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                                          Resisting Temptation   

                          

James 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16  Do not err, my beloved brethren.

tempt =  to incline strongly / to rouse desire in

err = do wrong / go astray

lust  = desire / carnality

conceive  = established / developed

*James tells us that we will be tempted if we are carnal, but temptation is not sin until we act on the temptation.

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. * If you walk in the Spirit you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh - you will do the opposite > live right. Paul teaches us in Ro. 6, how to become ‘dead’ to sin and walk in ‘newness’ of life.

 In Ro. 7, he explains that it is impossible to live righteously ‘under the law.’ In  

 Ro. 8:9 he gives the ‘answer’ to living without condemnation >

Ro. 6:22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Ro. 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you……

* You can overcome temptation if you have obeyed Ro. 6, because you have been made ‘free from sin’!  You can live holy, and God expects us to live holy >

 (1 Peter 1:16 … it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy).

  *In Ro. 6:11-18, we find that we have all the armour we need to 'be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.' 

1. girt up our loins -  secure rigteousness around you so that you are able to move in battle. (literally, soilders would gird their long garments up out of the way)
2. put on the breastplate of righteousness - guard your heart from ungodly things      
3. feet shod - walking in the way of the gospel
4. shield of faith - keeping our trust in God & confidence in His Word... guarding our heart  from doubt & unbelief.
5. helmet of salvation  & sword of the spirit - having the knowledge of salvation , keeping our mind  stedfast in the truth, using the Word of God
6. praying & being watchful -  continuing in prayer &  being aware of needs

 *The Lord gives us a great example of resisting temptation when He was led into the widerness & tempted by satan (Mt.4:1-11) He spoke the Word with authority & satan had to flee!

  *When we are tempted – we have a choice – we can yield to sin, or we can choose to do what is right. We have the Word of God to give us direction & the spirit of God to strengthen us. It’s our choice whether to sin or not – if the Holy Ghost dwells in us, then Satan does not have the power to cause us to err.

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