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

Eli, listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast supported by harvest partners for more ways to deepen and challenge your spiritual walk and roll and pastor breaks free online courses sign and harvest out alert is probably trying to forgo your grade will report show. We should be prepared to stand against Satan's accusation, the power of God's word to live you so you're never going to recover from this. Someone likes is the source and just to forgive us our sin pulled it out and will know. I can't believe what you and everyone's going to find out how can we stand against Greg Laurie points out, we stand against our enemy and the power of God's word message called why does God allow them take life. Everyone 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 are tempted. Maybe you're not worth attempting to think about that. See. So here's what we need to understand everyone will be tempted. 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 please. 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 see all 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 and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Being tempted for 40 days by the devil 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, whether to 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.

Now, 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 devil can quote the Bible out of context. Look at any call today.

They have Bible verses to cite 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 a Bible and they were shocked.

WC Fields reading the Bible and this really funny way of speaking, they said, why are you reading a Bible. WC Fields is looking for a loophole. That's why the devil reads the Bible looking for loopholes looking for ways to misuse it. Looking for ways to misquoted looking for ways to to get 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'll 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 can 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. Then when something comes along you'll know immediately it's not from the there's something we don't miss" sure, yes, but listen to this.

He loves something out.

The double quote of the Bible, but he loves 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 they'd left out. 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 in and their cancel bear you up, lest you dash 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 and 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 at the idea is not a let's do crazy things that stick unnecessary rest. Let's drink poison for bond but was brought up like a glass 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 and the God's press. 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 it it isn't it that's up to God with the devil was misquoting Scripture K 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 protect your head.

We have a breastplate of righteousness protect your vital organ. We have the boots of the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace. A particular feed in your ankles and your shin. We have a shield of faith that 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, said Greg, I can tell 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 but 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 adjusting to make a commitment to put it in your Greg Laurie of the second half of this message moment right after a quick look at the way a new beginning touches the lives of listeners.

20 years ago I gave my life to Jesus. After listening to you on the radio. God bless you always. Thank you for leading years ago are you majoring in my life and I can't thank you early last year. I found the Lord in their harvest Christian Fellowship God is so I'm happy folks that know me know that I often in my message, no matter what the topic with an invitation for people to come to Christ because there's always someone out there that doesn't know the Lord. Maybe there in the congregation. Maybe there listening on radio. Maybe there watching online, and I want those people to know they can never relationship with Christ and I know that this is what God wants, because the Lord says he's not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, so I'd like to throw the net and as you know, if you listen to a new beginning we throw the net a lot and you know what we see thousands of people come to Christ every year through our radio program alone so that is why am thankful when you invest in our ministry because you enable us to reach a lot of people that I can never reach otherwise they'll never darken the doorway of a church, but they might be churning the radio dial income upon our show and say what is this all about, and I've had more than one person tell me that's all they found their program and ended up listening and coming to Christ, so that's what were all about. So when you support as you help us to reach more people like the ones you just heard from with the message of the gospel, you can make a generous year-end donation today by going to harvest.org will Pastor Greg continues now with one of his most requested messages of the past year. 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 the sin right so you sent. What is he do then he condemns you. This is the devil's basic battle plan entice condemn you before God. 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 you're not even a Christian God with ever 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 it and I turn from it.

The devil says you have a God will forgive you. Here's with the word of God come in music. 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.

If so, you can hear is quoted out it is written saying to see 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 perish, 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 day of Jesus Christ his son over God's gonna 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, and 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 down 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 sure 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 bebop. 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 tricks 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 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, we here's a last thought. I want to close with notices� Statement of spots can go along, 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 to 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 you nuts are not nuts. You can still be possessed by demons today there are 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 the sole occupant. Jesus is not into a timeshare program down here for six months.

W not for the rest of the time when Jesus comes in is no room for Satan to listen.

If Jesus is and there is plenty of room for Satan in your phone I get to keep away religion ritual moral living.

I will proper food. I want to whip out 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. Do you have that assurance may be 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 he knocks and says if you hear 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 wants to live in your heart and forgive you of all of your sin's a bit manic than 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 your forgive you and Christ will live in you and you not to stand around worrying about the devil anymore you can just focus your attention on following Jesus out in a closing 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 this something has got a hold on you and you can get free from it.

You try to break free and you 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 what 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 relationship with the Lord. Pastor Greg Laurie will help you do that in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning wraps up well here at the end of the year. We want to make available a special gift for you.

Perhaps you've heard of this. It's the critically acclaimed TV series called the chosen. It's a gripping cinematic portrayal of the life and ministry of Jesus is as though you're right there beside the Lord as you walk through life. It's the kind of series that will speak to believers and nonbelievers alike and Graham Lott said she was moved to tears and to worship as you watch Pastor Gregor said literally millions of people live in getting to know the authentic Jesus through this series and we want to send season one of the chosen to you on DVD to thank you for your investment in the ministry of a new beginning and your donation helps us reach out with the gospel, not only through this program, but also through Pastor Greg's large-scale evangelistic events. It's such an important time for that work.

Hearts are hungry it all even shot several weeks ago at SoCal harvest one person wrote us and said can you believe how many people are here. We came from Los Angeles and frankly we would've driven across the country to be here, we wouldn't have missed this for the world. It's such an important time to reach out with the love of Christ and your investment makes that work possible and with your donation right now would like to send you season one of the chosen and we won't be mentioning this much longer. So contact us soon. You can donate securely online@harvest.org or write us at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 and we have operators who can speak with you by phone anytime 24 hours a day at 1-800-821-3300.

That's 1-800-821-3300 Pastor Greg you spoke today about having a relationship with the Lord. Someone can enter into 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 man listen. If you have just prayed those words with pastor Greg and mentor them.

Sincerely, the Bible assures us, 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 that will help you with your new relationship with the Lord we call that our new believers growth packet and will send it without charge. If you pray for the first time today with pastor Greg just ask for it when you write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call our 24 hour phone number 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or just go to harvest.org and click the words know God's time as pastor.

Greg continues her series of top 10 most requested messages of the year. He presents a study called God's plan for sex and marriage join us.

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