The TempTer’s darT
What is temptation? ďƒ˜The
desire to do something you should not do ďƒ˜The desire to have something you should not have
Some common temptations • Lying • Cheating • Use of abusive language • Time Mismanagement • Food
Some common temptations • • • •
Sleep Shopping impulses Talking unnecessary stuf Time spent on the internet / social media • Television / Movies
Some common temptations • • • • •
Mobile phone usage Pornography Masturbation Relationships Substance Abuse (Tobacco, alcohol, drugs, etc.)
PROGRESSION OF TEMPTATION
SIN EVIL DESIRES
SPIRITUAL DEATH
Some common myths… • Occasional yielding to (unwanted) desires relaxes the mind and destresses the body • The damage is not always as severe as it is portrayed to be • It doesn’t afect anyone but me
What facts speak… Yielding to temptations is like putting yourself on ‘slow poison’ – the impact may not be instant, but is sure and with disastrous consequences
What facts speak… • Social and emotional impact – Strife in the family, loss of job, distress within, poor role modeling before children • Biological impact – Liver cirrhosis, cancers, sexually transmitted diseases, abnormal secretion of hormones which trigger the pleasure centre of the brain • Psychological impact – Loss of peace of mind
What we say…
my life, my body, my choice !
What God says… “Know
that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;” (Psalm 100:3)
What we say… i’m noT harming oThers! iT’s my way of enjoying life !
What God says… “All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)
What we say…
if iT is god who is in conTrol of everyThing, Then why blame me ?
What God says… “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.” (James 1:13-14)
The way out . . . • Flee unwanted (evil) desires • Fill the mind with whatever is true, noble, pure, praiseworthy • Find ways to avoid people/places/situations/events that cause you to give in to certain temptations • Focus your eyes on God from whom comes the strength to resist temptations
Thank You!