The War Between Two Kingdoms

Eph. 6:10-12; 1Cor. 10:13; Gen 1:1-3

Theme: Every battle, every defeat, and every victory is part of a broader struggle that began long before you or I came on the scene and will continue long after we are gone---should the Lord tarry.

Relevance:  You never struggle alone against temptation; the Lord is with you and what you do matters greatly in the broader struggle against evil.

Introduction: When Temptation comes my way, I often feel very much alone and abandoned.  With these feelings comes the feeling that it really doesn’t matter what I do anyway; nobody will know, and nobody will care. But, we as believers never struggle alone.  The fact is what you do always matter, and our Heavenly Father takes very seriously every victory and every defeat in our lives.  We are never alone, and every victory and every defeat are a part of a greater struggle between God and Satan.   If you are like me, you want to win as many victories for the Kingdom of God as possible!

Beloved, look at the BIG PICTURE of Temptation to understand where we fit in this Great Struggle between Good and Evil. Expand your understanding about the Spiritual Warfare involved in Temptation. We need to see how we fit in the Big Picture of the Conflict between God and Satan.  There is a broader context to the subject of Temptation. Now let’s go back to the beginning to see how this War between two Kingdoms began.

Lesson:

   I.   God Created the Universe and Established Order   

          A.   THE ACTUAL ACCOUNT OF CREATION; This Was an Ordering Process.  Gen. 1:1-3

The Genesis creation account is a description of God bringing order out of disorder.  Verse one tells us God is responsible for creation.  Then verse two tells us the earth was without form and void and that darkness covered the earth.  We can take note of several things here.

              1)   The earth was without form and God gave it form. (vs 2)

              2)   The earth was void (empty and lifeless) and God filled it with life. (vs 2)

              3)   The earth was covered with darkness and God brought forth light. (vs 3)

              4)   God brought order to the waters resulting in the separation between the oceans and the cloud/water canopy in the sky. (vs 6)

              5)   God brought order to the oceans and the dry lands by separating them and establishing their boundaries. (vs 9)

              6)   God brought order to the land by creating plants, each yielding seeds and bearing fruit after its own kind. (Vs 11)

              7) God brought order to the heavens by separating the night from the day and establishing the times and seasons. (vs 14)

              8) God created the different animals.  They were perfectly suited for the environment in which they were placed: the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, and the mammals and reptiles for the land. (Vs 20-24) (Wiersbe)

               9) God completed his ordering process by creating man. Unlike the rest of creation man has a special role to fulfill.   He was to rule over all god created. The point here is very simple.  Throughout the entire creation account God is bringing about Order!

          B.   THE UNIQUE PLACE OF MAN IN CREATION Gen. 1: 26-30 (vs. 28)

                    1) Man Was Created to Rule Over All of God’s Creation on the Earth. Vs 26, “Let them have Dominion...”  This was a part of God’s ORDERING Process and Man was to maintain that Order.  God would rule the earth through man.  Man was God’s Delegate and Representative on the earth.

                     2) Man Was Created in the Image and Likeness of God for the Purpose of Maintaining Order on the Earth.  Vs 26, “in our image, after our likeness:” Vs 27, “God created man in His own image,”

                           a.   The Image of God Implies Personality.   

Man, unlike any other creature, shares with God in Intellect, a Will, and Emotions.  Thus man has the ability to reason and make decisions---a necessary quality for ruling.  This ability also means that man can love, obey, and is even free to disobey.

                           b.    The Image of God Implies a Unique Relationship with God.

Man was and is God’s Prize Creation.  Man has the greatest potential to reflect the nature and character of God the Creator.  God provided for man a special garden, a special counterpart, woman—Eve, and He desires man’s loyalty and fellowship. Man’s Godlike Personality and Unique Relationship with the Creator equipped him to Rule and Maintain the Order of the Earth God had Established.

II.   Satan Invaded the Earth to Establish Disorder

Things in this world did not continue as God designed and Ordered them.  Sin entered the World through Adam and Eve and all of Creation was sent into to a tailspin both morally and physically. But what does all of this have to do with Temptation?  The answer to this question is in another question.   Why did Satan go to the trouble to tempt Adam and Eve to begin with?  What was the Point?   What did he have to gain? (Stanley)

The Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel give us some insight into the cosmic war that took place sometime before the ordering of the world.

          A.   SATAN SUFFERED A GREAT DEFEAT WHEN HE SCEEMED TO TAKE GOD’S THRONE IN HEAVEN. EZEK. 28:14, 16-17; ISA. 14:13-14  

                     1) Satan at One Point Held a Very High Position in the Kingdom of Heaven

Ezek 28:14, Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

Satan was originally created as one of God’s highest angelic beings.  He served in the very presence of God and enjoyed several unique privileges as the Anointed Cherub.

                     2) Satan Was Filled With Pride and Decided that He Should Be God

Isa 14:13-14, For thou [Satan] hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Satan in his pride and rage lead a rebellion in heaven against God.  What ensued was a battle resulting in Satan being cast out of heaven along with those angels that chose to side with him. The Prophet Ezekiel gives us the account of what happened. Ezek 28:16-17, By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou [Satan] hast sinned: therefore I [God] will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17, Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

Satan was defeated and humiliated and he knew once for all that a direct attack against the Almighty God was a futile attempt. If Satan could not defeat God, what would be the next best thing?

                   3) Satan went right to the top of God’s order of authority on earth---Man. 

To defeat man would be to defeat all of God’s creation on this earth, for it had been placed under man’s authority.  Satan’s attack on mankind was simply his way of striking back at God.

Since Satan suffered a great defeat, he sought revenge against God, by attacking mankind in the Garden of Eden.  This was Satan’s way of bringing about disorder in the creation that God Ordered.

         B.    SATAN WAS SUCCESSFUL WHEN HE DEFEATED MAN AND TOOK HIS THRONE ON THE EARTH.  Satan’s primary means of accomplishing this Goal was to tempt man to sin.  If man sinned, then he would now be subject to the control of Satan.  As a result, all of God’s creation, the earth, would be subject to Satan’s control.  But how do we know Satan has control of the earth and humanity?

Matt 4:8-9, Again, the devil taketh him [Jesus] up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him [Jesus] all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9, And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

2 Cor 4:4, In whom the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

         C.    SATAN’S REIGN IN THIS WORLD IS A REIGN OF SIN AND DISORDER        

                   1)   Sin is Satan’s Agent of Decay and Disorder.  Once sin is introduced into anything---a relationship, a community, or an individual----order and productivity begin to diminish.   The sin of man sent shock waves throughout creation (Rom 8:18-22; 5:12-13).

Evil is not a thing; it is a lack in a thing.  Evil is a lack of perfection.  God’s creation was perfect and orderly.  Evil was and is Satan’s tool to chip away at God’s order and perfection.  Evil reverses everything God set out to accomplish. (Stanley)

                    2)  History Records the Consequences of Sin and its Impact on God’s Creation.

                                 a)   God’s Order of Authority was Broken Down by Sin. 

God could no longer trust man to submit to His leadership.  Man had become his own god, and he sought to control his own destiny.  There has literally been a Morale Avalanche because of the chaotic and disorderly impact of sin on God’s creation.

                                 b)   God’s Order for the Family was Changed because of Sin.

Adam was already the head of his wife Eve before the fall, but now their relationship was restructured to some degree because of sin.  God anticipated conflict between the man and the woman; therefore, He changed their roles to offset the impact of sin on their relationship.

                *   The extinction of certain animals and the abuse of the land and its resources speak of the downward spiral of creation as a result of sin.

                *    The escalation of the occurrence of abortion is another illustration of Satan’s attempts to reverse God’s plan.  God told Noah to populate the earth (Gen. 9:1), abortionist seek to do just the opposite. (MacDonald)

                 *    The acceptance of homosexuality and the increase interest in this wicked lifestyle is another example of Satan seeking to reverse God’s Ordering Process.

                *    Now the radical Feminist movement is not only advocating a reversal of the traditional Biblical roles of Husband and Wife, but they are also advocating having children out of wedlock---they say they don’t want to sacrifice their independence.  This is another of Satan’s attempts to bring disorder to the order God established for the home!

                 * Every day the news is filled with illustrations of how the world is seeking to undo all that God has established.  Satan is behind all of this!

                                 c)   God Had to Judge Man, Woman, the Serpent and the Earth Because of Sin Being Introduced into His Creation (Gen.3:14-19).  It’s clear from all the disorder around us that Satan’s rule in the earth is a reign of disorder.  Every life he influences will be a life of disorder, every society he influences will be a society of disorder and chaos.  Satan has been busy waging war against God by attacking mankind and God’s creation.  But God is not standing by idle . . . .

III. God Redeems Creation to Reestablish His Order

          A.    GOD BEGAN HIS RE-CREATION PROGRAM WITH NOAH AND THE FLOOD

Gen 6:5-7, And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6, And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7, And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

God had resolved to destroy all the earth’s inhabitants because of the great disordering effects of sin on the earth.  The one thing that saved God from destroying the human race was a man named Noah.   God would use him to save humanity and start a new beginning on the earth with Noah and his family. 

Gen. 6: 8, But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

God would not leave the world in its chaotic and disorderly state.  God’s ultimate goal is to restore man and his world to its original state.  But there was still the problem of sin and the curse it brought upon all creation.   What resulted was a two-part plan by which sin and its consequences could be dealt with once and for all. (Wiersbe)

         B.    GOD CONTINUES HIS RE-CREATION PROGRAM WITH JESUS CHRIST

2 Cor 5:17, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

 (Also see Eph. 2:10)

Sin being introduced into the world separated God from man.  Sin is like a wall or barrier between God and man and God could not fellowship with man as before in the Garden of Eden until sin is removed.  Jesus Christ is how God dealt with the penalty and power of sin in our lives.

When a person trust Christ as their Savior the decaying process stops, and the renewing process begins.   The cycle of sin is broken!   2 Cor 4:16, For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

God has instantly recreated us on the inside.  We, in a moment of repentant faith, become brand new creatures when we are saved.  Although our physical bodies continue to decay, our inner man--our eternal aspect---is getting stronger and more sensitive to God as we walk in His Word.  Beloved, this is why we use the term born again!

This renewing process makes it possible for us to rise above our circumstances and live godly lives in the midst of this ungodly society.  This inner renewal enables us to overcome even the strongest temptations.  When we put our trust in Christ, God won a decisive victory over Satan, for He permanently reclaims us as His own and He restored order to disordered and chaotic lives.

         C.    GOD WILL BE VICTORIOUS AND WILL COMPLETELY RESTORE ORDER ON EARTH FOR EVER

                1)   God Will One Day Restore Order to The Physical World   Rev. 21:1-5

Making man new was only the beginning.  Remember that all creation suffered when Adam fell.  In order to gain final victory over Satan, God had to redeem nature also.  This part of God’s plan has not been accomplished.  The world as we see it today is still in a state of decay.  Tornados still rip through trailer parks, people still catch diseases and die.  God’s victory is not complete until all kinds of evil in the world are vanquished.  The Revelation is God’s promise to man that He will complete what He has begun in Christ. (Walvoord)

                2)   God Wants Us to Have Victory Over Temptation Because Each Victory Will Advance His Kingdom. The hold point of this message is that we do not struggle with temptation in a vacuum!  Every temptation you encounter is Satan’s way of striking out against God.   By attempting to introduce into your life disorder and chaos, Satan continues his work of undoing all God sought to accomplish in the beginning. 

We as Christians are called to be God delegates to a lost world.  Our message is that God is in the world reconciling men to Himself and that one day He will return to rule and reign forever.  Satan does not want us to proclaim this message (2Cor. 5:18-21).

We must wage war and secure more victories for the Kingdom of God.  With every victory over Satan’s temptations is a reminder to him that God is at work in us and in the world.  Every victory reminds him that the same God will one day have complete victory over all His enemies by the same power that works in us.  This is a spiritual warfare we are engaged in, and we do not fight it helplessly and all alone.  We are God’s soldiers in the War Between Two Kingdoms!  There is a broader context to each of our battles no matter how much we feel alone. Eph 6:12, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Conclusion:     I. God Created the Universe and Established Order

II. Satan Invaded the Earth to Establish Disorder

III. God Redeems Creation to Reestablish Order

Satan has used sin to bring about disorder to all that God established and ordered.  God has instituted a plan to reestablish order, He first has made it possible that man can be recreated on the inside and soon He will make all things new in this world.

We do not struggle alone with temptation.  It is all a part of a greater cosmic struggle! Let us get as many victories as we can for the Kingdom of God!

It does matter what we do when we are tempted!  How we respond to temptation makes a difference to our heavenly Father.  Each of our victories will advance the spiritual kingdom and program of God in the earth!  Stand against Satan in the Power that is in Christ.

I Jn 4:4, Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

TEMPTATION: The First Thing You Should Know

1 Cor. 10:13

1 Cor 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

THEME: Victory in our Christian Life comes after we FIRST understand and have Defined the Problem of Temptation. Once we clearly understand what the Bible teaches about Temptation, we will be more able to Triumph over the Temptations and Sins that threaten to enslave us.

A Medical Doctor cannot prescribe the correct medicine until he FIRST understands thoroughly what virus or disease the patient has. A Mechanic cannot repair a car until he FIRST completely understands what the problem is.  The same is true with Temptation, we must FIRST labor to understand it and then we can take the correct steps to conquer it. (Stanley)

INTRODUCTION: The term ‘TEMPTATION’ brings to mind different things for each of us.

  1) For some this word conjures up thoughts of a delicious Hot Fudge Sundae with whipped cream and nuts dripping off the side.

  2) For others’ it’s the Man or Woman who has become the focus of Secret Fantasies at the office. 

  3) For the Man Who Works under a great deal of Pressure, it may be the nearest Bar Room or Tavern after work each evening.

  4) For Those that Travel Often, it may be the R or X-rated Cable TV in their Hotel Room.

  5) For the Teenager, the term TEMPTATION may bring to mind a Can of Beer, a Pack of Cigarettes or even a Member of the Opposite Sex who has been declared off limits.

  6) Maybe TEMPTATION has to do with the Magazine Rack at the Local Convenience Store.

  7) Think for a moment.  What flashes into your mind when the word temptation is mentioned?  What pictures and emotions does it conjure up in your thinking?  Whatever it is that comes to mine, that is THE TEMPTATION God want to deal with first in your life.  I want you to focus on getting victory over that one temptation as we go through this series.  Now, let’s ask ourselves two difficult questions. . ..

LESSON:

I.  WHY SHOULD I TRY TO GET VICTORY OVER THE TEMPTATIONS AND HABITS IN MY LIFE?

‘Preacher, I have tried it all before and nothing worked for me.  Why should I bother frustrating myself again?’  Well there are several reasons why we must take up the struggle again: We Must Take Up the Struggle again . . .

     A. BECAUSE A DEFEATING HABIT WILL ROB YOU OF YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THE POWER OF GOD TO GIVE US VICTORY OVER SIN.

A failure to fight against temptation can lead to a great gulf of separation from God. The pattern is evident in countless lives. When we refuse to confront temptation and struggle against it, we begin to cut ourselves off from the spiritual lifeline of God's power in our lives. God loves us still. God remains available to us. But we have turned away from God so that He no longer can work in us and through us to the extent He desires.

The Believer who has been defeated by a nagging sin or relentless temptation will be hesitant to offer Christ as the answer to those who are controlled by sin.  A sinful habit will destroy our incentive to share our faith.  You would feel like a hypocrite!  People might say to you, ‘If God is so powerful, then why can’t He help you with your problem?’  As a result, you are robbed of your confidence in the power of God to deliver and give victory. (Stanley)

The condition, defeat and despair of the Israelite Army before Goliath in the Valley of Elah.  Because of Goliath’s size, the Army of Israel lost their confidence in God’s ability to deliver them out of the hand of the Philistine.  They lost their faith in God’s Power to deliver His people!  (1Sam. 17).  David, on the other hand, had mountains of Confidence in the Power of God because of his past victories over the Bear and the Lion.  (1 Sam. 17: 32-37)

If you refuse to engage in a battle against the temptation to sin and you lose confidence in God's power and presence in your life, you will be hesitant to offer Christ as the answer to others who are controlled by sin. Your witness for Christ will be deeply impacted. One of the immediate results of being set free from a controlling habit is the desire to share with others the power of God that has set you free. Satan loves to keep us in bondage to sin because our potential for the kingdom of God is greatly diminished.

     B.  BECAUSE WE COULD DEVELOP A HARDEN HEART IF WE DON’T APPLY GOD’S TRUTH TO OUR LIVES.

You will feel disheartened and may even come to believe that God does not love you or that He has abandoned you in your struggles in life. At that point, you are in danger of developing what the Bible calls a “hard heart.”

A Hard heart develops when people hear the truth, believe the truth, but refuse to apply the truth.  Developing a hardened heart is a process that takes time.  But each time Christians recognize sin in their lives, feel convicted, and yet do nothing about it, they become less and less sensitive to the prompts of the Holy Spirit.  Finally, they reach the point where they feel no conviction at all over their sin.  At the point where the person feels no conviction at all over a sin, he becomes callous and begins to “quench” the work of the Holy Spirit in his life (see 1 Thess. 5:19). That is a very dangerous position to be in. (MacDonald)

The Heart is now hardened. . ..

Remember the man who was having an incestuous relationship with his step mother in 1 Cor. 5:1-5. No doubt the Holy Spirit dealt with this man and tried to get him to depart from such awful sin, but he apparently ignored the Spirit and as a result his heart was hardened.  He knew truth, understood the truth but refused to obey the truth and thus his heart was hardened.   

The person who develops a hard heart is a person who loses all moral and ethical direction, insofar as the Holy Spirit is concerned. To be adrift, without a moral compass, is a highly unsatisfying way to live. It truly is a life without meaningful reward.

      C.  BECAUSE ONE LITTLE SIN CAN LEAD TO GREATER SIN AND SIN ALWAYS BRING FORTH DEATH.

If you fail to engage in a battle against temptation to commit one type of sin, you likely will find yourself more prone to engage in still other types of sin. We've all heard the phrase, “One sin leads to another.” So often that is the case. Sin is like a cancer in that it spreads. One undealt-with area opens up other areas as well. Once you become accustomed to a sin and it becomes entrenched in your lifestyle, it is only a matter of time until other areas become problems. (Anders)

If you fail to engage in a battle against temptation, you ultimately will experience death of some type.

           1)   One Thing Leads to Another

A once fine Christian man began stopping at a local bar after work to spend time with his buddies.  He never had any desire to drink, but he figured one beer wouldn’t hurt anything.  He even convinced himself that by drinking one beer he would be able to relate to his friends better and maybe get an opportunity to share Christ with them.  Before long one beer became two, then three.  Soon he was going home drunk, and eventually he lost his wife and kids.  As he told his story he felt that every man had his weaknesses or vices, but in his heart, he knew he was wrong.  And now he would give anything to go back and change the past.  But it’s too late, the damage has been done!

A little leaven will leaven the whole lump! (READ 1Cor. 5:6-7)

            2)   Sin Will Bring Forth Death

James 1:14-15, But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  15, Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

ILLUSTRATION:  Temptation + Sin = Death

Example of pharaoh, Moses and the children of Israel.  Pharaoh’s hardened heart lead to the death of his son, the death of Egypt’s political influence, the death of their idol god’s, the death of the elite of the Egyptian military, the death of the firstborn both of man and beast, the death of their fields and crops and even the death of their economy. (Stanley)

APPLICATION: 

    1)   The Husband who is insensitive and emotionally abuses his Wife will destroy any remaining affection she might have for him and that relationship dies essentially.

    2)   If an Employer neglects his Employees, treats them unfairly, shows no sensitivity to their needs and family responsibilities, in time he will destroy their loyalty to him and his company.

    3)   If Parents neglect children, that relationship will gradually disintegrate until it no longer exists.

   

    4)    If a Father continues to brake the traffic speed laws with his children in the car, he will eventually destroy their respect for the law.  By example they are taught, “As long as I don’t get caught, there is nothing wrong with breaking the law.”

Whenever sin manifests itself, some type of death results. Destructive habits take root. The result may be a physical death, over time usually. The sin may bring about a death to a relationship, a death to part of the person's emotional or psychological capacity, a death of reputation, a death of integrity, a death of a career, a death of loyalty or respect. Something is always destroyed when sin is allowed to go unchecked. TEMPTATION PLUS SIN EQUALS DEATH!

II. HOW CAN I EVEN HOPE TO GET VICTORY OVER MY HABITS AND TEMPTATIONS?

If temptation has such deadly consequences, why is it that so many people do not take temptation more seriously?

Let’s think for a moment.  Are your weaknesses slowly sapping the life out your relationship with the ones you love the most?   Do you find it extremely difficult to even imagine having victory over the sin presently in your life?   Have you given up the struggle?   Are you making excuses for your sin?   Are we ready now to allow God to change us?

    A.  WE CAN HAVE VICTORY WHEN WE STOP MAKING EXCESSES FOR OUR SINS

Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m just human, and besides, nobody is perfect?”

Moses made excuses when God called him to go back to Egypt to lead the children of Israel out of bondage.  Praise God he stopped making excuses and got on with the mission God had given him!  We must be like Moses and get rid of the excuses and trust God for a great deliverance. (Ex.3)

     B.  WE CAN HAVE VICTORY WHEN WE START REALIZING OUR POTENTIAL TO OVERCOME TEMPTATIONS.

What people seem to be saying when they make excuses is that they are not perfect internally, so don’t expect perfect behavior externally.   This seems to be the reason behind the excuses.  This kind of thinking has only one thing about it. . ..  This thinking is totally wrong because it fails to acknowledge the POTENTIAL that every believer has to do right.

1 Cor 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Every time we are tempted to sin we must look for the way of escape.  Ask God to help us identify His escape route every time we are tempted. If we are tempted to lose our temper, look for the escape route.  If we are tempted to eat, drink, or do something that is sinful to us we must look for the WAY OF ESCAPE!  

When JOSEPH was working in Potiphar’s household, the wife of Potiphar began to lust after and proposition Joseph day after day.  But Joseph did not fall in Sin because he Knew the WAY OF ESCAPE!  He Resisted Temptation, He Refused Temptation, Then He Ran from Temptation!   It is always appropriate to run!  Joseph understood his potential to do right and he did it!

     C.  WE CAN HAVE VICTORY WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR STRUGGLES WITH TEMPTATIONS CAN MAKE US STRONGER CHRISTIANS

James 1:2-4, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3, Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4, But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect [Spiritually Mature] and entire, [Complete in every way] wanting nothing.  [Without need]

2 Cor 12:9-10, And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10, Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

ILLUSTRATION: DOWN THE CHATTOOGA RIVER

In the mountains of northern Georgia there is a white-water river called the Chattooga.  People travel from all over the Southeast to paddle down this river.  The last two sections are especially treacherous, and many people have drowned as their canoes broke up on the rocks and they were sucked helplessly under by the powerful current. 

I want you to image a skilled paddler in his kayak making his way through the rocks and hydraulics of the Chattooga River.   As he maneuvers himself along, something is taking place that onlookers may not be aware of.  The potentially destructive force of the river is actually helping the paddler develop his balance, coordination, strength, and concentration.

But imagine that as the paddler approaches the next stretch of rapids, he thinks to himself, I’m tired of paddling.   This is getting old.  My arms hurt.  My legs hurt.  I’m tired of concentrating.  With that he tosses his paddle into the water and lets the river take control.  You can guess what will happen.  But here is the point.  The force that at one point was aiding in the development of his skill and strength has the potential to destroy him once he refuses to struggle against it.

So, it is with the power of sin.  As long as we take a stand against temptation, even if we fall momentarily, God will use the struggle to make us into men and women He wants us to be.  But once we throw in the paddle, once we give up and allow the forces of sin to dictate our behavior, it will only be a matter of time until we are swept away and our lives destroyed. (Stanley)

Conclusion:

Let us not throw in our paddle---let’s get back in our spiritual kayaks and work our way through the rapids of temptation that come our way.  And as we do, it will build our spiritual strength and prepare us for the next occasion.

Let us yield to what God wants to do in our hearts through this message.  Let us also prepare ourselves to experience the power of God at work in our lives.

The first thing that we should know about temptation is, that we are tempted to give up and permit sin to dominate our lives.  Ultimately these sins will destroy us and the people we love the most!

I am calling you to enter the battle of a life time---the victory can be ours if we first understand that we have the potential and power to say no when temptation calls.

 1 Pet 1:7, That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Most people I know believe they have a fairly good grasp of what it means to be tempted. They have felt temptation in their lives. They also know in their minds the right response to temptation: Say no! Most people I know want to say no to temptation.

But … most people I know also admit that they frequently give in to temptation, and they bear guilt about doing so. What these people do not know, in part, is the whole of what the Bible has to say about temptation and how to overcome it.

The Bible is not only a book of “do's” and “don'ts,” but a book of “how tos.” It is an extremely practical book with truth that can be applied directly to daily situations and circumstances. The Bible not only tells us to “yield not” to temptation, but it tells us how to avoid yielding and how to avoid tempting circumstances in the first place.

It is also a book of spiritual inspiration. The Bible motivates us, compels us, and encourages us. It gives us the “want to” outlook that we need if we are to overcome temptation. There simply is no better resource book on the temptation to sin and how to overcome temptation than the Holy Bible.

As you begin this study, I encourage you to set aside, to a degree, what you already believe the Bible says about the subject of temptation and inner struggles. As much as possible, approach the Scriptures with fresh spiritual eyes and ears. Let the Word of God speak to you in a new way.

My Special Prayer Partner

ROM. 8:26-27

SUBJECT: PRAYER

THEME: Depend on the Word of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit to enhance the effectiveness of your prayer life. Continue to look to the Lord for help even when you feel your prayers are useless.

INTRODUCTION:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:26-29)

Do you struggle in prayer? If you do, you are not alone. There are things that not even my sweet wife can help me with in prayer. Every Christian I know struggles at times in prayer, wondering…

• How should I pray about this situation or for this person?
• What is the Father's will in this instance?
• How should I express myself to God to convey what I really mean?

At times, our emotions run too deep for words, and we are therefore at a loss for clear expressions in prayer.

• At other times, we are confused by what we see as conflicting possibilities or problems.
• At still other times, we feel under such heavy assault from the devil that we seem to be fighting for our very lives, and all we can voice is a desperate cry for help!

Often we feel alone with nothing but the weakness of our prayers and the intimidation of our concerns. But, remember the secret of your power is your weakness—your infirmity. What is the secret of power to you?

• If you’re Popeye, I guess the secret of power is a can of spinach.
• If you’re Superman, the secret of power is kryptonite.
• If you’re a Christian, the secret of your power is weakness.
  The Word of God says, “Likewise [that is, by faith], the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities [weakness.]”
  It is not in our perceived strengths that the Spirit helps us.
  It is not in our egotism.
  It is not in our pride.
  It is when we recognize our lack of power that we plug into His strength. When we understand how much we need Him, then that is how much we will have Him.
• God works in our weaknesses. God likes to hit big licks with little sticks. God likes to honor Himself with things that look weak and helpless.

Remember, you are not wicked or even wrong because you need help in prayer!

MESSAGE:

I.                  Understand the Lord Jesus Seriously Struggled in Prayer.

Have you ever stopped to recognize that Jesus, in His humanity, struggled in prayer?

1. JESUS UNDERSTOOD HIS MISSION….

Jesus knew that He had come to the earth to be the substitutionary, sacrificial, all-sufficient payment for all sin. He said to His disciples during the final week of His life,

John 12:23-24, … The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. [24] Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

John 12:27-28, Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. [28] Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

2. EVEN WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE AND RESOLVE, JESUS STRUGGLED….

Matthew tells us that in the final hours before His betrayal by Judas, Jesus agonized in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.

• He admitted to His disciples, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.” (Matt. 26:38)
• “This was doubtless the unspeakable revulsion of His holy soul as He anticipated becoming a sin-offering for us. We who are sinful cannot conceive what it meant to Him, the Sinless One, to be made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21).”—MacDonald, William

• Jesus prayed that if at all possible, He might be spared His crucifixion—the wrath of God, becoming sin, and separation from the Father’s fellowship (Matt. 27:46). In His agony in the garden, His soul was afflicted—a man of sorrow, overwhelmed with grief, as He prepared for trial and for death.  His soul wrung with pain.

• Yet His ultimate prayer was, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (See Matt. 26:36–42.)
• The “cup” represented the undiluted wrath of Jehovah against sin.
• Luke adds that Jesus was in such agony as He prayed that “his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44).  
• Hebrews tells us how angst-ridden His soul was as He wept profusely, and cried out to God,

“Who [Jesus] in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; ⁸ Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered…” (Hebrews 5:7-8)

• It was not merely death that Jesus was struggling with in prayer, but the fact that he would be made the Sin-Bearer of the world for all mankind and all ages.
• The punishment that had to be borne for our sins brought Jesus, a mammoth of a man, to His knees in anguishing prayer.  As the Sin-Bearer, He would be severed from fellowship with the Father for the first time. Christ would soon be inundated with the blame for all wickedness; He deemed sin as profoundly repulsive!
• Yes, the Son of God struggled in prayer, but He was effective still. You and I can have effective prayer lives in spite of our infirmities as we depend on the Holy Spirit.

3. YES, WE WILL ALSO STRUGGLE WITH PRAYER.

That is if prayer means anything at all to us and if we feel a burden to intercede for others. And yet, in those times of struggle, the apostle Paul taught, we can take heart because “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Rom. 8:26). The Holy Spirit dwells within us to help us in our prayer lives! We can count on Him to make our prayers effective.

                                                                       

II.              Understand How To Pray Within The Father's Will.

Romans 8:27, And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

A.     TRUST THE SCRIPTURES TO HELP US PRAY THE FATHER’S WILL.

Our Desire as Christians must Always Be to Pray Within the Will of the Father for Us.

• 1 John 5:14-15, And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: ¹⁵ And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

• The Father's will include all that is beneficial and good for us personally, and all that is beneficial and good for all His children—simultaneously and eternally. His plan is greater than our ability to understand it; His purposes for our lives are beyond our comprehension. How, then, do we pray within the Father's will? (Stanley, C.)

     1.  If We Are Praying for Unsaved People, Our Prayer Should Be That They Come to Accept Jesus Christ as Their Personal Savior and Then to Follow Him as Their Lord.

• Romans 10:1, Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
• Romans 9:1-4, I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, [2] That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. [3] For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: [4] Who are Israelites; . . . .   

• Paul even wished himself accursed or cut off from Christ if through the forfeiting of his own salvation his Jewish brothers might be saved. In this spiritually muscular declaration of self-renunciation, we sense the highest form of godly love—that which constrains a man to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). (MacDonald)

• And we feel the enormous burden, which he carried for the conversion of his countrymen. It reminds us of Moses’ prayer for his people: “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written” (Ex. 32:32).  Obviously, Paul wept over his people, desiring supremely to see them saved. It is God’s will to pray for the conversion of sinners.

• While living in the village of Herriden, Germany, God gave me many opportunities to witness to the youth at the bus stops in our community. I made a point of giving out gospel tracks and encouraging them to think about their personal need for Christ. God helped me remember many of their names and I used them when I interacted with them. I also placed their names on a special prayer list, “Bus Stop Prayer List,” to remind me to pray for the salvation of their souls.

     2.  If We Are Praying for Fellow Believers in Christ Jesus, Certain Things Are Always Within the Will of the Father.

        A.  A Model Prayer for the Philippians.  We have a good model for this in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, in which he tells the Philippians what he prays for them:

Philip. 1:3-6, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, [4] Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, [5] For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; [6] Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Philip. 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; [10] That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; [11] Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

We can pray these things for all believers at all times and in all situations:

                1) That Christ Will Complete the Work in Them That He Has Started.  vs 6

                2) That Their Love May Abound and Overflow.  Vs 9,

·        Love is doing what’s best for another physically, emotionally, mentally, & spiritually.

                3) That They May Grow in Knowledge and Discernment   vs 9-10

·        Knowing right and wrong

·        Choosing the best, “excellent,” over the good and better

                4) That They May Live Sincere Lives as They Follow Christ, Avoiding Offenses to Him   Vs 10

                5) That They May Be Filled with the Fruits of Righteousness—persistent do-gooders   vs 11

                6) That Their Lives May Bring Glory and Praise to God     Vs 11

                7) That Christians Would Faithfully Contribute to the Advance of the Gospel–Missions Vs5           “For your fellowship in the gospel”

       B.  A Model Prayer for the Colossians.  Colossians provides another model prayer that we can always pray for our fellow believers and know it is God's will:         

Col. 1:9-12, For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; [10] That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; [11] Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; [12] Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

It is God's will always that our fellow believers:  

               1) Know God's Will for Their Lives Generally and Specifically.    Vs 9

               2) Have God's Wisdom as We Navigate through Daily Life.    Vs 9

               3) Grow in Spiritual Understanding—godly perspective & outlook.    Vs 9

·      (1 Cor. 2:12-13; compare 1 John 2:20; 5:20).

               4) Walk in Righteousness—Worthy of Our Lord, Pleasing to Him.   Vs 10  

               5) Bear Fruit in Many Types or areas of Christian Service.    Vs 10   

               6) Grow in Intimate Knowledge of God—experience Him daily.  Vs 10

               7) Become Stronger enabling us to be more Patient, more Longsuffering, and Joyful.  Vs 10

I encourage you to use these prayers as your basic pattern of intercession for other believers.

 B.  TRUST THE SPIRIT TO HELP US PRAY THE FATHER’S WILL.

When We Do not Always Know What to Pray or Cannot Seem to Pray What We Desire to Pray   Romans 8:26, Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Our struggle with praying within the will of the Father occurs most often when we don’t know how to pray or what to request. It may also occur when we do know how to pray, but the way we feel led to pray is not the way others desire for us to pray.

I heard the story about a pastor who visited a woman in the hospital. She was very ill, and she asked him to pray for her healing. He tried to pray as she requested, but the more he prayed, the more he prayed for everything but healing. He indicated that in his spirit, he had a growing knowledge that healing was not God’s plan for her. God was about to call her home. Sure enough, she died the next day.

      1.  The Holy Spirit Helps Us Pray in Spite of Our Infirmities.

In the difficult times when we don’t know how to pray, or we find ourselves stopped from praying what we had intended to pray, Paul tells us the Holy Spirit  “helpeth our infirmities” (Rom. 8:26).

                   A.  The Infirmities of the Christian

The Holy Spirit actually strengthens the believer to overcome his infirmities (weaknesses). Infirmities may refer to the presence of sin abiding in the believer (Rom. 7:14).  It may also refer to our ignorance and our current ambiguous perception of our future glorious existence.  Still the Spirit helps us conquer our weaknesses in our prayers. This knowledge of God’s sympathy should not motivate us to excuse our infirmities, but quicken us to seek a higher, holier, and Christ-honoring life. There may be much against us, but God is still for us!

                   B.  The Help of the Spirit. Rom 8:26, Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: ....

“Helpeth” here signifies "to take hold with at the side for assistance"; hence, "to take a share in, help in bearing, to help in general."  

Thus the Holy Spirit shares our burdens and assists us in our infirmities or at the very moment of weakness!  In other words before we will ever experience being over burdened with the Trials and Troubles of life, the Holy Spirit will pick up the burden on the other end before it’s too late and help you bare it!

                                1. It Means That the Holy Spirit Shares the Load. He gets up under the burden that we feel—about our lives or others' lives—and He helps carry the prayer. Remember, we still must pray!

                                2.  This Word “Helpeth” Is Also Used, in Martha's Request to the Lord to Bid Her Sister Help Her.   Luke 10:40, But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

This same word “help” is used in Luke 10 where we read that Martha was distracted from sitting at Jesus' feet because she was concerned about getting a meal on the table. She asked Jesus to tell her sister, Mary, to help her in the serving preparations. (See Luke 10:40.)

The implication in both places is that the help being given or being sought is practical in nature. Martha is “cumbered about”—with serving her guests. This phrase implies that she was running in circles. That's the way we often feel in our prayers, isn't it? We run all around the problem, hoping to corral it. (Stanley, C.)

The idea behind the use of the word “Helpeth” is the down to earth, everyday kind of help that Martha needed in the kitchen!  That is help where you need it the most!  We can trust the Holy Spirit to help us in a practical way—to guide us very specifically into God's answers and solutions so that we truly are praying in the will of the Father. (Stanley, C.)

                              3. The Word “Helpeth” and the Holy Spirit’s Title “Comforter” Convey the Same Ideas As One Called Alongside to Help!   John 14:16, And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;     (Also: Jn. 14:26; 15:26 & 16:7)

“The kind of help He gives is the help a doctor gives when he is called along side the sick bed; the kind of help the fireman gives when he is called alongside a burning building; the kind of help a Lawyer gives when he is called along side to undertake a case.  What a Helper and Comforter!”—Dr. John Phillips

         2.  What Do We Have to Do to Receive the Help of the Holy Spirit?  We need to ask for it. Ask for His help before you pray. Ask for His help as you pray.  Then literally depend on Him to assist and guide, and aid you in your prayer life.

         3.  God is Concerned About the Trials and Sufferings of His People.  Sometimes we wonder if God really Cares in the midst of our pain; we even question the tangibility of His love! There is great help in simply knowing that God really cares when we hurt and experience suffering in this life. Not only does God care, but he actually helps us in such times!  He Strengthens, Assists, Feel Our Pain with Us, He even Heals the Hurts in our spirit and soul!  O, how we need to acknowledge His help and accept His comfort always but most of all in the midst of the longest Trials, deepest Pains, and darkest Hours!

   C.  DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO BECOME DISCOURAGED OR FRUSTRATED!

Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

         1.  At the Very Times You Are Most Discouraged about Prayer, Don't Give in to Discouragement. That's the very time when you need to pray! Jesus promised that our Comforter-Helper is always available and is instantly accessible. He is never out of the office when we need Him.

         2.  God Values Our Prayers. Furthermore, He Commands Us to Pray. Prayer is part of God's plan for accomplishing His purposes on this earth. We didn't design this plan for prayer. God did. And He intends for us to succeed in prayer. That's why He helps us in it.

“The Creature and the Creation must groan in pain until the Revelation of the Sons of God, but until that time there is help for the Saved through the Holy Spirit.  We are told that the Holy Spirit will help with our weaknesses.   Even when we are too weak to know what we should pray for, we get intercession from the Spirit with such groaning that we could not utter.  We have a Heavenly Helper who maintains our cause for us.  All of this intercession is made according to the will of God.”—Dr. A. V. Henderson, Pastor Temple Baptist Church

Certainly God delights to do His own will!  These prayers will no doubt be answered fully!

CONCLUSION:   

My purpose is not to answer all the questions we might have about prayer. Rather, my purpose is to make this point: The Lord God wants us to pray, encourages us to pray, guides us in prayer, and when we do not know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit takes up our cause and prays to the Father for us.

Therefore, we should never fear praying to God or be discouraged about prayer. Rather, we can go to God and admit that we do not know how to pray for some things as we ought, and have confidence the Holy Spirit will make the proper prayer on our behalf. What freedom that gives us! We can just pray, with a free heart, knowing that the Holy Spirit is praying for us at the same time, translating our mixed-up thoughts, our uncertainties, and ignorance, into valid meaningful prayers.

Be sure to respect God qualifying criteria for prayer! The Scriptures are abundantly clear that we are not to pray with selfish motives (James 4:3), or with sin in our heart (Psalm 66:18), or without faith (James 1:6). At the same time, God readily hears the prayer, “Lord, I have sinned. Forgive my sin, and restore me to fellowship with you. Empower me to change from within.” If we have taken care of those matters, we can pray. So pray…risk praying poorly if you must, but still pray—cry out to God shamelessly. Pray the best you know how. The Holy Spirit is there, assisting, translating, interpreting, and literally praying to the Father for you. That is correct; God prays to God for you!

But, what if we do not believe what the Bible declares about prayer? We will miss out on some of the ministry of the Lord Jesus, the Word of God, and Holy Spirit would like to have in our lives. We will have a less than biblical understanding of the blessing of the Living God’s direct involvement. We’ll miss out on the peace and joy of knowing that God is on a constant watch for our spiritual welfare. Then finally, we will have little to share with others regarding these weighty spiritual matters. (Anders)

So are your prayers needed? Yes! Is God listening? Yes! Does God expect us to pray when He prompts us to pray? Yes! Does God hear and answer our Bible-informed prayers? Yes! Do we always pray the right things when we ask the Holy Spirit and rely on Him to guide our prayers? YES!

There is great reward in cooperating with the Scriptures, Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus in prayer. That reward is manifested not only in the lives of those for whom we pray but also in our life. You cannot lose if you ask the Holy Spirit, trust the Word, and follow the Lord Jesus in prayer!