Eternal Perspective Week 4

INTRODUCTION : 

We are now in Week 4 of Eternal Perspective and I think we can all agree that everyone one of us can identify with the apostle Paul’s words, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do.” (Romans 7:15) 

The most basic and essential element of a disciple is implementing God’s Word into his or her life and then living it out. The breakdown comes not in the “knowing” but in the “doing.” Today, we will spend some time looking at two scriptures to give us encouragement and direction. 

Our first verse this morning may sound pretty simple, but I want us to see it as a source of comfort and strength for us when facing difficulties or temptations.

I Corinthians 10:13 

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Biblical Principles Related to This Verse:

• The enemy is not creating new temptations unique just to me.  Simply put - NO new temptations exist today.  (That should be comforting right?)     

• God won’t allow us to be tempted beyond our ability, BUT he will allow temptations. 

• This scripture in context is within a section warning us about idols. An idol is anything we worship other than God. Temptations that we face are things that could become idols, or already are idols.

• God doesn’t leave us alone to fight these temptations- he doesn’t say – “I will see you on the other side – good luck.”  Instead, he gives us a way of escape.

• Because God is faithful, we can trust and rely on Him.

Practical Application: 

• We will be tempted – guaranteed!  There is no avoiding that.  So we need to prepare for when it happens.  

• Putting God’s words in our heart for a moment's notice by memorizing or meditating on them.

• We can spend time in prayer.

• We practice spiritual disciplines. 

• At this point in life some of us know where our weaknesses are and can be prone to idolization.  An honest evaluation of these areas allows us to submit them to the Lord and seek strength.

James 1:22-25

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Biblical Principles Related to This Verse:

• Truly listening to God's word means we are not just hearing the words, and even agreeing with them, but we should be internalizing them, and they should spur us to action.

• God’s law gives us freedom from our sins/faults/weaknesses because it has the power to change us.

• God wants us to dig deep into his word AND apply it to our lives.  Live it out.

• We should also persevere in the “looking intently into” of God’s word.  This isn’t just hours of study time, but it is an internalization, abiding in the word -  it is continual, perpetual.  Not something we should study, close the book and walk away from- but truly climb into it, live in it.

Practical Application:

• Spend time studying God’s word-seek true understanding so that we know what is being asked of us.  Taking a moment to pray before studying and asking the Spirit to reveal things to us is important to prepare our heart.

• Don't procrastinate.  Is there something that needs to be done? Forgiveness that needs to be sought out or given? Someone that needs prayer? etc... Then we need to do it as soon as possible.  Too often we are guilty of saying we will do it later, or we will look for the perfect time- we are deceiving ourselves because chances are that we will forget, or we will miss the moment.

CONCLUSION:

We know that we will be tempted, not just once, but continually throughout our life on Earth.  One of the biggest temptations we as disciples will face is to just stay casually a disciple.  It is easy to check the boxes - (imagine checkboxes when I read these off)

• Church

• Pray

• Devotion/study time

• Good deeds 

• Giving 
  

Temptations are weapons against us in spiritual warfare.  If the tempter (Satan) can’t keep us from believing in God, then we had better be prepared to deal with the temptations to keep us from growing and thriving in a relationship with God. We can do all the above things and still walk away and forget and exhibit no real growth in our faith.

One of these methods is to keep us from remembering what God’s own words are.   - It's as if the Devil is saying “Go ahead, read your bible, but you don’t really need to remember it.  That’s why the book is on your shelf.  You have access to the bible on your phone anytime you want.  You don't need to put it in your heart.”

He knows that Gods’ word in our hearts and minds has the power to transform us from the inside out and if he can’t stop us from believing in God, he will do everything he can to keep us from being effective and powerful for God.

Today’s Scriptures:

I Corinthians 10:13 

James 1:22-25

Thoughts/Questions To Consider:

What are some temptations that you face? 

• And what are some ways that you have seen a way of escaping that temptation?

What are some practical things you could do to help you to be prepared to withstand or resist temptations that you might face?  

What are some of the blessings that you have received after putting into action the scriptures you have read?