Victory in Temptation/The Power of Prayer

Joseph Penner

Victory over the Enemy • Sermon • Submitted a month ago • Presented a month ago

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WELCOME!

Please find a seat in the middle section

Schedule:

- 7:00-7:40 Lesson (Joe)

- 7:45-8:05 Discussion (Small Groups)

- 8:10-8:20 Prayer (Groups of 2/3)

Part 1: Recognizing Our Enemy

Resist the Devil

Do Not Love the World

Crucify the Flesh

We have enemies from within and without,

but we must know…

Part 2: Knowing God’s Provisions

4. Victory in Temptation

5. The Power of Prayer

6. The Presence of the Holy Spirit

7. The Armour of God

Today, we are going to cover:

4. Victory in Temptation

5. The Power of Prayer

We can have…

Victory in Temptation

Last week we talked about the flesh,

that we struggle with it because of our sin.

But we learned that we can have victory through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

We can say “No” to sin, and “Yes” to obedience to God.

As we look at the victory we can have over temptation,

we will begin with…

1. Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness

Satan is referred to in Scripture as the “Tempter”

He isn’t always responsible for our temptations,

but that’s exactly what we find him doing in the wilderness with Jesus.

After the Spirit descended on Jesus,

He led Jesus into the wilderness for this encounter with Satan.

In this account, we learn of similarities between…

a. Adam and Jesus

Though there are similiarities between these two temptations,

their responses could not be more different…

“Adam was tempted in the beautiful Garden of Eden, while Jesus was tempted in the barren Judean wilderness. While Adam could eat from any tree in the garden but one, Jesus ate nothing for forty days. Adam and Eve capitulated and sinned when the snake enticed them, but Jesus resisted the devil’s temptations.” — William Cook

We also learn of similarities between…

b. Jesus and Israel

Where Israel failed, Jesus succeeded.

In the first temptation,

Satan told Jesus to provide his own bread.

He tried to get Jesus to use his position to provide for his own needs.

Jesus responded

Matthew 4:4 ESV

4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

While Israel complained and did not trust God,

Jesus DID trust God’s plan and provision.

In the second temptation,

Satan tried to get Jesus to worship him, and then he would give him authority.

He wanted him to take a shortcut to the top.

Jesus responded

Matthew 4:10 (ESV)

10 ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”

While Israel was prone to chase after false gods and take shortcuts,

Jesus trusted God’s timing and plan.

In the third temptation,

Satan told Jesus to jump from the temple.

“Then everyone will know You are God’s chosen one”

Jesus responded…

Matthew 4:7 ESV

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

While Israel often tested God in the wilderness,

Jesus was patient and obedient.

c. Learning from Jesus

What can we learn from Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness?

i. We need to know and rightly apply God’s Word

Jesus did not rely on His position,

but God’s Word.

Satan tried to get him to abuse it,

but Jesus was faithful to it.

We must not misuse/mishandle God’s Word,

but understand and rightly apply it.

ii. Spiritual growth does not mean less temptation

Jesus went into the wilderness full of the Holy Spirit.

Having the Spirit does not mean less temptation,

but a greater sensitivity to it.

Also, temptation to sin becomes more subtle.

Think of Jesus’ need for food.

We must be on guard.

iii. Spiritual victory leads to spiritual ministry

Jesus came out of the wilderness in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Immediately after his victory over Satan,

Jesus began his ministry.

When we have victory through the Spirit,

the Spirit’s power will work in us for His kingdom.

Now, let’s take a look at…

2. Anatomy of a Temptation

Sometimes it can be difficult to discern whether a temptation is because of:

Satan,

the world, or

indwelling sin.

James 1:13—16 focuses on a person’s desires.

a. Context of James 1

We must understand the context before…

James tells his readers to…

James 1:2 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

There are many different types of trials that come in this life,

loss of a loved one…

loss of a job…

someone cut you off in traffic…

we live in a fallen world…

When these things come, we are to be joyful… WHAT?!?

It’s not that these things are pleasant,

but because of how God is using them.

James 1:3–4 ESV

3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

God uses trials in our lives to grow and mature us!

So while we may not be happy about the trial,

we CAN have joy about the outcome,

if we allow God to use it to mature us.

James goes on in v. 5—8 to call us to pray during those trials for wisdom and endurance.

This is the context of James 1 before he goes on to talk about…

b. James on Internal Temptation

We should rejoice in trials because God uses them to grow us,

but temptation should be resisted!

James 1:13–15 ESV

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

God is not to blame for temptation.

He is holy, and therefore cannot be tempted,

and does not tempt.

Satan is also not to blame for temptation.

Can’t say “the devil made me do it!”

Temptations come from a person’s own heart!

James wants us to see we can’t shift the blame to anyone else!

We are lured in through our desires…

like a fish!

Just swimming along, minding our own business…

Then James shows us the progression of that sin:

It begins with desire…

which gives birth to sin…

leading to death.

Sin, will beget more sin…

But…

c. What about Satan?

James does not mention Satan.

His goal was not a full discussion on the matter,

but putting the blame for temptation where it belongs…

ON US!

We don’t get to blame anyone else for our sin.

But we can be sure that Satan is the one baiting the hook.

He is the one using the world to lure us in through our desires.

The question is, “will we take the bait?”

3. How to Fail to Enter the Promised Land

If you want to have a model for how to fail and give into temptation,

we need look no further than the Exodus generation!

Paul gives us a wonderful way of escape in 1 Corinthians,

but we must first understand the context in chapter 10 before we can understand God’s promise.

a. The Context of 1 Corinthians 10

This passage is an example of how the Exodus generation did not run the race well.

They had:

been saved by God…

been given incredible blessings and promises by God…

and yet they failed to enter the Promised Land because of their lack of self-control.

We must…

i. Beware of Depending on Past Spiritual Victories

The Israelites had been saved by God,

and were enjoying incredible blessings and privileges as a result of being God’s people,

but God was not happy with them.

1 Corinthians 10:1–6 (ESV)

1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink.

For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

What blessing and privilege they had!

And yet God destroyed them in the wilderness.

God’s grace didn’t transform their lives, but they became entitled.

This is to be an example to us…

we should not desire evil,

and fix our eyes on the things of this world as they did.

“Past spiritual victories and blessings are not sufficient for future battles. Past godliness can never be an excuse for present disobedience.” — William Cook

We must also…

ii. Beware of Indications of Spiritual Downfall

In 1 Corinthians 10:7—11 we see 4 examples of Israel’s unfaithfulness that led them away from God.

1 Corinthians 10:7–11 (ESV)

7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.

9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

Israel’s sin, and therefore a warning to us…

Israel’s Sin:

Idolatry

loving/trusting anyone/anything more than God.

We worship these things because we fail to see how great God is in comparison.

Sexual sin

Sex is a God-given desire to be satisfied in marriage between one man/one woman.

Satan tempts us to find fulfilment outside of that.

Testing God

Trying to get God to serve us, rather than us serving him.

Grumbling

Challenging God’s goodness.

not recognizing his blessings.

Next we must…

iii. Beware of Rationalizing

The Israelites became too confident!

They were depending on past victory,

they failed to recognize their sin,

and they became arrogant and over-confident.

For that reason Paul says,

1 Corinthians 10:12 ESV

12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

We must not be overly confident!

“Many godlier people than you and I have slowly succumbed to the continual onslaught of temptation. Giving in a little bit here and a little bit there weakens the foundation of our lives.” — William Cook

Finally…

iv. God’s Escape Plan

We now come to the climax of the passage in 1 Corinthians 10…

which includes one of the great promises in the Bible!

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

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.

From this verse we learn that:

We can be tempted to think our situation is unique,

but we are told that all mankind, in all generations, face the same temptations.

Any temptation can be resisted because of God’s help.

God is faithful:

to not allow the temptation to be more than you can handle.

Satan is limited by God.

to provide a way of escape.

we will never be so trapped that we cannot escape.

David & Bathsheba

This is an example of failing to take God’s way of escape.

After seeing Bathsheba on the roof,

he should have just turned around and went the other way.

That was the way of escape.

But he didn’t… he lingered…

leading to sin, (adultery)

leading to his cover up, (deceiving Uriah)

leading to murder. (killing Uriah)

God wants us to experience victory in temptation!

We can do that as we trust Him,

and look for the way of escape that He provides,

and asking for His strength to take it!

That leads us to chapter 5…

The Power of Prayer

We tend to think of prayer as a last ditch effort,

rather than our first choice.

Like a hail mary at the end of the game… they rarely work.

A vibrant prayer life is essential for our victory,

as well as the victory of others.

1. Prayer Both Wields and Dons

We are in a spiritual battle,

and prayer is the key to victory!

Ephesians 6:18–20 ESV

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Paul has just described the armour of God,

and prayer is how we put it on!

We must pray for God to clothe us in His armour,

and use the Word of God, which is our sword.

We also see that we must pray “at all times”.

It’s easy to see why we give in to temptation so much…

our lack of prayer…

We also see Paul requests prayer.

It takes humility to ask for prayer.

Paul didn’t think he was too good for it…

didn’t trust his own ability.

We can learn from…

2. Jesus’s Prayer Life

Luke describes Jesus’ prayer life.

He prays at every major point of his ministry.

Jesus prayed at His baptism…

withdrew to deserted places to pray.

Jesus prayed before he chose his disciples…

asking for wisdom/guidance.

Jesus prayed before asking the disciples who he was…

praying for their eyes to be opened.

Jesus prayed on the mount of transfiguration…

Jesus taught his disciples how to pray…

after they asked… his prayer life must have been exemplary/different.

Jesus prayed for Peter before Satan sifted him…

leading to him not straying from Jesus.

Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane…

he remained faithful, while his disciples slept and deserted him.

Jesus’ commitment to prayer shows us he believed he could do life without it!

How could we do life without it???

Let’s take a look at Paul’s…

3. Inspired Prayer for the Ephesians

We can and should pray for ourselves,

but we also must pray for one another.

When we don’t know what to pray…

pray God’s Word!

Paul gives us examples of what to pray for.

a. Pray That God Would Reveal Himself

As Paul begins his letter,

he praises God for all the rich blessings we have in Christ.

Then he transitions to prayer in…

Ephesians 1:15–17 ESV

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

Paul’s prayer is that they grow in understanding of who God is.

That God would reveal himself to them.

When we grow in our understanding of God,

we grow in our love for him,

and our desire to serve him.

Next Paul prays for them…

b. Pray to Know God’s Love and Power

Paul wants them to grow in their understanding of God,

which will help them understand God’s love and power toward them.

Ephesians 1:18–19 ESV

18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might

We oftentimes measure our worth or success based on what we do.

So we often feel like failures...

But Paul wants the Ephesians to see:

the hope they have been called to…

the riches of the glorious inheritance we have in Christ…

the immeasurable power through the Holy Spirit.

These are things that are easy for us to forget as believers,

so we need to be reminded often!

We can pray for one another to know God’s love and power!

Next, Paul prays for the Ephesians…

c. Pray to Be Strengthened by the Spirit

Later in Paul’s letter, he prays again for the Ephesians.

This time he prays that they would be strengthened by the Spirit…

Ephesians 3:14–16 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

Paul knows we are in a spiritual battle,

and need spiritual strength to overcome:

the world…

the flesh… and

the devil.

The empowerment we need from the Holy Spirit

is not based on our needs or ability, but

“according to the riches of HIS glory”

Finally, Paul prays for the Ephesians…

d. Pray to Know the Love of Christ

It is important in our Christian lives that we know how much Christ loves us.

This will enable us to continue fighting the good fight of faith.

Ephesians 3:17–19 ESV

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Imagine praying that prayer for someone right now:

a lost family member/friend…

a child/grand child…

someone going through a difficult time…

that they would,

“know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge” and

“filled with all the fullness of God”

Just in case you’re wondering if these prayers are too bold,

let’s look at what Paul says next...

Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

God is willing, and able,

to do more than we ask OR think!!

He does this through His power dwelling in us!

What incredible encouragements to pray!

4. Prayer Behind the Scenes

In Daniel chapter 10,

we learn that there may be much more going on behind the scenes when we pray,

than we might perceive at the time.

Daniel is praying to discern God’s will…

After 3 weeks an angel comes to him…

The angel then said…

Daniel 10:12–14 (ESV)

12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days,

but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”

This passage makes it clear to us that there is much more going on than we can possibly know.

There is a spiritual battle going on behind the scenes.

This may be the reason some prayers are delayed, or not answered immediately.

This should not discourage us from praying…

but we must wait for God to answer our prayers in his timing, and his way.

It’s our right to know, it is our responsibility to pray!

An important part of our praying, is…

5. Prayer for the Lost

When we pray for those who are lost,

we are launching an attack against the enemy.

Paul desired that Israel be saved…

and he commanded Timothy to pray for all people in his letter to him.

Here are some passages we can use in prayer for the lost…

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Father, Satan has blinded ______’s eyes. Give him/her eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart to receive the gospel the way you did for me.

Mark 4:15 ESV

15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.

Father, ________’s heart is hard to the gospel. Soften his/her heart so that your Word can take root and produce fruit.

Conclusion

“When believers do not pray, it is like a group of soldiers choosing not to call in their unstoppable air support in combat. Such believers are usually more independent from than dependent upon Christ. We do not want to be independent from him if we desire to live in victory over the enemy.

Therefore, let us not hesitate to call in the divine support of the One who strengthens us to stand firm; let us intercede for others following in the footsteps of Jesus and Paul.” — William Cook

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