Discernment

A Biblical Look at Temptation

I. What Temptation Is

    A. Something that tempts or entices

      1. James 1: 14 – When we are drawn away from by own lusts

    B. A spiritual test

      1. James 1 :2 – Count it joy when you have temptations
      2. James 1:3 – Trying of faith works patience

II. What Temptation Is Not

    A. Not sin
    B. Not from God

III. Who is the Tempter

    A. He is …

      1. Matthew 4: 1 – The Devil
      2. I Peter 5:8 -Adversary, the devil
      3. II Corinthians 11: 14 – Satan transformed into an angel of light
      4. Revelation 12:10 – Accuser of the brethren

    B. What he does …

      1. Revelation 12: 1 0 – Accuses
      2. Genesis 3:1 – Is subtle
      3. Genesis 3:1,4 – Liar and deceiver (“Hath God said, Ye shall not surely die?”)

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Is Alcoholism Controlling Your Life?

It happens without warning. It creeps into your life and all of a sudden, you’re hooked. At first you’re the life of the party, and later you’re the drunk of the party. When you’re young, twenties and thirties, your body can handle all the booze, no problem. But mentally it impairs the way you view and feel the world around you.

Most of the time, alcoholics don’t know that alcohol has taken hold of their life. This is called the denial stage. Alcoholics feel if they can get up and go to work everyday, even though secretly they have an excruciating headache, they don’t have a problem.

But what keeps the alcoholic going throughout the workday is in knowing that after work, they’ll have those highballs or beers, which will in fact; make them feel like their old self again.

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Sound Doctrine

2 Timothy 4:2-5 NRSV
Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

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Anger: Sinful or Righteous?

Proverbs 22:8 NKJV
He who sows wickedness reaps trouble,
and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of anger will fail. (NRSV)

Anger rarely works. There are places for righteous anger, but as sinners, we need to be careful about why we are angry. Righteous anger can quickly move into selfish or self-centered anger. And then we are in trouble.

Injustice is an interesting word. I think that, as Americans, we often see it in a narrow view, as someone’s rights being violated. And that’s a true meaning. But I think there is another view and that is as God’s rights being violated . . . as in sin.

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Am I Straying from the Word?

Proverbs 19:27 NRSV
Cease straying, my child, from the words of knowledge,
in order that you may hear instruction.

“For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NRSV).

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What is the difference between white and black magic?

What is the difference between white and black magic?

What is the difference between white and black magic?

I have heard this basic differentiation: Black magic is intended to cause harm and is evil; white magic seeks to heal, not harm. While that may be true, you have to ask the simple question, “What is the source of the power?” If it is anything but the power of Almighty God, then it is to be avoided at all costs.

God will never allow himself to be degraded to the point of being summoned to cast a spell or to levitate an object. I can promise you that will never happen. So, right away, you can rule out most “magic” as being of the devil.

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What is witchcraft?

What is witchcraft?

Witchcraft, also called black magic, is the evil use of supernatural powers. Webster’s defines witchcraft as the act or instance of employing sorcery, especially with malevolent intent: a magical rite or technique. Witchcraft calls upon the powers of the devil much like a believer prays and believes in the power of God.

If you believe in God, and believe in what the Bible says, then you must believe in the powers of evil as well. You cannot take one side and then completely discount the other side. So, evil power is real and witchcraft is the use of it.

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What does New Age mean?

What does New Age mean?

The New Age movement believes that mankind is at the brink of entering a “new age” which people must evolve toward, both mentally and spiritually. New Age proponents proclaim that the good in all people is actually their gods within them, lying dormant, awaiting their spiritual awakening.

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I am facing a divorce. What can I do?

I am facing a divorce. What can I do?

This dissolution of a marriage is such a sad thing. Christ longs to bring fulfillment to a couple through their marital covenant. A Christian marriage is a beautiful thing built on love, trust, respect and, most importantly, Christ. Read what the Bible say to husbands and wives in 1 Peter 3:1-7, Ephesians 5:21-33, and 1 Corinthians, chapter 7.

Remember, all things are possible through Jesus Christ–even the restoration of your marriage. Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead; surely He can resurrect your hurting relationship! Please, seek godly counsel today. Don’t let another day pass while the chasm between you and your spouse grows wider and wider.

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