Introduction: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good...” (Genesis 50:20But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
See All...).  We never know what our lives or even a day may bring forth.  We only know that we will face many trials in our lifetime.  But rest assured, God has a purpose for these trials and temptations.  If we will trust in Him, He will give us the victory and show us even greater blessings.

1. The Definition of Temptation
1. :To Test or to Try (Compare James 1:13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
   See All...; Genesis 22:1And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
   See All...; Hebrews 11:17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
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2. Three Applications in the Bible
1. A challenge to God’s authority (Deuteronomy 6:16Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
   See All...; 1 Corinthians 10:9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
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2. An enticement to sin (James 1:13-15 [13] Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: [14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. [15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
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3. Trials and tribulations (Acts 20:19Serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
   See All...; Deuteronomy 29:2-3 [2] And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; [3] The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles:
   See All...)  NOTE: James 1:2-4 [2] My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; [3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. [4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
   See All... deals with this application
2. The Diversity of Temptation
1. From the Devil (Matthew 4:1-3 [1] Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. [2] And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. [3] And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
   See All...; 1 Corinthians 7:5Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
   See All...; 1 Thessalonians 3:5For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
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2. From the World (James 4:1-4 [1] From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? [2] Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. [3] Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. [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.
   See All...; 1 John 2:15-17 [15] Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. [17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
   See All...; 2 Timothy 4:10For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
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3. From the Flesh (James 1:13-15 [13] Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: [14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. [15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
   See All...; Ephesians 2:3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
   See All...; Galatians 5:16-17 [16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. [17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
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3. The Discipline of Temptation
1. Leads to Patience (Romans 5:3-5 [3] And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; [4] And patience, experience; and experience, hope: [5] And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
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2. Leads to Perfection (Hebrews 5:8-9 [8] Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; [9] And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
   See All...; 1 Peter 1:6-7 [6] Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
   See All...; 4:1-2
   See All...)-Paul (Acts 20:24But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
   See All...)    -Job (Job 13:15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
   See All...) :   a level of completeness where the soul’s whole purpose is to please God
4. The Defeat of Temptation
1. By Patient Endurance (1 Corinthians 10:13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
   See All...; James 1:12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
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2. By Divine Enabling (Philippians 4:12-13
   See All...; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 [7] And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. [8] For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. [9] And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [10] Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
   See All...; Psalm 105:17-21 [17] He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: [18] Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: [19] Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. [20] The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. [21] He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
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3. By Supernatural Enjoyment (James 1:2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
   See All...; Romans 5:3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
   See All...; Acts 5:40-41 [40] And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
   See All...; Philippians 1:29
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Conclusion:  What should you do about this message?

• Accept temptations as part of your Christian life (2 Timothy 3:12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
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• Joy in the knowledge that God is not through with you— When the chips start flying, the stone knows that the sculptor is not through.
• Look for the help that God has promised to give (Jeremiah 33:3Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
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• Walk on in faith expecting God to keep His promises (2 Corinthians 5:7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
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