1. 5 steps to avoid TEMPTATION!

2. • Temptation is something we face as born-again believers.
• NO matter how long we have been FOLLOWING Christ.
• You can LEARN how to avoid by practicing these steps.
• We can do to grow stronger and smarter in our struggle
AGAINST sin.

3. • MATTHEW 4:1-11
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the
devil.
2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
3 During that time the devil* came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell
these stones to become loaves of bread."
4 But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say,
'People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'*"
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the
Temple,
6 and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
'He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.'*"
7 Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'You must not test the LORD your
God.'*"
8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all
the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9 "I will give it all to you," he said, "if you will kneel down and worship me."
10 "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say,
'You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.'*"
11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

4. Here’s HOW: Step one
• JAMES 1:12-15
• 12God blesses those who patiently endure testing and
temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that
God has promised to those who love him. 13And remember,
when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting
me.” God is never tempted to do wrong and he never tempts
anyone else. 14Temptation comes from our own desires,
which entice us and drag us away. 15These desires give birth
to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives
birth to death.
• Recognize your TENDENCY toward sin.
• Expect to be TEMPTED.
• Be PREPARED for it.

5. Here’s HOW: Step two
• JAMES 4:7-8
• 7So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he
will flee from you. 8Come close to God, and God will come
close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your
hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
• RUN AWAY from the temptation.
• God is FAITHFUL. 1 John 1:5-10
• When you are tempted BUT......
• He will show you a WAY out so that you will NOT give in to it.

6. Here’s HOW: Step three
• HEBREWS 4:12-16
• 12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-
edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It
exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is
hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is
the one to whom we are accountable.
• 14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus
the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours
understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he
did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we
will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
• Resist with the WORD of TRUTH.
• Reading the Bible daily, you will have the full counsel of God.
• You will be READY whenever temptation comes.

7. Here’s HOW: Step four
• PSALM 117
• 1 Praise the LORD, all you nations.
Praise him, all you people of the earth.
2 For he loves us with unfailing love;
the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever.
Praise the LORD!
Refocus with PRAISE
When your heart and mind were fully concentrated on worship.
He will give you the STRENGTH to resist the temptation.

8. Here’s HOW: Step five
• 2 PETER 3:9
• 9The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some
people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does
not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to
repent.
• Repent QUICKLY when you FAIL.
• It’s dangerous to persist in your SIN.
• In several places the Bible tells us BEST way to FLEE from it:
• 1 Corinthians 6:6-20, 10:1-33,
• 1 Timothy 6:1-21
• 2 Timothy 2:1-26

9. Lord’s Supper
• 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
• 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in
pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for
you. Do this to remember me.”
• 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after
supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant
between God and his people—an agreement
confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as
often as you drink it.”
• 27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup
of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the
body and blood of the Lord.