be present then at least a trustworthy chaperone was always there. So youthful passions would not be stimulated. The societal rules of the past were all based on the biblical idea that we cannot trust ourselves.

That our hearts are deceitful and corrupt. A Person who understands the biblical teaching regarding the heart of man, even the regenerated heart will know the necessity of diligent watchfulness. Because of a remaining sin.

We know that once we meet with certain temptations that a fire may begin to rage within us that is very difficult to quench. Therefore we must watch our own hearts. We must identify our weak areas and then act upon that knowledge.

We must never willingly expose ourselves to temptations. And if we do then we are violating our text. We are violating biblical principles. We are violating the words of Jesus Christ setting ourselves up for a fall and.

Have no biblical reason to expect any special assistance from God in such a situation. It's an act of pride. Eve sinned in her mind before she ate the fruit. When she started listening to the devil and saying, you know, those are pretty good arguments.

Little empiricism here. Oh, look how beautiful the fruit is. Little rationalism here. Go ahead. Take the fruit Eve. Proverbs 13 20 he who walks with wise men will be wise but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

God warns us not to associate with evildoers. Proverbs 20 19 he who goes about as a tailbearer reveals secrets. Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. Gossiping which is totally on satanic.

It's totally unbiblical. Divides churches. Takes two to tango it takes two. If I've and I've learned this people who won't listen to gossip. Gossipers don't even go to them anymore. Oh, I can't go to Bob.

He's not gonna listen to my gossip. He's not gonna listen to my slander. He's gonna walk away and tell me to repent. Proverbs 24 1 2 2 do not be envious of evil men nor desire to be with them for their heart devises violence in their lips.

Talk of troublemaking. Number two. Watchfulness involves a biblical analysis and an awareness of the common allurements of the world. The Word of God tells us that circumcised certain circumstances in life are often accompanied by certain types of temptation.

A the person who becomes very rich can be filled with pride tempted by greed and. Or drawn away from spiritual matters to the concerns of status pleasure keeping up with the rich elite. It is not an accident that in Israel's history times of great prosperity were also times of serious declension.

Sadly in America great economic prosperity has not led to thankfulness to God and to godliness but to a love of vanities perversions and an obsession with sports and entertainment in the United States.

In Europe there is a great neglect of the means of grace and almost universal profanation of the Christian Sabbath. A mountain of debt for unnecessary luxuries. Paul says you shouldn't be in debt. A Neglect of family duties.

An incredibly high rate of adultery and divorce. And a worship of media stars and sports figures. Who are a bunch of imbeciles? Who cares if you're famous? Yeah, I like the Beatles. They wrote great music, but they're a bunch of idiots.

They're totally immoral. They're wicked. You might be able to write good poetry. That doesn't make you a wise man. Jehovah warned Israel of the temptation to set aside the things of God in times of economic prosperity and Deuteronomy 8 11 to 14.

Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments his judgments and his statutes, which I command you today.

Lest.

When you are eaten and are full and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them and when your herds and flocks multiply and your Silver and your gold are multiplied and all that you have is multiplied.

When your heart is lifted up and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the house of Egypt the house of bondage. There's a reason that the Bible warrants about rich people. Nothing wrong with being rich.

A lot of great saints were rich. Abraham David be. There are also temptations that accompany money problems and poverty. Some people in such situations are tempted to neglect their family work on the Sabbath or take jobs that are shady and unscriptural.

Such situations can tempt a person to worry. Become irritable and fight with their spouse. Proverbs 38 to 9. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food allotted to me. Lest I be full of full and deny you and say who is the Lord or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

See.

There are temptations that often accompany various types of modern visual media for example. Television is full of lewd and lascivious behavior. That is not fitting for the eyes of Christian families.

The film industry and cable programs are even worse. Many Christians professing Christians have fallen into sin through the easy access to sexual perversions over the Internet. Now if we know that there are certain situations where temptation will be inflamed and illicit less greatly stimulated.

Then we must by all means avoid such things. Believers can install a good filter on the computer that is designed to block those kind of sites and their unwanted advertisements.

Or.

Just don't use a computer. There's a lot of good books. You don't need it. Romans 129 to 32 being filled with all unrighteousness. Sexual immorality who knowing the righteous judgment of God that those who practice such things are deserving of death not only Do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

What does that say? Anybody who's in favor of homosexuality is worthy of death. Anybody who passes laws where a divorce is easy and the person the innocent party is penalized, which is the way it is today.

Love for Christ, Scripture, and a Plan for Battle

Three. Christians must not only understand and avoid Common situations that cause temptation. They must also prepare themselves to deal with temptation. When it does occur to prepare against temptation believers need to do consider the following points.

A. We must meditate upon what Jesus did for us in our love and loyalty to him. There should be no greater motivation To live a holy life and to serve God than our love to Christ in our adoration and devotion toward God.

And we find an excellent example of this love in Joseph when he was confronted suddenly with a strong temptation. He immediately replied Genesis 39 9 how then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?