[epic theme music] 00:01:30.65\00:01:38.66 Thanks for joining me today on It Is Written. 00:01:52.31\00:01:54.08 I'm John Bradshaw, great to have you with me. 00:01:54.08\00:01:57.31 In the small town where I grew up there was a jeweler's 00:01:57.31\00:01:59.88 shop, it was the place where you could buy a gift or jewelry 00:01:59.88\00:02:02.55 or the place you went to get your clock 00:02:02.55\00:02:05.49 or your watch fixed - and at the jeweler's shop 00:02:05.49\00:02:07.99 they sold watches. There was always a display 00:02:07.99\00:02:10.16 of watches in the store window - nice watches. 00:02:10.16\00:02:13.33 Expensive watches - especially when you're a kid 00:02:13.33\00:02:16.10 of 10 or 11 year-old kid. Many times I looked through 00:02:16.10\00:02:19.10 the window of that store and dreamed about owning 00:02:19.10\00:02:21.54 one of those beautiful, grown-up watches. 00:02:21.54\00:02:24.07 At about that same time I had a job as a paperboy. 00:02:24.07\00:02:27.24 I'd load my bicycle with papers and ride around town 00:02:27.24\00:02:29.98 for an hour or so 6 days a week delivering between 50 and 60 00:02:29.98\00:02:33.75 newspapers - all for the princely sum of 6 and 7 00:02:33.75\00:02:36.62 dollars a week. Just before 6 o'clock 00:02:36.62\00:02:39.79 in the morning Mr. Pharo would open up his newsstand 00:02:39.79\00:02:41.72 and we'd go to work. Early one morning as I rode 00:02:41.72\00:02:45.83 along Jesmond Street with some time to spare before Mr. 00:02:45.83\00:02:49.53 Pharo opened up I rode by that jeweler's store window. 00:02:49.53\00:02:53.74 And you'd never believe it - there was a hole smashed in 00:02:53.74\00:02:58.27 the shop window in the watch display, and someone had 00:02:58.27\00:03:01.61 stolen some of the watches! But most of them were 00:03:01.61\00:03:04.25 still there. There was no alarm so nobody 00:03:04.25\00:03:07.88 was alerted. The street was dead quiet, 00:03:07.88\00:03:11.29 not a soul anywhere to be seen - and a boy of 11 or 12 00:03:11.29\00:03:15.12 years old stood inches from the very watches he had long 00:03:15.12\00:03:19.43 admired and long wanted to have. 00:03:19.43\00:03:23.93 I looked around, and there was nobody. 00:03:23.93\00:03:27.27 And something said, "Take one. 00:03:27.27\00:03:30.71 This is your big chance. Nobody will ever know!" 00:03:30.71\00:03:35.08 And you know what I did? I actually put my hand 00:03:35.08\00:03:37.98 through the hole in that window to show myself that 00:03:37.98\00:03:40.85 I really could take one of those watches if I wanted to. 00:03:40.85\00:03:43.22 And a wrestling match began - me versus temptation. 00:03:43.22\00:03:49.22 Temptation. It's a powerful thing. 00:03:49.22\00:03:55.93 The dictionary I looked at defined temptation 00:03:55.93\00:03:58.50 as "something that tempts, entices or allures." 00:03:58.50\00:04:02.14 And we're all challenged by temptation 00:04:02.14\00:04:03.94 - on a daily basis. And when it overtakes you 00:04:03.94\00:04:08.34 the results can be devastating. For so many people, 00:04:08.34\00:04:11.48 temptation leads to absolute ruin, and defeat, and shame, 00:04:11.48\00:04:14.88 and loss, and disgrace, and pain. 00:04:14.88\00:04:17.49 So what do you do when you're confronted by temptation? 00:04:17.49\00:04:22.22 Irish writer Oscar Wilde famously said, "I can resist 00:04:22.22\00:04:26.06 everything except temptation." Screen siren Mae West said, 00:04:26.06\00:04:30.40 "I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it." 00:04:30.40\00:04:34.94 And that's cute, I guess, except that 00:04:34.94\00:04:37.01 temptation's no joke. Temptation is Satan's way 00:04:37.01\00:04:40.44 of trying to break us down, to get us away from the will 00:04:40.44\00:04:43.48 of God - because he knows that if he can do that, 00:04:43.48\00:04:46.25 he's got us, and we MAY be LOST eternally. 00:04:46.25\00:04:51.05 Temptation comes in all shapes and sizes. 00:04:51.05\00:04:53.62 For some people, it's chocolate or M & Ms 00:04:53.62\00:04:55.82 or hamburgers. For others, alcohol or drugs 00:04:55.82\00:04:58.89 or cigarettes. Some are tempted by anger, 00:04:58.89\00:05:02.30 others by lust, some are tempted to steal, tempted 00:05:02.30\00:05:05.20 by pride, tempted to call in sick or tempted to stay out 00:05:05.20\00:05:07.47 all night or to waste money. I imagine you can easily 00:05:07.47\00:05:12.81 think of what tempts you most. 00:05:12.81\00:05:15.41 But I'd like you to keep something in mind today. 00:05:15.41\00:05:17.58 Temptation and sin are two different things. 00:05:17.58\00:05:22.02 You don't want to think that being tempted makes you 00:05:22.02\00:05:24.89 guilty of committing sin. When someone cuts you off 00:05:24.89\00:05:27.96 in traffic and the impulse rises to shake your fist and shout 00:05:27.96\00:05:31.39 something inappropriate, that's not sin. 00:05:31.39\00:05:33.80 That's temptation. When you see an attractive 00:05:33.80\00:05:36.93 person and something within you suggests you take 00:05:36.93\00:05:40.14 a lingering second look, that's not "sin" either - 00:05:40.14\00:05:43.61 that's TEMPTATION. But you can see how 00:05:43.61\00:05:47.11 temptation is so dangerous. All it takes is yielding, 00:05:47.11\00:05:50.48 and you're caught in its trap. Here's what the Bible says 00:05:50.48\00:05:53.65 in James 1:14 & 15. The Bible says, But each one 00:05:53.65\00:06:01.89 is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires 00:06:01.89\00:06:03.93 and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, 00:06:03.93\00:06:07.30 it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, 00:06:07.30\00:06:10.53 brings forth death. Nobody ever sinned 00:06:10.53\00:06:17.74 without first being tempted. Which means if the person who 00:06:17.74\00:06:21.51 sinned had known how to deal with temptation - the sin 00:06:21.51\00:06:25.71 would never had happened. You know how it goes - "I know 00:06:25.71\00:06:28.68 I shouldn't but it won't hurt me to stop into that 00:06:28.68\00:06:31.42 casino just once..." - and that one decision can end 00:06:31.42\00:06:35.49 in disaster. "Hmmm, I know I probably 00:06:35.49\00:06:38.33 shouldn't but why don't I message that old boyfriend 00:06:38.33\00:06:40.96 of mine on Facebook. I'll just say hi. 00:06:40.96\00:06:43.10 Nothing more than that." Two years later the house 00:06:43.10\00:06:46.20 has been sold and visitation rights are being worked out. 00:06:46.20\00:06:49.24 Temptation draws us, it plays on our desires, it entices us. 00:06:49.24\00:06:54.54 Temptation stalks us. Peter wrote that Satan walks 00:06:54.54\00:06:58.55 about as a roaring lion seeking who he can devour. 00:06:58.55\00:07:00.75 That's how dangerous temptation is. 00:07:00.75\00:07:03.99 It separates us from the will of God - it separates us from 00:07:03.99\00:07:07.02 righteousness and holiness, that is, IF WE LET IT. 00:07:07.02\00:07:11.76 So what do you do when you're tempted? 00:07:11.76\00:07:14.73 How can you overcome temptation? 00:07:14.73\00:07:17.53 Today, let's look at examples of people in the Bible who 00:07:17.53\00:07:21.54 were tempted, at what God says about temptation, and see 00:07:21.54\00:07:24.87 if we can figure out how to experience victory and not 00:07:24.87\00:07:27.81 defeat when temptation comes. Oh - and what did I do when I 00:07:27.81\00:07:32.55 was a young boy tempted to steal a beautiful new watch? 00:07:32.55\00:07:35.42 I'll tell you in just a moment. 00:07:35.42\00:07:36.92 [Music] 00:07:37.85\00:07:44.19 World history has taught us to associate the word 00:07:48.23\00:07:50.50 "surrender" with thoughts of defeat, shame and loss. 00:07:50.50\00:07:54.60 But what if it were the road to ultimate victory? 00:07:54.60\00:07:57.71 What if surrender meant letting go of your sin or 00:07:57.71\00:08:00.14 your dysfunction in exchange for freedom and integrity? 00:08:00.14\00:08:04.08 What if your conqueror offered you healing, wholeness and 00:08:04.08\00:08:08.62 power? When you're used to being in 00:08:08.62\00:08:11.25 charge, surrender to God may be a struggle. 00:08:11.25\00:08:13.99 But I guarantee you surrender to God is the greatest victory 00:08:13.99\00:08:17.19 you'll ever win. If you'd like to understand 00:08:17.19\00:08:19.56 more, request our free booklet, "The War is Over." 00:08:19.56\00:08:23.20 Simply call 800-253-3000 and ask for your free copy of 00:08:23.20\00:08:28.04 "The War is Over." If the line's busy, please try 00:08:28.04\00:08:31.24 again. Or you can write to 00:08:31.24\00:08:33.21 It Is Written at P O Box 6, Chattanooga, 00:08:33.21\00:08:35.91 Tennessee, 37401. We'll mail a free copy to your 00:08:35.91\00:08:40.28 address in North America. 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Browse the dozens of pages that 00:09:24.26\00:09:28.23 describe what we do and how we're doing it. 00:09:28.23\00:09:30.97 You'll find an archive of past programs in script form and 00:09:30.97\00:09:34.27 streaming video and audio files along with many other helpful, 00:09:34.27\00:09:38.04 inspirational resources. Let's get to know each other 00:09:38.04\00:09:41.24 better, visit our website: ItIsWritten.com today and 00:09:41.24\00:09:45.68 follow us online at Facebook and Twitter. 00:09:45.68\00:09:49.28 Thanks for joining me today on It Is Written. 00:09:51.69\00:09:53.36 Today we're talking about something that's a fact 00:09:53.36\00:09:54.96 of our daily lives, something that brings destruction 00:09:54.96\00:09:58.66 to lives, ruin to homes and chaos to marriages. 00:09:58.66\00:10:03.00 Temptation. Well - it isn't the 00:10:03.00\00:10:05.23 temptation itself that ruins lives and homes and marriages, 00:10:05.23\00:10:08.50 but the way we often respond to it. 00:10:08.50\00:10:11.01 So, how should we respond to temptation? 00:10:11.01\00:10:14.24 I mentioned a few minutes ago that when I was a boy I had 00:10:14.24\00:10:16.81 a golden opportunity to steal a beautiful watch. 00:10:16.81\00:10:19.95 That temptation was "strong" - in the end, I couldn't 00:10:19.95\00:10:24.92 bring myself to take it. I knew it was wrong, and besides 00:10:24.92\00:10:27.62 - how would I explain to my father where this 00:10:27.62\00:10:31.63 beautiful new watch had come from, a watch that 00:10:31.63\00:10:34.10 coincidentally would've turned up on my wrist the day 00:10:34.10\00:10:36.90 the jeweler's store was burgled? 00:10:36.90\00:10:39.27 I got rode my bike across the street to Mr. Pharo's store 00:10:39.27\00:10:42.47 and he called the police and that was that. 00:10:42.47\00:10:45.74 Now I wish I could say I always dealt 00:10:45.74\00:10:48.01 with temptation like that. But that's not always the case. 00:10:48.01\00:10:51.58 Think of how temptation works in the lives of people and 00:10:51.58\00:10:54.58 how it so often brings people to do completely 00:10:54.58\00:10:56.25 irrational things. Temptation leads people 00:10:56.25\00:10:59.22 to become slaves to the substances that tempt them. 00:10:59.22\00:11:02.92 Temptation can be tough stuff. 00:11:02.92\00:11:08.30 But you know that before this program is over, I'm going 00:11:08.30\00:11:10.30 to share with you some key tools that are temptation busters - 00:11:10.30\00:11:15.67 some tools that will help you get over temptation, tools 00:11:15.67\00:11:17.97 that will help you find strength in the moment 00:11:17.97\00:11:21.08 of temptation. Temptation doesn't have 00:11:21.08\00:11:24.21 to ruin your life. One thing about temptation 00:11:24.21\00:11:27.15 is that it's everywhere these days. 00:11:27.15\00:11:30.05 Once up on a time there were certain sins you had to go 00:11:30.05\00:11:32.12 out looking for, but now you can pull them up on your 00:11:32.12\00:11:35.66 computer screen without even leaving your house - nobody 00:11:35.66\00:11:39.13 knows. And society seems to 00:11:39.13\00:11:41.90 encourage sin like never before. 00:11:41.90\00:11:44.27 Have what you want. Have "who" you want. 00:11:44.27\00:11:46.90 Bad behavior is often rewarded with celebrity 00:11:46.90\00:11:49.57 and fame. Sin is applauded. 00:11:49.57\00:11:52.31 I saw a billboard advertising a nightclub and the billboard 00:11:52.31\00:11:55.41 said, "Just the right amount of wrong." Sin is cool. 00:11:55.41\00:12:01.05 Temptation's everywhere. So what do you do? 00:12:01.05\00:12:04.35 Let's look at some case studies. 00:12:04.35\00:12:07.06 Come with me all the way back to the beginning. 00:12:07.06\00:12:10.43 Adam and Eve had been placed into the Garden of Eden 00:12:10.43\00:12:12.53 by a loving God. As long as they obeyed God, 00:12:12.53\00:12:15.43 the enemy couldn't harm them. But Satan knew that if they 00:12:15.43\00:12:18.53 yielded to temptation it would corrupt them and cause 00:12:18.53\00:12:22.17 separation between them and God. 00:12:22.17\00:12:24.87 Now Satan couldn't FORCE Adam and Eve to sin, but he could 00:12:24.87\00:12:27.98 TEMPT them. He could allure them, 00:12:27.98\00:12:31.05 he could entice them. He could cloak sin in a covering 00:12:31.05\00:12:34.38 that would make it seem too good to refuse. 00:12:34.38\00:12:37.69 So while Eve was in the Garden of Eden, Satan spoke to her. 00:12:37.69\00:12:41.69 Using a beautiful snake as a medium - and remember, 00:12:41.69\00:12:45.49 this was way back then, before people were afraid of snakes 00:12:45.49\00:12:48.40 - Satan said this ...we look in Geneses 3, "Has God indeed 00:12:48.40\00:12:54.37 said, You shall not eat of every tree of the Garden?" 00:12:54.37\00:12:59.57 Remember - God told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit 00:12:59.57\00:13:02.34 that grew on the tree of the knowledge of good 00:13:02.34\00:13:04.65 and evil. And they could only be happy 00:13:04.65\00:13:06.72 as they stayed in harmony with God. 00:13:06.72\00:13:08.75 And now - they're being tempted. 00:13:08.75\00:13:11.35 Eve made a crucial mistake: she lingered, instead 00:13:11.35\00:13:16.36 of fleeing temptation. And curious, she engaged 00:13:16.36\00:13:20.90 the devil in a discussion. And she said to the serpent 00:13:20.90\00:13:25.47 in Genesis 3:2 and 3, We may eat the fruit of the trees 00:13:25.47\00:13:30.71 of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is 00:13:30.71\00:13:33.38 in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not 00:13:33.38\00:13:36.14 eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die. 00:13:36.14\00:13:41.38 So Eve knew the score. She knew God's will and she 00:13:41.38\00:13:45.19 knew what was at stake. And that's when the devil 00:13:45.19\00:13:48.22 upped the ante. Verses 4 through 6. 00:13:48.22\00:13:50.63 He said to Eve, You will not surely die. 00:13:50.63\00:13:54.10 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will 00:13:54.10\00:13:56.90 be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good 00:13:56.90\00:14:00.67 and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good 00:14:00.67\00:14:04.47 for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree 00:14:04.47\00:14:08.31 desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit 00:14:08.31\00:14:12.08 and ate. She also gave to her husband 00:14:12.08\00:14:15.15 with her, and he ate. That's Genesis 3 verses 4-6. 00:14:15.15\00:14:20.39 And that was that. They ate - and sin came 00:14:20.39\00:14:25.36 into the world, with all its attendant misery. 00:14:25.36\00:14:28.20 And its easy to criticize them for eating the fruit - 00:14:28.20\00:14:30.63 I mean, a talking snake?! What Eve SHOULD have done 00:14:30.63\00:14:34.94 seems obvious. But it can't be that simple 00:14:34.94\00:14:37.07 or you and I would do it all the time and we'd never fall 00:14:37.07\00:14:39.37 into sin. What should Eve have done? 00:14:39.37\00:14:43.95 First, she should have called to God. 00:14:43.95\00:14:46.68 Second, she should not have lingered in the presence 00:14:46.68\00:14:50.02 of temptation. Eve allowed herself to 00:14:50.02\00:14:52.95 be "beguiled" as Paul writes later in the Bible - 00:14:52.95\00:14:56.36 enchanted, or tricked. Now some lessons for us. 00:14:56.36\00:14:59.96 When temptation comes, call on God, right away. 00:14:59.96\00:15:03.80 Pray! And, don't linger or hang 00:15:03.80\00:15:08.04 around temptation. When the enemy comes calling, 00:15:08.04\00:15:10.24 close the avenue of communication. 00:15:10.24\00:15:12.84 If it's something on a computer or a TV, pray and turn it off. 00:15:12.84\00:15:17.35 If it's a person driving you nuts, pray and if possible, 00:15:17.35\00:15:20.12 get out of there. Eve hung around the temptation 00:15:20.12\00:15:23.28 when she should have fled the temptation. 00:15:23.28\00:15:27.42 And we're still paying the price for her indiscretion 00:15:27.42\00:15:30.16 today. I think we both know 00:15:30.16\00:15:33.13 temptation is a powerful thing. 00:15:33.13\00:15:35.60 An image on a billboard, a drink in a glass, 00:15:35.60\00:15:38.97 an attractive face or the chance to get easy money - powerful 00:15:38.97\00:15:43.61 temptations, for all kinds of reasons. 00:15:43.61\00:15:47.08 In a moment, we'll look at two people and how they 00:15:47.08\00:15:50.01 reacted - very differently - to temptation when it came. 00:15:50.01\00:15:54.25 And I am going to give you three tools for beating 00:15:54.25\00:15:57.35 temptation. We'll have them next. 00:15:57.35\00:16:00.12 [Music] Every Word is a one minute 00:16:01.49\00:16:03.29 Bible-based daily devotional presented by Pastor John 00:16:03.29\00:16:06.19 Bradshaw and designed especially for busy people 00:16:06.19\00:16:09.03 like you. Look for Every Word on selected 00:16:09.03\00:16:12.03 networks or watch it on-line everyday on our website 00:16:12.03\00:16:14.94 itiswritten.com. 00:16:14.94\00:16:17.47 [upbeat music] 00:16:19.11\00:16:25.31 What a great example Jacob gave us. 00:16:26.31\00:16:28.92 He'd made plenty of mistakes but late one night he wrestled with 00:16:28.92\00:16:31.45 God and said to God in Genesis 32:26, "I will not let you go 00:16:31.45\00:16:35.66 unless you bless me." Now there's the right attitude. 00:16:35.66\00:16:38.99 "Lord, I must have your blessing and I'm going to hang on to you 00:16:38.99\00:16:42.20 until I get it." You can pray that way: 00:16:42.20\00:16:44.73 "Lord, I must be delivered, I have to know your will, 00:16:44.73\00:16:47.40 I have to have your power in my life." 00:16:47.40\00:16:49.74 Jacob showed us what to do when you fall. 00:16:49.74\00:16:51.71 Instead of running FROM God, he ran TO God. 00:16:51.71\00:16:54.91 Instead of giving up he took hold of God believing that God 00:16:54.91\00:16:58.05 was willing and able to bless. Don't let your falls and 00:16:58.05\00:17:02.18 failures keep you away from God. 00:17:02.18\00:17:04.22 Be like Jacob - knowing he had made mistakes he took hold of 00:17:04.22\00:17:07.22 God, and wouldn't let go until God had blessed him. 00:17:07.22\00:17:10.93 I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written. 00:17:10.93\00:17:12.93 Let's live today by Every Word. 00:17:12.93\00:17:15.20 [Music] 00:17:15.20\00:17:18.77 Planning for your financial future is a vital aspect of 00:17:23.24\00:17:25.71 Christian stewardship. For this reason, It Is Written 00:17:25.71\00:17:29.14 is pleased to offer free planned giving and estate services. 00:17:29.14\00:17:33.01 For information on how we can help you, please call 00:17:33.01\00:17:35.65 1.800.992.2219. To receive additional material 00:17:35.65\00:17:40.56 on the advantages of life-income plans, such as a charitable gift 00:17:40.56\00:17:44.63 annuity, which could provide you with tax benefits and income for 00:17:44.63\00:17:48.10 life, call today or visit our special website 00:17:48.10\00:17:51.80 www.hislegacy.com. You could also write to: 00:17:51.80\00:17:57.34 It Is Written, Planned Giving & Trust Services, 00:17:57.34\00:18:00.51 P O Box 6, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37401. 00:18:00.51\00:18:05.88 Our toll-free number again 1.800.992.2219 and our web 00:18:05.88\00:18:10.79 address www.hislegacy.com. 00:18:10.79\00:18:14.76 I'm John Bradshaw. Thanks for joining me today 00:18:20.60\00:18:22.66 on It Is Written. In a few minutes I'm going to 00:18:22.66\00:18:25.53 offer you a free resource to help you deal with temptation. 00:18:25.53\00:18:28.97 I hope you'll get that information so I can send 00:18:28.97\00:18:30.64 this free resource to you. Right now, let's look at two 00:18:30.64\00:18:34.28 people who were faced with the same temptation, and who 00:18:34.28\00:18:37.68 handled it very differently. One, successfully, 00:18:37.68\00:18:41.35 and the other, disastrously. In 2 Samuel chapter 11 00:18:41.35\00:18:47.16 you read these words- 2nd Samuel chapter 11- 00:18:47.16\00:18:51.89 Then it happened one evening that David arose from 00:18:51.89\00:18:55.50 his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. 00:18:55.50\00:18:59.37 And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman 00:18:59.37\00:19:03.20 was very beautiful to behold. Now let me ask you - 00:19:03.20\00:19:08.71 has David done anything wrong here? 00:19:08.71\00:19:10.61 Anything sinful? Anything immoral? 00:19:10.61\00:19:12.91 The answer is, No he hasn't. He's out walking one evening 00:19:12.91\00:19:15.78 - no sin there - and he sees a beautiful woman. 00:19:15.78\00:19:18.79 Maybe he couldn't help that. But something takes place here. 00:19:18.79\00:19:22.16 He's tempted. He has seen something he 00:19:22.16\00:19:25.46 likes - frankly, it's something he was created 00:19:25.46\00:19:28.20 to appreciate - in the right context, of course. 00:19:28.20\00:19:31.17 And when something within David said to him, "This 00:19:31.17\00:19:34.50 is good!" David didn't react in the way he should have. 00:19:34.50\00:19:39.17 He was tempted. That's fine. 00:19:39.17\00:19:41.78 But then he started to imagine what it would 00:19:41.78\00:19:43.75 be like to... get to know this woman better. 00:19:43.75\00:19:47.82 As James wrote, "he was drawn away of his own lusts, 00:19:47.82\00:19:52.89 and enticed." The Bible says that David sent and inquired 00:19:52.89\00:19:57.86 about the woman. Now, let me ask you: 00:19:57.86\00:20:01.30 anything wrong with that? Was inquiring about the woman 00:20:01.30\00:20:05.50 contravening any societal conventions? 00:20:05.50\00:20:08.00 Strictly speaking, No! Nothing wrong with asking 00:20:08.00\00:20:10.81 who a person was. You do it. 00:20:10.81\00:20:13.17 But what was David really doing? 00:20:13.17\00:20:16.41 He was opening the door to temptation, wasn't he? 00:20:16.41\00:20:19.45 Now he was on dangerous ground. 00:20:19.45\00:20:23.08 We read this in 2 Samuel 11, And someone said, Is this not 00:20:23.08\00:20:27.06 Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah 00:20:27.06\00:20:29.76 the Hittite? No, David, don't do it. 00:20:29.76\00:20:34.76 You're already married, she's married, 00:20:34.76\00:20:37.43 this just isn't necessary. Put the idea out of your mind. 00:20:37.43\00:20:41.54 Pray, go back to your room, read a good book... 00:20:41.54\00:20:46.01 This isn't going to lead to anything good. 00:20:46.01\00:20:49.11 Verse 4 says, Then David sent messengers, and took her; 00:20:49.11\00:20:53.31 and she came to him. and... so on. 00:20:53.31\00:20:59.55 By the time this thing was over, David had committed a litany 00:20:59.55\00:21:02.46 of terrible sins - adultery, dishonesty, 00:21:02.46\00:21:04.83 murder... Judgment came swiftly. 00:21:04.83\00:21:08.56 What a mess. But if he had handled that 00:21:08.56\00:21:11.20 temptation better, it would have all been different. 00:21:11.20\00:21:14.20 What should David have done? To find that out, look 00:21:14.20\00:21:18.21 at someone who found himself in a similar situation. 00:21:18.21\00:21:21.14 Joseph had been unjustly sold as a slave to Egypt. 00:21:21.14\00:21:25.45 He might have been tempted to think that God 00:21:25.45\00:21:27.28 had forsaken him. The man who purchased him 00:21:27.28\00:21:29.62 made Joseph the ruler over his entire household. 00:21:29.62\00:21:33.22 The man's wife decides that this handsome young man 00:21:33.22\00:21:36.56 (as the Bible describes him) is her cup of tea, and she acts 00:21:36.56\00:21:40.73 on her desires. Genesis 39:7, the Bible says 00:21:40.73\00:21:47.94 this, His master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; 00:21:47.94\00:21:52.84 and she said, Lie with me. Temptation? 00:21:52.84\00:21:59.11 I'm not trying to say Joseph welcomed it, 00:21:59.11\00:22:03.45 but it was certainly a temptation for him. 00:22:03.45\00:22:06.45 So what did he do? But he refused and said 00:22:06.45\00:22:09.86 to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what 00:22:09.86\00:22:13.66 is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has 00:22:13.66\00:22:16.97 to my hand. There is no one greater 00:22:16.97\00:22:19.97 in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me 00:22:19.97\00:22:23.64 but you, because you are his wife. 00:22:23.64\00:22:28.38 Joseph was moved by a sense of right, 00:22:28.38\00:22:31.78 and a sense of duty and loyalty. 00:22:31.78\00:22:33.98 He was governed by principle rather than desire. 00:22:33.98\00:22:37.29 He said to the temptress, "How then can I do this great 00:22:37.29\00:22:40.76 wickedness, and sin against God?" 00:22:40.76\00:22:46.03 Moved by honor for God, Joseph wouldn't cave in 00:22:46.03\00:22:49.56 to the temptation. So the woman started coming 00:22:49.56\00:22:52.13 on to Joseph every day. And he "still" didn't cave. 00:22:52.13\00:22:56.60 Joseph made God's desires more important than his own. 00:22:56.60\00:23:00.04 In the short term he paid a terrible price. 00:23:00.04\00:23:02.64 But God says, "Them that honor me I will honor." And Joseph 00:23:02.64\00:23:06.68 became second only to Pharaoh in the greatest kingdom 00:23:06.68\00:23:11.15 in the world. Temptation didn't have to bring 00:23:11.15\00:23:13.79 down David, but it did. When the door of temptation 00:23:13.79\00:23:17.76 right there before him, he walked clear through. 00:23:17.76\00:23:22.46 Joseph, on the other hand, slammed the door shut. 00:23:22.46\00:23:25.23 Joseph decided ahead of time that by God's grace he would 00:23:25.23\00:23:28.50 honor God in what He did. And God honored him for that. 00:23:28.50\00:23:32.57 Alright now - let me give you three Cs for dealing 00:23:32.57\00:23:37.08 with temptation. And I'm telling you, his can 00:23:37.08\00:23:39.68 revolutionize your life. 1 - Call on God. 00:23:39.68\00:23:46.35 That means pray. Eve evidently didn't do that. 00:23:46.35\00:23:48.59 Neither did David. In the midst of their 00:23:48.59\00:23:50.89 temptation, if they had called on God and asked 00:23:50.89\00:23:52.86 for guidance and strength, things would have turned out 00:23:52.86\00:23:55.10 a lot different. It's mighty hard to pray and 00:23:55.10\00:23:58.20 sin at the same time. And C, No. 2 - Trust Completely. 00:23:58.20\00:24:05.27 James said this in James 4:7. Therefore submit to God. 00:24:05.27\00:24:14.08 Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 00:24:14.08\00:24:19.69 See, what that means is that God has said you can be victorious. 00:24:19.69\00:24:22.72 You don't have to fall. This idea, this "I guess 00:24:22.72\00:24:27.13 I'm just too weak...You might be, but God is strong. 00:24:27.13\00:24:32.60 He can keep you. If you resist the devil while 00:24:32.60\00:24:35.47 submitting to God, the devil will flee. 00:24:35.47\00:24:39.87 How do I know that? Because God has said so. 00:24:39.87\00:24:42.81 And C, No. 3 - Claim God's Promises. 00:24:42.81\00:24:48.72 Here's a powerful verse. 1 Corinthians 10:13, 00:24:48.72\00:24:55.02 here's what the Bible says, No temptation has overtaken you 00:24:55.02\00:24:59.23 except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who 00:24:59.23\00:25:03.97 will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, 00:25:03.97\00:25:07.14 but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, 00:25:07.14\00:25:11.97 that you may be able to bear it. Gather up the promises 00:25:11.97\00:25:17.28 of God, so that when you're tempted by impurity you can 00:25:17.28\00:25:19.88 say, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see 00:25:19.88\00:25:23.05 God. Matthew 5:8. Or, you might say, 00:25:23.05\00:25:27.12 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes. 00:25:27.12\00:25:29.82 Psalm 101:3 Or you could claim 2 Peter 2:9 00:25:29.82\00:25:34.66 whatever the temptation is you find yourself beset 00:25:34.66\00:25:37.37 by, 2 Peter 2:9, The Lord knows how to deliver 00:25:37.37\00:25:43.71 the godly out of temptations. That's what the Bible says 00:25:43.71\00:25:48.34 in 2 Peter 2:9. You don't have to fall when 00:25:48.34\00:25:51.68 temptation comes. No, I'm not suggesting 00:25:51.68\00:25:54.12 this is easy. It is simple - 00:25:54.12\00:25:56.25 but not always easy. Temptation can be a struggle, 00:25:56.25\00:25:59.65 but if you'll take it to God every time, you can know that 00:25:59.65\00:26:04.33 God will deliver you. Remember that line 00:26:04.33\00:26:07.13 in the Lord's Prayer? "Lead us not into temptation, 00:26:07.13\00:26:09.60 but deliver us from evil." It's real. 00:26:09.60\00:26:12.87 God will deliver you. Remember those Three C's, 00:26:12.87\00:26:16.64 C #1, Call on God, C#2, Trust Completely in God, 00:26:16.64\00:26:22.31 and C#3, Claim God's promises. God will give you victory. 00:26:22.31\00:26:30.22 This can revolutionize your life. 00:26:30.22\00:26:32.85 [Music] What if surrender meant letting 00:26:32.85\00:26:45.60 go of your sin or your dysfunction in exchange 00:26:45.60\00:26:47.97 for freedom and integrity? If you'd like to understand 00:26:47.97\00:26:51.77 more, request our free booklet, "The War is Over." 00:26:51.77\00:26:55.48 Simply call 800-253-3000 and ask for your free copy of 00:26:55.48\00:26:59.68 "The War is Over." If the line's busy, 00:26:59.68\00:27:02.95 please try again. Or you can write to 00:27:02.95\00:27:05.59 It Is Written at P O Box 6, Chattanooga, 00:27:05.59\00:27:08.22 Tennessee, 37401. We'll mail a free copy to your 00:27:08.22\00:27:12.56 address in North America. It Is Written is a faith-based 00:27:12.56\00:27:16.43 ministry, and your support makes it possible for us to 00:27:16.43\00:27:19.53 share God's good news with the world. 00:27:19.53\00:27:22.40 Your tax-deductible gift can be sent to the address 00:27:22.40\00:27:24.91 on your screen, or through our website 00:27:24.91\00:27:27.14 at ItIsWritten.com. Thank you for your continued 00:27:27.14\00:27:29.98 prayerful support. Again, our toll-free number is 00:27:29.98\00:27:33.45 800-253-3000, and our web address is ItIsWritten.com. 00:27:33.45\00:27:40.12 I'd like to pray with you right now and ask that God 00:27:43.29\00:27:45.43 would strengthen you in your battle against temptation, 00:27:45.43\00:27:48.53 whatever that temptation is. Let's pray. 00:27:48.53\00:27:51.73 Our Father in heaven, we thank you that you have 00:27:51.73\00:27:54.77 promised that you will give us a way of escape. 00:27:54.77\00:27:57.44 Oh Lord, in our lives day by day so often temptation 00:27:57.44\00:28:01.04 comes and before we know what has happened, 00:28:01.04\00:28:03.48 we find that we have fallen when we did not 00:28:03.48\00:28:05.65 want to fall. I pray that you would help us 00:28:05.65\00:28:09.05 in the midst of temptation to call on you, to pray, 00:28:09.05\00:28:12.92 to trust completely in you, to believe that you can deliver 00:28:12.92\00:28:15.86 us and to claim your promises knowing there is power 00:28:15.86\00:28:18.99 in your word. Lord, as we pray 00:28:18.99\00:28:22.16 in the Lord's prayer, lead us not into temptation, 00:28:22.16\00:28:25.03 but deliver us from evil. Let that be our experience, 00:28:25.03\00:28:28.34 we pray. There are some people right 00:28:28.34\00:28:31.01 now, someone right now who knows they are in 00:28:31.01\00:28:33.81 a terrible struggle. Oh Lord, bring deliverance 00:28:33.81\00:28:36.21 to that person and let them find strength in you. 00:28:36.21\00:28:39.25 I pray in Jesus' name, amen. 00:28:39.25\00:28:43.32 [Prayer Music] 00:28:47.59\00:29:10.78 Thanks for joining me today. I look forward to seeing 00:29:12.61\00:29:14.82 you next time. Until then, remember, 00:29:14.82\00:29:16.92 It is written, man shall not live by bread alone but by every 00:29:16.92\00:29:21.26 word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 00:29:21.26\00:29:25.16 [music] 00:29:27.10\00:29:37.04