Saying No to Temptation

Living God’s Dream For My Life

Saying No To Temptation

Genesis 39:6-21

“I can resist anything but temptation.”  Oscar Wilde

Nothing will derail God’s dream for your life more quickly than giving into temptation!

Temptation is an outward solicitation to evil that touches on an inner propensity to do wrong.

3 Statements Regarding Temptation

1. Temptation itself is not a Sin

2. Sin is not the result of Conditions

3. Sin is the result of Choices that reveal our character

Ways Temptation Comes To Us

1. What we See (6)

2. What we Feel

3. What we Think

Principles For Saying No To Temptation

1. Realize your vulnerability

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

“With greater success comes greater measures of trust, which, by the way, leads to greater times of unguarded vulnerability.”  Charles Swindoll

2. Refuse to be intimidated

“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

3. Request God’s help

“and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15)

4. Resubmit your life to God

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

5. Recognize your patterns of temptation and be prepared for it

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)

6. Refocus your attention on truth (9)

“Jesus said to him, 'Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'’' (Matthew 4:7)

7. Remove yourself from the situation (10)

“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

“And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,” (Mark 9:43–47)

8. Reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”

(Ecclesiastes 4:9–10)

9. Resist the urge to be confused by the immediate results (20)

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God, whose ways you may not understand at the time.”  Oswald Chambers

10. Rely on God’s faithfulness

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Nothing will derail God’s dream for your life more quickly than giving into temptation!

Making It Personal:

• Are there some false beliefs that you have had about temptation that need to be replaced with God’s truth?

• What temptations do you most consistently battle with? How do these temptations come to you?

• What principles for saying no to temptation do you most need to apply in your life right now? What will be your plan to implement these principles?

• What would someone in your circumstances do who was absolutely convinced that God was with them?

• Who can I share these truths with?