THE FIRST ATTACK TO OBEDIENCE – THE TEMPTATIONGenesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11

Introduction- Have you experienced to disobey God because you were tempted to do things against the will of God?- How many times in a year have you experienced to disobey God because you failed to overcome temptation?- When you disobeyed God, what happened next, you became better or you went bad?- Have you experienced you overcome temptation which led you to obey God? What happened next, good or

bad?

Temptation (peirasmos in Greek) is a word being used same as ‘Trial’, meaning: a putting to proof or to try or to testTwo Kinds of Temptation (peirasmos) in the Bible1. Trial (positive) – a trial which is divinely permitted or sent with the purpose of testing your faith

- James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials (temptations) of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

- James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial (temptation), because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

2. Temptation (negative) – a trial definitely designed to lead to wrong doing; it is from evil - James 1:13-15 13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil,

nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

SUBJECT MATTER: OVERCOME TEMPTATION (negative) which is designed to lead to wrong doing/disobedience

Reflect on this verse: Romans 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man (Adam) the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man (Jesus) the many will be made righteous.

THE TEMPTATION OF ADAM AND EVE WHICH LED TO DISOBEDIENCEGenesis 2:15-17 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16

And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

Gen 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" 4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS & HOW HE OVERCOME IT Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you,and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

HOW TEMPTATION LEADS YOU TO DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD?1. Temptation challenges the authority of God. It will lead you to test God.

- There is a command to Adam in Gen. 2:17 you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

- Satan (the serpent) tempted Adam and Eve to disobey that command by challenging the authority of God o Gen. 3:1 He (the Serpent) said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the

garden'?"o Gen. 3:4-5 4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat

of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."- When Satan tempted Jesus, the devil challenged the authority of God,

o Matthew 4:2-3 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he(Jesus) was hungry. 3 The tempter (the devil) came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

By Rev. Roli S. Arangote, Copyright 2015, (Free to share, just acknowledge the author)

o Matthew 4:5-7 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

- Matt. 4:7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" - (Relate this to the command of God to husbands, wives, parents, children, slaves, masters, employees,

employer, church member, church leaders, etc... which most people disobeyed because of temptation)2. Temptation creates confusion in your decision-making ability. It will lead you to doubt God.

- The command to Adam is very clear but Satan tempted Adam and Eve to confuse their mindo Gen. 3:1 He (the Serpent) said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the

garden'?"o Gen. 3:4-5 4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat

of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."o Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They ate the forbidden fruit.

- (Relate this to the command of God to husbands, wives, parents, children, slaves, masters, employees, employer, church member, church leaders, etc... which most people disobeyed because of temptation)

3. Temptation deceives you by helping you achieve your personal desires. It will lead you to ignore God.- Temptation deceives you by helping you achieve your personal desires to the extent of disobeying God.- Adam and Eve disobeyed God because Satan deceived them, believing that by eating the forbidden fruit they

will gain wisdom and they will know good and evil like God.o Gen. 3:5-6 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,

knowing good and evil." 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

- When Satan tempted Jesus, the devil tried to offer the wealth and pleasure of the world, o Matt 4:8-10 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the

world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'

- Satan uses the wealth and pleasure of the world to tempt people.o 1 Timothy 6:9-10 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and

harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

HOW TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION1. Arm Yourself with the Word of God

- When Satan tried to tempt Jesus, Jesus overcome the temptation using the Scriptures – the Word of God- When there is confussion, doubt or bad circumstance, get back to the Word of God and always trust the Word.

When making decision, get back to the Word of God and always trust the Word- The Word of God will guide you against deception and hidden agenda of Satan: Psalm 119:105 Your word is a

lamp to my feet and a light for my path. - Ephesians 6:13-18 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able

to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

2. Brace Yourself with Prayer- Brace means to get ready for something difficult or unpleasant; to give added support or strength- Jesus was weak physically at the time of temptation but he was strong spiritually because he has just finished

praying and fasting. - Before Jesus was seized and crucified, He prayed in the Mount of Olives, Luke 22:45-46 45 When he rose from

prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

- Temptation keeps you away from praying. But prayer keeps you away from temptation. - Jesus also taught to pray this: Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.- Temptation will make you fall but brace yourself with prayer to overcome it.

3. Control your desires, not your desires control you- Temptation attacks your will and emotion by enticing/attracting your desires.- James 1:14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. - Don’t allow your desires to control you. - Make yourself the controller of your desire. Make God the master of your life.

Remember this: Temptation mainly attacks your spirituality, not your physicality so overcome it with spiritual power.

By Rev. Roli S. Arangote, Copyright 2015, (Free to share, just acknowledge the author)

Concluding verse: 1 Cor. 10:12-13 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

By Rev. Roli S. Arangote, Copyright 2015, (Free to share, just acknowledge the author)