www.TheDavidAlliance.com
TDAgiantslayer@gmail.com
webstix.com Tony Herman - the coolest cat on the net
An overweight businessman decided it was time to shed some excess pounds. He
took his new diet seriously, even changing his driving route to avoid his
favorite bakery. One morning, however, he showed up at work with a gigantic
coffee cake. Everyone in the office scolded him, but his smile remained
nonetheless. "This is a special coffee cake," he explained. "I acci...
www.TheDavidAlliance.com
TDAgiantslayer@gmail.com
webstix.com Tony Herman - the coolest cat on the net
An overweight businessman decided it was time to shed some excess pounds. He
took his new diet seriously, even changing his driving route to avoid his
favorite bakery. One morning, however, he showed up at work with a gigantic
coffee cake. Everyone in the office scolded him, but his smile remained
nonetheless. "This is a special coffee cake," he explained. "I accidentally
drove by the bakery this morning and there in the window was a host of
goodies. I felt it was no accident, so I prayed, 'Lord, if you want me to
have one of those delicious coffee cakes, let there be a parking spot open
right in front.' And sure enough, the eighth time around the block, there it
was!"
TEMPTATION
The devil, your enemy, goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat. Refuse to give in to him, by standing strong in your faith.
1 PETER 5:8-9
You've got to admit, some of our hearts are trashed out. Let any riffraff knock on the door, and we throw it open. Anger shows up, and we let him in. Revenge needs a place to stay, so we have him pull up a chair. Pity wants to have a party, so we show him the kitchen. Lust rings the bell, and we change the sheets on the bed. Don't we know how to say no?
Many don't. For most of us, thought management is, well, unthought of. We think much about time management, weight management, personnel management, even scalp management. But what about thought management? Shouldn't we be as concerned about managing our thoughts as we are managing anything else? Jesus was. Like a trained soldier at the gate of a city, he stood watch over his mind. He stubbornly guarded the gateway of his heart. . . .
If he did, shouldn't we . . . ?
Theme: Temptation
Matthew 4:1-11
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by
the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The
tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones
to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'[a]"
5Then 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."
7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your
God to the test."
8Again, 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."
10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written:
'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only."
11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
What is your plan to deal with temptation in times of stress, pressure or
great need? We need an effective plan for those moments. An effective plan
has five weapons to put the devil on the defense.
First: We need to identify our top areas of temptation:
1. Perhaps it is a critical spirit of others.
(I will use this as an example… but apply your temptations to this biblical formula)
2. You can always see the bad in others.
3. Even if they did ten things right you can always point out the one thing they didn¹t do.
Second: Find one to three passages that teach us to be positive and loving
toward others thereby countering this temptation of criticism.
1. Pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another² (Romans 14:19).
2. Show tolerance [forbearance] to one another² (Ephesians 4:2).
3. Do not complain against one another² (James 5:9).
Third: Recognize the key words and phrases you use to express that critical spirit.
1. You always...
2. Why did you do it that way....
3. I would have done it this way....
4. You drive me crazy....
5. You fill in the blank.
If you are really courageous ask several family members or friends, one on one, to tell you what you say as you begin ??????to express that critical spirit.
Fourth: Ask the Lord Jesus to help you:
1. Hear yourself.
2. To stop you when start being critical.
3. To change your spirit.
4. To fill you will patience, kindness and love.
Fifth: Practice, practice, practice. Pledge to yourself that you will:
1. Keep you mouth shut for the next thirty days and just listen
2. If you open your mouth and the negative begins to emerge you
will stop the moment the Holy Spirit brings to mind those passages you¹ve
memorized
3. Back up, apologize if need be and go back to listening.
4. Continue this practice of turning to scripture and letting God¹s
word become your words.
