TOPIC: Resisting Temptation
MEMORISE: 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. – 1 Corinthians 10:13
BIBLE READING: Matthew 4:1-4
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.Christian faith resources
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
MESSAGE:
Being tempted means to be enticed or convinced to do something wrong. There is a clear example of this in Genesis 3 where the serpent enticed Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. The serpent tried to convince her that there were some hidden advantages she was missing out on by avoiding the fruit God had earlier instructed her and Adam not to eat. Unfortunately, however, Eve fell for the temptation. In today’s Bible reading, Jesus was also tempted by the devil, but He overcame the temptation. This tells us that temptations will come, but God has given us the ability to overcome them, as we see in today’s memory verse.
My dear child, the devil will always try to lure you into doing something bad. For example, disobey your parents, or steal from your parents. However, you should resist whatever temptation he brings your way.
Beloved, there will always be a limit to the temptations that come your way. God will never allow you to be tempted above your Capacity to say NO, as today’s memory verse tells us. You will always have the choice to say NO and do the right thing. In Eve’s case, the snake did not force her to take the fruit; she had a choice to say NO. Keeping the word of God in your heart at all times will help you overcome whatever temptation the devil may bring your way (Psalm 119:11). I pray that the Lord will help you to say NO whenever temptations arise, in Jesus’ name.
KEY POINT:
You will always have the capacity to say NO in the face of temptations.
HYMN: Through The Love Of God Our Saviour
1 Through the love of God our Saviour,
All will be well;
Free and changeless is His favour,
All, all is well:
Precious is the blood that healed us;
Perfect is the grace that sealed us:
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,
All must be well.
2 Though we pass through tribulation,
All will be well;
Ours is such a full salvation,
All,all is well:
Happy still in God confiding;
Fruitfull in Christ abiding;
Holy through the Spirit’s guiding:
All must be well.Christian faith resources
3 We expect a bright tomorrow;
All will be well;
Faith can sing through days of Sorrow,
All, all is well:
On our Father’s love relying,
Jesus every need supplying,
Or in living or in dying,
All must be well.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Luke 6:2 7-49, Joshua 23-24
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye