Jul. 21, 2024

Series: AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART   7-21-24

The Anatomy of Temptation

(2 Samuel 11)

2 Samuel 11:1-2 ¹ In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army… But David remained in Jerusalem. ² One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful.

The ANATOMY of TEMPTATION:

#1) If you let Temptation _______, it will LURE you 

away and ENTICE you.

James 1:14 (ESV) ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 

Temptation says 3 Things: 

1. No One will ever ___________ OUT!  

2. You’re the ____________ ONE who does it!   

3. If you feed me, I’ll be ______________ & Go Away.

2 Samuel 11:3-4 ³ And David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "Isn't this Bathsheba… the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" ⁴ Then David sent messengers to get her. came to him, and he slept with her.

#2) If you let Temptation _________, it will CONCEIVE 

 and give ___________ to sin.

James 1:14-15 (ESV) ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, 

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB) ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 

Deuteronomy 29:26 They went off and worshiped other gods and bowed down to them... 

 MEN - 

WOMEN - 

Deuteronomy 6:15 ¹⁵ for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God. 

Isaiah 42:8 ⁸ “I am the Lord… I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.

2 Samuel 11:5 The woman (Bathsheba) conceived and sent word to David, saying, "I am pregnant." 

#3) If you let Temptation ___________, it will become 

fully _____________ and bring forth DEATH.

James 1:14–15 (ESV) ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.  

James 4:4–5 (NKJV) ⁴ Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 

TRUTHS ABOUT TEMPTATION:

     1.   Remember that… it is not a sin to be ________________.  

Martin Luther, “You can’t keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.”

     2.   Remember that… you’ll never outgrow ___________________.  

     3.   Remember that… everyone is tempted in the same __________. 

HOW TO WIN THE BATTLE WITH TEMPTATION:

1.  Download ______________.

John 8:32 ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

You can MASTER your MOODS by MANAGING your ___________.

You either CONTROL your ______________ or they’ll CONTROL you.

Psalm 119:105 ¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

When you’re Tempted, Don’t Resist it, _____________ it!

Realize that Spiritual Battles are Won or Lost in the ___________!

2 Cor. 10:5 (NASB) “we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” 

{“REPENTENCE” means to have a “180 Degrees ____________ of MIND”}

Galatians 5:16 (NASB) “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”

Don’t let your Mind Rehearse over and over, what ________ to DO.

Question: Are you FEEDING the SPIRIT or FEEDING the FLESH?

2.  Get a spiritual PARTNER.  

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 ⁹ Two are better than one… ¹⁰ If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

What If I’ve already MESSED UP and GONE TOO FAR?

James 4:7–8 (ESV) ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.