Why Does God Allow Temptation in the Life of the Believer?: Power Over Temptation

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. If you would like to know how you can become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org that's harvest.org this is a double spacing problem when trying been usual for your grade will report show. We should be prepared to stand against Satan's accusation, the power of God's word so that you stumble and fall and sing again. You're never going to recover from this you over someone lights as we confess our sin people and just to forgive us arson and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. You quote God you pulled it out it is written. See is the king of the spiritual ambush lures us in. No one will ever know, and afterwards he tells us. I can't believe what you everyone's going to find out how can we stand against such an oh today on a new beginning.

Pastor Greg Laurie points out, we stand against our enemy and the power of God and the authority of his word is a message: why does God allow temptation in the life. Everyone gets dumped. Why would God allow us to be what possible good could come out of it will. Here's what you need to know if you are indeed growing as a Christian. If you are progressing in the Christian life.

You're going to come into the crosshairs of the devil. Why, because now you will become a bona fide threat to his kingdom.

If you find yourself constantly being harassed and tempted that may be an indication you're on the right track. If you can't remember the last time you were tempted.

Maybe you're not worth attempting to think about that seat so here's what we need to understand everyone will be tempted and even Jesus was tempted Jesus did feel the pressure in the presence of temptation. Why would he go through that so he would be able to help us to understand that he has walked in our shoes so we would understand that we serve a God that knows what it's like to face temptation and he's sympathizes with us about Hebrews 415. Speaking of Christ says this high priest of ours understands our weaknesses pretty face all the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of grace of our gracious God that will receive his mercy and find grace to help us when we need it so you can't feel God doesn't know what it's like to live in the 21st century God doesn't know what it's like to face temptation. Actually, God does know what it's like and he basted.

Here's another reason why believe Jesus was tempted the occupy ground that we can occupy. Let me restate that Jesus face this so will see how we should face it gives us a template to follow for the next time we come under temptation.

So look for you to read verses 1 to 13. Now Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.

Being tempted for 40 days by the devil. And in those days. He ate nothing and afterwards when the it ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, since you are the son of God. Why don't you command the stone to become bread. Jesus answered him, saying it is written. Underlying that phrase man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God, then the devil took him up to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and the devil said all this authority I will give to you and their glory.

This is been delivered to me and I can give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if you will worship before me. All of this will be your Jesus answered and said get behind me Satan, for it is written. Underlying that phrase again. You shall worship the Lord God and him only shall you serve. Then Satan brought him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said since you are the son of God, throw yourself down from here forward.

It is written notice" in Scripture. No, for it is written, he shall give his angels charge over you to keep you in their hands will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. Did you know the devil reads the Bible and the double can quote the Bible out of context. Look at any call today. They have Bible verses to side out of context to make their case Monday of the story of WC Fields a comedian for many years ago. He was a known alcoholic and known to be really a godless man and one day someone saw WC Fields reading the Bible and they were shocked. WC Fields reading the Bible and get this really funny way of speaking this and why are you reading a Bible.

WC Fields is looking for a loophole. That's for the devil reads the Bible looking for loopholes looking for ways to misuse it.

Looking for ways to misquoted looking for ways to take it out of context and the only way you're going to know right from wrong is by being very familiar with the real word of God, then you will spot a lie when you see it as talking to the police officer a while back who worked in currency and people are producing phony money, counterfeit money, and I said how how do you learn to spot a counterfeit bill. He says we really try not to handle counterfeit currency. We spend most of our time handling the real thing and then we handle the fake with the caliphate. We note immediately and I think that's great principle for us you to spend the rest your life researching everywhere called in every aberrant teaching out there, and trust me there's a lot of, but the better thing to do is immerse yourself in God's word and when something comes along you'll know immediately it's not from the there's something we don't miss the double quote for yes but listen to this.

He loves something out.

The double quote of the Bible, but he left something out.

Here is what Satan said it is written, he shall give his angels charge over you to keep you in in their cancel bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. But here's what Satan leapt up. By the way he's quoting Psalm 91 is what he left out to give his angels charge over you listen to keep you in all your way and in their cancel bear you up, lest you doubt your foot against a stone to keep you in all your way. Why did Satan leave that out because he wanted Jesus to test the Lord instead of trust the Lord to.

Here's the idea when I'm in the will of God in his way. I don't have to be afraid. Listen to this. I'm indestructible your nuts. Greg know I'm indestructible until God is done with me, nothing to stop me or stop you, until God is done with you. So if if I were to drink deadly poison and it wasn't God's time for me, I'd survive it if I pick up a venomous snake bit me that wasn't God's time, I would survive it and that's by the way what Jesus meant when he said he will drink deadly poisons and handle better mistakes. He didn't mean we should have church services will we handle rattlesnakes around. That's crazy. That's not trusting God that's testing the Lord more than a few. These preachers are no longer with us because of it. So it the ideas that he let's do crazy things that stick unnecessary rest. Let's bring poison for bond but was brought up lots of strychnine please. And you know know that no don't do that. But here's what it seems you're in God's will.

Walking in his way. His angels will protect you, until God's done with you and then his angels will carry you into God's presence. But until that day. You don't have to worry about it.

So don't worry all the time about of this is� Is it it said if it isn't and it isn't it that's up to God with the devil was misquoting Scripture Kate one final point number six.

What is the primary weapon we should use to resist temptation.

Answer the word of God. That's why had you underline it is written, it is written multiple times, Jesus stood on ground that we can occupy. As I said were to follow his example. Notice he quote Scripture verse 12 of look for it is written, you shall not tempt the Lord your God, you know, if you look at Ephesians 6, which is a description of the armor of God. Have you ever noticed there's only one offensive piece by offensive I mean something to attack with.

We have a helmet of salvation, the predictor had. We have a breastplate of righteousness are predictor vital organ. We have the boots of the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace are predictor feed in your ankles and your shin. We have a shield of faith to protect your whole body but there's only one offensive weapon, and it's a sword.

The sword of the spirit, which is what the word of God. That's her offensive weapon that's all we need to know the word of God. Psalm 119 verse nine says, how can a young man cleanse his way by taking heed according to your word.

Psalm one 1911 says your word of I kid in my heart that I might not sin against you. Listen, it's great to carry a Bible in your briefcase or your backpack or your purse, but the best place to carry the word of God is in your heart committed to memory is a Greg I can you know I can't.

Yes you can as you memorize stuff all the time right you know weird lyrics to songs I know lyrics to commercials. I heated I remember the song you know you know drugs are crazy but or maybe no sports scores, renal lines from movies and quote lines from films know all these things that you committed to memory, but you have room for the word of God. You just need to make a commitment to put it in their master Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment. So many listeners have commented on the encouragement they receive these daily messages like these posts on social media. Pastor Greg 20 years ago I gave my life to Jesus. After listening to you on the radio. God bless you always. Pastor Greg God bless you all from seeking Texas.

Thanks for being there for us if it wasn't for your ministry. Pastor Craig, I would have lost hope when my husband passed away last year. Thank you so much for all you do. Has Pastor Greg heard from you. If these daily studies God's word encouraged one drop of the common email him at great@harvest.org again, that's great@harvest.org Pastor Greg continues now with his message. Why does God allow temptation in the life of the believer were learning how to stand against our spiritual adversary. So here's how it works. So sin comes in the realm of the mind, and you know maybe he entices you this right so you sent. What is he do then he condemns you.

This is the devil's basic battle plan entice condemn at usual, forgot this kind of keeps doing it over and over they wanted to do this I'll never tell anyone. If you want to do it and then he says your unit in a Christian God would never hear your prayer, your condemn. This is why you need to know the word of God because when you sin you need to immediately go to Christ and say forgive me of my sin.

I admitted I'm responsible, I'm sorry for and I turn from it. The devil says you have a God will forgive you. Here's with the word of God come in easy all you over someone nine says if we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our scent and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. You quote God's word you quoted out loud so the devil can hear it in so you can hear this quoted out it is written saying this he your condemn God will not hear your prayers. Now that's wrong. Devil Romans 81 there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, so maybe you stumble and fall, and Satan says you'll never get up again you're never going to recover from this.

This is the end you say no that's wrong because John 1028 Jesus says I'll give them eternal life, and though never perished. Neither shall anyone walk them out of my hand. Philippians 16 being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work and you will completed under the date of Jesus Christ his son over God's going to finish what he starts there when tragedy hits and it makes no sense. Devil says God is abandoned you say no, he hasn't. Jesus said he'll never leave me or forsake me an Romans 828 says there God causes all things to work together for good to those that love God, another called according to his purpose. So you quote that Scripture maybe a loved one is taken from you suddenly the devil says you'll never see them again.

Trust me I know this one well after our son died I would try to go to sleep at night and lay my head on my pillow and hear the thoughts went through my mind I'll never see him again I'll never hear his voice again after and then I would just say hi and I just think could sink into a black hole and then I would just are quoting Scripture to myself.

They know Jesus said he's the resurrection and the life and he that believes in him will not die. And so it's a hope of life beyond the grave with the Scripture says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord and I would remind myself of God's work. Here's what it would do.

It would just sort of lift me up above because I had to think biblically because of I didn't think biblically it was going to be pure misery. So that's where you need to use God's word and use it over and over again how much of the notice of the story ends.

Luke 413 when the devil invented every temptation, he departed from him forever never to return again as I what it says on the devil invented every temptation, he departed from him and telling opportune time like Reebok maybe sooner than later, often when you least expect it. Often in the way you weren't expecting he'll be back in a lot of trips so that Satan you know he's just looking for trouble. The Bible describes him as a lion sort of roaming around looking for someone to destroy looking for someone to devour. But here's our hope is Christians greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world. Christ is greater than the power of Satan. We don't have to be afraid of Now we respect him in the sense that we know he is a powerful spirit being. We don't want to mess around, we don't want to have extended conversations with him. We want to have a little contact with him as possible, but having said that, we know God will give us more than we can handle and were secure and safe in Christ. But here's the last thought.

I want to close with notices� Statement of thoughts can go on long, but this one will. It's a relatively short if you're not a Christian, you're super vulnerable if you're not a Christian, you have the hope that Christ lives in you and is greater than the power of the devil. Listen to this. If you're not a Christian.

The devil can objectively have his way with you.

He can pretty much manipulate you and deceive you and tempt you and if you can I give into it, you can go deeper and deeper into a vortex of sin. One day you can go so deep you can actually be possessed by demons of Greg, give me a break, and nuts are not nuts. You can still be possessed by demons today. There still demons today where they can come and live inside of a person you think someone's going to be that able to exercise a demon with a crucifix or some holy water. No way. The only way to get the devil out of a person is to get Christ in a person.

And then there's no place left for the devil, that's the only thing Jesus comes and takes residence in the human heart and he is sole occupant. Jesus is not into a timeshare program down here for six months W dinner for the rest of the time when Jesus comes in is no room for Satan to listen. If Jesus is in their there's plenty of room for Satan in your phone I get to keep away religion ritual moral living.

I will proper food. I want to win it down if it's organic doesn't matter your vulnerable what you need is Christ living inside of you. I didn't say you need to go to church. I didn't see need a big giant Bible. I didn't say you need even just say some spiritual things. You actually need Christ living inside of you, so here's my closing question is Jesus Christ the son of God live in you right now some of you to want know I think maybe hey you know what I think of God is taken residence in your heart, you'll know it. I know Christ lives and I know it hello. I know because God is giving me that assurance by his Holy Spirit. You have that assurance maybe the reason you don't have it is he doesn't live inside of you yet but that can change right now because Jesus who died on the cross for you and me and for your sin and rose again from the dead, now stands at the door of your life and the nonsense says the future, his voice and open the door he will come. Religion will come in her ritual come in know he will come in. It's really true. He lives inside of us and he wants to live in your heart and forgive you of all of your sin suited man up in some really bad stuff that God knows what you've done and Jesus died for it already. And if you will turn from that sin until God you're sorry for it to forgive you and Christ will live in you and you not to stand around worried about the devil anymore you can just focus your attention on following Jesus out working to close in prayer right now. If you've never asked Jesus into your life, to give you an opportunity to pray and ask him becoming maybe been under the power of some sin. Maybe it's drugs.

Maybe it's alcohol. Maybe it's pornography maybe it's I don't know what just something has got a hold on you and you can get free from it.

You try to break free and he just going deeper and you don't how to get out us and God will help you, but you need to reach out to him and say forgive me because bigger than alcohol or drugs or anything else. That's the power of sin, you need to be free from only Jesus can do that for you is just a prayer away break. Father I pray for any person here in anyone listening or watching. This does not yet know you Lord, would you help them to see their need for you and help them to come to you and receive your forgiveness tonight Jesus name I pray you like to make a change relationship with the Lord today. Pastor Greg Laurie will help you do that in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning wraps up now. Hopefully you were able to hear all of today's message but if you missed any part you can catch up by listening again online@harvest.org. It's a study called, why does God allow temptation in the life of the believer.

Or you can get a permanent copy on CD by calling 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime at 1-800-821-3300 and then we want to make available Pastor Greg's outstanding book called Jesus revolution. The subtitle is how God transformed an unlikely generation, and how he can do it again today Prof. Greg, my son and his family used to live pretty close to some railroad tracks and trains came through quite a lot.

I noticed that you can feel the rumbling before the train gets there. That's right, we ask you is there a revival coming down the tracks. Are you feeling some rumblings right now. My response would be to hear the train coming. It's common not study Jessica II pray so and I hope so because there's a lot of turmoil and trouble in our nation right now and if God doesn't step in and I don't know how were going to heal this nation of ours. But God does give us a prescription for the healing of a nation from second Chronicles 714, which I've quoted before and I'm sure a quote again because God says of my people which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and heal their land. We need the Lord to heal the nation and we need to pray for a spiritual awakening. The last great spiritual revival in the history of our nation was the Jesus movement, also called the Jesus revolution by the wait time magazine coined that phrase.

It was a revolution to change the church. It seems a nation, and I can tell you would change my life and the lives of thousands of other people, many of them young but wasn't limited to young people. It was primarily a youth revival was since I was there I wanted to tell people what it was like someone asserted to get back in time and try to put you in that place.

But then I have take away truth that I've written in this book that you can apply in the hope that you could have a spiritual awakening in your life or in your church or in your community and in our country, and indeed in our world. The Jesus movement was not confined to the shores of the United States.

It spread around the planet and we need to see it happen again and know with all of our social media and instant communication, it would be so exciting to give some good news to people and send all this bad news in all of this fake news we need God.

In America we need God in our lives. We need to be returned to our original state, and I think sometimes we over spiritualize the word revival that she sees another word restoration. If I would've taken old beat up 57 Chevy sit around in a junkyard and restored to original condition. Get the engine running. Redo the upholstery given a new paint job, put it back out on the street gets a that is a beautifully restored bar.

We want to see our nation restored. We want to see our lives are stored. We need to see a revival.

Let's pray for that together they help you learn more about what God did in the last great spiritual awakening. I want to send you a copy of my book, simply titled Jesus revolution. I hope that it will inspire you to pray that you will have your own personal revival and I'll send you this book for your gift of any size whatever you send will be invested into this ministry so more people can hear the word of God and so more people can come to know Jesus Christ, so order your copy of Jesus, revolution, and we hope you will do that today we have a copy waiting for you will get it on its way to you just as soon as we hear from you a day. Don't forget to tell them that there's also a study guide that will send them along with a copy of Jesus revolution again for the gift of any size yet that's right. It's a great tool to help you study these insights on a deeper level and even lead a small group study learn how your Bible study group for home fellowship group can help pave the way for the next great spiritual awakening, so I hope you'll send a generous gift today and that you'll ask for Jesus revolution along with the study guide.

You can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. We are here to take your call 24 seven at 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org Mr. Greg spoke today about having a relationship with the Lord.

Someone can add or render that kind of relationship with God right now. Yeah they really can. That's the amazing thing. I think people are surprised that it doesn't take years to become a Christian. It doesn't take months.

It doesn't take weeks. It doesn't take days, it doesn't even take ours you can believe on the spot and I would like to lead you in a prayer where you can ask for his forgiveness.

A prayer where you can receive Jesus Christ into your life as your Savior and Lord. So if you want Christ to come in your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want a second chance in life. If you want to go to heaven when you die, stop what you're doing and pray after me these words Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I'm sorry for my sin and I turn from it now and I choose to follow you from this moment forward as Savior and Lord is God and friend.

Thank you for loving me and calling me ever giving me in Jesus name I pray, amen, amen.

Listen if you have just prayed those words with Pastor Greg and mentor them.

Sincerely, the Bible assures is your sins have been forgiven were told.

The Lord is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness and we want to send some resource materials to you that will help you win your new relationship with the Lord we call it our new believers growth packet and will send it without charge. If you prayed for the first time today with Pastor Greg just transport when you write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call her 24 hour phone number 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or just go to harvest.org and click know God one next time.

Pastor Greg begins the final message in his series with every growing Christian needs to know to spend our time discussing how we can know God's will is not as elusive as you might think that's next time your new beginning possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor greats free daily email, devotions@harvest.org