 Great testimonies and great encouragement in the Word and so we're going to close this thing out with looking at 1st Corinthians chapter 10 we'll be looking at verse 13 being reminded of what Paul is writing to the Corinthian believers here in 1st Corinthians chapter 10. I think it's worthy of noting that Paul gives several examples of the Old Testament and in these examples that he's given in the Old Testament are constant reminders reminders for not only the Corinthian church, but reminders for you and I that we're not the only ones who have been tempted or the only ones who have disobeyed or the only ones who have been dealt with by God God is gracious. God is merciful. God's loving And this is why we have the word This is why we have these examples that when we find ourselves in moments of weaknesses When we find ourselves in moment of despair and we think that nobody's going through what we're going through or nobody deals with the things that we deal with and I think the transparency that has been clearly conveyed here is great It shows that not just laity or the new convert or somebody who is struggling with addiction Is the only one that goes through being tempted or having bouts of times where they fall in to their weaknesses And they see that they struggle dave through you. I know he's a dear friend of mine and there have been on these stories that he shared It wasn't new to me These were things that he came to me and confided in and we prayed about It was an encouragement to me and I've called him and encouraged and and confided in him and he's encouraged me But we look at God's word and we know this to be true that God doesn't leave anything undone God desires to shape and pattern each and every single one of us into the image of the heavenly man You see when God looks at you and me God sees the end result He doesn't see the beginning doesn't see how we came to faith what he sees is he sees the finished product See I can't see that far I see what I struggle with and deal with now Looking at this passage here as paul gives old testament examples and As pastor david rozales shared earlier and then haulin davis also shared great examples, but great reminders We need to be reminded Not only do we need to be reminded That there is hope But we also need to be reminded that the lord truly does love us So much so that when we look at these passages here and we say to ourselves well, you know, I'm a bit ashamed to go to someone I remember years ago looking at various programs one step to 12 steps and uh all these programs and uh a and n a and every kind of you know other alphabet you can think of And I I'm being honest with you guys. I tried it all I I tried it all I mean even some way out weird stuff, man You know because I had a problem And my problem was addiction Now I my drug use wasn't experiential. We we didn't get high just to get high in trip, you know I mean we got high to get high we got loaded And I always tell people, you know, I just didn't get high. I was a dope fiend Yeah You'd be surprised I got like maybe four good teeth and those are the ones you guys can see all the rest are tore back, man I got some are teeth some in my mouth some in my pocket You know, the fact of the matter is is that I've been tempted all throughout my christian walk Even as a pastor You see god delivered me from a heroin addiction meth addiction I used to slam meth and heroin belushies. I used to hit that pipe like man, you would not believe You know the first time I shot up. I was A young teenager 14 years old I didn't stop shooting up till I was about 21 years of age Till the lord delivered me from my addiction And most of you know the story And I look at passages like this and I say to myself, you know lord, I thank you for delivering me But let me tell you guys something Have I been tempted since I've been delivered for my addiction? Yes, I have Because if I were to sit here and tell you that I did not like what I was doing I'd be lying to you Because the truth was I enjoyed my addiction Every time I went to prison it was behind my addiction the years that I spent in the system was because of my addiction But I remember one day somebody telling me if there was one thing god can do for you What would that be and you would just give him your life and I says, you know For the first time in my life, I got serious and I said this drug addiction if god can take this from me I will give him the rest of my life. I'll give you the rest of my life. I'll do whatever And he says, what do you have to lose? And he says, what do you mean? He says, well, it's not like god's asking you for anything What do you have to lose? I says nothing. He says, well then ask him I remember going back to my Cell that evening and just thinking about what this man said And I remember praying this simple prayer and I says, you know god If you're the god of the bible if you're the god that this man says you are Then take this drug addiction from me and if you do I will give you the rest of my life And if you don't I don't need you in my life and I'll die a dope And I remember that day There wasn't no prayer of faith. Jesus come into my heart It was just god if you're if you're this man that everybody says you are if you're god then do this Next day I woke up I never touched another needle since Completely delivered Now that doesn't mean that everything else changed, you know, as you can see the lord works in us But no longer was I addicted or bounded that and I knew that god was real and then I realized after that now I got to be a christian man Christians weren't cool where I came from, okay Especially in prison, you know, they're they're considered the weak of all, you know And somebody asked me did you serve god in prison? I says no And they said why and I says because I was too much of a coward to do that I should have did it But I didn't Started serving god out here and the lord obviously has done a work in my life that I can explain And we can only give god the glory for the work that he's done not only in mine But in a lot of you here today And the work that he's starting in some of you Paul here giving these examples I share that story to say this because there is a way of escape And clearly this is what paul would imply here notice what he says now looking at verse 13 He says no temptation has overtaken you except such as common to man In other words when we feel that we are tempted listen, you're not the only one That's tempted with those things. I've had so many people come to me. They're like, no, you don't understand pastor Dave, what do I don't do it? Don't I understand? No, you don't understand what I'm feeling right now What are you feeling? They begin to and I'm thinking I do understand And I tell what you know, I know what you're going to know you don't And then I share this passage with them. There is nothing That you can be tempted with that No one else has not been tempted with as a matter of fact. Can I share something with you that might be even more mind-blowing to you? The bible says that jesus was tempted in all points But say not And so here's the example that were to follow when we struggle with these bouts now listen guys Temptation is not sin If you're tempted that doesn't mean you're in sin James would clearly talk about one falling into sin when he's driven away by the desires of the flesh But being tempted is not sin itself And temptation is always going to be there and you're always going to be tempted And your issue might not be dope. It might not be drugs. It could be other things that we spoke about It could be sexual sin. It could be things now listen I don't know about you guys But here I am a man who reads the word of god like all of you guys and for some of us we read it every day It's our in this is my new this is my new this is my new issue right here You know my new fix man And it has been since I became a christian But let me explain something to you. Have you ever read the word? And in reading the bible you're getting something out of and all of a sudden this thought just comes in your head and you're like Anybody ever been there raise your hand. I'm looking for moral support. God bless you. Alrighty So check this out The enemy tempts us Not only does the enemy tempt us a lot of people blame the devil, you know, listen There's really only one person who's ever been tempted by satan And that was jesus himself Matthew's gospel chapter four And we always say the devil man. He's on me right now. Well, what are you doing that gots him on you? You see there are three things that you battle as a christian jot this down if you're taking notes Some of you might already know this. This is the basic elementaries of what temptation is one obviously is the devil satan The other obviously is the world and the lust of the world and the pride of life and the other is your flash And listen guys. That's where a lot of this stuff comes from And the world just feeds at And so this is what paul goes on to say After Reminding them in verse 12 his pastor. Tommy shared therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he falls You see prior to that verse there in verse 11 This is what I love. Tommy closed it out with this But we got a park on this for a moment because I think it's imperative for us to understand And that is in verse 11. He says listen all these things happened to them as examples And they were written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages have come the word of god is what's in view here And this is how one strengthens himself against any temptation that would come his way Some come to me and they say i'm being tempted. I tell them get in the word Read your word That's where it's at. You want to be strong in your christian walk It's done by spending time getting to know the one who's delivered you from the very mess that you were in It's jesus His word He sets you free. He delivers you but not only that he empowers you With the ability to do the work that god has called you to do Notice what happens here He goes on to say here that no temptation is overtaking you except such as common demand in other words You're not the only one How many of you guys and clearly by a showing of hands have been tempted since you've been here These couple of hours raise your hand Look around You're not alone And the ones that didn't raise your hands. Well, you know, what I always say God bless you and your little holy life that nothing ever happens But we could be tempted with pride We could be tempted with arrogance We can be tempted to be looking at someone or something. Oh, it happens There's a lot of people here Temptation is everywhere. So he goes on to say this No temptation is overtaking you except such as common demand, but god is faithful In other words, listen, what is he saying in the first part of this passage? You're not alone say that You're not Pastor david and and others have shared here clearly giving us, you know An understanding of how one can withstand but but think about this. You just had a senior pastor telling you that He would fall into temptation from time to time. You're not alone Then he goes on to say here. Here's the thing about it. So what do I do? What do I do with this man? But god is faithful Here's the key To withstanding temptation turned very quickly matthew's gospel chapter four. You guys know the story. Let's read it The bible says in verse one then jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil And when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights afterward He was hungry How many guys know if you have an eight for 40 days and 40 nights you would be hungry too And then it says now in the tempter notice that it says here the tempter I think that's important because listen. There's only one who has that title and it's not the lord There is one who is a tempter, but notice what it says here the tempter Came to him He said if you are the son of god command these stones to become bread But jesus answered and said it is written man shall not live by bread alone But every word that proceeds from the mouth of god One of the things that I like about this passage here. Whenever I find myself struggling or Having a bout with temptation. I always look to the one who gives me the example that I can follow and that is jesus And you know what jesus did The first temptation we already know we've heard many expository teachings through matthew chapter four what jesus did here Obviously jesus gave him the word of god And notice what he said The temptation was to his flesh you ever been tempted in the flesh I got to have that I got to watch that I got to do that. I got to say that Because the flesh wants to be satisfied and what does jesus say jesus says man shall not live by bread alone But by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of god You see when you look at israel's history you see there also that that was a time where the lord dealt with israel When they were in the wilderness and it was the area of trusting god for the provision and the lord provided for them The enemy will want you to think that you can't go to god and trust him to meet your need and that's why so many people fall into sin Because they say you want to know what there was nobody there for me nobody understood listen The temptation was only mine and you know, I don't know how god can help me in this listen jesus said it's very clear The way to get help when you're tempted in the flesh Is through the word of god That's why bible studies and Men's groups and women's groups and one step to freedom groups and lion tamers and all these things are effective sunday morning sunday night Wednesday night church every day of the week get in the word because this is what you need And let me tell you something if you think you're not being tempted or you won't be tempted friend of mine You're gonna you're in for a rude awakening Notice what it goes on else to say here the devil took him up into the holy city set him on a Pinnacle of the temple notice that verse 5 says that the devil took him up. That's has always blown me away That means that to some degree satan has power man Imagine this temptation you and I wouldn't have been able to do Which stand jesus did though notice what happens here And he said to him if you are the son of god throw yourself down for it is written I love that when he says for it is written. You know if the devil knows the word too He knows the word of god as a matter of fact He twisted that very thing up all the way in the beginning book of genesis chapter 3 verses 1 through 24 check it out He's a master deceiver and he knows the word better than most christians And he says it is written I love that because clearly what he's implying there is it's written concerning you Clearly Saying I understand that psalm 91 is about you jesus And so what did he do now He tempted him with all the riches of the world the kingdoms of the world. He says here it is man Look at I can taken him to the pinnacle of the mountain and here he is he's tempting The lord clearly here, but he goes on to say here he shall give his angels charge over you And in their hands they shall bury you up lest you dash your foot against a stone And jesus said to him It is written It is written you shall not tempt the lord your god He quoting deuteronomy 6 16 And again the devil took him up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory And said to him all these things I will give you if you will fall down and worship me You know what I notice in these three temptations guys listen the enemy is relentless We need to be relentless also when it comes to god's word Notice what he goes on to say here Both times he says here away away with you and we know that in quoting psalm 91 satan didn't quote what referred to him there We can read in psalm 91 the demise of satan That's the portion of that passage. He did not quote that he would be conquered He gives you A partial truth, but a partial truth is a whole lie Notice what he goes on to say here As he tempts him for the third time so he tempts him with his flesh and he tempts him with the pride of life And he tempts him with the lust of the eyes and notice what he goes on to say here Jesus responding to all the kingdoms of the world being offered to him and notice what jesus said to him Jesus said away with you satan for it is written You shall worship the lord your god and him only you shall serve Look at verse 11 Then the devil left him and behold angels came and ministered to him Notice with me for a moment here because I think this is important when you look at what james wrote in the book of james Looking at chapter four verse seven It says therefore submit to god Resist the devil and he will flee from you The term here submit Here's the key a lot of people say oh resist the devil and he'll flee from you But that's not how this passage goes The only way you can resist the devil is if you first submit to god Then you can resist in submitting to god You are now you are now given the power by way of the holy spirit to resist the word here submit in the original language Means to line up under Line up under what the very will of god and what god has called you to do Pastor david said it very clearly the key to victory in my life for these things was obeying What does that mean that he was lining up? under the will of god Then you can resist the word here resist obviously means to stand against And anytime the enemy comes anytime the flesh or the world or anything for that matter Temptation comes listen The key to all of this Is this Am I submitted to god? Am I lined up under? Am I where god wants me to be? And the fact of the matter is you guys have heard testimonies that there are some even within the body of christ that are not Because this is a reality that a lot of people don't want to face Everybody's afraid to go and say that they're being tempted because somewhere down the line They were told that temptation is sin and in reality No, you need to go and you need to make yourself accountable to someone somebody asked me one time Why is naa so effective? I says because of the accountability that they have to one another Something that the church needs to practice Going to someone and saying men I have a problem And if somebody comes to you with that problem, man, don't be like, you know, like a comadre, you know what i'm saying and Like you got some juicy business to go and That the reality is you'll be surprised of how many men and women truly are hurting in the body of christ And some people say well, I don't want to go to a drug and alcohol ministry because you know, that's really not my thing You know, I I struggle with this and this within the last 10 years I think more has been spoken on about pornography than anything They used to call it the secret sin. It's not a secret no more You know the fact of the matter like I told my daughter. I says baby. Look, she just turned 15 today. I says baby. Look First time some knucklehead comes and says, you know, hey, I you know, can I you know, I like your daughter I'd be like cool. Let me see your phone Let me see your computer. Let me check the history I tell young girls every time I go do purity conferences and speak at conferences to young women I tell them you get that sucker's phone man and you start looking up the history and see what that dude's been looking at Because listen if he's been watching pornography, he's going to expect you to do the same and let me tell you something You will never live up To that wickedness And he'll never be satisfied And poor guys Anytime we hear pornography, we right away think of the guys, you know and in here and like bunch of cochinos, you know what I mean? But let me tell you I've known some women who are cochinas too And I've known women that struggle with pornography And let me tell you something It'll ruin you Just like anything that sin is clearly will ruin you the bible is very clear Paul right into the romans in romans chapter 6. He says for the wages of sin Is death I've seen pride pornography and anger And drug addiction ruin families and destroy homes And all the while when an individual thinks well, you know, it ain't going to happen to me Tommy gave some really good examples a man like samson Taking the nazarite vow And one of the things that god spoke to his people israel as he said you can read it there in the book of judges Judges chapter 13 and 14 and on read the life of samson and notice what it goes on to say The first thing he did in chapter 14. It says he went down to the philistine people saw a woman down there And what did he do? He already violated what god said not to do don't go outside of our the children of israel. We have the word We have the law. We have the commandments. We have it all. This is what this is where it is right here And he says hey dad, I like her go get her for me What happened? Nothing Nothing happened if anything She got the bad end of the deal And then what does he do on his way over there? What happens man a lion comes out of a man? He wipes that thing out Comes back walking the way just killed a lion. I would have been bragging about it. He's not bragging about it He comes by and he sees this This thing of honey in the carcass of the lion and what does he do? He goes and touches this dead carcass Which was a violation of his vow Takes that honey out and goes and gives it to his family Then he finds himself walking through the vineyards Where the bible says part of an azarii vow you're gonna have have no dealings with any wine whatsoever Listen guys everything that samson did Was in clear violation of the vow that he had before the lord and a lot of people think oh Well, you know his strength was in his hair. Don't cut your hair if that was the case I was done a long time ago man. I ain't long time ago Some of you are like really you didn't have to turn around for that the front's already fellow shipping with the back Sorry, my wife says I still look good. So that's all that matters as long as she's happy. That's it But let me tell you something as he continued to live his life The power wasn't even in his hair The hair was the hair and his long hair was a part of his vow also Have you guys not noticed that the whole entire thing about the story of samson? See I was taught as a kid the power was in his hair was never in his hair the power was in his identity and who he was And little by little he began to lose his identity In what he was he was set apart For the lord And this man lost his identity until the end it led to his demise. That's what sin does You might be in some type of I don't know But you might be yeah, I haven't gotten caught Take heed For some of you this might just be a reminder for some of you It might be a warning for some of you. It might be the very thing today Where the lord is saying stop I love you too much Numbers 32 verse 23 says be sure your sin will find you out And I'll tell you something. I've done this to man. I've gotten their phone. It's like, hey, let me see your pictures, man going to you know You know the system and popping that and start looking at the next thing, you know, I start looking down Yeah, and they're looking at me and it's like, yeah, these are nice pictures, man All of a sudden I'm reading their history. They don't even know it I'm like, oh, that's a good picture, man. That's that's cute. Who's that? He's like, which one is it? Hold on I'll tell you show you right now And I've done this And I've turned their phone to them and I says you're a fake man And the look on their face I says you you you watch pornography You watch pornography The reality is listen god could never Do the work that he desires to do in you until you say lord I don't want nothing to do with this all I want is you And the enemy will make you think that god can't satisfy You yes, he can what I always say is this guys listen I didn't ask for anything that I do now as a pastor I didn't ask for any of this if jesus christ had only come just to forgive me of my sin. He's done enough Because I know the sins that he's forgiven me of and pastor david rozales this morning Great reminder when he says there are sins that you won't even mention Oh, yeah, there are sins that only me and god know about I know i'm forgiven Let me tell you something when i'm tempted I dive in this word I dive in it Have we fallen? Yes. Have we dropped the ball? Yes But here's the thing god is greater God wants to meet you where you're at today you might say well i got a position in the church Pride is hindering you from god doing the work that he desires to do in you Oh, you don't understand I brought some but this more for them. It's not for me You get the thing pastor david we need to work together bro No, it's for all of us Who can stand here today and say with all sincerity of heart? Oh, I know that my heart is right before the one true god I know that a lot of us will say well, man if anything we should all be standing up But I want to do this today before I close I want real man and real women to say lord forgive me From this day forward right here I don't want this to be the burden in my life that weighs me down from knowing you more Church, we are close You know what i'm talking about We've been looking up Because our redemption draweth nigh And the fruit that you should be bearing is fruit that remains And the lord should be getting the glory in your life So without asking you to bow your head and close your eyes as we say You know when I got into the neighborhood and they said hey homie you want to be from the water? Do I'm like yeah, they didn't go okay bow your head and close your eyes homie You want in yes? If we're not ashamed And for us it's about him and not about us because the cry of your heart should be more of you And less of me listen you mothers that you've been praying for your sons Man You see miracles up here. Don't stop praying. I am the result of a praying mom I'm gonna ask you guys to do something I want to pray with you There might be some here today that you could say I was invited here man I'm challenged. I'm encouraged. I'm reminded that there is hope. I'm reminded that I don't have to live this way I'm reminded that I don't have to go through this alone. There are many Like me even some that were tempted today and this morning and so on and so forth But you can be sincere and honest in your heart lord I want to experience that and let me tell you something Not only can you experience prior to coming to christ But you just heard the testimony of pastor david through you you can experience it even as a pastor God loves you so much He's not ashamed of you So let's not be ashamed of him