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Seasons Change: Seasons of Temptation

Pastor Scott Applegate

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:1-13 NIV

Temptation: to be enticed or allured to do something unwise, wrong, or immoral

Facts about temptation:

  • Temptation’s roots come from questioning God’s word, God’s character, and God’s authority
  • Temptation comes from Satan (Genesis 3, Matthew 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:5)
  • Temptation in itself is not a sin (Hebrews 4:15)
  • Temptation comes at us in various forms (1 John 2:16-17)
  • Temptation never comes from God, but from our internal battle (James 1:13-15)
  • Temptation will not be outgrown this side of eternity (Romans 7:18-25)

How can I overcome temptation?

  1. Take a humble approach towards it

“Even if you think you can stand up to temptation, be careful not to fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 CEV

  1. Talk with a trusted friend about it

“You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted…” 1 Corinthians 10:13a CEV

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

  1. Trust God to help you through it

“…But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations.” 1 Corinthians 10:13b CEV

  1. Train for it

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” Romans 13:14 NASB

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 NIV