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What is temptation? It is
the means by which those who claim to be the children of God are
tested and tried. God permits temptation to come to His people today
that they may realize that He is their helper.
If they draw near to Him
when they are tempted, He strengthens them to meet the temptation.
Temptations will come upon us; through temptation we are to
be tried and tested.
There is no sin in having temptation, but sin comes in when
temptation is yielded to.
Job was severely tempted; but he
would not speak one word against God.
During Christ's life on
earth the scribes and Pharisees, instigated by Satan, tempted Him in
every possible way. But He
never allowed these temptations to lead Him from the path of
obedience.
Jesus triumphed over Satan in His conflict with
temptation. Christ
understands Satan’s power over the human race, and has conquered in
our behalf. As the Lamb of
God, He has given us the advantage of His victory, that in our
efforts to resist the temptations of Satan we may unite our weakness
to His strength, our worthlessness to His merits.
This lesson will unveil the true aim of every temptation, and
will reveal the secret to rejecting doubt in my walk with Jesus.
1.
What word did Jesus use to
describe His relationship to His Father?
John 10:30
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Note:
God Himself was crucified with Christ; for Christ was one
with the Father. The
cross is a revelation to our dull senses of the pain that, from its
very inception, sin has brought to the heart of God.
Christ came to be one with
humanity, and at the same time to reveal our heavenly Father to
sinful human beings.
2. As a result of this
at-one-ment what could Satan find in Him?
John 14:30
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Note:
From the desert to the
cross, temptation came to Christ like a furious storm.
As the fierceness of Satan's
efforts to wound the Savior's heel with his poisonous fangs
increased, the lower Christ stepped down in the path of humiliation,
self-denial, and self-sacrifice. Satan
approached Christ as he approached Adam and Eve in Eden, but he
failed in his purpose. Said
Christ, "The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me."
3.
When Jesus was baptized,
what did God the Father call Him?
Matthew 3:16-17
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Note: “This is My
beloved Son.” What does
this mean to us? When
God the Father calls you His son … what are you?
Jesus was His Son, His only
begotten Son.
4.
What was Satan’s temptation
to Christ?
Matthew 4:1-4, 6-7, 8-11
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Note:
Satan’s temptations are
prefaced with the insinuation of doubt and distrust, "If Thou be the
Son of God." Christ was tempted to answer the "if;" but He refrained
from the slightest acceptance of the doubt.
He would not imperil His
mission in order to give evidence to Satan.
The tempter tried to take advantage of Christ's humanity, and
urge Him to presumption. But
while Satan can solicit, he cannot compel to sin.
5. How was Jesus tempted?
Hebrews 4:14-16
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Note:
Many seem to think that it
is impossible not to fall under temptation, that they have no power
to overcome, and they sin against God with their lips, talking
discouragement and doubt, instead of faith and courage.
Christ was tempted in all
points like as we are, yet without sin.
He said, "The prince of this
world cometh, and hath nothing in me."
What does this mean?
It means that Satan could
find no response in Christ to his temptation; and so it may be with
us.
6.
If we do not allow Christ to
crucify self for us, what are we considered?
Hebrews
12:5-8, 11 ________________________________________________
Note:
It is not right to think
that God's children are exempt from the discipline of the cross;
because without the discipline of the cross we can never experience
victory over the very thing that alienated us from God in the first
place --- SIN. All who seek
exemption from the cross will not be counted as Son’s of God.
But why does he call those who reject the work of the cross
illegitimate rather than aliens? Because
he was addressing those who were
members of the Church, and were on this account the children of
God. But merely professing
Christ is false and deceitful if we withdraw ourselves from the
crucifixion to self that the discipline of the cross requires in
order to be sons.
7.
What must we choose in order
to be a son?
Hebrews 11:24-26
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Note:
The reproach of Christ was the cross.
If we can rejoice in tribulations, and take pleasure in the
reproach of Christ now; what will it be like when our Redeemer says,
“Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the
Lord.” O how glad we will be
that we have been counted worthy to suffer anything for such a
Savior.
8.
What are we baptized into?
Romans 6:1-4
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Note:
Baptism is an intensely serious rejection of the world; in
fact it is to be crucified to the world.
Self is, by profession, dead
to a life of sin. The waters
cover the candidate, and in the presence of the whole heavenly
universe the mutual pledge is made.
In the name of the Father, and Son, and the Holy Spirit, man
is laid in his watery grave, buried with Christ in baptism, and
raised from the water to live the new life of loyalty to God.
9. What does it mean to
be baptized into His death?
Romans 6:6-7
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Note:
Unless the body of sin is
destroyed, we will serve sin.
Unless the old man is crucified, the body of sin is not
destroyed. The only way to
be kept from sinning is the way of crucifixion and destruction.
The question, then, for us each to settle is, “Would I rather
be crucified and destroyed than to sin?”
He who chooses destruction escapes destruction.
10.
What right do we have to get
remarried (legally)?
Romans 7:1-6
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Note:
There are 4 subjects in this
incredible passage.
1.The woman. 2.The law
of marriage. 3.The 1st
husband (carnal man).
4.The 2nd husband (Christ).
Marriage is to be, ‘til death do us part.
The way we get out of this marriage is by asking Christ to
crucify self (the old man), in order that we may be married to
another … which is Christ.
11.
How are we to understand the
condition of the ‘old man’ (carnal mind) when I am ‘in Christ”?
Romans 6:11-12
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Note:
Let’s say that you are dead
in your house … I come and start hauling things away … would you
have a problem with that?
The moment you did what would that indicate?
You are NOT DEAD!
The carnal mind is dead; the dead don’t have thoughts.
But along comes Satan impersonating the dead!!!
Through spiritualism he tries to make us think that the dead
really are not dead at all.
Please…don’t believe that lie!
12.
What must take place in
order for Satan to flee from us.
James 4:7-8
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Note:
To submit means ‘to put self in subjection to,’ to who?
To God! When is
self subject to God?
Only at the Cross. When
harassed with temptations and evil thoughts, there is but One to
whom you can flee for relief. Flee to Him in your weakness.
When you draw near to
Christ, Satan's arrows are broken and cannot harm you.
Your temptations, when you
are in Christ, will purify and humble, but will not destroy or
endanger you.
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