Introduction:

I.                   HOW DID CHRIST RESIST THE DEVIL?

A.        We can learn by Jesus’ example how to resist the temptations of Beelzebub

1.      The Son of God was able to resist the overtures of the devil by turning to the Word of God.

a.       Immediately after He was baptized He was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted. 

Matt.  4:1-11, (Elaborate on the significance of this passage.) 

B.        Our Lord was able to overcome every temptation that Satan tempted Him with.

1.      He became the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity. 

Isaiah 53:5-6, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:  the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

1 Pet. 2:21-25, (Either read or elaborate upon this passage.) 

John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” 

Heb. 2:9, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” 

C.        Those who have obeyed the gospel of Christ can pray in the name of Jesus Christ with the assurance that our prayers will be answered. 

Heb. 4:15-16, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come bodly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” 

II.                WE WILL NOW CONSIDER FURTHER HOW WE ARE TEMPTED & HOW WE MUST RESIST & OVERCOME THE DEVIL. 

Discussion:

I.                   HOW ARE WE TEMPTED?

A.        The Lord does not tempt us to sin.

1.      No, He does not solicit us to sin. 

James 1:13, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:  for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” 

2.      However, God does test our faith, just as He did Abraham.

a.       The word “tempt” in this passage means to test. 

Gen. 22:1-2, “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham:  and he said, Behold, here I am.  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” 

B.        We are tempted of the devil.   

1 Cor. 7:5, “Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.”  

C.        We are tempted by our own lust. 

James 1:13-16, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:  for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:  and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.  Do not err, my beloved brethren.” 

2 Tim. 4:2-4, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 

D.       We are enticed to sin by spiritually weak brethren & the ungodly. 

Rom. 12:13, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” 

E.        We may be enticed by false teachers to turn from the faith that was once and for all delivered unto the saints. 

Eph. 4:14, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” 

Heb. 13:9, “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.  For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” 

Jude 3, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” 

II.                HOW CAN WE OVERCOME TEMPTATIONS?

A.      After obeying the gospel we must put away the old man of sin. 

Rom. 6:3-6, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” 

B.      By growing spiritually we can gain the strength to resist temptations.

1.      We are to go on to perfection. 

2 Pet. 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and for ever.  Amen.”  

1 Pet. 2:1-2, “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” 

Heb. 5:12-14, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness:  for he is a babe.  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” 

Heb. 6:1-3, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  And this will we do, if God permit.” 

2 Pet. 1:5-11, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity [love].  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:  for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 

C.      By relying upon faithful brethren for spiritual strength. 

Heb. 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:  and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” 

D.      By having strong leaders in the local congregation to encourage us and lead us. 

Heb. 13:17, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:  for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief:  for that is unprofitable for you.” 

E.       By resisting the enticement of the devil.   

James 4:7-8, “Submit your selves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hearts, ye double minded.” 

F.       By putting on the whole armor of God and combating evil. 

Eph. 6:10-18, (Either read & emphasize the various truths, or elaborate upon it). 

G.      By praying to the Heavenly Father and relying upon His providence in providing for us a means of overcoming temptations. 

Luke 18:1, “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” 

1 Cor. 10:12-13, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:  but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 

2 Pet. 2:9, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:” 

Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”  

III.    HOW CAN WE HELP OTHERS IN OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS?

A.     By being the right example unto others.   

Matt. 5:13-16, “Ye are the salt of the earth:  but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?  It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” 

Phil. 2:15, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” 

B.  By encouraging others and extending a helping hand unto them. 

Heb. 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:  and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” 

Gal. 6:1-2, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” 

James 5:19-20, “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” 

James 5:16, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” 

Conclusion: 

     We should keep in mind, as a Christian, the Lord will enable us to overcome every temptation.  But we must both trust and remain faithful unto Him. 

--Dub Mowery