It has stood the test of time.
00:00:07.36\00:00:12.16
God4s Book, the Bible.
00:00:12.16\00:00:17.16
Still relevant in
today4s complex world.
00:00:17.16\00:00:22.06
It Is Written sharing
hope around the globe.
00:00:22.06\00:00:36.66
I'm John Bradshaw, thanks
for joining me on It Is Written.
00:00:36.66\00:00:40.43
This really happened.
00:00:40.43\00:00:41.50
A computer glitch caused
the lights to come on and the
00:00:41.50\00:00:44.96
doors to open at a major
supermarket at one o'clock in
00:00:44.96\00:00:48.13
the morning when the
supermarket was supposed
00:00:48.13\00:00:50.40
to be closed.
00:00:50.40\00:00:51.80
It didn't take long
and in the people came -
00:00:51.80\00:00:54.56
about 50 shoppers altogether.
00:00:54.56\00:00:56.60
And before long it became
obvious to the shoppers that
00:00:56.60\00:00:59.36
there were no staff present.
00:00:59.36\00:01:01.56
They were there alone.
00:01:01.56\00:01:02.96
25 people left their shopping
behind when they realized
00:01:02.96\00:01:05.16
there was nobody there
for them to actually pay.
00:01:05.16\00:01:07.96
Twelve shoppers did pay for
their groceries by using the
00:01:07.96\00:01:11.73
self-service check-outs.
00:01:11.73\00:01:13.63
But for a dozen or so people,
the allure of free groceries
00:01:13.63\00:01:17.03
(and whatever else they
managed to jam into their
00:01:17.03\00:01:19.40
shopping carts)
was just too much.
00:01:19.40\00:01:22.36
Knowing full well they were
stealing, they made off with
00:01:22.36\00:01:24.86
free groceries - not
stopping to think that security
00:01:24.86\00:01:28.03
cameras had recorded everything.
00:01:28.03\00:01:30.10
Now that would be a
temptation, wouldn't it?
00:01:30.10\00:01:32.06
Some people probably
felt like it was a dream
00:01:32.06\00:01:34.23
come true - alone in an open
supermarket and nobody there
00:01:34.23\00:01:38.23
to stop you taking
home whatever you wanted.
00:01:38.23\00:01:41.73
The temptation proved
to be too strong for them.
00:01:41.73\00:01:45.93
And that's temptation for you.
00:01:45.93\00:01:47.83
It comes in many different
ways, and if differing degrees
00:01:47.83\00:01:50.10
of seriousness.
00:01:50.10\00:01:51.46
The temptation to gossip;
the temptation to take just one
00:01:51.46\00:01:54.66
more piece of chocolate cake;
the temptation to get revenge;
00:01:54.66\00:01:58.76
the temptation to cheat.
00:01:58.76\00:02:00.60
In 1980 a woman crossed
the line in the Boston marathon
00:02:00.60\00:02:04.13
in the impressive time
of 2 hours 31 minutes and 56
00:02:04.13\00:02:07.23
seconds - the fastest female
time in history for the Boston
00:02:07.23\00:02:09.66
marathon and the third fastest
marathon ever run by a woman.
00:02:09.66\00:02:14.53
But people noticed she
didn't look as tired as someone
00:02:14.53\00:02:17.30
ought to look for
having just run 26 miles.
00:02:17.30\00:02:20.43
She didn't look as physically
fit as a marathon runner
00:02:20.43\00:02:23.23
should.
00:02:23.23\00:02:25.10
Her resting heart rate of
76 was much higher than your
00:02:25.10\00:02:27.80
typical marathon runner,
and her time for the Boston was
00:02:27.80\00:02:32.03
25 minutes faster than her
time in the New York marathon
00:02:32.03\00:02:35.30
six months earlier -
a massive improvement.
00:02:35.30\00:02:37.66
Unbelievable, really.
00:02:37.66\00:02:39.56
And then, two university
students said they saw the
00:02:39.56\00:02:41.80
woman emerge from a crowd
of spectators half a mile from
00:02:41.80\00:02:44.76
the finish and run the
last half-mile of the race.
00:02:44.76\00:02:49.66
It doesn't take a rocket
scientist to figure out what
00:02:49.66\00:02:51.93
happened.
00:02:51.93\00:02:53.13
She wanted the glory, but
she was never going to be good
00:02:53.13\00:02:55.76
enough to win a major marathon,
so she was tempted to fabricate
00:02:55.76\00:02:59.36
the whole thing.
00:02:59.36\00:03:01.00
And she yielded
to the temptation.
00:03:01.00\00:03:03.26
You know, a similar thing
happened in October of 2011
00:03:03.26\00:03:06.40
at the Kielder Marathon
in northern England, about 60
00:03:06.40\00:03:09.16
miles from Newcastle.
00:03:09.16\00:03:10.96
It was eventually discovered
that the 31 year old man who
00:03:10.96\00:03:13.30
finished third had actually
got on a bus at the 20-mile
00:03:13.30\00:03:17.50
mark, got off the bus just
before the finish and hidden
00:03:17.50\00:03:21.16
behind a tree, and then jumped
out into the race and came
00:03:21.16\00:03:24.00
in third place.
00:03:24.00\00:03:25.96
I get it.
00:03:25.96\00:03:27.00
After running 20 miles
YOU might be tempted to take
00:03:27.00\00:03:30.13
a bus too.
00:03:30.13\00:03:32.16
Now being tempted,
though, doesn't mean you'd
00:03:32.16\00:03:34.56
necessarily do it.
00:03:34.56\00:03:36.46
Being tempted and
actually doing a certain thing
00:03:36.46\00:03:38.83
are two different things.
00:03:38.83\00:03:40.56
You might be tempted to cheat
on your taxes, fudge an expense
00:03:40.56\00:03:44.06
report, say you've cleaned
your room when you haven't,
00:03:44.06\00:03:47.90
sneak an extra piece of
pie, not tell the man at the
00:03:47.90\00:03:51.56
checkout that he's
given you too much change...
00:03:51.56\00:03:54.26
Or cheat on your
spouse or embezzle money.
00:03:54.26\00:03:58.16
And you might not do any
of it, but you may be tempted.
00:03:58.16\00:04:02.06
But temptation is
the doorway to sin.
00:04:02.06\00:04:04.66
It doesn't always lead to
sin, but it so often does,
00:04:04.66\00:04:07.53
and the
consequences can be disastrous.
00:04:07.53\00:04:11.20
I just read a story about
a teenage girl who killed a
00:04:11.20\00:04:14.26
child because she said she
wanted to know what it felt
00:04:14.26\00:04:17.06
like to kill.
00:04:17.06\00:04:19.10
Now, you'd think this child
has got some pretty intense
00:04:19.10\00:04:21.66
issues, but let's be honest
- she's not the first person
00:04:21.66\00:04:24.40
who's thought about
taking someone's life.
00:04:24.40\00:04:27.06
I imagine most people who
would have that thought ever
00:04:27.06\00:04:29.73
would just brush the thought
away and say it4s just an
00:04:29.73\00:04:33.26
episode of crazy
thinking and then move on
00:04:33.26\00:04:34.93
and forget about it.
00:04:34.93\00:04:36.53
But temptation comes -
and unless you know what to do
00:04:36.53\00:04:39.43
when it does come, you
might end up as its victim.
00:04:39.43\00:04:44.70
Stop and think for a moment
about the things that tempt
00:04:44.70\00:04:46.66
you.
00:04:46.66\00:04:47.50
Some of them might be minor
irritations - the temptation
00:04:47.50\00:04:49.53
to yell at your neighbors and
tell them to turn their music
00:04:49.53\00:04:52.43
down.
00:04:52.43\00:04:54.16
And you might know that you're
never actually going to do
00:04:54.16\00:04:56.06
that, but you're tempted
to..." I would love to do that".
00:04:56.06\00:04:59.66
But maybe you're tempted
to sell drugs to get money
00:04:59.66\00:05:02.76
to do whatever.
00:05:02.76\00:05:04.20
See, f you're having a hard
time financially that might be
00:05:04.20\00:05:06.76
a real temptation
that eats away at you.
00:05:06.76\00:05:09.50
"Just do this simple thing
and you'll have all the money
00:05:09.50\00:05:12.90
you need...
00:05:12.90\00:05:13.96
How do you deal with that?
00:05:13.96\00:05:15.26
Thankfully, the
Bible gives us the answers.
00:05:15.26\00:05:19.46
Today, we're going to
look at the example of Someone
00:05:19.46\00:05:22.23
who knew what it
was to be tempted.
00:05:22.23\00:05:24.40
That someone is Jesus.
00:05:24.40\00:05:25.76
Jesus was fiercely tempted
- and yet He never sinned,
00:05:25.76\00:05:29.66
not even once -
not even by a thought.
00:05:29.66\00:05:34.33
How was He able
to resist temptation?
00:05:34.33\00:05:37.66
I want to make
something crystal clear
00:05:37.66\00:05:39.23
right from the get-go today.
00:05:39.23\00:05:40.36
The Bible says that
you CAN resist temptation.
00:05:40.36\00:05:44.50
You don't HAVE to fall.
00:05:44.50\00:05:46.60
That's not to say you're
suddenly going to learn how
00:05:46.60\00:05:49.73
to always get it right
and never make a mistake.
00:05:49.73\00:05:51.80
Remember, that as
Christians we GROW.
00:05:51.80\00:05:54.60
But what are we growing into?
00:05:54.60\00:05:55.76
The idea is to grow to
become more and more like Jesus.
00:05:55.76\00:06:01.50
So we want to be resisting
temptation more and more and
00:06:01.50\00:06:04.46
falling into it less and less.
00:06:04.46\00:06:07.70
In 1 Corinthians
10:13 the Bible says this,
00:06:07.70\00:06:12.86
No temptation has overtaken
you except such as is common to
00:06:12.86\00:06:16.26
man; but God is faithful,
who will not allow you to be
00:06:16.26\00:06:21.10
tempted beyond what you are
able, but with the temptation
00:06:21.10\00:06:25.13
will also make the way of
escape, that you may be able
00:06:25.13\00:06:29.70
to bear it.
00:06:29.70\00:06:32.13
1 Corinthians 10:13,
NKJV That means there is a way
00:06:32.13\00:06:34.03
out, and that way out
is through faith in God.
00:06:34.03\00:06:36.50
Through Jesus.
00:06:36.50\00:06:38.40
Today's program could
absolutely change your life.
00:06:38.40\00:06:41.10
We4re about to look at
how Jesus handled temptation.
00:06:41.10\00:06:46.86
Don't go away.
00:06:46.86\00:06:48.23
I'll be right back.
00:06:48.23\00:06:50.00
???? I've been having some real
00:06:50.00\00:07:10.90
struggles in my life that I
hardly know what to do about.
00:07:10.90\00:07:15.03
I have prayed for a
solution but I see no way out.
00:07:15.03\00:07:19.30
I want to end my life, but
I don't want to go to hell.
00:07:19.30\00:07:25.00
Is suicide the unpardonable sin?
00:07:25.00\00:07:29.30
Let me tell you this.
00:07:29.30\00:07:30.70
Suicide is not the way
out for you or for anybody.
00:07:30.70\00:07:34.16
Let me tell you why.
00:07:34.16\00:07:35.30
There are several reasons.
00:07:35.30\00:07:36.60
One, you're going to
cause many people terrible pain.
00:07:36.60\00:07:41.06
There are many people who
love you deeply, and they're
00:07:41.06\00:07:43.90
going to be devastated
should you do such a thing.
00:07:43.90\00:07:46.56
Two, you're going to
cause God a lot of pain.
00:07:46.56\00:07:50.03
God hurts when you hurt,
and it will cause Him huge pain
00:07:50.03\00:07:54.30
to see you do
something like that to yourself.
00:07:54.30\00:07:57.20
Is suicide sin?
00:07:57.20\00:07:58.93
Yes it is.
00:07:58.93\00:08:00.63
(Now I know you might be
able to say,"But what about...",
00:08:00.63\00:08:02.76
but we're not going there
right now...) Murder is sin,
00:08:02.76\00:08:08.36
and suicide is self murder.
00:08:08.36\00:08:10.66
Not good.
00:08:10.66\00:08:12.46
Suicide represents a
complete loss of faith in God.
00:08:12.46\00:08:15.66
You're saying, I'm in a
place too dark, too deep for God
00:08:15.66\00:08:20.46
to get me out.
00:08:20.46\00:08:22.13
And that's not true.
00:08:22.13\00:08:24.06
1 Corinthians 10:13 says...
00:08:24.06\00:08:26.60
"There hath no temptation
taken you but such as is
00:08:26.60\00:08:31.23
common to man.
00:08:31.23\00:08:32.76
But God is faithful, who will
not suffer you to be tempted
00:08:32.76\00:08:36.23
above that ye are able, but
will with the temptation also
00:08:36.23\00:08:39.96
make a way of escape, that
you may be able to bear it."
00:08:39.96\00:08:44.50
If you're struggling, go
to God and tell God about it.
00:08:44.50\00:08:48.36
He will help you.
00:08:48.36\00:08:50.26
And He'll help you to
see that there is hope.
00:08:50.26\00:08:53.63
One other thing.
00:08:53.63\00:08:55.03
If you're experiencing
these thoughts, see somebody.
00:08:55.03\00:08:59.13
Talk to a professional.
00:08:59.13\00:09:01.03
Speak with a pastor
or minister if you can.
00:09:01.03\00:09:03.63
See a doctor.
00:09:03.63\00:09:05.03
Call the suicide
prevention line in your area.
00:09:05.03\00:09:09.70
You want to take this
seriously, and know that
00:09:09.70\00:09:14.23
there are many people who
are out there to help you.
00:09:14.23\00:09:16.86
If you have a question
you'd like answered, go to our
00:09:16.86\00:09:18.83
website www.ItIsWritten.com,
00:09:18.83\00:09:21.16
click on the questions tab.
00:09:21.16\00:09:23.70
Submit your question, and
in a future program we might be
00:09:23.70\00:09:27.20
able to answer
your Bible question.
00:09:27.20\00:09:30.50
If you have a Bible question
for pastor John Bradshaw,
00:09:30.50\00:09:33.53
please write to It Is
Written, Box O, Thousand
00:09:33.53\00:09:36.46
Oaks, California
91359 or visit our website
00:09:36.46\00:09:40.23
itiswritten.com and send
us your questions on-line.
00:09:40.23\00:09:45.30
Thanks for joining me
today on It Is Written.
00:09:45.30\00:09:47.53
I'm John Bradshaw and today
we're looking at temptation,
00:09:47.53\00:09:50.70
specifically, how
Jesus handled temptation.
00:09:50.70\00:09:53.16
Before the end of the
program, I am going to offer
00:09:53.16\00:09:55.53
you a free resource that
could be a powerful help to
00:09:55.53\00:09:59.33
you in your faith journey,
something that will help you
00:09:59.33\00:10:02.43
deal
successfully with temptation.
00:10:02.43\00:10:05.00
When Jesus was 30 years old
He started His public ministry.
00:10:05.00\00:10:08.33
And He was anointed for
His ministry by the Holy Spirit
00:10:08.33\00:10:10.46
when He was baptized
at the River Jordan by
00:10:10.46\00:10:12.63
John the Baptist.
00:10:12.63\00:10:14.06
At His baptism,
something unusual happened.
00:10:14.06\00:10:17.66
A voice from heaven
rang out - the voice of God.
00:10:17.66\00:10:20.26
He said, This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am
00:10:20.26\00:10:24.00
well pleased.
00:10:24.00\00:10:25.43
Matthew 3:17. KJV
Now, that's significant
00:10:25.43\00:10:28.13
for many reasons, not the
least of which is because of
00:10:28.13\00:10:30.70
what happened next.
00:10:30.70\00:10:32.50
That was at the
end of Matthew 3.
00:10:32.50\00:10:34.70
Matthew 4 opens with Jesus
being átemptedá by the devil.
00:10:34.70\00:10:40.50
Jesus fasts for
almost six weeks.
00:10:40.50\00:10:43.43
You know He's extremely
hungry by then - craving food,
00:10:43.43\00:10:47.06
and weak, and Satan
comes to him and says, this
00:10:47.06\00:10:50.43
in Matthew 4, "If
you are the Son of God,
00:10:50.43\00:10:56.13
command that these
stones become bread."
00:10:56.13\00:11:01.60
Now was that a
temptation for Jesus?
00:11:01.60\00:11:04.43
Of course it was!
00:11:04.43\00:11:05.13
He hadn't eaten in 40 days.
00:11:05.13\00:11:06.03
He was starving!
00:11:06.03\00:11:08.30
But more than that,
Satan said to Him,"áIFá
00:11:08.30\00:11:11.73
you're really the Son of God."
00:11:11.73\00:11:13.66
In other words, Satan
said "Prove who you really are.
00:11:13.66\00:11:17.00
It isn't just that you're
hungry, but I'm calling into
00:11:17.00\00:11:19.43
question who you really are.
00:11:19.43\00:11:20.80
You're not really
the Messiah, are you?
00:11:20.80\00:11:23.03
You're not going to believe
what your Father said, are
00:11:23.03\00:11:26.23
you?" Satan was
tempting Jesus to doubt God.
00:11:26.23\00:11:30.56
In fact, it's a lot
like what Satan said to Eve.
00:11:30.56\00:11:34.13
God had said, Eat the
fruit and you shall surely die.
00:11:34.13\00:11:37.40
But Satan said,"Has God
said you shall surely die?"
00:11:37.40\00:11:42.60
"God didn't really mean that,
did He Eve?""You're not really
00:11:42.60\00:11:45.43
going to believe the word
of God, are you?" And he takes
00:11:45.43\00:11:47.86
the same approach with Jesus.
00:11:47.86\00:11:48.46
"If you're really the
Son of God..." No doubt,
00:11:48.46\00:11:51.83
Jesus was tempted.
00:11:51.83\00:11:56.10
So notice what He did.
00:11:56.10\00:11:57.83
Jesus quoted the word of God.
00:11:57.83\00:12:00.26
In Matthew 4:4, "It Is
Written (and you've got
00:12:00.26\00:12:06.16
to like those verses that start
It Is Written) Man shall not
00:12:06.16\00:12:09.23
live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceeds from
00:12:09.23\00:12:12.50
the mouth of God."
00:12:12.50\00:12:15.30
Jesus fled to God's word.
00:12:15.30\00:12:19.63
He quoted it and believed it.
00:12:19.63\00:12:22.50
God's word was the strength in
Christ's moment of temptation.
00:12:22.50\00:12:28.30
God's word was Jesus'
weapon against temptation.
00:12:28.30\00:12:32.43
Remember, Jesus was tempted
throughout His entire ministry.
00:12:32.43\00:12:35.66
He had people following
Him around, goading Him to sin,
00:12:35.66\00:12:38.56
almost every moment of every
day, harassing Him, bothering
00:12:38.56\00:12:41.16
Him and Jesus found
His strength in God's word.
00:12:41.16\00:12:45.03
When temptation comes to you,
you'll be okay if you do what
00:12:45.03\00:12:48.70
Jesus did and run
to the word of God.
00:12:48.70\00:12:53.50
That's where the strength is.
00:12:53.50\00:12:55.23
Let me give you some examples
of what I'm talking about.
00:12:55.23\00:12:58.56
When temptation comes,
you can quote the verse I
00:12:58.56\00:13:01.10
mentioned before
1 Corinthians 10:13.
00:13:01.10\00:13:03.56
Remember, it says
this, 1 Corinthians 10:13,
00:13:03.56\00:13:06.93
But God is faithful,
who will not allow you
00:13:06.93\00:13:09.60
to be tempted beyond what
you are able, but with the
00:13:09.60\00:13:12.60
temptation will also
make the way of escape, that
00:13:12.60\00:13:15.86
you may be able to bear it.
00:13:15.86\00:13:17.76
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
That's God promising you that
00:13:17.76\00:13:19.56
He's going to give you
a way out of temptation -
00:13:19.56\00:13:22.30
whatever it is.
00:13:22.30\00:13:24.66
So when temptation comes,
you can pray and remind God of
00:13:24.66\00:13:27.60
this verse, and tell Him
that you are counting on Him
00:13:27.60\00:13:30.50
to give you a way
out of temptation.
00:13:30.50\00:13:33.33
Will He do it?
00:13:33.33\00:13:35.10
He has to - because
He has said He would.
00:13:35.10\00:13:37.63
I'd like to give you an example.
00:13:37.63\00:13:40.03
A young man told me he was
walking along a narrow street
00:13:40.03\00:13:45.10
one day, when he looked
up and saw a woman a little
00:13:45.10\00:13:50.00
further up the street standing
in the middle of the street
00:13:50.00\00:13:52.00
who was - as he said -
she was dressed to distract.
00:13:52.00\00:13:54.20
That's the way he put it.
00:13:54.20\00:13:55.30
And he said that knowing
himself, he was going to have
00:13:55.30\00:13:57.30
a difficult time keeping
his mind where it ought to be.
00:13:57.30\00:13:59.13
So here is what he did.
00:13:59.13\00:14:00.40
He prayed and asked God
to keep His promise and make
00:14:00.40\00:14:02.66
a way of escape.
00:14:02.66\00:14:04.00
He said he didn't know
how God could possibly do that
00:14:04.00\00:14:06.60
because there she was and
she didn't seem to be going
00:14:06.60\00:14:08.30
anywhere.
00:14:08.30\00:14:09.63
But when he looked up
from having said his prayer
00:14:09.63\00:14:14.86
as he walked...
00:14:14.86\00:14:15.63
the woman was actually
walking away and disappeared
00:14:15.63\00:14:17.83
around a corner!
00:14:17.83\00:14:19.03
God had kept His promise.
00:14:19.03\00:14:21.10
Here's another verse
that you will want to remember
00:14:21.10\00:14:23.20
in your battle with temptation.
00:14:23.20\00:14:28.66
It's Jude 24.
00:14:28.66\00:14:29.63
You'll find it right
before the Book of Revelation.
00:14:29.63\00:14:32.63
The Bible says, Now unto him
that is able to keep you from
00:14:32.63\00:14:35.56
falling, and to present you
faultless before the presence
00:14:35.56\00:14:38.46
of his glory with exceeding joy.
00:14:38.46\00:14:42.60
Jude 1:24, KJV
Did you catch that?
00:14:42.60\00:14:46.13
God is able to
keep you from falling.
00:14:46.13\00:14:48.63
And when you find yourself
in the midst of temptation,
00:14:48.63\00:14:50.90
if you'll bring that promise
to Jesus you can be certain He
00:14:50.90\00:14:53.50
will keep it, and that He
will keep you from falling.
00:14:53.50\00:14:56.40
You know what a big
part of the problem is?
00:14:56.40\00:15:00.86
It isn't just
that temptation comes.
00:15:00.86\00:15:02.90
That's the price we pay
for living in a sinful world.
00:15:02.90\00:15:06.00
It's that we don't have the
word of God in our minds when
00:15:06.00\00:15:09.00
temptation comes.
00:15:09.00\00:15:11.03
We can get distracted to
the point that we're not getting
00:15:11.03\00:15:14.10
God's word into our minds.
00:15:14.10\00:15:15.36
And we can be blinded to
the danger of sin by this world
00:15:15.36\00:15:20.36
that celebrates sin
and has normalized it sin.
00:15:20.36\00:15:22.90
Remember - the
wages of sin is death.
00:15:22.90\00:15:28.30
Sin separates a person from
God (Isaiah 59:9) We ought to
00:15:28.30\00:15:30.83
run from temptation as
though our life depends on it,
00:15:30.83\00:15:34.20
because -
spiritually speaking - it does.
00:15:34.20\00:15:37.66
I'll be back with more about
how you can resist temptation
00:15:37.66\00:15:41.16
in just a moment.
00:15:41.16\00:15:44.63
In Matthew 4:4 the Word of
God says"It is written 'Man
00:15:44.63\00:15:47.36
shall not live by bread
alone but by every word that
00:15:47.36\00:15:51.46
proceeds out of the mouth
of God'." Every Word is a one
00:15:51.46\00:15:54.70
minute Bible-based
daily devotional presented by
00:15:54.70\00:15:57.50
Pastor John Bradshaw and
designed especially for busy
00:15:57.50\00:16:00.93
people like you.
00:16:00.93\00:16:02.20
Look for Every Word on
selected networks or watch it
00:16:02.20\00:16:05.50
on-line everyday on our
website itiswritten.com.
00:16:05.50\00:16:09.66
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:16:09.66\00:16:11.93
Watch Every Word.
00:16:11.93\00:16:13.43
You'll be glad you did.
00:16:13.43\00:16:20.16
Planning for your financial
future is a vital aspect of
00:16:20.16\00:16:24.10
Christian Stewardship.
00:16:24.10\00:16:24.96
For this reason, It Is
Written is pleased to offer
00:16:24.96\00:16:27.00
free planned giving
and estate services.
00:16:27.00\00:16:29.53
For information on how
we can help you, please call
00:16:29.53\00:16:31.76
1.800.992.2219.
00:16:31.76\00:16:33.16
Call today or visit
our special website:
00:16:33.16\00:16:38.23
www.hislegacy.com.
00:16:38.23\00:16:47.86
I'm glad you're with
me today on It Is Written.
00:16:47.86\00:16:49.93
Today, how can we
successfully handle temptation?
00:16:49.93\00:16:53.96
It's everywhere.
00:16:53.96\00:16:55.46
Now keep this in mind.
00:16:55.46\00:16:57.83
All Satan can do
is átemptá you to sin.
00:16:57.83\00:17:01.50
He can't force you to sin.
00:17:01.50\00:17:02.33
He tempts - you choose.
00:17:02.33\00:17:04.53
There's always a choice
available to us to make,
00:17:04.53\00:17:09.40
and that choice is to
go with God or go it alone.
00:17:09.40\00:17:11.83
To say Yes to Jesus,
or to say Yes to self.
00:17:11.83\00:17:15.40
When it comes to fending off
temptation, the best thing we
00:17:15.40\00:17:18.03
can do is imitate what
Jesus did when He was tempted
00:17:18.03\00:17:21.93
in the wilderness.
00:17:21.93\00:17:22.83
Satan tempted Him to
turn stones into bread,
00:17:22.83\00:17:25.43
and to doubt His Father.
00:17:25.43\00:17:27.30
Remember, the Father had told
Jesus that He was God's Son.
00:17:27.30\00:17:29.46
Satan says this, he said
"If you're the Son of God, do
00:17:29.46\00:17:31.00
this." And Jesus met him
with that great Bible verse when
00:17:31.00\00:17:38.56
He said, It is written,
'Man shall not live by bread
00:17:38.56\00:17:43.06
alone, but by every word
that proceeds from the mouth
00:17:43.06\00:17:47.93
of God.
00:17:47.93\00:17:49.13
Matthew 4:4 I'm
going to believe my Father.
00:17:49.13\00:17:51.23
Even if it doesn't look
like I'm the Son of God out here
00:17:51.23\00:17:53.20
in the wilderness, I'll
believe God's word before I
00:17:53.20\00:17:57.30
believe even appearances."
00:17:57.30\00:17:58.50
So Satan tried twice more.
00:17:58.50\00:18:01.70
"Jump off this high place,
because thangels will catch
00:18:01.70\00:18:05.60
you and you'll be okay!"
And Jesus said, It is written
00:18:05.60\00:18:08.43
again, 'You shall not
tempt the LORD your God."
00:18:08.43\00:18:11.96
Matthew 4:7, NKJV
"Bow down and worship me,
00:18:11.96\00:18:16.00
and I'll give you the
kingdoms of the world,"
00:18:16.00\00:18:16.93
and Jesus said in Matthew 4:10,
00:18:16.93\00:18:17.66
You shall worship the
LORD your God, and Him only
00:18:17.66\00:18:18.70
you shall serve.
00:18:18.70\00:18:19.06
Matthew 4:10 NKJV
The devil was defeated.
00:18:19.06\00:18:19.96
Temptation has no
power over the word of God.
00:18:19.96\00:18:32.93
The promises of God are
enough to see off the foe -
00:18:32.93\00:18:34.96
the Satan is no match for
the weakest sinner armed with
00:18:34.96\00:18:43.23
simple faith in the
promises of God's word.
00:18:43.23\00:18:45.26
Now, before I look at
more promises with you, let me
00:18:45.26\00:18:46.83
make a couple of
practical suggestions.
00:18:46.83\00:18:48.26
If you want to resist
temptation, you can start by
00:18:48.26\00:18:50.03
not putting yourself in its way.
00:18:50.03\00:18:52.63
If lust is problem, don't
go down to the beach on a hot
00:18:52.63\00:18:55.36
summer's day.
00:18:55.36\00:18:56.96
If alcohol is a
problem, don't meet a friend
00:18:56.96\00:19:00.73
at the bar.
00:19:00.73\00:19:01.83
If you get frazzled rushing
off to work each morning,
00:19:01.83\00:19:03.63
give yourself more time
in the morning by getting up
00:19:03.63\00:19:05.13
a little earlier.
00:19:05.13\00:19:05.83
If you're tempted to eat
junk food, stop by a store that
00:19:05.83\00:19:07.43
sells healthy good.
00:19:07.43\00:19:12.40
áGet more sleepá.
00:19:12.40\00:19:14.03
Get more exercise.
00:19:14.03\00:19:15.10
These two things will help
you feel better and help your
00:19:15.10\00:19:17.30
brain to function better.
00:19:17.30\00:19:18.93
Now I'm not saying these
are the big keys, they're not -
00:19:18.93\00:19:21.60
but they'll help.
00:19:21.60\00:19:23.26
The big key is
claiming the promises of God.
00:19:23.26\00:19:27.86
In fact, you could broaden
that a little to emphasize
00:19:27.86\00:19:30.83
how important it is that
we keep in touch with God.
00:19:30.83\00:19:33.73
When I became a Christian,
I knew my life had really
00:19:33.73\00:19:36.43
changed when one day I hit
my thumb with a hammer, and
00:19:36.43\00:19:40.50
instead of saying something
I'd regret I said a prayer.
00:19:40.50\00:19:46.40
Now, now I don't mean I
whacked my thumb and then
00:19:46.40\00:19:48.66
bowed my head and
said, Father in heaven...
00:19:48.66\00:19:50.26
I don't mean that.
00:19:50.26\00:19:51.06
I mean, when I hit my thumb,
my first instinct was to talk
00:19:51.06\00:19:53.00
to God.
00:19:53.00\00:19:53.53
And when I reflected
on that I thought, Wow,
00:19:53.53\00:19:55.53
God is really working.
00:19:55.53\00:19:57.10
Why was he working?
00:19:57.10\00:19:57.96
Because I was in touch
with him and being in touch with
00:19:57.96\00:19:59.66
Him kept me from sin.
00:19:59.66\00:20:00.36
He gave me strength in
the face of temptation.
00:20:00.36\00:20:03.23
If you let your devotional
life slip, if you're not
00:20:03.23\00:20:04.96
reading the Bible, if you're
not connecting with God in
00:20:04.96\00:20:18.03
prayer, you'll have little
power to resist temptation.
00:20:18.03\00:20:19.43
Little or none.
00:20:19.43\00:20:20.36
The power comes from
abiding in Christ, by having the
00:20:20.36\00:20:21.96
power of the Holy
Spirit in your life.
00:20:21.96\00:20:24.03
Jesus said to His disciples
one day,"Watch and pray that
00:20:24.03\00:20:27.13
you enter not into temptation."
00:20:27.13\00:20:27.76
It will come to you,
but you don't have to
00:20:27.76\00:20:33.33
enter into it.
00:20:33.33\00:20:34.23
If you watch and pray.
00:20:34.23\00:20:35.66
We're told to pray in the
Lord's Prayer,"Lead us not
00:20:35.66\00:20:38.23
into temptation, but
deliver us from evil."
00:20:38.23\00:20:42.36
This thing is a part
of our daily existence.
00:20:42.36\00:20:45.63
Billy Sunday once said,
"Temptation is the devil
00:20:45.63\00:20:48.36
looking through the keyhole.
00:20:48.36\00:20:50.23
Yielding is opening the
door and inviting him in."
00:20:50.23\00:20:54.76
The devil can tempt.
00:20:54.76\00:20:55.86
He will.
00:20:55.86\00:20:57.00
He knows your weak points,
and he'll do everything he
00:20:57.00\00:21:00.43
can to exploit them.
00:21:00.43\00:21:01.76
He'll try to make you late
and harried in the morning.
00:21:01.76\00:21:05.03
He'll jab the neighbor's dog
to bark at 4.30 in the morning
00:21:05.03\00:21:09.06
so you'll wake up cranky.
00:21:09.06\00:21:10.03
He'll encourage you to think
that when your spouse said,
00:21:10.03\00:21:12.73
Hi, how was your day?,
that what he or she was really
00:21:12.73\00:21:16.26
saying was,"I really don't
like you very much anymore."
00:21:16.26\00:21:18.80
He'll play mind games with you.
00:21:18.80\00:21:20.93
But if you'll learn to run
to God - and lean on His word -
00:21:20.93\00:21:23.63
you'll be okay.
00:21:23.63\00:21:25.53
If you're tempted to say
things you shouldn't, take
00:21:25.53\00:21:27.56
this Bible verse to God.
00:21:27.56\00:21:29.33
Set a watch, O LORD, before
my mouth; keep the door of
00:21:29.33\00:21:33.16
my lips.
00:21:33.16\00:21:36.50
Psalms 141:3 You're asking
00:21:36.50\00:21:41.10
God to take over when
you take that verse to Him -
00:21:41.10\00:21:43.70
you're surrendering to God.
00:21:43.70\00:21:44.26
And remember what James
wrote, Submit yourselves
00:21:44.26\00:21:46.33
therefore to God.
00:21:46.33\00:21:47.53
Resist the devil, and
he will flee from you.
00:21:47.53\00:21:50.76
James 4:7, KJV You submit,
you resist through the Word,
00:21:50.76\00:21:57.10
and the devil flees.
00:21:57.10\00:21:59.36
It works.
00:21:59.36\00:22:05.93
Hebrews 2:18 says, For in
that he himself hath suffered
00:22:05.93\00:22:09.43
being tempted, he is able
to aid them that are tempted.
00:22:09.43\00:22:11.23
Hebrews 2:18, KJV See that?
00:22:11.23\00:22:12.73
Jesus knows what it is
like to be tempted, and so
00:22:12.73\00:22:14.10
He's able to help
you when you're tempted.
00:22:14.10\00:22:16.76
"Lord, I'm tempted to
think you've abandoned me!"
00:22:16.76\00:22:20.16
I will never leave
you nor forsake you.
00:22:20.16\00:22:22.60
Hebrews 13:5 NKJV
"Lord, I'm so weak!"
00:22:22.60\00:22:25.33
My strength is made
perfect in weakness.
00:22:25.33\00:22:30.86
2 Corinthians 12:9 It
is God who works in you
00:22:30.86\00:22:33.50
both to will and to
do for His good pleasure.
00:22:33.50\00:22:36.23
Philippians 2:13,
NKJV The promises of God
00:22:36.23\00:22:38.70
were Jesus' way out of
temptation, and they'll deliver
00:22:38.70\00:22:41.46
you too.
00:22:41.46\00:22:43.36
And one thought I want to
make sure I share with you
00:22:43.36\00:22:46.86
today - If you have
fallen into temptation, remember
00:22:46.86\00:22:51.96
another one of God's promises.
00:22:51.96\00:22:52.83
1 John 1:9 If we
confess our sins,
00:22:52.83\00:23:02.96
He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to
00:23:02.96\00:23:05.96
cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.
00:23:05.96\00:23:07.46
1 John 1:9 As much
as you don't want to
00:23:07.46\00:23:09.63
fall into temptation, should
you do so you can afford to
00:23:09.63\00:23:11.50
remember that God
is a forgiving God.
00:23:11.50\00:23:16.36
[Music] What would you do if
you found $45,000 that wasn't
00:23:16.36\00:23:26.00
yours - would you
be tempted to keep it?
00:23:26.00\00:23:37.70
What if nobody knew, and
if nobody could possibly know
00:23:37.70\00:23:40.36
you'd found the money -
what if there would be no
00:23:40.36\00:23:42.83
questions asked?
00:23:42.83\00:23:45.30
When a Utah man named Josh
Ferrin bought his first house
00:23:45.30\00:23:53.23
he started looking around
in the attic, where he found a
00:23:53.23\00:23:56.50
number of metal boxes [music]
that turned out to be stuffed
00:23:56.50\00:24:10.86
full with about $45,000.
00:24:10.86\00:24:24.43
[Music.] Here's what he said.
00:24:24.43\00:24:26.50
"I'm not perfect, and I
wish I could say there was never
00:24:26.50\00:24:30.03
any doubt in my mind.
00:24:30.03\00:24:32.76
We knew we had to give it
back, but it doesn't mean I
00:24:32.76\00:24:35.56
didn't think about our car
in need of repairs, how we would
00:24:35.56\00:24:39.36
love to adopt a child and
aren't' able to do that right
00:24:39.36\00:24:44.80
now, or fix up our outdated
house that we just bought."
00:24:44.80\00:24:48.03
He was tempted.
00:24:48.03\00:24:49.70
Strongly.
00:24:49.70\00:24:51.50
But he said,"But
the money wasn't ours...
00:24:51.50\00:24:55.30
and this is a lesson I
hope to teach my children."
00:24:55.30\00:24:58.80
He could have caved in to
the temptation, but he didn't.
00:24:58.80\00:25:03.03
And you don't have to.
00:25:03.03\00:25:04.63
And I don't have to, as
long as we stay connected to
00:25:04.63\00:25:07.96
Jesus, and claim the
promises of His word.
00:25:07.96\00:25:13.33
There's something I'd like
to offer you this week that
00:25:13.33\00:25:18.33
I believe will be a real
blessing to you as you seek
00:25:18.33\00:25:20.36
to live a life of
integrity before God.
00:25:20.36\00:25:21.93
"God's Promises" is a little
book containing a number of
00:25:21.93\00:25:23.86
the powerful promises
of God that will help you
00:25:23.86\00:25:27.46
be successful
against temptation.
00:25:27.46\00:25:29.53
Just call or write and
I'll send you"God's Promises".
00:25:29.53\00:25:31.36
There's no cost or obligation.
00:25:31.36\00:25:32.46
It's absolutely free.
00:25:32.46\00:25:38.70
Just call 1-800-253-3000,
00:25:38.70\00:25:40.56
ask for"God's Promises".
00:25:40.56\00:25:41.76
You can call 24-hours a day.
00:25:41.76\00:25:43.50
If the lines are busy,
please just keep on trying.
00:25:43.50\00:25:46.40
You can also request your
free copy of"God's Promises"
00:25:46.40\00:25:49.16
by writing to: It Is Written,
00:25:49.16\00:25:51.53
Box O, Thousand Oaks,
CA 91359, and we will mail
00:25:51.53\00:25:55.93
a copy to your
address in North America.
00:25:55.93\00:25:58.50
Please note that this free
book is limited to the supply
00:25:58.50\00:26:02.33
on hand.
00:26:02.33\00:26:03.63
For immediate access, you
can download a FREE electronic
00:26:03.63\00:26:05.93
version of the book God's
Promises from our website:
00:26:05.93\00:26:09.36
itiswritten.com
It Is Written is a
00:26:09.36\00:26:12.10
faith-based ministry made
possible by viewers like you.
00:26:12.10\00:26:14.83
I want to say"thank you"
to you for your support of
00:26:14.83\00:26:17.86
It Is Written.
00:26:17.86\00:26:18.73
To support the worldwide
outreach of It Is Written, to
00:26:18.73\00:26:21.36
make it possible for people
to continue receiving this
00:26:21.36\00:26:23.80
broadcast, your
tax-deductible gift may be
00:26:23.80\00:26:26.83
sent to the same address.
00:26:26.83\00:26:28.50
Or you can give
online at: itiswritten.com.
00:26:28.50\00:26:30.90
Thank you for
your continued support.
00:26:30.90\00:26:33.33
Our toll-free
number is: 1-800-253-3000.
00:26:33.33\00:26:36.96
And our web
address is: itiswritten.com
00:26:36.96\00:26:41.66
Temptations are
serious business.
00:26:41.66\00:26:44.46
Understanding how to defeat
it rather than be defeated by
00:26:44.46\00:26:47.20
it can revolutionize your life.
00:26:47.20\00:26:49.83
Let's pray together.
00:26:49.83\00:26:51.10
I'd like to ask God to
give you victory whenever
00:26:51.10\00:26:57.26
temptation comes.
00:26:57.26\00:26:58.06
Our Father in heaven, we
thank you that we serve a
00:26:58.06\00:26:59.93
Saviour who is victorious
and who will give us His victory
00:26:59.93\00:27:02.76
so that we don't
need to experience defeat.
00:27:02.76\00:27:04.60
Lord, make us sensible
to temptation when it comes.
00:27:04.60\00:27:07.00
Alert us to call to you,
to trust in you, to claim
00:27:07.00\00:27:09.23
your word.
00:27:09.23\00:27:12.13
Help us Father to put your
word in our mind so that when
00:27:12.13\00:27:15.50
temptation comes our
mind will go to you and to the
00:27:15.50\00:27:18.50
promises that are
found in the Bible.
00:27:18.50\00:27:23.56
We thank you for a way out
of temptation and for victory
00:27:23.56\00:27:25.83
through Christ and we
pray in Jesus' name, amen.
00:27:25.83\00:27:29.00
????????? ???
Thanks for joining me
00:27:29.00\00:27:45.83
today.
00:27:45.83\00:27:46.53
Look forward to
seeing you next time.
00:27:46.53\00:27:48.76
Until then,
remember It Is Written,
00:27:48.76\00:27:50.86
man shall not live by
bread alone but by every
00:27:50.86\00:27:53.03
word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.
00:27:53.03\00:27:56.20