Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim

Truth About Temptation
Luke 22:31-34

Introduction
Temptation means a person is confronted with the opportunity to sin. A victorious Christian life may still be a tempted life. As long as you and I are in this physical body we are going to be tempted.

We need to realize there is no sin in being tempted. We must realize you and I do not have to YIELD to temptation in any way. The Bible tells us "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).

Jesus experienced temptation. Hebrews 4:15: "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

There are false thoughts about temptation. I want us to look toward the truth about temptation.
 
 

1.    The . . Discernment of the Lord and the Truth about Temptation. v 31
    31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.

    A.    The Discernment of the Lord In . . Advance.
        31 a And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.

    B.    The Discernment of the Lord In the . . Asking.
        31 b ". . . Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat."

            Has ask = Demanded.

            Sift You = Plural all of you.

Illustration
A South American company purchased a fine printing press from a firm in the United States. After it had been shipped and completely assembled, the workmen could not get it to operate properly. The most knowledgeable personnel tried to adjust it, but to no avail. The company finally sent a wire to the manufacturer, asking for a representative to come and fix it. Sensing the urgency of the request, the U. S. firm sent the designer of the press. When he arrived on the scene, the company officials were sceptical because he was young. After discussing the situation, they sent this cable to the manufacturer: "Your man is too young. Send a more experienced person." The reply came back, "He made the machine. Let him fix it." We are in a similar situation. Only our creator can fix us.

Application

The Lord knows about temptation before it happens
 

2.    The . . Desires of Satan and the Truth about Temptation. v 31 b

    A.    The . . Prospect of Satan's Desires. v 31 b ¹
            "Indeed, Satan has asked for you,. . . "

    B.    The . . Purpose of Satan's Desires. v 31 b ²
            ". . . that he may sift you as wheat."

1. Sexual Temptation.
2. Book: For Women Only What You Need To Know About The Inner Lives Of Men Shaunti Feldhahn

1. Talked about on Internet site: familylife.com
2. Mate says: I don't feel welcome or welcome

 

Illustration
Most of us have seen pictures of the great wall of China. The Chinese built this tremendous wall to keep out the enemy. But the wall didn't work. The enemy got through anyway. The enemy didn't get through by tearing down the wall for the wall was far too large to be destroyed. They got through by finding a gate keeper they could bribe. They bribed a gate keeper and they walked right in.

Friends, there are gates that Satan wants to pass through into our lives. But he can't get in unless we open the gate for him. Mike Minix

Application

We need to be aware of Satan's schemes.
 

3.    The . . Dedication of the Lord and the Truth about Temptation. v 32 a

    A.    Jesus . . Prayed for Simon. v 32 b
        32 But I have prayed for you,

    B.    Prayed for you = Singularly

    C.    Jesus . . Prays for Us.
 
        Rom 8:34b,
            34 b ". . . who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. NKJV

        Heb. 7:25,
            25 Therefore He is also able to save to the utter-most those who come to God through
            Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. NKJV

        1 John 4:4
            4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is
            greater than he who is in the world. NKJV

        1 Cor 10:13
        13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful,
        who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will
        also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. NKJV

    D.    Jesus . . Power for Simon and Us.
        ". . . that your faith should not fail;. . ."

            1. Side Issue: Jesus never prayed for Judas that his faith would not fail; How come?

            2.    Judas did not have any faith.

Illustration PILOT, AND A RAT
The modern jet on the runway was a beauty. It was equipped with the latest technology and weaponry. The jet could fly at supersonic speeds, and quickly race to great heights. If an enemy plane were in the vicinity, the jet's pilot could destroy that plane miles away, before the plane's pilot could even see him. An Air Force pilot climbed into the jet and off he flew, leaving the earth far behind as he soared above the clouds. Although no one was looking, the pilot straightened himself in his seat. He was naturally proud of his jet, and of himself for qualifying to fly such a sophisticated mode of transportation. After he reached cruising altitude, the pilot heard a strange noise. He took off his helmet, and recognized the noise -- it sounded like someone gnawing on rubber or plastic. Peering down below the instrument panel, to his horror the pilot saw a rat, out of his reach and gnawing on the main electrical wire between the jet's controls and its engine. If the rat were to cut through that line, the jet would careen out of control, and crash immediately. The pilot's first instinct was to descend -- an emergency landing. But he had flown so far that there was not enough time to land. So he decided to ascend -- maybe the rat couldn't survive at a higher altitude. The pilot put on his oxygen mask, boosted power to the jet's engine, and quickly climbed as high as he could go. Soon the gnawing sound ended. When the pilot landed safely, he found the rat -- dead

Application

Some times Temptation is like a Rat gnawing away at our spiritual life, and will harm our witness. What shall we do? Simple go higher in our commitment to the Lord.
 

4.    The . . Direction of the Lord and the Truth about Temptation. v 32 c

    A.    The Direction of . . Restoration. v 32 c
        ". . . and when you have returned to Me,. . ."

    B.    The Direction of the Return.
        ". . . returned to Me,. . ."

Illustration Complete About Face
Wabush, a town in a remote portion of Labrador, Canada, was completely isolated for some time. But recently a road was cut through the wilderness to reach it. Wabush now has one road leading into it, and thus, only on one road leading out. If someone would travel the unpaved road for six to eight hours to get into Wabush, there is only way he or she could eave---by turning around.

Each of us, by birth, arrives in a town called Sin. As in Wabush, there is only one way out--a road built by God himself. But in order to take that road, one must first turn around. That complete about face is what the Bible calls repentance, and without it, there's no way out of town. Brian Weatherdon

    C.    The Direction of . . Relationships. v 32 c
        ". . . strengthen your brethren."

Illustration
A soap manufacturer and a pastor were walking together down a street in a large city. The soap manufacturer casually said, "The gospel you preach hasn't done much good has it? Just observe. There is still a lot of wickedness in the world, and a lot of wicked people, too!" The pastor made no reply until they passed a dirty little child making mud pies in the gutter. Seizing the opportunity, the pastor said, "I see that soap hasn't done much good in the world either; for there is much dirt, and many dirty people around." The soap man said, "Oh, well, soap only works when it is applied." And the pastor said, "Exactly, so it is with the gospel."
 
 

5.    The . . Distinction of Mankind and Christ and the Truth about Temptation. v 33-34
        33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death." 34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."

    A.    Mankind's Distinction is . . Limited. v 33
        33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."

Illustration
Two geese, when about to start southwards on their annual autumn migration, were entreated by a frog to take him with them. On the geese expressing their willingness to do so if a means of conveyance could be devised, the frog produced a stalk of long grass, got the two geese to take it one by each end, while he clung to it by his mouth in the middle. In this manner the three were making their journey successfully when they were noticed from below by some men, who loudly expressed their admiration of the device, and wondered who had been clever enough to discover it. The vainglorious frog, opening his mouth to say, "It was me," lost his hold, fell to the earth and was dashed to pieces.  --J. Gilmour

    B.    The Distinction of Christ is . . Limitless. v 34
        34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me." NKJV