6 KEYS TO OVERCOMING TEMPTATION

TEXT:  James 1:12

INTRODUCTION:

A.      OVERCOMING TEMPTATION SHOULD BE A MAJOR CONCERN.

B.      WE ARE AT WAR WITH THE DEVIL (Eph. 6:12).

I.      WE MUST RECOGNIZE TEMPTATION (Prov. 14:12).

A.      PAUL WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN SIN BUT FOR GOD’S WORD (Rom. 7:7).

B.      GOD’S WORD IDENTIFIES SIN.

          1.       A transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4).

          2.       A neglect of righteous duty (Jas. 4:17).

          3.       All unrighteousness (1 John 5:17).

II.     ONE MUST RECOGNIZE TEMPTATION’S SOURCE AND

CONSEQUENCE.

A.      SATAN, NOT GOD, IS THE ENEMY (Jas. 1:13-16;  1 Pet. 5:8).

B.      KNOWING WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE FALL WILL HELP US OVERCOME

          1.       Separation from God (Isa. 59:1-2).

          2.       Spiritual death (Rom. 6:23;  Eph. 2:1, 12)

          3.       We need to preach on hell (Rev. 21:8;  Matt. 10:28;  Mark 9:43-48).

III.    WE MUST RECOGNIZE WE DON’T HAVE TO SIN.

A.      WE MUST AVOID SPIRITUAL PRIDE (1 Cor. 10:12).

B.      GOD PROVIDES AN ESCAPE (1 Cor. 10:13;  1 Pet. 1:5;  Jas. 4:7).

IV.   WE MUST HIDE GOD’S WORD IN OUR HEARTS (Psa. 119:9-11).

A.      HOW DID JESUS ANSWER THE DEVIL (Matt. 4:1-11).

B.      WE MUST FILL UP ON GOD’S WORD (Col. 3:16;  Psa. 1:1-2).

V.    WE MUST LEARN TO AVOID TEMPTATION.

A.      TEMPTATION WILL COME (1 Cor. 10:13).

B.      INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMPONENTS TO TEMPTATION (Jas. 1:13-14).

C.      HOW MAY WE OVERCOME TEMPTATION?

          1.       Work on the Lust( Rom. 12:9;  Phil. 4:8 ).

          2.       Avoid enticement( 1 Cor. 15:33;  Rom. 13:14;  1 Cor. 6:18;  2 Tim. 2:22).

          3.       Trust the Lord( Eph. 6:16 ).

          4.       James 4:7-8.  Resist by drawing nigh to God.

VI.   PRAY (Matt. 6:13).

A.      PRAYER IS OFTEN THE KEY TO OVERCOMING (Heb. 4:15-16).

B.      TRUST IS AN ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT IN PRAYER (Jas. 1:5;  1 John 5:14-15).

CONCLUSION:

A.      OVERCOMING TEMTATION IS VITAL (James 1:12).

B.      WITH GOD’S HELP, WE CAN DO IT.