It has stood the test of time.
00:00:07.50\00:00:12.16
God4s Book, the Bible.
00:00:12.16\00:00:17.30
Still relevant in
today4s complex world.
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It Is Written sharing
hope around the globe.
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I'm John Bradshaw, thanks
for joining me on It Is Written.
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This really happened.
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A computer glitch caused
the lights to come on and the
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doors to open at a major
supermarket at one o'clock in
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the morning when the
supermarket was supposed to
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be closed.
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It didn't take long and
in the people came - about 50
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shoppers altogether.
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And before long it became
obvious to the shoppers that
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there were no staff present.
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They were there alone.
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25 people left their shopping
behind when they realized
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there was nobody there
for them to actually pay.
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Twelve shoppers did pay for
their groceries by using the
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self-service check-outs.
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But for a dozen or so people,
the allure of free groceries
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(and whatever else they
managed to jam into their
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shopping carts)
was just too much.
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Knowing full well they were
stealing, they made off with
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free groceries - not
stopping to think that security
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cameras had recorded everything.
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Now that would be a
temptation, wouldn't it?
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Some people probably felt
like it was a dream come true
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- alone in an open
supermarket and nobody there
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to stop you taking
home whatever you wanted.
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The temptation proved
to be too strong for them.
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And that's temptation for you.
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It comes in many
different ways, and if differing
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degrees of seriousness.
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The temptation to gossip;
the temptation to take just one
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more piece of chocolate
cake; the temptation to get
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revenge; the
temptation to cheat.
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In 1980 a woman crossed
the line in the Boston marathon
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in the impressive time
of 2 hours 31 minutes and 56
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seconds - the fastest
female time in history for the
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Boston marathon and the third
fastest marathon ever run by
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a woman.
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But people noticed she
didn't look as tired as someone
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ought to look for
having just run 26 miles.
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She didn't look as physically
fit as a marathon runner
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should either.
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Her resting heart rate of
76 was much higher than your
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typical marathon runner,
and her time for the Boston was
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25 minutes faster than her
time in the New York marathon
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six months earlier -
a massive improvement.
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Unbelievable, really.
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And then, two university
students said they saw the
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woman emerge from a crowd
of spectators half a mile from
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the finish and run only
the last half-mile of the race.
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It doesn't take a rocket
scientist to figure out what
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happened.
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She wanted the glory, but
she was never going to be good
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enough to win a major
marathon, so she was tempted
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to fabricate the whole thing.
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And she yielded
to the temptation.
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You know, a similar thing
happened in October of 2011
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at the Kielder Marathon
in northern England, about 60
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miles from Newcastle.
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It was eventually discovered
that the 31 year old man who
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finished third had actually
got on a bus at the 20-mile
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mark, got off the bus just
before the finish and hidden
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behind a tree, and then
jumped out into the race and
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came in in third place.
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Now I get it and
you probably do too.
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After running 20 miles
YOU might be tempted to take a
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bus too.
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Now being tempted,
though, doesn't mean you'd
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necessarily do it.
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Being tempted and actually
doing a certain thing are two
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very different things.
00:03:38.16\00:03:39.86
You might be tempted to
cheat on your taxes, fudge an
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expense report, say you've
cleaned your room when you
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haven't, sneak an extra piece
of pie, not tell the man at
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the checkout that he's
given you too much change...
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Or cheat on your
spouse or embezzle money.
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And you might not do any
of it, but you may be tempted.
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But temptation is
the doorway to sin.
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It doesn't always lead to
sin, but it so often does,
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and the
consequences can be disastrous.
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I just read a story about
a teenage girl who killed a
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child because she said she
wanted to know what it felt
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like to kill.
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Now, you'd think this child
has got some pretty intense
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issues, but let's be honest
- she's not the first person
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who's thought about
taking someone's life.
00:04:24.03\00:04:26.60
I imagine most people who
would have that thought ever
00:04:26.60\00:04:29.06
would just brush the thought
away and say it4s just an
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episode of crazy thinking and
then move on and forget about
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it.
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But temptation comes -
and unless you know what to do
00:04:35.63\00:04:39.46
when it does come, you
might end up as its victim.
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Stop and think for a moment
about the things that tempt
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you.
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Some of them might be minor
irritations - the temptation
00:04:46.93\00:04:49.63
to yell at your neighbors and
tell them to turn their music
00:04:49.63\00:04:52.40
down.
00:04:52.40\00:04:53.40
And you might know that
you're never actually going
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to do that, but you're
tempted ... "I would love to
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do that".
00:04:58.03\00:04:59.20
But maybe you're tempted to
sell drugs to get money to do
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whatever.
00:05:02.73\00:05:03.73
See, if you're having a
hard time financially that might
00:05:03.73\00:05:05.80
be a real temptation
that eats away at you.
00:05:05.80\00:05:08.86
"Just do this simple thing
and you'll have all the money
00:05:08.86\00:05:11.63
you need..." How does
a person deal with that?
00:05:11.63\00:05:15.30
Thankfully, the
Bible gives us the answers.
00:05:15.30\00:05:19.23
Today, we're going to look
at the example of Someone who
00:05:19.23\00:05:21.66
knew what it was to be tempted.
00:05:21.66\00:05:23.86
That Someone is Jesus.
00:05:23.86\00:05:25.66
Jesus was fiercely tempted
- and yet He never sinned, not
00:05:25.66\00:05:29.80
even once - not
even by a thought.
00:05:29.80\00:05:33.76
How was He able
to resist temptation?
00:05:33.76\00:05:36.56
I want to make something
crystal clear right from the
00:05:36.56\00:05:38.83
get-go today.
00:05:38.83\00:05:39.86
The Bible says that
you CAN resist temptation.
00:05:39.86\00:05:44.10
You don't HAVE to fall.
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That's not to say you're
suddenly going to learn how
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to always get it right
and never make a mistake.
00:05:48.20\00:05:50.76
Remember, that as
Christians we GROW.
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But what are we growing into?
00:05:54.06\00:05:56.66
The idea is to grow to
become more and more like Jesus.
00:05:56.66\00:06:01.13
So we want to be resisting
temptation more and more and
00:06:01.13\00:06:04.03
falling into it less and less.
00:06:04.03\00:06:07.20
In 1 Corinthians 10:13
the Bible says this, No
00:06:07.20\00:06:12.43
temptation has overtaken
you except such as is common to
00:06:12.43\00:06:16.00
man; but God is faithful,
who will not allow you to be
00:06:16.00\00:06:20.30
tempted beyond what you are
able, but with the temptation
00:06:20.30\00:06:24.76
will also make the way of
escape, that you may be able
00:06:24.76\00:06:29.06
to bear it.
00:06:29.06\00:06:30.06
1 Corinthians 10:13,
NKJV That means there is a way
00:06:30.06\00:06:32.70
out, and that way out
is through faith in God.
00:06:32.70\00:06:35.80
Through Jesus.
00:06:35.80\00:06:38.13
Today's program could
absolutely change your life.
00:06:38.13\00:06:42.66
We4re about to look at
how Jesus handled temptation.
00:06:42.66\00:06:46.56
Don't go away.
00:06:46.56\00:06:47.66
I'll be right back.
00:06:47.66\00:06:49.66
In Matthew 4:4, the word of
God says, It is written, man
00:06:51.13\00:06:54.96
shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that
00:06:54.96\00:06:58.70
proceeds from the mouth of God.
00:06:58.70\00:07:00.83
Every Word is a one minute
Bible-based daily devotional
00:07:00.83\00:07:04.00
presented by Pastor
John Bradshaw and designed
00:07:04.00\00:07:09.83
especially for
busy people like you.
00:07:09.83\00:07:11.26
Look for Every Word on
selected networks or watch it
00:07:11.26\00:07:12.93
on line every day on our
website: itiswritten.com.
00:07:12.93\00:07:16.60
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:07:16.60\00:07:19.13
Watch Every Word.
00:07:19.13\00:07:20.43
You4ll be glad you did.
00:07:20.43\00:07:22.10
Here4s a sample:
00:07:22.10\00:07:24.63
Thanks for joining me.
00:07:32.26\00:07:33.33
I wonder if there's a better
verse to describe a certain
00:07:33.33\00:07:35.53
problem that
afflicts the human family.
00:07:35.53\00:07:37.73
Proverbs 21:2 says that,
"Every way of a man is right
00:07:37.73\00:07:41.06
in his own eyes."
00:07:41.06\00:07:44.76
This affects all of us: people
00:07:41.06\00:07:44.76
have a tremendous capacity
to convince themselves that
00:07:44.76\00:07:47.76
their way is right.
00:07:47.76\00:07:49.06
Which is fine, if it IS right.
00:07:49.06\00:07:51.66
In the Garden of Eden
Satan tempted Adam and Eve to do
00:07:51.66\00:07:53.66
what THEY thought was
right, even if God's will was
00:07:53.66\00:07:56.13
different.
00:07:56.13\00:07:57.20
Facing Satan in the
wilderness, Jesus quoted
00:07:57.20\00:07:59.40
Deuteronomy and said
that people ought to live "by
00:07:59.40\00:08:02.26
every word that
proceeds from the mouth of GOD."
00:08:02.26\00:08:03.56
Tis good to have
opinions and ideas.
00:08:03.56\00:08:06.73
But remember today we can
get in a fix doing that which is
00:08:06.73\00:08:10.66
right in our eyes.
00:08:10.66\00:08:11.96
What we want, is to know,
and do, that which is right in
00:08:11.96\00:08:15.56
GOD'S eyes.
00:08:15.56\00:08:17.63
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:08:17.63\00:08:19.80
Let's live today by Every Word.
00:08:19.80\00:08:22.80
Planning for your financial
future is vital aspect of
00:08:26.93\00:08:29.66
Christian stewardship.
00:08:29.66\00:08:31.20
For this reason, It Is
Written is pleased to offer
00:08:31.20\00:08:33.56
free Planned Giving
and Estate Services.
00:08:33.56\00:08:36.43
For information on how
we can help you, please call
00:08:36.43\00:08:39.06
1.800.992.2219.
00:08:39.06\00:08:42.80
Call today or
visit our special website
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www.hislegacy.com.
00:08:45.53\00:08:49.43
Thanks for joining me
today on It Is Written.
00:08:54.90\00:08:57.10
I4m John Bradshaw and today
we're looking at temptation,
00:08:57.10\00:09:00.50
specifically, how
Jesus handled temptation.
00:09:00.50\00:09:04.26
Before the end of the
program, I am going to offer
00:09:04.26\00:09:06.26
you a free resource that
could be a powerful tool to
00:09:06.26\00:09:08.96
help you in your faith
journey, something that will
00:09:08.96\00:09:11.40
help you deal
successfully with temptation.
00:09:11.40\00:09:14.80
When Jesus was 30 years
old He started His public
00:09:14.80\00:09:17.33
ministry.
00:09:17.33\00:09:18.33
And He was anointed for
His ministry by the Holy Spirit
00:09:18.33\00:09:20.70
when He was baptized at
the River Jordan by John the
00:09:20.70\00:09:22.83
Baptist.
00:09:22.83\00:09:24.16
At His baptism,
something unusual happened.
00:09:24.16\00:09:27.40
A voice from heaven
rang out - the voice of God.
00:09:27.40\00:09:30.40
He said, This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well
00:09:30.40\00:09:34.13
pleased.
00:09:34.13\00:09:35.13
You read that in Matthew 3:17.
00:09:35.13\00:09:37.13
KJV Now, that's significant
for many reasons, not the
00:09:37.13\00:09:39.46
least of which is
because of what happened next.
00:09:39.46\00:09:42.43
That was at the
end of Matthew 3.
00:09:42.43\00:09:44.56
Matthew 4 opens with Jesus
being "tempted" by the devil.
00:09:44.56\00:09:50.10
Jesus fasts for
almost six weeks.
00:09:50.10\00:09:53.00
You know He's extremely
hungry by then - craving
00:09:53.00\00:09:55.56
food, and He's weak, and
Satan comes to Him and says,
00:09:55.56\00:09:59.23
this in Matthew 4, "If you
are the Son of God, command
00:09:59.23\00:10:06.13
that these stones
become bread." Now was that a
00:10:06.13\00:10:11.30
temptation for Jesus?
00:10:11.30\00:10:12.56
Of course it was!
00:10:12.56\00:10:14.63
He hadn't eaten in 40 days.
00:10:14.63\00:10:16.16
He was starving!
00:10:16.16\00:10:17.83
But more than that,
Satan said to Him, "IF" you're
00:10:17.83\00:10:21.80
really the Son of God."
In other words, Satan said
00:10:21.80\00:10:24.63
"Prove who you really are.
00:10:24.63\00:10:26.53
It isn't just that you're
hungry, but I'm calling into
00:10:26.53\00:10:28.66
question who you really are.
00:10:28.66\00:10:31.03
You're not really
the Messiah, are you?
00:10:31.03\00:10:33.60
You're not going to believe
what your Father said, are
00:10:33.60\00:10:35.96
you?" Satan was
tempting Jesus to doubt God.
00:10:35.96\00:10:40.63
In fact, it's a lot
like what Satan said to Eve.
00:10:40.63\00:10:43.63
God had said, Eat the
fruit and you shall surely die.
00:10:43.63\00:10:46.46
But Satan said, "Has God
said you shall surely die?" "God
00:10:46.46\00:10:52.20
didn't really mean that,
did He Eve?" "You're not really
00:10:52.20\00:10:54.80
going to believe the word
of God, are you?" And he takes
00:10:54.80\00:10:57.66
the same approach with Jesus.
00:10:57.66\00:10:59.66
"If you're really the Son
of God..." No doubt, Jesus was
00:10:59.66\00:11:04.23
tempted.
00:11:04.23\00:11:05.40
So notice what He did.
00:11:05.40\00:11:07.53
Jesus quoted the word of God.
00:11:07.53\00:11:10.33
In Matthew 4:4, Jesus
says this "It Is Written (and
00:11:10.33\00:11:15.20
you've got to like
those verses that start It Is
00:11:15.20\00:11:17.20
Written) Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every
00:11:17.20\00:11:22.70
word that proceeds from the
mouth of God." Jesus fled to
00:11:22.70\00:11:28.83
God's word.
00:11:28.83\00:11:29.96
He quoted it and believed it.
00:11:29.96\00:11:32.13
God's word was the
strength in Christ's moment of
00:11:32.13\00:11:36.00
temptation.
00:11:36.00\00:11:37.50
God's word was Jesus'
weapon against temptation.
00:11:37.50\00:11:41.76
Remember, Jesus was
tempted throughout His entire
00:11:41.76\00:11:44.33
ministry.
00:11:44.33\00:11:45.33
He had people following
Him around, goading Him to sin,
00:11:45.33\00:11:47.93
almost every moment of every
day, harassing Him, bothering
00:11:47.93\00:11:50.83
Him and Jesus found
His strength in God's word.
00:11:50.83\00:11:53.70
When temptation comes to you,
you'll be okay if you do what
00:11:53.70\00:11:58.33
Jesus did and run
to the word of God.
00:11:58.33\00:12:01.73
That's where the strength is.
00:12:01.73\00:12:04.60
Let me give you some examples
of what I'm talking about.
00:12:04.60\00:12:07.43
When temptation comes,
you can quote the verse I
00:12:07.43\00:12:09.66
mentioned before
1 Corinthians 10:13.
00:12:09.66\00:12:12.46
Remember, it says this, 1
Corinthians 10:13, But God is
00:12:12.46\00:12:16.83
faithful, who will not allow
you to be tempted beyond what
00:12:16.83\00:12:19.63
you are able, but with the
temptation will also make the
00:12:19.63\00:12:22.90
way of escape, that
you may be able to bear it.
00:12:22.90\00:12:26.86
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
That's God promising you that
00:12:26.86\00:12:29.70
He's going to give you
a way out of temptation.
00:12:29.70\00:12:31.80
Whatever that temptation
is so what temptation comes
00:12:31.80\00:12:35.56
you can pray and remind God
this first, and tell Him you are
00:12:35.56\00:12:39.30
counting on Him to get
you away out of temptation.
00:12:39.30\00:12:42.96
would you do it?
00:12:42.96\00:12:46.26
His Word that he would.
00:12:46.26\00:12:46.76
I'd like to give you an example.
00:12:46.76\00:12:49.66
A young man told me he was
walking along a narrow street
00:12:49.66\00:12:51.66
one day, when he looked
up and saw a woman a little
00:12:51.66\00:12:53.66
further up the street
standing in the middle of the
00:12:53.66\00:12:55.96
street who was - as he said
- she was dressed to distract.
00:12:55.96\00:12:59.43
That's the way he put it.
00:12:59.43\00:13:01.13
And he said that knowing
himself, he was going to have
00:13:01.13\00:13:04.06
a difficult time keeping
his mind where it ought to be.
00:13:04.06\00:13:07.46
So here is what he did.
00:13:07.46\00:13:08.46
He prayed and asked God to
keep His promise and make a
00:13:08.46\00:13:12.13
way of escape.
00:13:12.13\00:13:13.46
He said he didn't know
how God could possibly do that
00:13:13.46\00:13:15.50
because there she was and
she didn't seem to be going
00:13:15.50\00:13:18.00
anywhere.
00:13:18.00\00:13:19.13
But when he looked up from
having said his prayer as he
00:13:19.13\00:13:21.60
walked...
00:13:21.60\00:13:23.13
the woman was actually
walking away and disappeared
00:13:23.13\00:13:25.86
around a corner!
00:13:25.86\00:13:27.36
God had kept His promise.
00:13:27.36\00:13:30.80
Here's another verse that you
will want to remember in your
00:13:30.80\00:13:32.96
battle with temptation.
00:13:32.96\00:13:34.40
It's Jude 24.
00:13:34.40\00:13:36.66
You'll find it right
before the Book of Revelation.
00:13:36.66\00:13:40.96
The Bible says, Now unto him
that is able to keep you from
00:13:40.96\00:13:45.13
falling, and to present you
faultless before the presence
00:13:45.13\00:13:48.66
of his glory with exceeding joy.
00:13:48.66\00:13:52.20
Jude 1:24, KJV
Did you catch that?
00:13:52.20\00:13:54.20
God is able to
keep you from falling.
00:13:54.20\00:13:57.23
And when you find yourself
in the midst of temptation, if
00:13:57.23\00:14:00.23
you'll bring that promise
to Jesus you can be certain He
00:14:00.23\00:14:04.30
will keep it, and that He
will keep you from falling.
00:14:04.30\00:14:07.20
You know what a big
part of the problem is?
00:14:07.20\00:14:10.26
It isn't just
that temptation comes.
00:14:10.26\00:14:12.40
That's simply the price
we pay for living in a sinful
00:14:12.40\00:14:14.40
world.
00:14:14.40\00:14:15.63
It's that we don't have the
word of God in our minds when
00:14:15.63\00:14:18.76
temptation comes.
00:14:18.76\00:14:20.76
We can get distracted to
the point that we're not getting
00:14:20.76\00:14:23.70
God's word into our mind.
00:14:23.70\00:14:26.60
And we can be blinded to
the danger of sin by this world
00:14:26.60\00:14:29.56
that celebrates sin
and has normalized in.
00:14:29.56\00:14:33.80
Remember - the
wages of sin is death.
00:14:33.80\00:14:36.76
Sin separates a person from
God (Isaiah 59:9) We ought to
00:14:36.76\00:14:40.76
run from temptation as
though our life depends on it,
00:14:40.76\00:14:43.66
because -
spiritually speaking - it does.
00:14:43.66\00:14:47.06
I'll be back with more about
how you can resist temptation
00:14:47.06\00:14:49.46
in just a moment.
00:14:49.46\00:14:51.46
Eyes for India is giving
sight to the blind and you
00:14:59.53\00:15:03.43
can be a part of this
amazing work that God is doing.
00:15:03.43\00:15:06.80
Fifteen million blind people
live in India, more than any
00:15:06.80\00:15:09.96
other country in the world.
00:15:09.96\00:15:11.63
And many of the blind in
India could see again, if
00:15:11.63\00:15:14.80
only they could have
simple cataract surgery.
00:15:14.80\00:15:17.90
It Is Written is
making that happen.
00:15:17.90\00:15:20.80
Would you
support Eyes for India?
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For just $75 you'll be giving
the gift of sight to someone
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who desperately wants to see.
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Here's all you need to do.
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Call 1.800.253.3000.
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That's 1.800.253.3000 to
donate and support Eyes for
00:15:35.20\00:15:41.70
India.
00:15:41.70\00:15:42.70
Or, you can write to It
Is Written, Box O, Thousand
00:15:42.70\00:15:46.06
Oaks, California 91359.
00:15:46.06\00:15:49.40
You'll also find Eyes
for India on-line at It Is
00:15:49.40\00:15:53.66
Written.com.
00:15:53.66\00:15:54.66
Every $75 you give gives
someone the precious gift of
00:15:54.66\00:15:58.16
sight.
00:15:58.16\00:15:59.26
Eyes for India, doing the
work of Jesus in opening the
00:15:59.26\00:16:02.83
eyes of the blind and opening
hearts to the love of God.
00:16:02.83\00:16:06.46
Call 1.800.253.3000 or
write to Box O, Thousand Oaks,
00:16:06.46\00:16:11.60
California, 91359.
00:16:11.60\00:16:15.33
Or visit itiswritten.com.
00:16:15.33\00:16:19.73
I'm glad you are with
me today on It Is Written
00:16:20.86\00:16:23.36
Today, how can we
successfully handle
00:16:23.36\00:16:26.20
temptation?
00:16:26.20\00:16:28.46
It's everywhere.
00:16:28.46\00:16:30.13
Now, keep this in mind.
00:16:30.13\00:16:31.46
All Satan can do
is tempt you to sin.
00:16:31.46\00:16:34.36
He cannot force you to sin.
00:16:34.36\00:16:36.56
He tempts, you choose.
00:16:36.56\00:16:38.06
There is always a choice
available to us to make, and
00:16:38.06\00:16:42.23
that choice is to go
with God or go it alone.
00:16:42.23\00:16:44.73
To say Yes to Jesus,
or to say Yes to self.
00:16:44.73\00:16:47.43
When it comes to fending off
temptation, the best thing we
00:16:47.43\00:16:50.83
can do is imitate what
Jesus did when He was tempted in
00:16:50.83\00:16:54.03
the wilderness.
00:16:54.03\00:16:54.93
Satan tempted Him to
turn stones into bread, and to
00:16:54.93\00:16:57.93
doubt His Father.
00:16:57.93\00:16:59.56
Remember, the Father had told
Jesus that He was God's Son.
00:16:59.56\00:17:02.50
Satan says this, he said
"If you're the Son of God, do
00:17:02.50\00:17:06.20
this." And Jesus met him
with that great Bible verse when
00:17:06.20\00:17:11.03
He said, It is written,
'Man shall not live by bread
00:17:11.03\00:17:15.33
alone, but by every word
that proceeds from the mouth of
00:17:15.33\00:17:19.40
God.
00:17:19.40\00:17:20.40
Matthew 4:4 I'm
going to believe my Father.
00:17:20.40\00:17:24.40
Even if it doesn't look
like I'm the Son of God out here
00:17:24.40\00:17:26.76
in the wilderness, I'll
believe God's word before I
00:17:26.76\00:17:30.10
believe even appearances."
So Satan tried twice more.
00:17:30.10\00:17:34.30
"Jump off this high place,
because the angels will catch
00:17:34.30\00:17:37.40
you and you'll be okay!"
And Jesus said, It is written
00:17:37.40\00:17:41.50
again, 'You shall not tempt
the LORD your God." Matthew
00:17:41.50\00:17:45.03
4:7, NKJV "Bow down and
worship me, and I'll give you
00:17:45.03\00:17:49.16
all the kingdoms of the
world," and Jesus said in
00:17:49.16\00:17:51.86
Matthew 4:10, You shall
worship the LORD your God,
00:17:51.86\00:17:54.73
and Him only you shall serve.
00:17:54.73\00:17:55.73
Matthew 4:10 NKJV
The devil was defeated.
00:17:55.73\00:18:03.03
Temptation has no
power over the word of God.
00:18:03.03\00:18:05.86
The promises of God are
enough to see off the foe -
00:18:05.86\00:18:08.96
Satan is no match for
the weakest sinner armed with
00:18:08.96\00:18:12.16
simple faith in the
promises of God's word.
00:18:12.16\00:18:15.60
Now, before I look at
more promises with you, let me
00:18:15.60\00:18:17.73
make a couple of
practical suggestions.
00:18:17.73\00:18:20.30
If you want to resist
temptation, you can start by
00:18:20.30\00:18:22.46
not putting yourself in its way.
00:18:22.46\00:18:25.26
If lust is a problem, don't
go down to the beach on a hot
00:18:25.26\00:18:28.30
summer's day.
00:18:28.30\00:18:29.66
If alcohol is a problem,
don't meet a friend at the
00:18:29.66\00:18:32.00
bar.
00:18:32.00\00:18:33.13
If you get frazzled rushing
off to work each morning,
00:18:33.13\00:18:35.70
give yourself more time in
the morning by getting up a
00:18:35.70\00:18:38.30
little earlier.
00:18:38.30\00:18:39.33
If you're tempted to eat
junk food, stop at a store that
00:18:39.33\00:18:42.10
sells healthy good.
00:18:42.10\00:18:43.96
Get more sleep.
00:18:43.96\00:18:45.73
Get more exercise.
00:18:45.73\00:18:47.60
These two things will help
you feel better and help your
00:18:47.60\00:18:49.73
brain to function better.
00:18:49.73\00:18:51.53
Now I'm not saying these
are the big keys, they're not -
00:18:51.53\00:18:54.33
but they'll help.
00:18:54.33\00:18:56.00
The big key is
claiming the promises of God.
00:18:56.00\00:18:59.33
In fact, you could broaden
that a little to emphasize
00:18:59.33\00:19:02.00
how important it is that
we keep in touch with God.
00:19:02.00\00:19:06.36
When I became a Christian,
I knew my life had really
00:19:06.36\00:19:08.83
changed when one day I hit
my thumb with a hammer, and
00:19:08.83\00:19:13.33
instead of saying something
I would regret I said a prayer.
00:19:13.33\00:19:15.56
Now, now I don't mean I
whacked my thumb and then
00:19:15.56\00:19:18.36
bowed my head and
said, Father in heaven...
00:19:18.36\00:19:20.36
I don't mean that.
00:19:20.36\00:19:21.36
I mean, when I hit my thumb,
my first instinct was to talk
00:19:21.36\00:19:23.76
to God.
00:19:23.76\00:19:25.46
And when I reflected on that
I thought, Wow, God is really
00:19:25.46\00:19:28.43
working.
00:19:28.43\00:19:29.60
Why was he working?
00:19:29.60\00:19:30.83
Because I was in touch
with him and being in touch with
00:19:30.83\00:19:33.36
Him kept me from sin.
00:19:33.36\00:19:35.53
He gave me strength in
the face of temptation.
00:19:35.53\00:19:38.13
If you let your devotional
life slip, if you're not
00:19:38.13\00:19:40.96
reading the Bible, if you're
not connecting with God in
00:19:40.96\00:19:43.90
prayer, you'll have little
power to resist temptation.
00:19:43.90\00:19:47.83
Little or none.
00:19:47.83\00:19:50.10
The power comes from
abiding in Christ, by having the
00:19:50.10\00:19:53.76
power of the Holy
Spirit in your life.
00:19:53.76\00:19:56.86
Jesus said to His disciples
one day, "Watch and pray that
00:19:56.86\00:20:00.60
you enter not into
temptation." It will come to
00:20:00.60\00:20:03.26
you, but you don't
have to enter into it.
00:20:03.26\00:20:06.86
If you watch and pray.
00:20:06.86\00:20:08.53
We're told in the
Lord's prayer to pray this way:
00:20:08.53\00:20:10.93
"Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil."
00:20:10.93\00:20:15.26
This thing is a part
of our daily existence.
00:20:15.26\00:20:17.93
Billy Sunday once said,
"Temptation is the devil
00:20:17.93\00:20:20.90
looking through the keyhole.
00:20:20.90\00:20:22.56
Yielding is opening the
door and inviting him in." The
00:20:22.56\00:20:27.36
devil can tempt.
00:20:27.36\00:20:28.50
He will.
00:20:28.50\00:20:29.50
He knows your weak points,
and he'll do everything he
00:20:29.50\00:20:32.20
can to exploit them.
00:20:32.20\00:20:34.10
He'll try to make you late
and harried in the morning.
00:20:34.10\00:20:37.63
He'll jab the neighbor's
dog to bark at 4.30 in the
00:20:37.63\00:20:41.63
morning so
you'll wake up cranky.
00:20:41.63\00:20:43.63
He'll encourage you to think
that when your spouse said,
00:20:43.63\00:20:45.63
Hi, honey, how was your
day?, that what he or she was
00:20:45.63\00:20:47.63
really thinking was, "I
really don't like you very
00:20:47.63\00:20:49.86
much anymore." He'll
play mind games with you.
00:20:49.86\00:20:52.43
But if you'll learn to run
to God - and lean on His word -
00:20:52.43\00:20:56.46
you'll be okay.
00:20:56.46\00:20:58.33
If you're tempted to say
things you shouldn't, take
00:20:58.33\00:21:01.23
this Bible verse to God.
00:21:01.23\00:21:02.93
Set a watch, O LORD, before
my mouth; keep the door of my
00:21:02.93\00:21:06.06
lips.
00:21:06.06\00:21:07.06
Psalms 141:3 You're
asking God to take over when you
00:21:07.06\00:21:11.60
take that verse to Him -
you're surrendering to God.
00:21:11.60\00:21:14.73
And remember what James
wrote, Submit yourselves
00:21:14.73\00:21:17.80
therefore to God.
00:21:17.80\00:21:20.40
Resist the devil, and
he will flee from you.
00:21:20.40\00:21:24.46
James 4:7, KJV You submit,
you resist through the Word,
00:21:24.46\00:21:29.96
and the devil flees.
00:21:29.96\00:21:32.40
It works.
00:21:32.40\00:21:33.70
Hebrews 2:18 says, For in
that he himself hath suffered
00:21:33.70\00:21:37.76
being tempted, he is able
to aid those that are tempted.
00:21:37.76\00:21:41.73
Hebrews 2:18, KJV See that?
00:21:41.73\00:21:43.40
Jesus knows what it is
like to be tempted, and so He's
00:21:43.40\00:21:46.66
able to help you
when you're tempted.
00:21:46.66\00:21:49.73
"Lord, I'm tempted to think
you've abandoned me!" I will
00:21:49.73\00:21:53.26
never leave you nor forsake you.
00:21:53.26\00:21:55.86
Hebrews 13:5 NKJV "Lord, I'm
so weak!" My strength is made
00:21:55.86\00:21:59.70
perfect in weakness.
00:21:59.70\00:22:01.00
2 Corinthians 12:9 It is God
who works in you both to will
00:22:01.00\00:22:06.43
and to do for His good pleasure.
00:22:06.43\00:22:09.56
Philippians 2:13, NKJV The
promises of God were Jesus'
00:22:09.56\00:22:12.16
way out of temptation,
and they'll deliver you too.
00:22:12.16\00:22:15.43
And one thought I want to
make sure I share with you
00:22:15.43\00:22:18.03
today - If you have
fallen into temptation, remember
00:22:18.03\00:22:21.36
another one of God's promises.
00:22:21.36\00:22:23.36
1 John 1:9 If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and just
00:22:23.36\00:22:31.66
to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all
00:22:31.66\00:22:35.33
unrighteousness.1 John 1:9
As much as you don't want to
00:22:35.33\00:22:38.80
fall into temptation, should
you do so you can afford to
00:22:38.80\00:22:42.50
remember that God
is a forgiving God.
00:22:42.50\00:22:51.16
[Music] What would you do if
you found $45,000 that wasn't
00:22:54.30\00:22:58.83
yours - would you
be tempted to keep it?
00:22:58.83\00:23:02.96
What if nobody knew, and if
00:23:02.96\00:23:08.96
nobody could possibly know
you'd found the money - what
00:23:11.63\00:23:16.03
if there would be
no questions asked?
00:23:16.03\00:23:21.40
When a Utah man named Josh
Ferrin bought his first house
00:23:21.40\00:23:25.00
he started looking around
in the attic, where he found a
00:23:25.00\00:23:27.43
number of metal boxes [music]
00:23:27.43\00:23:33.36
that turned out to be
stuffed full with about $45,000.
00:23:41.63\00:23:49.50
[Music.] Here's what
he said in the news story.
00:23:49.50\00:23:57.03
"I'm not perfect, and I
wish I could say there was never
00:23:57.03\00:24:02.76
any doubt in my mind.
00:24:02.76\00:24:05.60
We knew we had to give it
back, but it doesn't mean I
00:24:05.60\00:24:08.23
didn't think about our car
in need of repairs, how we would
00:24:08.23\00:24:11.86
love to adopt a child and
aren't' able to do that right
00:24:11.86\00:24:14.23
now, or fix up our outdated
house that we just bought."
00:24:14.23\00:24:20.66
He was tempted.
00:24:20.66\00:24:22.43
Strongly.
00:24:22.43\00:24:24.13
But he said, "But
the money wasn't ours...
00:24:24.13\00:24:27.50
and this is a lesson I
hope to teach my children." He
00:24:27.50\00:24:31.70
could have caved in to
the temptation, but he didn't.
00:24:31.70\00:24:35.36
And you don't have to.
00:24:35.36\00:24:36.36
And I don't have to, as
long as we stay connected to
00:24:36.36\00:24:40.16
Jesus, and claim the
promises of His word.
00:24:40.16\00:24:44.96
There's something I'd like
to offer you this week that I
00:24:44.96\00:24:47.56
believe will be a real
blessing to you as you seek
00:24:47.56\00:24:50.60
to live a life of
integrity before God.
00:24:50.60\00:24:53.26
"God's Promises" is a little
book containing a number of
00:24:53.26\00:24:56.33
the powerful promises of
God that will help you be
00:24:56.33\00:24:58.96
successful against temptation.
00:24:58.96\00:25:01.03
Just call or write and
I'll send you "God's Promises".
00:25:01.03\00:25:04.50
There's no cost or obligation.
00:25:04.50\00:25:06.50
It's absolutely free.
00:25:06.50\00:25:08.06
Just call this
number,1-800-253-3000, ask
00:25:08.06\00:25:11.86
for "God's Promises".
00:25:11.86\00:25:13.83
You can call 24-hours a day.
00:25:13.83\00:25:15.96
If the lines are busy,
please just keep on trying.
00:25:15.96\00:25:18.86
You can also request your
free copy of "God's Promises"
00:25:18.86\00:25:21.56
by writing to: It Is Written,
Box O, Thousand Oaks, CA
00:25:21.56\00:25:25.73
91359, and we will mail a
copy to your address in North
00:25:25.73\00:25:30.36
America.
00:25:30.36\00:25:31.36
Please note that this free
book is limited to the supply
00:25:31.36\00:25:35.10
on hand.
00:25:35.10\00:25:36.10
For immediate access, you
can download a FREE electronic
00:25:36.10\00:25:38.73
version of the book God's
Promises from our website:
00:25:38.73\00:25:41.60
itiswritten.com It Is Written
is a faith-based ministry
00:25:41.60\00:25:44.13
made possible by
viewers like you.
00:25:44.13\00:25:46.73
I want to say "thank you" to
you for your support of It Is
00:25:46.73\00:25:50.50
Written.
00:25:50.50\00:25:51.50
To support the worldwide
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00:25:51.50\00:25:54.00
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Or you can give
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00:26:00.43\00:26:02.86
Thank you for
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00:26:02.86\00:26:06.86
Our toll-free
number is: 1-800-253-3000.
00:26:06.86\00:26:10.43
And our web address is:
itiswritten.com Temptations
00:26:10.43\00:26:15.43
are serious business.
00:26:15.43\00:26:17.06
Understanding how to defeat
it rather than be defeated by
00:26:17.06\00:26:19.96
it can revolutionize your life.
00:26:19.96\00:26:22.70
Let's pray together.
00:26:22.70\00:26:23.70
I'd like to ask God to
give you victory whenever
00:26:23.70\00:26:26.26
temptation comes.
00:26:26.26\00:26:28.36
Our Father in heaven, we
thank you that we serve a
00:26:28.36\00:26:30.30
Saviour who is victorious
and who will give us His victory
00:26:30.30\00:26:33.90
so that we don't
need to experience defeat.
00:26:33.90\00:26:35.90
Lord, make us sensible
to temptation when it comes.
00:26:35.90\00:26:40.13
Alert us to call to you,
to trust in you, to claim your
00:26:40.13\00:26:43.50
word.
00:26:43.50\00:26:44.50
Help us Father to put your
word in our mind so that when
00:26:44.50\00:26:46.90
temptation comes our
mind will go to you and to the
00:26:46.90\00:26:50.76
promises that are
found in the Bible.
00:26:50.76\00:26:52.90
We thank you for a way out
of temptation and for victory
00:26:52.90\00:26:55.53
through Christ and we
pray in Jesus' name, amen.
00:26:55.53\00:27:03.70
Music It is Written is
dedicated to sharing the
00:27:11.26\00:27:20.16
gospel around the world.
00:27:20.16\00:27:21.80
Our dream is to
impact the world for God.
00:27:21.80\00:27:24.36
Our television program is
only one aspect of how we try
00:27:24.36\00:27:27.36
to accomplish that.
00:27:27.36\00:27:28.56
To discover more about It
Is Written, I invite you to
00:27:28.56\00:27:31.00
visit our website,
itiswritten.com, and browse
00:27:31.00\00:27:34.43
the dozens of pages that
describe what we do and how
00:27:34.43\00:27:37.20
we do it.
00:27:37.20\00:27:38.20
Let's get to know
each other better.
00:27:38.20\00:27:40.36
Visit our website
itiswritten.com today.
00:27:40.36\00:27:44.50
Thanks for joining me today.
00:27:44.50\00:27:45.66
Look forward to
seeing you next time.
00:27:45.66\00:27:47.66
Until then, remember It Is
Written, man shall not live
00:27:47.66\00:27:50.80
by bread alone but by every
word that proceeds from the
00:27:50.80\00:27:54.96
mouth of God.
00:27:54.96\00:27:57.56