1. Temptation: How Do We Fight It? 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Pastor Matt Zwitt
November 20, 2011

2. Five means to fight temptation and three reasons why we can defeat it.
Temptation is a trial that is an invitation to either glorify God or fall into sin.
The word for trial and temptation in the N/T is the same Greek word.
Every single moment of our life is a temptation…a temptation to not believe or believe Christ, a temptation to not trust or trust, to not obey or obey.
Five means to fight temptation and three reasons why we can defeat it.

3. 5 Means to Fight Temptation:

4. 1. We fight temptation by staying humble
We must be careful not to judge other people for sin they struggle with.
Prov. 11:2: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace.
Prov. 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty Spirit before a fall.”
Peter and Moses
We can take no credit for not struggling with any form of sin.
Gal. 6:1: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

5. We must remind ourselves of how sinful we are everyday of our lives.
We stand by grace and grace alone.
If we have not become as sinful as we could, it is not due to our willpower or wisdom, but to the merciful grace of God.
We must remind ourselves of how sinful we are everyday of our lives.
Luke 18:9-14
In our fight with sin, don’t stand upon tradition, years of experience, teaching, self power/success, family status, or past history.
None of these will keep us from sin.
Stand upon the Rock of Jesus Christ.

6. 2. We fight temptation with prayer.
Matt. 6:13: “And lead us not into temptation.”
Matt. 26:41: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Luke 22:40, 46: Twice Jesus says, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

7. 3. We fight temptation with other brothers’/ sisters’ advice and counsel.
Our temptations are never an isolated event.
All temptation is common to man (vs. 13).
We are not alone in this battle
Many will say they feel like they don’t have a choice, but to sin.
There is always a choice.

8. 4. We fight temptation by the Word of God and the Spirit of God.
Jesus was tempted all 40 days in the wilderness (Luke 4:2).
His temptations did not cease after the wilderness (Luke 4:13).
Jesus took on the enemy (without food by the way) and defeated every temptation.
He did this by the Spirit of God (Matt 4:1).
He did it by the Word of God (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10).
If Jesus needed the Spirit and Word of God to fight temptation, I assure you so do we.

9. 5. We fight temptation by depending on Jesus.
Heb. 2:18: “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
There is no sin, no addiction, no habit, no secret, no idol, no stronghold that Jesus cannot help us with.
Heb. 4:15: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Jesus is able to help us because he underwent every form of temptation and defeated them all.

10. 3 Reasons Why We Can Defeat Temptation:

11. 1. We can defeat temptation because God is faithful (vs. 13).
4 times the N/T says “God is faithful.” Three of the four in Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:9, 10:13, 2 Cor. 1:18).
God not only can defeat our temptation, but He will because of His character.
We do not have a God who saves us and then leaves us to fend for ourselves in this battle.
He gives us His very own Spirit to walk with us.

12. 2. We can defeat temptation because God is sovereign.
Paul says “He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability.”
How can He do this?
Because He is sovereign…over the devil, our sin, even our own desires.
Raises the question, “If God is sovereign, wouldn’t the best way for Him to end/help us with temptation just be to send Satan (the tempter) to hell?
Yet God chooses not to (for now) and the reason I think is because He gains more glory by having us rely upon Him to defeat our temptations.

13. 3. We can defeat temptation because God always provides a way of escape (vs. 13).
My early years as a believer.
We must be careful and intentional to look for it.
Most often it is His Spirit and His Word.
If we cannot discern His Spirit and if we do not know the Word of God, we will fall to temptation almost every time.
If Jesus needed the Spirit and Word of God to fight temptation, then so do we.