Introduction:

For years scientists were puzzled about apples that didn’t have a break in the surface of the skin! How did the worm get inside when there didn’t appear any outward signs of entry? What they discovered was that a certain worm lays its eggs right on the apple blossom in Spring and as the apple develops it encases the egg right from the beginning. Later when the apple nears it complete maturing process so does the insect egg, it hatches and eats its way out from the inside! The seed of sin is the same, it was planted in us by Adam and Eve, ever since then it has been found in the heart of every human, eating its way out in our thoughts and actions.

Temptation to sin is a thread that joins us all together as human beings; it levels the playing field! We are all susceptible to its attraction we can all be equally devastated when we yield to its seduction. Some of the biggest battles you will deal with in your life involve overcoming temptation. – I Cor. 10:13

John wrote this letter to encourage us in our faith because how be it we are children of light we can succumb to darkness and sin. John writes unto, little chil¬dren… (2:12). The word translated little children in this verse does not refer to age; it is a term of endearment for those to whom John is writing. In verses 13-14 John lovingly gives a word of praise to three groups: children, fathers, also translated “parents” and much as there are little children and fathers, there also are young men. These are men and women who are no longer little children, but still not yet fathers. They are the “front-line” of God’s work among His people. John encouragement is to keep them from sinning. Just as there are physical laws, like the law of gravity, equally there are spiritual laws. – Galatians 6:7-8 -Triumphing over temptation requires we…

I. Realize the Reason for Temptation (2:15).

1. John writes: Love not the world… (2:15). The word world does not refer to the world of nature. Though we live in a fallen world, we can still see in nature the beauty that reveals the power and glory of God. It gives us a glimpse of God’s creative power, and splendor. Ps 19:1
This is not to say we cannot love and enjoy God’s creation. We often rarely appreciate how much the world dominates our thinking and how often our thoughts are more of the world than of the Father. The Greek word translated world refers to the evil world system.

2. The word translated “world” (kos-mos) in 1 John 2:15 is the word from which we get “cosmic” and “cosmetic.” It means “to put in order” or “to arrange.” The word world refers to an arrangement of things opposed to God and to those who do His will. Through worldli¬ness, the Wicked One tries to lure us away from God and His purpose for our lives.

2. The reason for temptation is to draw us away from God and His purpose for our lives into a lifestyle of worldliness. The world and God are polar opposites. To be friends with the world is to adopt values and convictions contrary to God and His Word. James 4:4 describes the problem with worldliness. [4] Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

3. James describes the result of lust in the lives of believers by saying ye adulterers and adulteresses (v. 4:4a). Adultery is often used as a metaphor in the Bible to describe spiritual adultery or unfaithfulness to God. James is not suggesting that friendship with people in the world makes one the enemy of God, but friendship with the world. Triumphing over temptation requires we realize the reason for tempta¬tion and…

II. Recognize the Types of Temptation (2:16).

a. All temptation can be quickly recognized because it comes to us in one of three ways. John lists the three basic categories of temptation, which are the only three ways we can be tempted. You should number them in your Bible. Let’s look at them:

1. The lust of the flesh. The word translated lust means “desire.” God has given us certain good desires, such as thirst, eat, rest, and sex, but the evil world perverts them. Thirst is good, but drunkenness is a sin. Rest is rejuvenating, but laziness is a sin. Sex is God’s way for us to express our love and to procreate, but the world system tries to get us to satisfy this de¬sire in sinful and immoral ways both in and outside marriage.

2. The lust of the eyes. One of God’s greatest gifts to us is sight, and much of what we desire is the result of what we see. We want what is pleasing to our eyes. In the Garden of Eden when Eve sees the forbidden fruit is pleasant to the eyes (Gen. 3:6), she wants it and takes it. When King David sees Bathsheba bathing and sees she is very beautiful, he wants her. King David lusts drive him to do kill Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba. This true illustration reveals this truth.

Drug traffickers used a propane tanker truck entering El Paso from Mexico. They rigged it so the propane gas was released from all of its valves. They used the truck to concealed 6,240 pounds of marijuana. They were clever, they were lustful, but they were not bright. They misspelled the name of the gas – company on the side of the truck and were pulled over. Satan al¬ways has a shortcut for us to get what our eyes desire. That’s why people cheat, steal, lie, and lust to know what is none of their business not to mention having sex outside marriage.

3.The pride of life. This is what causes us to try to impress people. Some become workaholics, ignoring family and God as they try to impress people with promotions, possessions, and prominence. It is an obsession with status and image.

1. Pride also includes doing things to draw attention to our faith or spiritual activities. People who live only to please themselves or have a yearning for preeminence and dominance have always caused discord and strive.
Several years ago, the news carried a story of two snake-handling pastors who, to show their faith in God’s Word, quoted to their congregation the words of Jesus: They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them (Mk 16:18). Then, they let poisonous snakes bite them, and a few hours later they died. Why? Because they were guilty of giving in to the third category of temptation: the pride of life, which even includes one’s faith.

We all search for something to fulfill us and make us happy, whether it is people, objects, position or power. When we get what we desire, we feel a certain emotion we call it happiness or pleasure but it is far from the happiness that God wants for us. Triumphing over temptation requires we realize the reason for tempta¬tion, recognize the types of temptation, and …

III. Third, Resisting these Temptations (2:17).

1. What is God’s will for us when we are tempted with such desires? We resist temptation by remembering the world passeth away, and the lust thereof (2:17a). The world and its pleasures are only temporary so we must look at the eternal, not the temporary. That’s what Moses did.
Hebrews 11: 25.
2. James told us to resist the devil, and he will flee from you (4 v. 7b). The word resist is a military defensive term which means “to stand against,” like in combat. Never in the Bible are we told to attack the devil. He will do the attacking, we must do the resisting. If we do resist, the promise of Scripture is he will flee from you. When attacked by the devil how do we put up a resistance? Jesus is our example. When Satan tempted Christ in the wilderness, how did Jesus resist according to Luke 4:4, 8, & 12). It is written…
He refuses Satan’s tempta¬tion because He will only use His powers to fulfill God’s purpose for His life, not for selfish reasons.
Illustration:
One little girl found a unique way to successfully overcome sinful desires in her heart. She applied a visual game that went like this: “When Satan comes knocking at my heart’s door I send Jesus to answer the door … when Satan sees Jesus he says, ‘oops, I am sorry, I must have the wrong house.’” Instead of dwelling on the desire she turns it over to the Lord!

3. Loving the pleasures of this world is like building a home on the Titanic, but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (1 Jn 2:17b). Regarding the world, Jesus asks this question: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mk 8:36).
In this life the workaholic is never fulfilled, the greedy never have enough, and pleasure-seekers are never satisfied. The possessions and pleasures of this world are empty shells.

Conclusion:
You will never have the edge in spiritual battle without the sword of the Spirit – do you have it strapped on? We fight with the Word of God! The only offensive equipment Paul mentions is the sword – and it is the representation of the Scriptures! Are you saved to get yours?