It has stood the test of
time. God4s Book, the Bible.
00:00:11.67\00:00:21.48
Still relevant in
today4s complex world.
00:00:21.48\00:00:26.35
It Is Written
sharing hope around the glo
00:00:26.35\00:00:34.30
I'm John Bradshaw, thanks
for joining me on It Is Written.
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This really happened. A
computer glitch caused the
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lights to come on and
the doors to open at a major
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supermarket at one
o'clock in the morning when the
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supermarket was
supposed to be closed.
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It didn't take long and
in the people came - about 50
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shoppers altogether.
And before long it became
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obvious to the shoppers that
there were no staff present.
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They were there alone. 25
people left their shopping
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behind when they realized
there was nobody there for
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them to actually pay.
Twelve shoppers did pay for
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their groceries by using
the self-service check-outs.
00:01:13.60\00:01:16.87
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.
00:01:31.79\00:01:33.82
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.
00:01:42.53\00:01:45.47
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.
The temptation to gossip; the
00:01:53.88\00:01:56.98
temptation to take just one
more piece of chocolate cake;
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the temptation to get
revenge; the temptation to
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cheat. In 1980 a
woman crossed the
00:02:03.39\00:02:06.35
line in the Boston marathon
in the impressive time of 2
00:02:06.35\00:02:08.76
hours 31 minutes and 56
seconds - the fastest female
00:02:08.76\00:02:12.43
time in history for the
Boston marathon and the third
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fastest marathon
ever run by 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. Her
resting heart rate of 76
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was much higher than your
typical marathon runner, and
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her time for the Boston
was 25 minutes faster than her
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time in the New York
marathon six months earlier - a
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massive improvement.
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. She
wanted the glory, but she
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was never going to be
good enough to win a major
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marathon, so she was tempted
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
00:03:06.95\00:03:09.88
at the Kielder Marathon
in northern England, about 60
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miles from Newcastle. It
was eventually discovered
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that the 31 year old man
who finished third had actually
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got on a bus at the 20-mile
mark, got off the bus just
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before the finish and
hidden behind a tree, and then
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jumped out into the race
and 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. Now
being tempted, though,
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doesn't mean
you'd necessarily do it.
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Being tempted and actually
doing a certain thing are two
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very different things.
You might be tempted to cheat
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on your taxes, fudge an
expense report, say you've
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cleaned your room when you
haven't, sneak an extra piece
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of pie, not tell the man at
the checkout that he's given
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you too much change...
Or cheat on your spouse or
00:03:55.76\00:04:00.30
embezzle money. And
you might not do any of
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it, but you may be tempted.
But temptation is the doorway
00:04:03.57\00:04:07.51
to sin. It
doesn't always lead to
00:04:07.51\00:04:09.51
sin, but it so often does,
and the consequences can be
00:04:09.51\00:04:12.71
disastrous. I just
read a story about a
00:04:12.71\00:04:15.98
teenage girl who killed a
child because she said she
00:04:15.98\00:04:20.09
wanted to know what
it felt like to kill.
00:04:20.09\00:04:22.62
Now, you'd think this child
has got some pretty intense
00:04:22.62\00:04:24.56
issues, but let's be honest
- she's not the first person
00:04:24.56\00:04:28.26
who's thought about
taking someone's life.
00:04:28.26\00:04:30.83
I imagine most people who
would have that thought ever
00:04:30.83\00:04:33.27
would just brush the thought
away and say it4s just an
00:04:33.27\00:04:36.40
episode of crazy thinking and
then move on and forget about
00:04:36.40\00:04:38.81
it. But temptation comes - and
00:04:38.81\00:04:42.01
unless you know what to do
when it does come, you might
00:04:42.01\00:04:45.35
end up as its victim.
Stop and think for a moment
00:04:45.35\00:04:49.15
about the things that tempt you.
00:04:49.15\00:04:51.19
Some of them might be minor
irritations - the temptation
00:04:51.19\00:04:53.82
to yell at your neighbors and
tell them to turn their music
00:04:53.82\00:04:56.59
down. And you might know that
00:04:56.59\00:04:58.66
you're never actually
going to do that, but you're
00:04:58.66\00:05:00.73
tempted to... "I
would love to do that".
00:05:00.73\00:05:03.43
But maybe you're tempted to
sell drugs to get money to do
00:05:03.43\00:05:06.90
whatever. See, if
you're having a hard
00:05:06.90\00:05:08.97
time financially that
might be a real temptation that
00:05:08.97\00:05:12.07
eats away at you.
"Just do this simple thing
00:05:12.07\00:05:14.84
and you'll have all the
money you need..." How does a
00:05:14.84\00:05:17.81
person deal with that?
Thankfully, the Bible gives
00:05:17.81\00:05:22.05
us the answers.
Today, we're going to look at
00:05:22.05\00:05:24.42
the example of Someone
who knew what it was to be
00:05:24.42\00:05:27.12
tempted. That Someone is Jesus.
00:05:27.12\00:05:29.86
Jesus was fiercely tempted
- and yet He never sinned, not
00:05:29.86\00:05:34.00
even once - not
even by a thought.
00:05:34.00\00:05:38.00
How was He able
to resist temptation?
00:05:38.00\00:05:40.77
I want to make something
crystal clear right from the
00:05:40.77\00:05:43.04
get-go today. The
Bible says that you CAN
00:05:43.04\00:05:46.61
resist temptation.
You don't HAVE to fall.
00:05:46.61\00:05:50.45
That's not to say you're
suddenly going to learn how
00:05:50.45\00:05:52.41
to always get it right
and never make a mistake.
00:05:52.41\00:05:55.02
Remember, that as
Christians we GROW.
00:05:55.02\00:05:58.32
But what are we growing into?
The idea is to grow to become
00:05:58.32\00:06:02.82
more and more like Jesus.
So we want to be resisting
00:06:02.82\00:06:06.73
temptation more and more
and falling into it less and
00:06:06.73\00:06:10.43
less. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 the
00:06:10.43\00:06:14.20
Bible says this, No
temptation has overtaken you
00:06:14.20\00:06:18.27
except such as is common to
man; but God is faithful, who
00:06:18.27\00:06:23.24
will not allow you to be
tempted beyond what you are
00:06:23.24\00:06:26.11
able, but with the temptation
will also make the way of
00:06:26.11\00:06:30.49
escape, that you
may be able to bear it.
00:06:30.49\00:06:34.26
1 Corinthians 10:13,
NKJV That means there is a way
00:06:34.26\00:06:36.89
out, and that way out
is through faith in God.
00:06:36.89\00:06:40.06
Through Jesus.
Today's program could
00:06:40.06\00:06:43.43
absolutely change your
life. We4re about to look at how
00:06:43.43\00:06:47.87
Jesus handled
temptation. Don't go away.
00:06:47.87\00:06:51.91
I'll be right In
Matthew 4:4, the word of
00:06:51.91\00:06:57.11
God says, It is written,
man shall not live by bread
00:06:57.11\00:07:00.48
alone, but by every word
that proceeds from the mouth of
00:07:00.48\00:07:04.02
God. Every Word is a one minute
00:07:04.02\00:07:06.89
Bible-based daily devotional
presented by Pastor John
00:07:06.89\00:07:09.56
Bradshaw and designed
especially for busy people
00:07:09.56\00:07:12.46
like you. Look for Every Word on
00:07:12.46\00:07:15.06
selected networks or watch
it on line every day on our
00:07:15.06\00:07:18.27
website: itiswritten.com.
Receive a daily spiritual
00:07:18.27\00:07:22.20
boost. Watch Every Word.
00:07:22.20\00:07:24.67
You4ll be glad you
did. Here4s a sampl
00:07:24.67\00:07:28.71
Thanks for joining me. I
wonder if there's a better
00:07:36.45\00:07:38.55
verse to describe a
certain problem that afflicts
00:07:38.55\00:07:40.86
the human family.
Proverbs 21:2 says that,
00:07:40.86\00:07:43.73
"Every way of a man is
right in his own eyes."  This
00:07:43.73\00:07:47.23
affects all of us: people
have a tremendous capacity to
00:07:47.23\00:07:50.37
convince themselves
that their way is right.
00:07:50.37\00:07:53.23
Which is fine, if it IS right.
00:07:53.23\00:07:55.90
In the Garden of Eden
Satan tempted Adam and Eve to do
00:07:55.90\00:07:57.87
what THEY thought was
right, even if God's will was
00:07:57.87\00:08:00.44
different. Facing Satan in the
00:08:00.44\00:08:02.48
wilderness, Jesus quoted
Deuteronomy and said that
00:08:02.48\00:08:04.98
people ought to live "by
every word that proceeds from
00:08:04.98\00:08:07.75
the mouth of GOD."  Tis
good to have opinions and ideas.
00:08:07.75\00:08:10.95
But remember today we can
get in a fix doing that which is
00:08:10.95\00:08:14.89
right in our eyes. What
we want, is to know, and
00:08:14.89\00:08:17.93
do, that which is
right in GOD'S eyes.
00:08:17.93\00:08:21.83
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:08:21.83\00:08:24.00
Let's live today by Every Word
00:08:24.00\00:08:26.87
Planning for your financial
future is vital aspect of
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Christian stewardship.
For this reason, It Is
00:08:33.91\00:08:36.48
Written is pleased to
offer free Planned Giving and
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Estate Services. For
information on how we can
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help you, please
call 1.800.992.2219.
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Call today or
visit our special website
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www.hislegacy.
Thanks for joining me today
00:08:49.79\00:09:00.30
on It Is Written. I4m
John Bradshaw and today
00:09:00.30\00:09:03.10
we're looking at temptation,
specifically, how Jesus
00:09:03.10\00:09:06.84
handled temptation.
Before the end of the
00:09:06.84\00:09:09.51
program, I am going to
offer you a free resource that
00:09:09.51\00:09:11.75
could be a powerful tool
to help you in your faith
00:09:11.75\00:09:14.22
journey, something that
will help you deal successfully
00:09:14.22\00:09:17.15
with temptation. When
Jesus was 30 years old
00:09:17.15\00:09:20.56
He started His public ministry.
00:09:20.56\00:09:22.59
And He was anointed for
His ministry by the Holy Spirit
00:09:22.59\00:09:24.89
when He was baptized at
the River Jordan by John the
00:09:24.89\00:09:27.10
Baptist. At His
baptism, something
00:09:27.10\00:09:29.80
unusual happened. A
voice from heaven rang out
00:09:29.80\00:09:33.57
- the voice of God. He
said, This is my beloved
00:09:33.57\00:09:36.77
Son, in whom I am well pleased.
00:09:36.77\00:09:39.34
You read that in Matthew 3:17.
00:09:39.34\00:09:41.31
KJV Now, that's significant
for many reasons, not the
00:09:41.31\00:09:43.71
least of which is
because of what happened next.
00:09:43.71\00:09:46.61
That was at the
end of Matthew 3.
00:09:46.61\00:09:48.82
Matthew 4 opens with Jesus
being "tempted" by the devil.
00:09:48.82\00:09:54.29
Jesus fasts for
almost six weeks.
00:09:54.29\00:09:57.26
You know He's extremely
hungry by then - craving
00:09:57.26\00:09:59.83
food, and He's weak, and
Satan comes to Him and says,
00:09:59.83\00:10:03.43
this in Matthew 4, "If you
are the Son of God, command
00:10:03.43\00:10:10.31
that these stones
become bread." Now was that a
00:10:10.31\00:10:15.54
temptation for
Jesus? Of course it was!
00:10:15.54\00:10:18.81
He hadn't eaten in 40
days. He was starving!
00:10:18.81\00:10:22.08
But more than that,
Satan said to Him, "IF" you're
00:10:22.08\00:10:26.05
really the Son of God."
In other words, Satan said
00:10:26.05\00:10:28.89
"Prove who you really
are. It isn't just that you're
00:10:28.89\00:10:31.79
hungry, but I'm calling into
question who you really are.
00:10:31.79\00:10:35.20
You're not really
the Messiah, are you?
00:10:35.20\00:10:37.83
You're not going to believe
what your Father said, are
00:10:37.83\00:10:40.17
you?" Satan was
tempting Jesus to doubt God.
00:10:40.17\00:10:44.84
In fact, it's a lot
like what Satan said to Eve.
00:10:44.84\00:10:47.88
God had said, Eat the
fruit and you shall surely die.
00:10:47.88\00:10:50.68
But Satan said, "Has God
said you shall surely die?" "God
00:10:50.68\00:10:56.42
didn't really mean that,
did He Eve?" "You're not really
00:10:56.42\00:10:59.05
going to believe the word
of God, are you?" And he takes
00:10:59.05\00:11:01.92
the same approach with Jesus.
"If you're really the Son of
00:11:01.92\00:11:05.86
God..." No doubt,
Jesus was tempted.
00:11:05.86\00:11:09.60
So notice what He did.
Jesus quoted the word of God.
00:11:09.60\00:11:14.50
In Matthew 4:4, Jesus
says this "It Is Written (and
00:11:14.50\00:11:19.41
you've got to like
those verses that start It Is
00:11:19.41\00:11:21.44
Written) Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every
00:11:21.44\00:11:26.88
word that proceeds from the
mouth of God." Jesus fled to
00:11:26.88\00:11:33.05
God's word. He
quoted it and believed it.
00:11:33.05\00:11:36.39
God's word was the
strength in Christ's moment of
00:11:36.39\00:11:40.26
temptation. God's
word was Jesus' weapon
00:11:40.26\00:11:44.60
against temptation.
Remember, Jesus was tempted
00:11:44.60\00:11:47.54
throughout His entire ministry.
00:11:47.54\00:11:49.57
He had people following
Him around, goading Him to sin,
00:11:49.57\00:11:52.11
almost every moment of every
day, harassing Him, bothering
00:11:52.11\00:11:55.01
Him and Jesus found
His strength in God's word.
00:11:55.01\00:11:57.95
When temptation comes to you,
you'll be okay if you do what
00:11:57.95\00:12:02.65
Jesus did and run
to the word of God.
00:12:02.65\00:12:05.95
That's where the strength is.
Let me give you some examples
00:12:05.95\00:12:09.96
of what I'm talking about.
When temptation comes, you
00:12:09.96\00:12:12.86
can quote the verse
I mentioned before 1
00:12:12.86\00:12:15.16
Corinthians 10:13.
Remember, it says this, 1
00:12:15.16\00:12:18.20
Corinthians 10:13, But God
is faithful, who will not allow
00:12:18.20\00:12:22.47
you to be tempted beyond
what you are able, but with the
00:12:22.47\00:12:25.71
temptation will also make
the way of escape, that you may
00:12:25.71\00:12:29.14
be able to bear it. 1
Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
00:12:29.14\00:12:32.08
That's God promising you that
He's going to give you a way
00:12:32.08\00:12:35.02
out of temptation.
Whatever that temptation is
00:12:35.02\00:12:38.55
so what temptation comes
you can pray and remind God this
00:12:38.55\00:12:41.59
first, and tell Him you are
counting on Him to get you away
00:12:41.59\00:12:46.06
out of
temptation. would you do it?
00:12:46.06\00:12:50.50
His Word that he
would. I'd like to give you an
00:12:50.50\00:12:52.90
example. A young
man told me he was
00:12:52.90\00:12:54.90
walking along a narrow street
one day, when he looked up
00:12:54.90\00:12:56.84
and saw a woman a
little further up the street
00:12:56.84\00:12:59.21
standing in the middle of the
street who was - as he said -
00:12:59.21\00:13:01.48
she was dressed to distract.
That's the way he put it.
00:13:01.48\00:13:05.35
And he said that knowing
himself, he was going to have
00:13:05.35\00:13:08.25
a difficult time keeping
his mind where it ought to be.
00:13:08.25\00:13:11.72
So here is what he did.
He prayed and asked God to
00:13:11.72\00:13:14.92
keep His promise and
make a way of escape.
00:13:14.92\00:13:17.73
He said he didn't know
how God could possibly do that
00:13:17.73\00:13:19.76
because there she was and
she didn't seem to be going
00:13:19.76\00:13:22.20
anywhere. But
when he looked up from
00:13:22.20\00:13:24.60
having said his
prayer as he walked...
00:13:24.60\00:13:27.30
the woman was actually
walking away and disappeared
00:13:27.30\00:13:30.07
around a corner! God
had kept His promise.
00:13:30.07\00:13:35.04
Here's another verse that you
will want to remember in your
00:13:35.04\00:13:37.21
battle with
temptation. It's Jude 24.
00:13:37.21\00:13:40.85
You'll find it right
before the Book of Revelation.
00:13:40.85\00:13:45.22
The Bible says, Now unto him
that is able to keep you from
00:13:45.22\00:13:49.39
falling, and to present you
faultless before the presence
00:13:49.39\00:13:52.93
of his glory with exceeding joy.
00:13:52.93\00:13:56.36
Jude 1:24, KJV
Did you catch that?
00:13:56.36\00:13:58.37
God is able to
keep you from falling.
00:13:58.37\00:14:01.54
And when you find yourself
in the midst of temptation, if
00:14:01.54\00:14:04.47
you'll bring that promise
to Jesus you can be certain He
00:14:04.47\00:14:08.48
will keep it, and that He
will keep you from falling.
00:14:08.48\00:14:11.45
You know what a big
part of the problem is?
00:14:11.45\00:14:14.52
It isn't just
that temptation comes.
00:14:14.52\00:14:16.65
That's simply the price
we pay for living in a sinful
00:14:16.65\00:14:18.65
world. It's that
we don't have the
00:14:18.65\00:14:21.02
word of God in our
minds when temptation comes.
00:14:21.02\00:14:24.96
We can get distracted to
the point that we're not getting
00:14:24.96\00:14:27.93
God's word into our mind.
And we can be blinded to the
00:14:27.93\00:14:32.27
danger of sin by this world
that celebrates sin and has
00:14:32.27\00:14:35.67
normalized in.
Remember - the wages of sin
00:14:35.67\00:14:39.81
is death. Sin
separates a person from
00:14:39.81\00:14:42.41
God (Isaiah 59:9) We ought
to run from temptation as though
00:14:42.41\00:14:46.68
our life depends on
it, because - spiritually
00:14:46.68\00:14:48.98
speaking - it does.
I'll be back with more about
00:14:48.98\00:14:52.25
how you can resist
temptation in just a mome
00:14:52.25\00:14:55.56
Eyes for India is giving
sight to the blind and you
00:15:03.77\00:15:07.64
can be a part of this
amazing work that God is doing.
00:15:07.64\00:15:11.04
Fifteen million blind people
live in India, more than any
00:15:11.04\00:15:14.14
other country in the
world. And many of the blind in
00:15:14.14\00:15:17.08
India could see again, if
only they could have simple
00:15:17.08\00:15:20.38
cataract surgery. It
Is Written is making that
00:15:20.38\00:15:23.92
happen. Would
you support Eyes for
00:15:23.92\00:15:26.99
India? For just
$75 you'll be giving
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the gift of sight to someone
who desperately wants to see.
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Here's all you need to
do. Call 1.800.253.3000.
00:15:34.83\00:15:39.43
That's 1.800.253.3000 to
donate and support Eyes for
00:15:39.43\00:15:45.91
India. Or, you
can write to It Is
00:15:45.91\00:15:48.44
Written, Box O,
Thousand Oaks, California 91359.
00:15:48.44\00:15:53.65
You'll also find
Eyes for India on-line at
00:15:53.65\00:15:57.92
ItIsWritten.com.
Every $75 you give gives
00:15:57.92\00:16:00.86
someone the
precious gift of sight.
00:16:00.86\00:16:03.59
Eyes for India, doing the
work of Jesus in opening the
00:16:03.59\00:16:07.03
eyes of the blind and opening
hearts to the love of God.
00:16:07.03\00:16:10.70
Call 1.800.253.3000 or
write to Box O, Thousand Oaks,
00:16:10.70\00:16:15.84
California, 91359.
Or visit itiswritten.c
00:16:15.84\00:16:23.81
I'm glad you are with
me today on It Is Written
00:16:25.05\00:16:27.62
Today, how can we
successfully handle
00:16:27.62\00:16:30.42
temptation? It's everywhere.
00:16:30.42\00:16:34.36
Now, keep this in mind.
All Satan can do is tempt you
00:16:34.36\00:16:37.46
to sin. He
cannot force you to sin.
00:16:37.46\00:16:40.76
He tempts, you choose.
There is always a choice
00:16:40.76\00:16:44.97
available to us to make, and
that choice is to go with God
00:16:44.97\00:16:48.07
or go it alone. To
say Yes to Jesus, or to
00:16:48.07\00:16:49.87
say Yes to self. When
it comes to fending off
00:16:49.87\00:16:53.54
temptation, the best thing
we can do is imitate what Jesus
00:16:53.54\00:16:57.15
did when He was
tempted in the wilderness.
00:16:57.15\00:16:59.18
Satan tempted Him to
turn stones into bread, and to
00:16:59.18\00:17:02.25
doubt His Father.
Remember, the Father had told
00:17:02.25\00:17:04.89
Jesus that He was God's Son.
Satan says this, he said "If
00:17:04.89\00:17:08.89
you're the Son of God, do
this." And Jesus met him with
00:17:08.89\00:17:13.50
that great Bible verse when
He said, It is written, 'Man
00:17:13.50\00:17:18.20
shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that
00:17:18.20\00:17:22.17
proceeds from the mouth of God.
00:17:22.17\00:17:24.61
Matthew 4:4 I'm
going to believe my Father.
00:17:24.61\00:17:28.64
Even if it doesn't look
like I'm the Son of God out here
00:17:28.64\00:17:30.95
in the wilderness, I'll
believe God's word before I
00:17:30.95\00:17:34.28
believe even appearances."
So Satan tried twice more.
00:17:34.28\00:17:38.55
"Jump off this high place,
because the angels will catch
00:17:38.55\00:17:41.59
you and you'll be okay!"
And Jesus said, It is written
00:17:41.59\00:17:45.76
again, 'You shall not tempt
the LORD your God." Matthew
00:17:45.76\00:17:49.20
4:7, NKJV "Bow down and
worship me, and I'll give you
00:17:49.20\00:17:53.40
all the kingdoms of the
world," and Jesus said in
00:17:53.40\00:17:56.10
Matthew 4:10, You shall
worship the LORD your God,
00:17:56.10\00:17:58.97
and Him only you shall
serve. Matthew 4:10 NKJV
00:17:58.97\00:18:05.81
The devil was defeated.
Temptation has no power over
00:18:05.81\00:18:08.72
the word of God.
The promises of God are
00:18:08.72\00:18:11.12
enough to see off the foe
- Satan is no match for the
00:18:11.12\00:18:14.96
weakest sinner armed with
simple faith in the promises
00:18:14.96\00:18:18.26
of God's word. Now,
before I look at more
00:18:18.26\00:18:20.86
promises with you, let me
make a couple of practical
00:18:20.86\00:18:23.13
suggestions. If
you want to resist
00:18:23.13\00:18:25.53
temptation, you can start
by not putting yourself in its
00:18:25.53\00:18:28.44
way. If lust is a problem, don't
00:18:28.44\00:18:31.41
go down to the beach
on a hot summer's day.
00:18:31.41\00:18:33.84
If alcohol is a problem,
don't meet a friend at the
00:18:33.84\00:18:36.21
bar. If you get frazzled rushing
00:18:36.21\00:18:38.68
off to work each morning,
give yourself more time in
00:18:38.68\00:18:41.52
the morning by
getting up a little earlier.
00:18:41.52\00:18:43.59
If you're tempted to eat
junk food, stop at a store that
00:18:43.59\00:18:46.29
sells healthy
good. Get more sleep.
00:18:46.29\00:18:49.99
Get more exercise.
These two things will help
00:18:49.99\00:18:52.89
you feel better and help
your brain to function better.
00:18:52.89\00:18:55.70
Now I'm not saying these
are the big keys, they're not -
00:18:55.70\00:18:58.53
but they'll help. The
big key is claiming the
00:18:58.53\00:19:02.57
promises of God. In
fact, you could broaden
00:19:02.57\00:19:05.14
that a little to emphasize
how important it is that we
00:19:05.14\00:19:08.04
keep in touch with God.
When I became a Christian, I
00:19:08.04\00:19:11.61
knew my life had really
changed when one day I hit my
00:19:11.61\00:19:15.35
thumb with a hammer, and
instead of saying something I
00:19:15.35\00:19:18.69
would regret I said a
prayer. Now, now I don't mean I
00:19:18.69\00:19:21.62
whacked my thumb and
then bowed my head and said,
00:19:21.62\00:19:23.63
Father in
heaven... I don't mean that.
00:19:23.63\00:19:25.59
I mean, when I hit my thumb,
my first instinct was to talk
00:19:25.59\00:19:28.00
to God. And when
I reflected on that
00:19:28.00\00:19:30.73
I thought, Wow,
God is really working.
00:19:30.73\00:19:33.84
Why was he working?
Because I was in touch with
00:19:33.84\00:19:36.04
him and being in touch
with Him kept me from sin.
00:19:36.04\00:19:39.71
He gave me strength in
the face of temptation.
00:19:39.71\00:19:42.38
If you let your devotional
life slip, if you're not
00:19:42.38\00:19:45.21
reading the Bible, if you're
not connecting with God in
00:19:45.21\00:19:48.12
prayer, you'll have little
power to resist temptation.
00:19:48.12\00:19:52.02
Little or none. The
power comes from abiding
00:19:52.02\00:19:56.32
in Christ, by having the
power of the Holy Spirit in
00:19:56.32\00:19:59.39
your life. Jesus
said to His disciples
00:19:59.39\00:20:02.60
one day, "Watch and
pray that you enter not into
00:20:02.60\00:20:05.77
temptation." It will come
to you, but you don't have to
00:20:05.77\00:20:09.67
enter into it. If
you watch and pray.
00:20:09.67\00:20:12.77
We're told in the
Lord's prayer to pray this way:
00:20:12.77\00:20:15.18
"Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil."
00:20:15.18\00:20:19.45
This thing is a part
of our daily existence.
00:20:19.45\00:20:22.18
Billy Sunday once said,
"Temptation is the devil
00:20:22.18\00:20:25.15
looking through the keyhole.
Yielding is opening the door
00:20:25.15\00:20:29.52
and inviting him
in." The devil can tempt.
00:20:29.52\00:20:32.73
He will. He
knows your weak points,
00:20:32.73\00:20:35.43
and he'll do everything
he can to exploit them.
00:20:35.43\00:20:38.30
He'll try to make you late
and harried in the morning.
00:20:38.30\00:20:41.80
He'll jab the neighbor's
dog to bark at 4.30 in the
00:20:41.80\00:20:45.81
morning so
you'll wake up cranky.
00:20:45.81\00:20:47.84
He'll encourage you to think
that when your spouse said,
00:20:47.84\00:20:49.88
Hi, honey, how was your
day?, that what he or she was
00:20:49.88\00:20:51.85
really thinking was, "I
really don't like you very
00:20:51.85\00:20:54.12
much anymore." He'll
play mind games with you.
00:20:54.12\00:20:56.65
But if you'll learn to run
to God - and lean on His word -
00:20:56.65\00:21:00.76
you'll be okay. If
you're tempted to say
00:21:00.76\00:21:03.69
things you shouldn't,
take this Bible verse to God.
00:21:03.69\00:21:07.20
Set a watch, O LORD, before
my mouth; keep the door of my
00:21:07.20\00:21:10.30
lips. Psalms 141:3 You're asking
00:21:10.30\00:21:14.74
God to take over when
you take that verse to Him -
00:21:14.74\00:21:17.04
you're surrendering to
God. And remember what James
00:21:17.04\00:21:19.97
wrote, Submit
yourselves therefore to God.
00:21:19.97\00:21:24.65
Resist the devil, and
he will flee from you.
00:21:24.65\00:21:28.72
James 4:7, KJV You submit,
you resist through the Word,
00:21:28.72\00:21:34.19
and the devil flees. It works.
00:21:34.19\00:21:37.89
Hebrews 2:18 says, For in
that he himself hath suffered
00:21:37.89\00:21:42.00
being tempted, he is able
to aid those that are tempted.
00:21:42.00\00:21:45.90
Hebrews 2:18, KJV See that?
Jesus knows what it is like
00:21:45.90\00:21:49.50
to be tempted, and so He's
able to help you when you're
00:21:49.50\00:21:52.91
tempted. "Lord,
I'm tempted to think
00:21:52.91\00:21:55.54
you've abandoned me!" I
will never leave you nor forsake
00:21:55.54\00:21:59.08
you. Hebrews
13:5 NKJV "Lord, I'm
00:21:59.08\00:22:01.48
so weak!" My strength is
made perfect in weakness.
00:22:01.48\00:22:05.25
2 Corinthians 12:9 It is God
who works in you both to will
00:22:05.25\00:22:10.69
and to do for His good pleasure.
00:22:10.69\00:22:13.76
Philippians 2:13, NKJV The
promises of God were Jesus'
00:22:13.76\00:22:16.40
way out of temptation,
and they'll deliver you too.
00:22:16.40\00:22:19.67
And one thought I want to
make sure I share with you
00:22:19.67\00:22:22.27
today - If you have
fallen into temptation, remember
00:22:22.27\00:22:25.61
another one of God's promises.
00:22:25.61\00:22:27.58
1 John 1:9 If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and just
00:22:27.58\00:22:35.92
to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all
00:22:35.92\00:22:39.59
unrighteousness.1 John 1:9
As much as you don't want to
00:22:39.59\00:22:42.99
fall into temptation, should
you do so you can afford to
00:22:42.99\00:22:46.73
remember that God
is a forgiving God.
00:22:46.73\00:22:55.24
[Music] What would you do if
you found $45,000 that wasn't
00:22:58.47\00:23:03.08
yours - would you
be tempted to keep it?
00:23:03.08\00:23:07.18
What if nobody knew, and
if nobody could possibly know
00:23:07.18\00:23:17.23
you'd found the money -
what if there would be no
00:23:17.23\00:23:24.03
questions asked?
When a Utah man named Josh
00:23:24.03\00:23:27.30
Ferrin bought his first house
he started looking around in
00:23:27.30\00:23:30.51
the attic, where he found a
number of metal boxes [music
00:23:30.51\00:23:37.45
that turned out to be
stuffed full with about $45,000.
00:23:45.82\00:23:53.76
[Music.] Here's what
he said in the news story.
00:23:53.76\00:24:01.30
"I'm not perfect, and I
wish I could say there was never
00:24:01.30\00:24:07.01
any doubt in my mind.
We knew we had to give it
00:24:07.01\00:24:11.05
back, but it doesn't mean I
didn't think about our car in
00:24:11.05\00:24:14.55
need of repairs, how we
would love to adopt a child and
00:24:14.55\00:24:17.39
aren't' able to do that right
now, or fix up our outdated
00:24:17.39\00:24:21.82
house that we just
bought." He was tempted.
00:24:21.82\00:24:26.70
Strongly. But he
said, "But the money
00:24:26.70\00:24:30.13
wasn't ours... and
this is a lesson I hope
00:24:30.13\00:24:33.84
to teach my children." He
could have caved in to the
00:24:33.84\00:24:36.91
temptation, but he
didn't. And you don't have to.
00:24:36.91\00:24:40.61
And I don't have to, as
long as we stay connected to
00:24:40.61\00:24:44.41
Jesus, and claim the
promises of His word.
00:24:44.41\00:24:49.22
There's something I'd like
to offer you this week that I
00:24:49.22\00:24:51.75
believe will be a real
blessing to you as you seek
00:24:51.75\00:24:54.82
to live a life of
integrity before God.
00:24:54.82\00:24:57.53
"God's Promises" is a little
book containing a number of
00:24:57.53\00:25:00.60
the powerful promises of
God that will help you be
00:25:00.60\00:25:03.20
successful against temptation.
00:25:03.20\00:25:05.27
Just call or write and
I'll send you "God's Promises".
00:25:05.27\00:25:08.70
There's no cost or obligation.
00:25:08.70\00:25:10.67
It's absolutely
free. Just call this
00:25:10.67\00:25:14.51
number,1-800-253-3000,
ask for "God's Promises".
00:25:14.51\00:25:18.08
You can call 24-hours a day.
If the lines are busy, please
00:25:18.08\00:25:21.72
just keep on trying.
You can also request your
00:25:21.72\00:25:24.35
free copy of "God's Promises"
by writing to: It Is Written,
00:25:24.35\00:25:27.96
Box O, Thousand Oaks, CA
91359, and we will mail a
00:25:27.96\00:25:32.29
copy to your
address in North America.
00:25:32.29\00:25:35.60
Please note that this free
book is limited to the supply
00:25:35.60\00:25:39.27
on hand. For
immediate access, you can
00:25:39.27\00:25:41.40
download a FREE electronic
version of the book God's
00:25:41.40\00:25:44.57
Promises from our website:
itiswritten.com It Is Written
00:25:44.57\00:25:47.04
is a faith-based ministry
made possible by viewers like
00:25:47.04\00:25:50.81
you. I want to
say "thank you" to
00:25:50.81\00:25:52.45
you for your
support of It Is Written.
00:25:52.45\00:25:55.75
To support the worldwide
outreach of It Is Written, to
00:25:55.75\00:25:58.19
make it possible for people
to continue receiving this
00:25:58.19\00:26:00.49
broadcast, your
tax-deductible gift may be
00:26:00.49\00:26:02.86
sent to the same address.
Or you can give online at:
00:26:02.86\00:26:06.13
itiswritten.com.
Thank you for your continued
00:26:06.13\00:26:09.16
support. Our
toll-free number is:
00:26:09.16\00:26:12.50
1-800-253-3000.
And our web address is:
00:26:12.50\00:26:15.27
itiswritten.co
Temptations are serious
00:26:15.27\00:26:20.31
business.
Understanding how to defeat
00:26:20.31\00:26:22.58
it rather than be defeated
by it can revolutionize your
00:26:22.58\00:26:25.95
life. Let's pray together.
00:26:25.95\00:26:27.95
I'd like to ask God to
give you victory whenever
00:26:27.95\00:26:30.45
temptation comes.
Our Father in heaven, we
00:26:30.45\00:26:33.59
thank you that we serve a
Saviour who is victorious and
00:26:33.59\00:26:36.66
who will give us His
victory so that we don't need to
00:26:36.66\00:26:39.16
experience defeat.
Lord, make us sensible to
00:26:39.16\00:26:42.60
temptation when it comes.
Alert us to call to you, to
00:26:42.60\00:26:45.80
trust in you,
to claim your word.
00:26:45.80\00:26:48.74
Help us Father to put your
word in our mind so that when
00:26:48.74\00:26:51.07
temptation comes our
mind will go to you and to the
00:26:51.07\00:26:54.94
promises that are
found in the Bible.
00:26:54.94\00:26:57.08
We thank you for a way out
of temptation and for victory
00:26:57.08\00:26:59.78
through Christ and we
pray in Jesus' name, amen.
00:26:59.78\00:27:04.75
Mu It is Written is dedicated
00:27:09.16\00:27:23.87
to sharing the
gospel around the world.
00:27:23.87\00:27:26.37
Our dream is to
impact the world for God.
00:27:26.37\00:27:28.54
Our television program is
only one aspect of how we try
00:27:28.54\00:27:31.61
to accomplish that. To
discover more about It Is
00:27:31.61\00:27:33.92
Written, I invite
you to visit our website,
00:27:33.92\00:27:36.69
itiswritten.com, and
browse the dozens of pages that
00:27:36.69\00:27:40.06
describe what we
do and how we do it.
00:27:40.06\00:27:42.39
Let's get to know
each other better.
00:27:42.39\00:27:44.63
Visit our website
itiswritten.com today.
00:27:44.63\00:27:48.43
Thanks for joining me today.
Look forward to seeing you
00:27:48.66\00:27:51.33
next time. Until
then, remember It Is
00:27:51.33\00:27:53.50
Written, man shall
not live by bread alone
00:27:53.50\00:27:56.97
but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.
00:27:56.97\00:28:00.71