Wrestling with Temptation youth ministry message 1.6.02 Morgan Young
We are all tempted. We all have been tempted. We all will be tempted. Only 2 measly chapters of the Bible pass by without any temptation. Then, in the very first sentence of the third chapter of Genesis just like we saw in the video (not exactly), temptation jumps in. There's literally only a page or two, in this whole book, before temptation is right in the center of the action.
And that's the way it's been ever since and guess what?----that's the way it's going to be as long as you and me are livin' this life!
Check this--- "One day Jesus said to His disciples, 'There will always be temptations'" Luke 17:1 nlt
Or this--- "Temptation to do wrong is inevitable (certain)" Matthew 18:7 nlt
Pretty clear huh? Temptation is a LOCK Bank on it It's not IF we'll be tempted, it's just a question of WHEN we'll be tempted!!
That puts everybody here in the same boat kind of like another boat we know --- Gilligan, the Skipper too, the millionaire and his wife, the movie starprofessor and Mary Ann --- got on board the S.S. Minnow because they wanted to
But judging by these Bible verses, it looks like you and me are on board the S.S. Temptation whether we like it or not!
Comforting huh?? At least we're all in it together--because nobody is free from temptation. //
We know there's temptation and we know there's sin but like, what's the difference?Is there a difference? If there is, where's the line?
Let me clear it up --- temptation is not sin. In Matthew, it tells us that Jesus went out into the desert and fasted for 40 daysthen what happened? He was tempted by the evil one much life Eve was tempted.
Did Jesus sin? No. Jesus is referred to as, "Sinless, spotless lamb of God." (1 Peter 1:19) Jesus was tempted, but He clearly didn't sin, so temptation & sin are two different things.
And look at this passage"each one is tempted by his own evil desire Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin." James 1:14-15 niv
So from that verse, we can see that in the order of things, temptation comes first, and then comes the "Big S".
Temptation is not a sin Temptation is a decision point (repeat).
Imagine you're on the wrestling team and you have to lose 3 lbs this week to make weight for your match next weekend. Let's say on Wed. your at your aunt's house --- she doesn't know you're trying to make weight ---- and she brings in a big slab of Double-chocolate cake and hands it to you.
Right then--- when the cake is in front of you THAT'S your decision point---or temptation thinking about it won't add calories grabbin' the fork and mouing down, will.
THINKING about doing something wrong, is not a sin making the wrong decision and then acting on it, IS.
So temptation is a decision point --- and every day is full of them.
So let's think of temptation as a fork in the road--- or a test. Temptations are things that attract us and require us to make a decision --- temptations make us choose.
We choose to follow the temptation, which James says leads to sin or we choose to break away from the temptation and avoid sin.
(diff tone)
Sin----So what IS sin? Don't we all want to know?
You know what the truth is? What we all want is a LISTa clearly defined list of everything that's off limits we prefer things to be clearly spelled out!---we'd really like a comprehensive list of all the sins don't we?Wouldn't that be easier?
The reason we want a list,is so we'll know exactly how far we can go before we're "in trouble." We want to know exactly where the line is, so we can get right up to it! It's almost like sin is like a really bad auto accident --- we don't want to be in it---- but we'd really like to get close enough to see what somebody else got into.
Well, God doesn't give a list of everything that's a sin. He tried that once and it didn't work. For real, He did.
Ever heard of the Old Testament? That's Genesis, up to just before Jesus came into the picture in Matthew. One of the big deals about the Old Testament is that God's people said,
"Lookwe want to know clearly, what's right and wrong THEN we'll be better people we'll be more Godly if we just know exactly what the rules are! So God, if you could just spell it out for us that would be groovy!"
And God said, "Alright(He knew it wouldn't work) you want me to spell it out? I will."
Have your parents ever let you do something stupid, KNOWING it wasn't going to work but they let you go through with it anyway? Yeah. Why they'd do that? Cause they knew you wouldn't believe them they knew you had to experience it for yourselfright?
That's pretty much what God did in the Old Testament. That's why there's a whole bunch of stuff in there that are just rules and regulations of what makes you cool with God or uncool with God --- or as the OT says, "clean or unclean."
The bottom line is, making a list of what's ok & not ok did NOT work. People weren't any better, in fact it was worse. Because people did what people always do --- on the outside, they checked off their list of what was right and went through the motions but that didn't make them good people because even you and me know it's not just about what we do it's also about what's on the inside of us --- what are motives are what the condition of our heart is.
But still, what IS sin then?!!
James 4:17 says, "It is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it."
Well, that pretty much pegs the vague-o-meter doesn't it?
OKhere's the thing ----Everybody who's in the Jesus club has the Holy Spirit in them. In the New Testament, (which we're in right now)we get the Holy Spirit not a Holy list of right & wrong. And that Holy Spirit is the voice in your head that says, "Man that ain't right! Dude, that wasn't kosher!" So instead of a LIST, we get the Holy Spirit to keep us straight.
Here's a simple test that I mentioned before ---- imagine Jesus hangin' out with you. If you'd feel uncomfortable doing something with Him around --- you're probably workin' on the S-plan.
So how do we know what sin is? Let's be honestWe know (repeat). If you're not sure, look it up in the Biblepray aboutthen if you still don't know, come & ask me & I'll help you figure it out. /// Enough about sin, for now.
Now, I think for us to better understand temptation we need to picture a word or a thing that tempts us. What things tempt you?
Any normal people here who are tempted by sexual thoughts?
Do you find your mind wandering to impure thoughts about people in your 3rd period class?
Guys, do you find that you're too aware of how girl's tops fit?
Guys & girlsare you too aware of how form-fitting someone's pants are?
Are you attracted to certain music videos for reasons other than the "integrity-filled lyrical content"?
What about being alone or away from your parents or adults when you're with your boyfriend or girlfriend? --- Are you tempted to explore thingsto do things you know you shouldn't?
If you're tempted by some or all of these things Guess what? You're probably a normal.
Are you tempted to do things out of pride?
When I say pride I mean, thinking too much of yourself like,
Are you tempted to tell a small lie, because it will make you look good?
Are you ever tempted to "dis" a friend when certain other friends are around?
Are you ever tempted to play down what God means to you because you're afraid of what some friends would think --- Basically are you tempted to act one way at school and another way here on Sunday night?
How about the opposite --- anyone ever tempted to think too less of yourself?
It says the evil one is known as the "accuser" or the "tempter." Ever been tempted to believe that God wouldn't use someone like YOU to play a key part in a friend's life?
Ever been tempted to believe that you're just not smart enough?
Ever been tempted to believe that you're not attractive enough?
The Bible says God sees you as a "masterpiece" -- ever been tempted to believe that He wasn't really talking about YOU when He said that?
Some of us can be tempted by something as seemingly harmless as Food?
Are you ever tempted to eat way beyond full --- eating out of emotion, or how it makes you feel, instead of out of true physical hunger? I have and I've been really working on this one for a year now. Believe it or not, there's about 50lbs less of me than there was in January 2001. But I'm still tempted daily.
Are you ever tempted by your computer?
Every new technology is a double edged sword --- it's good AND it's bad. The wheel was a great invention but people are killed by reckless & drunk drivers every year
The telephone was a great invention but people are duped by phone scams every day
Television was a great invention, but there's plenty of morally bankrupt stuff on it 24-7-365.
(PC mouse)
With a personal computerWe just have to click our index finger and we can get our hands on a whole up-to-date set of encyclopedias at Britannica.com
We can move our index finger and see works of art that hang in the Louvre museum in France
We can move our index finger and see an up to date satellite picture of the weather in Indiana
We can go to ESPN.com and instantly get all the latest stats and injury reports, trades, you name it.
EVERYTHING, is at our fingertips. I did say everything Everything good and everything bad. Websites don't know you're age there's nobody carding people to get online.
Are you tempted to move your index finger to look at words or pictures that you know you shouldn't?
Is your email like mine Every once in a while do you get an email that has a link in it advertising a place you know you shouldn't go?---Are you tempted to see for yourself what's out there?
Are you tempted to rationalize it by saying stuff to yourself like, "Hey, this is a virtual world this is not a REAL world --- this isn't like I'm really doing anything bad."
The computer is like a whole new can of temptation-worms the WHOLE WORLD is a mouse click away. ///
So after all that --- what's your temptation(s)? Maybe I didn't even touch on it there're thousands we could spend all night makin' a list.
(devil's advocate tone)
But hey--- what's the harm? C'mom, lighten up, Morgan --- we're teenagers, we've got our whole life to get everything together ----- God forgives our sin, anyway---- why is this stuff so wrong?
Let me answer with these words that Jesus spoke:
"It is the thought-life that (pollutes) defiles you. For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what (pollute) defile you and make you unacceptable to God." Mark 7:20-23 nlt
I'd like to read you the same passage from The Message, just because I love the way it's paraphrased! (pg 89 The Message)
This passage answers the "why is this important?" question. This passage says that everything that makes us unacceptable to God or everything that screws up our relationship with God --- first starts inside us as a thought
They start as a temptation---at a decision point. And when we don't chose to move AWAY from temptationTHEN, we move past temptation and it grows into sin. And sin messes up our connection with God.
Just like this verse says,
"Each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15
Man, that's sunshiny, isn't it?
So if you want to be in a good place with God if you want your relationship with God to grow closer, to know & understand Him more then you have to choose to move away from temptation.
I said earlier that temptation is like a bad auto accident. But there's one huge difference you won't get sucked into an auto accident if you stare at it too long. But odds are the longer you consider a temptation the more dangerous things become and the more likely you are to cross the line à
Look at that verse, "After desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death." James 1:15
Notice the way that they worded the "temptation into sin into death thing" What metaphor did James use? He used the metaphor of Sex Wonder why?
Have you ever heard of a girl or a couple that weren't intending to have a childbut they were "playing around" so to speak and became pregnant any way?
James used the sex metaphor because when a guy and a girl have sex, the outcome can be quite serious---wouldn't you agree? (uncomfortable yet?)
James says that temptation is like sex sometimes we're just playing around with itand before we know it, it's growing beyond our control.
The truth about all sin is that it's very hard to stopit gets out of control
People who begin having sex before marriage find it hard to stop that behavior.
People who go places on the internet that they shouldn't have a very hard time staying away from those kinds of sites.
When I was 18, I never intended to hit the weight I did a year ago.
We tend to think about things like alcohol & drugs as being addictive---- But that's naïve -- guys --- don't walk out of here without knowing that sin any kind--- is addictive -à
If you're into something you know you shouldn't be --- do NOT fool yourself by thinking you're controlling it ---- sin controls us---that's its nature.
It's like the song we did earlier:
"Oh I'm into everything I hate
My spirit is not fooled (inside I know what's right), my members take the bait" (even know I know what's right, my body takes the bait of temptation.)
Guys if we KNOW what's right, but we DO something else --- that's sin and if know what's right, but do the wrong thing then there's all the proof you need that you're NOT in control. (repeat)
The song also said:
"Careful little eyes what you seecareful little feet where you go." Which is just like what Jesus said:
"If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away." Matthew 18:7-9
So our solution to avoid temptation is to amputate feet and poke out eyes. (saw & knitting needle) So I brought these, I thought we'd just form a couple lines
OK---so that's not exactly what that means. It means GET AWAY from what tempts you (repeat). This verse says it a little clearer:
"Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 nlt
Again, the solution is real simple GET OUT! (have them repeat)
So get out:
Log off the computer.
Take you & your boyfriend or girlfriend from the isolated place & go to a place with some people around.
Get out of the kitchen or the pantry.
GET OUT or away from the things that entice you!
But what if you're at school and your mind's wandering to places it shouldn't go? Can't exactly stand up in 3rd period class and say (in your worst Schwarzenneggar impersonation), " I must GET OUTI CANNOT TAKE DE TEMPTATION ANY LONGE'!"
Remember earlier I said that the Old Testament had a Holy List of rules but now, in the New Testament times we have the Holy Spirit with us--- now we have Jesus working for us.
Check out these verses:
"Because He himself suffered when He was tempted, (in the desert by Satan) He is able to help those who are being tempted." Hebrews 2:18
"Now that we know what we have---Jesus, this High Priest with ready access to God---let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing (temptation), experienced it all---all but the sin. So let's walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help." Hebrews 4:15-16 The Message
All we need, to get His help with temptation, is a little silent prayer wherever you are, whatever you're doing--- get out of the temptation with a prayer ---"Take the mercy, accept the help." Just ask.
Let me wrap this up for you ---- When we wrestle with temptationwe need to KNOW that it's a fight we CAN win. (repeat with fervor)
We know it based on 1 Corinthians 10:13. Say this with me & emphasize the underlined words --- let's say this like we mean it:
The temptations in my life are no different from what others experience. I know God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming more than I can stand. When I am tempted, God will show me a way out, so that I won't give into it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 nlt
And if that's not enough, we have a tag-team partner in Jesus Christ. When we realize we're in a temptation situation we need to take our focus OFF of what we're attracted towe have to stop looking at whatever earthly thing it is and turn our head up.
I don't where you're at with temptations today --- but you do maybe NOBODY else in your life really knows the temptations in your life but you.
Some of you guys are doing fine and this is a talk to tuck away for a day when you really need it But some of you are feeling guilt and awkwardness because there are temptations in your life that are a little too real a little too powerful already.
We must decide to look, not down on this dirty thing that leads to sin but look up to see Christ's face
Because Christianity has a face associated with it --- a face of a savior that bled real bloodfor you and for me and His power isn't a one-time sin washing Real power is available in Him and from Him IFIF we'll look to Himif we'll be humble enough to ask for the help He is so ready to give.
As Christ followers, when we wrestle with temptation and sin we CANNOT lose as long as we turn our eyes up --- look into His face and tag our Teammate for life.
