Introduction Skydivers and drug dealers.

Series Outline What is it? What does it do to me? How do I kill it?

Secret Weapon Recap Fear – Love Discouragement – Humility Loneliness – Introspection Guilt – Acceptance Worry – Shame Temptation – Cowardice

What is it? Exposure to the possibility to sin. Satan’s enticement to sin. Temptation is Satan dropping his children at your front door and knocking incessantly. Sin is unbolting the door and inviting them in for shelter, warmth and food.

What is it? Temptation itself is not a sin. Temptation is a “sin dealer.” Temptation operates in two primary modes, the latter is more modern: – Focused spiritual attack unto stumbling. – Dull exposure unto paralysis. Temptation aims for one of two victories: – Sin by active commission. – Sin by omission.

What does it do to us? Temptation is the “silent giant” for most Christians. – Although we all share the experience of temptation, without shame… – We are reluctant to talk about it or seek accountability because of the times we’ve failed against it. We default into thinking that temptation and sin are the same thing, and fail to effectively deal with the source.

What does it do to us? Many of us don’t realize how blatantly we go about “tempting” temptation. We have no overt detection or strategy for keeping temptation at bay. We play Russian roulette with a fully- loaded gun, and expect a happy outcome.

How do I kill it? Temptation happens in God’s environment. No temptation is beyond God’s power. God has promised me a way out. Many would prefer to live without temptation, but its defeat is an opportunity to show your love and loyalty to God. – Resistance to temptation brings glory to God!

How do I kill it? Jesus is your way of escape, because He knows the way out of the canyon. God has promised you a way of escape, but He does not guarantee there will be more than one. Maximizing success rate:

How do I kill it? RECOGNIZE the possibility of temptation. – Everyone is subject to experiencing it. – Pride is a carrier gene to sin. – “Pride goeth before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18) – You are not immune. – If you think you are, guess what?

How do I kill it? REQUEST help. – Prayer is a PROACTIVE weapon against temptation. – Retroactively, it’s for the forgiveness of sin. – Ask daily for God’s protection from temptation: Sensitive Aware Discerning

How do I kill it? RESIST the Devil – And he will flee from you. – Resist through submission…to God’s Word. RETREAT from key temptations. – We know our weak spots. RUN. – Examine areas in your life that smell like idolatry, immorality, or greed.

How do I kill it? REMOVE the means. – Romans 13:14 “make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” – Scorched earth policy. REPLACE bad with good. – Are the influences in your life, in the aggregate, bringing you closer to God?

How do I kill it? RESOLVE to live the high road. – Congratulations! God has given you a free will. – Will you combine these “R” factors to make deliberate choices in your life? – Copy a page or two out of the AA playbook.

No Quarter! C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc\hosts Badwebsite1.com Badwebsite2.com

Giant Challenge! Will you cut rated R movies? Will you budget the movies you do see to a specific diet? Will you limit TV consumption to a budget of 2 hours per day? Will you consider a periodic fast from all media? Will you cancel subscriptions (electronic or paper) that could be a snare?

Giant Challenge! Will you ban channel surfing in your house? Will you ban aimless Internet surfing in your own practice? “How would I feel if Pastor Jeremiah was over for a visit and I was looking at this stuff?”

How do I kill it? Prioritize a healthy sexual AND emotional relationship with your spouse. Foster an environment of accountability with your spouse, and seek appropriate external accountability. Equal and opposite pressure.

The kill shot. Run, coward, run! There is no dishonor in running in the opposite direction of temptation at Elijah speed. Sometimes, making Satan flee involves us showing him how it’s done. When in doubt, GET OUT.

Bonus Slide “Clearing the brush around your house” and offering temptation a scorched earth battleground leads to both victory and challenge. Temptation goes from 1,000 BB guns to high-powered sniper rounds as your walk in Christ develops. Be on your guard!!!