Talk Notes from Sunday

HOSTAGE
Breaking Free from Your Temptations
Jonathan Howes, Lead Pastor

Main Passage: Romans 7:15-25
15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

1. Predetermine your patterns of temptation

“(The immoral person) does not care about the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn't even realize where it leads.” Proverbs 5:6 (NLT)

• WHEN am I most tempted?

• WHERE am I most tempted?

• WHO is with me when I’m most tempted?

• HOW do I feel right before I’m tempted?

“Let's take a good look at the way we're living and reorder our lives under God.” Lamentations 3:40 (Message)

2. Plan straight paths to avoid evil

“Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:26-27

3. Protect the condition of your heart

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

“Do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:27

4. Pray for God’s help

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Matthew 26:41

“…call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you...” Psalm 50:15

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16

5. Point your attention elsewhere

“But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:14-15

“…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness…” 2 Timothy 2:21

6. Pick an accountability partner

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16

7. Persevere in the daily battle

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

What temptations do you want to break free from?