Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:1-11 | Sabbath: August 17, 2024
Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:13
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Weekly Proverb: Proverbs 6:27
Proverbs 6:27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
Introduction: Everyone who is born of God is placed on a fiery battle field of temptation and ungodliness until the return of our commander Jesus Christ. The battle is between yielding to the Holy Spirit or the flesh. This battlefield is our mind. In this lesson, we will understand God’s plan for us to overcome temptation.
Definition: Temptation is the enticement (persuasion, bait, attraction) to go against the word of God. James 1:14-15, Isaiah 14:12-14. Seduction and allurement are other ways of saying temptation.

1. How do we become tempted and what is the result when you yield to temptation? James 1:15, Genesis 3:6, 22, 23.
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Genesis 3:22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Genesis 3:23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Answer: Lust leads to temptation, temptation leads to sin, and sin leads to death.
2. Who is the mastermind behind temptation? James 1:13, John 13:2, Matthew 4:1.
James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
John 13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
3. How does Satan lure people to yield to temptation? John 8:44, 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4, Genesis 3:1-5.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Genesis 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Note: Satan can only tempt you, but he cannot force you to yield to temptation. When you are walking in the spirit, you have power of the Holy Spirit to overcome Satan’s temptation to sin.
4. An evil desire is a weakness: it makes you see the forbidden as desirable. How does the devil use our desires to trigger temptation? Matthew 4:2-3, Genesis 3:6, 7, (Genesis 2:15-17).
Matthew 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
5. Satan does not tempt just for the fun of it. What is Satan’s mission? Luke 22:31, John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:8.
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Note: He wants to destroy our lives by separating us from God.
6. As spiritual soldiers, what protective clothing has God given to us to do battle against the forces of darkness? Ephesians 6:10-16.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
7. What weapons has God provided? v 17, 18.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
8. Soldiers are disciplined individuals. How must we conduct ourselves? Galatians 5:16, Colossians 3:5-9, Matthew 5:16.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Colossians 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Colossians 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
9. If we accept God as our father, what must we do? James 4:7, 8.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
10. Should we avoid certain company? Why? Proverbs 4:14-19.
Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Proverbs 4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Proverbs 4:16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
Proverbs 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Proverbs 4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
11. What assurance and blessings are in store for those who overcome temptation? James 1:12, 1 John 4:4.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Conclusion: Sin can possibly lead to temporal death now, but will definitely lead to eternal death. Seek God’s help when you’re tempted.