Resisting Temptation - Guide

Resisting Temptation James 1:12-15 Discipline demands the moment, but regret lasts a lifetime. “On your very best days you are never beyond the need of God’s grace, and on your absolute worst days, you are never beyond the reach of God’s grace. God tests with the goal of success. The enemy tempts with the goal of failure. Testing brings about perseverance and maturity within us. The effective resistance of temptation validates our character and readiness for ministry. 3 sources that throw temptation at us: 1. The World 2. The Flesh 3. The Devil 3 categories of temptations (root sins): 1. Covetousness - the desire to possess something that is not mine or in conflict with God’s will for me. 2. Lust - the desire to gratify the sensualist within me. 3. Pride - the desire to elevate myself. How are the 3 sources and the 3 root sins connected? • The World tempts us to covet. • The Flesh tempts us to lust. • The Devil tempts us to be prideful. Jesus understands temptation and He had choices to make when confronted with them.

7 steps of temptation: 1. The Look - “he is dragged away” 2. The Lust - “by his own evil desire” 3. The Lure - “and enticed” 4. The Conception - “Then, after desire has conceived” 5. The Birth - “it gives birth to sin” 6. The Growth - “and sin, when it is full-grown” 7. The Death - “gives birth to death” The sequence of temptation hasn’t changed; the enemy’s game is still the same today. 4 practical, biblical strategies for stiff-arming temptation: 1. Use Scripture as a weapon to stand your ground against temptation. 2. Learn to “Starve” sin. 3. Recognize the consequences of yielding to sin. 4. Accept accountability.

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