TEMPTATION - PART 1

Title: Overcoming Temptation: Lessons from Christ's Example

Sermon Summary: This sermon explores the nature of temptation and how believers can overcome it, drawing primarily from Jesus' experience in the wilderness. The pastor emphasizes the importance of knowing and using Scripture to combat temptation, the necessity of fleeing from sin, and the value of heeding God's warnings. The sermon also highlights that experiencing temptation doesn't mean one is outside God's will, and that Christ, having faced temptation himself, is able to aid those who are tempted.

Key Points:

- Temptation doesn't mean God has abandoned you

- The devil often attacks after spiritual high points

- Use Scripture to combat temptation, as Jesus did

- Be careful what you look at, as the eye is powerful in temptation

- Flee from all forms of evil, not just sexual immorality

- Heed God's warnings and take the "exit" He provides before temptation

- Christ, as our high priest, can help us in temptation because He experienced it

Scripture Reference:

- Matthew 4:1-11 (Jesus' temptation in the wilderness)

- 1 Corinthians 6:18, 2 Timothy 2:22 (Fleeing from temptation)

- Genesis 4:4-8 (God's warning to Cain)

- Hebrews 2:17-18 (Christ's ability to aid the tempted)

Stories:

- The pastor shares an anecdote about a person who was tempted to take a bribe but resisted

- A story about a church member who felt convicted by a sermon and struggled with whether to take communion

- The pastor mentions his own experience with temptation as a new believer in high school