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Power over Temptation
by Steve May
Text: Matthew 4:1-11
Topic: How to overcome temptation
Big Idea: Jesus’ example will help us find power over temptation in our own lives.
Keywords: Temptation; Overcoming;
Introduction:
- Big Idea: Jesus’ example will help us find power over temptation in our own lives.
- Jesus must have told his disciples about his temptation in the wilderness.
- This story reminds us that Jesus was truly human.
- Matthew 4:2
- Illustration: May illustrates how often we forget the fullness of Christ’s humanity by criticizing a film of Jesus’ life in which Jesus was portrayed unmoved and unbothered by starvation and temptation.
- Hebrews 4:15
Expect temptation.
- Even good people are tempted.
- Matthew 4:1
- Temptation, however, doesn’t come from God.
- Illustration: May briefly illustrates how we often fault God for our temptation by contrasting God with the illegal practice of entrapment by law officers.
- James 1:13
- Temptation often follows a “peak” experience in our lives.
- Matthew 3:17
- Illustration: May summarizes the example of Elijah’s discouragement after his defeat of Baal’s prophets on Mt. Carmel.
- Illustration: May draws from NBA Coach Pat Riley, who talked about the difficulty of winning consecutive championships, and a Benjamin Franklin quote to illustrate how success is often followed by a fall.
- Temptation often attacks you where you are most vulnerable.
- Matthew 3:3
Understand it.
- Temptation is, by its very nature, deceptive.
- Matthew 3:6
- Illustration: May uses the example of a manipulative insurance salesman to illustrate how logic can be twisted to serve an agenda.
- Temptation often promises what God has already provided.
- Matthew 3:9
- Temptation doesn’t last forever.
- James 4:7
- Temptation doesn’t leave forever, either.
- Luke 4:12
Attack it.
- The words of Scripture give us strength in overcoming temptation.
- Illustration: May tells the story of a pastor who used Proverbs 11:1 to overcome his habit of exaggerating the truth.
- Psalm 119:11
- Attack temptation by confronting temptation.
- Matthew 3:10
- Illustration: May tells the compelling story of a former employer who was offered needed business in exchange for unethical practices but who stopped the offer mid-sentence and ended the meeting.
- Attack temptation by re-affirming your commitment to God.
- Matthew 3:10
- Illustration: May tells the humorous but poignant story of his children correctly confronting negative influences by saying, “You’re not the boss of me! Dad is the boss of me!”
Conclusion:
- Jesus experienced power over temptation, and you can too, if you follow his example.
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