Message Notes 9-14-03
Nip it in the Bud – Breaking the Pattern of Habitual Sin
“I do not understand what I do. For what I
want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do… What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me
from this body of death? 25 Thanks
be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:15, 24-25
1. Predetermine __YOUR
PATTERN FOR TEMPTATION__
“Let your eyes look straight
ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Make level paths for your
feet and take only ways that are firm. 27 Do not swerve to the right
or the left; keep your foot from evil.” Pr.
4:25-27
·
_WHEN
____
am I most tempted?
·
_WHERE____
am I most tempted?
·
_WHO______
is with me when I'm most tempted?
·
_WHAT_____
temporary benefit do I get if I give in?
·
_HOW_______
do I feel right before I'm tempted?
2. Protect
__THE CONDITION
OF YOUR HEART_____________________
“Above
all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Pr. 4:23
Physically
Exhausted
0 1 2 3 4
Energetic/In
shape
Discouraged/Pessimistic
0 1 2 3 4 Encouraged/Optimistic
Tolerant Towards the Sin 0 1 2 3 4
Intolerant
towards the Sin
Bored/Discontented 0 1 2 3 4
Challenged/Contented
Spiritually
Dry/Empty
0 1 2 3 4
Spiritually
Growing
Geographically
Distant/Alone
0 1 2 3 4
Near/Together
Insecure/Unsure
0
1 2 3 4 Secure/Confident
Deeply
Wounded/Hurt
0 1 2 3 4 Loved/Understood
Secretly
Bitter/Angry
0 1 2 3 4
Have Forgiven Everyone
Sad
0 1 2 3 4 Happy
Alienated/Unsupported
0 1 2 3 4
Close/Supported
Justifying the Sin
0 1 2 3 4 Realistic
about it
Total:
“Do not give the devil a
foothold.” Eph. 4:27
3. Pray _FOR
GOD'S HELP AND RELY ON HIM___________________
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The
spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Matt.
26:41
“Therefore, since we have a
great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let
us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every
way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Heb. 4:14-16
4. Redirect __YOUR
ATTENTION TO SOMETHING ELSE___
“…but
each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and
enticed.” James 1:14
“…we take captive every thought
to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5b
“Finally, brothers, whatever
is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think
about such things.” Philippians 4:8
Temptation
always follows a predictable process.
It always goes through three stages.
a.
__ATTENTION___________
b.
__AROUSAL_____________
c.
__ACTION_______________
“Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls
down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to
help him up!” Eccl. 4:9-10
“Therefore confess your sins
to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of
a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16
Now
what…
So,
if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except
what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted
beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way
out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Cor. 10:12-13
Romans
6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
Dear God,
You know all the habits and temptations in my life that have trapped me for
years. Things I say and do and
think. You know the tempting situations
I'm facing right now. You even know
what temptations lay ahead of me this next week that I haven’t the slightest
idea are there. So I'm asking for Your
help. Starting today I am willing to
follow Your principles so I can change and be free. Help me to clearly see and analyze the patterns in my life that
led to temptation. And give me the
strength to start avoiding those situations whenever possible. Help me remember to refocus my attention on
other things when I'm tempted. Today I
commit to finding a small group where I can be encouraged and help others
too. I realize I need other people in
my life. Most important I need You to
do some heart surgery on me. Would You
please remove the negative emotions that make me vulnerable and replace them
with Your love and Your forgiveness and trust.
I ask You Jesus Christ to start changing me from the inside out
beginning today. Please forgive me for sinning
against you. I turn to you and ask you to be the leader of my life. I give you
my heart, my soul, my life, my past, and my future. Thank you for dying for
me. Help me to live for you, now and
forever. Amen.