Icebreaker: Have you ever had a bad habit that you just couldn’t break? What is that habit, and if you are free from it, how did you break it?
Read: Gen 3:1-12
1. Scripture doesn’t say that God said not to touch the tree. Either God spoke with Adam alone, and Adam exaggerated what God said in order to keep Eve away, or Eve exaggerated to the serpent.
Question: Have you ever exaggerated in order to keep someone away from evil? What might be the danger in this?
2. In verse 5, the serpent says that God knew that if Adam and Eve ate the fruit that they would be like God, but we’ve already learned that Adam and Eve were already like God, they were made in His image. Satan tempted them to believe that God hadn’t done enough for them, that He was withholding something good from them. He sowed a seed of ingratitude.
In the book 1000 Gifts, Ann Voskamp says, “Our fall was, has always been, and always will be, that we aren’t satisfied in God and what He gives. We hunger for something more, something other.”
The temptation Satan gave Eve was to believe that God hadn’t given her enough, that God is not good and does not have our best in mind. Isn’t that our temptation today? To believe that God is not good. That He doesn’t care about us or our worries and fears, our problems and temptations?
Question: In what area have you been tempted to think that God hasn’t done enough, doesn’t care or doesn’t understand?
3. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
How did Jesus resist temptation?
Luke 4:1-12
Jesus was tempted in his body, mind and spirit.
a) Body – food, lust, hunger, fulfillment
b) Mind – riches, power
c) Spirit – Whom will you worship, God, Satan, self?
At each point Jesus used Scripture to fight temptation. Satan used Scripture as well, so not only did Jesus have to know Scripture, but He had to understand it’s intent.
When Jesus was tempted at Gethsemane, how did He resist?
He gave up His right and His will. He trusted that God’s plan had His best in mind…Mankind’s best in mind.
So then, as our example, Jesus shows us that the key to overcoming temptation is to know what God said and to submit to His will.
Eve knew what God said, but she added more to it. When confronted with the fact she wasn’t good enough, she didn’t submit to the fact that God had given her all that she had need of and she didn’t submit to fact that God is good, but instead believed that perhaps God was holding back goodness. She knew what God said, but didn’t trust Him (Jesus successfully resisted this in the Wilderness). She didn’t submit to His Will (Jesus successfully resisted this temptation in Garden of Gethsemane).
Dr. Robb Thompson says that we must be careful to apply our life to the Word, not the Word to our life.
Question: What is the difference between these two thoughts, and how can they help us in the area of temptation?
4) When confronted with their sin, Adam blamed Eve and ultimately God, and Eve blamed the Devil. Adams said, “It was this woman, and YOU gave her to me. It’s not my fault.” Eve said, “The Devil made me do it!”
Question: Do you tend to blame others, God or the Devil when you are confronted with wrong choices?
5) “Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:18
No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; He’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; He’ll ALWAYS be there to help you come through it. I Cor 10:13 Message Bible
When we find ourselves overwhelmed by temptation, we can ask Jesus to help us. He was tempted in every way, He can sympathize with us. He understands.
Application: This week find Scripture to help you in any temptation you are facing and practice humbling yourself to submit to God’s will concerning that area of your life.
Quite a thought-provoking post. While it is natural for us to better ourselves, we need to be aware of the difference between “better” and “more”. Despite what the media would have you believe, more is NOT always better. (Though less isn’t all that great sometimes!
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I know that more is not always better when it comes to bills, or weight. ;D
Great post, just a quick question. What if your temptation(s) deals with an addiction you have, such as alcohol or pornography?
Thanks for coming by! I think the principle is the same regardless of the temptation. Sometimes we also need to have our brothers and sisters help us through, in which case a recovery program like Celebrate Recovery is a great option. Even there, it is God’s Word and allowing His Will to be done that transforms us…
Kim, I can relate with Eve. The thoughts I struggle with are around being stupid. However, in the last 6 months due to prayer, an amazing husband, and excellent mentors I have overcome tremendously in this area. Oddly enough, the area the devil would whisper these words in my ear the most was at work. Ryan (my husband) would always ask me: “Jess, how come you are so confident in every area of your life, except for at work?”
I knew the answer to that question. It was a deep rooted problem that went back to an old Supervisor who abused me verbally and emotionally. She would humiliate me on a regular basis. I guess I didn’t realize it was still affecting me. I am thrilled to say that I (with the help of God and others) have broken through that ceiling. I am excelling in my career at a fast pace. In the last year I have received two raises, endless recognition and opportunities to work with extremely high level people. I am often out of my comfort zone, but I love it!
God is so faithful! I am grateful for my husband, friends and mentors who empower me. I am Brilliant!
Yes. you. are.