TEXT:  1 John 2:16

INTRODUCTION:

A.      INORDINATE INTEREST IN FRIGHTENING AND SUPERNATURAL.

B.      WITH ALL THAT SCIENCE CAN OFFER, MEN ARE BORED

SPACE – THE FINAL FRONTIER – OFFERS MISSING CHALLENGE.

C.      PSEUDO-FRONTIERS AND CHALLENGES.

          1.       Our past – “Chariots of the Gods,”  New Age – Channeling.

          2.       Fiction – Star Trek, Star Wars, Highlander, etc.

          3.       The Unknown – “Big-foot,” “Bermuda (Devil’s) D.”

D.      THE REAL CHALLENGE IS TO SORT OUT THE TRUTH.  PATIENCE IS

          NEEDED, BUT ONE BY ONE THESE CHALLENGES ARE ANSWERED.

E.      BUT WAIT – THERE REALLY IS A DEVIL’S D!

I.      WHAT IS THE DEVIL’S D?

A.      Genesis 3:1-6;  Matt. 4:1-11;  1 John 2:15-17.

B.      LUST OF THE EYE – EXAMPLE FROM EACH PASSAGE.

C.      LUST OF THE FLESH – EXAMPLES.

D.      PRIDE OF LIFE OR VAINGLORY – EXAMPLES.

II.     THE SOURCE OF TEMPTATION – SATAN.

A.      GOD DID NOT INVENT SIN, NOR DOES HE TEMPT MAN ( James 1:13 ).

          1.       He uses temptation to advantage ( James 1:2-4;  1 Pet. 1:6-9).

          2.       He provides escape from temptation ( 1 Cor. 10:13;  Eph. 6:16 ).

          3.       Use the Escape! ( James 4:7 ).

B.      BUT HOW DOES SATAN TEMPT MAN? ( 1 Pet. 5:8;  2 Cor. 2:11 ).

          1.       Not directly, through agency of men and circumstance

                   ( 2 Cor. 11:13-15 ).

          2.       James 1:13-15.  Satan uses circumstance, doesn’t manufacture circumstance.

                   a.       “Drawn away by his own lust” – strong desire.

                   b.       “Enticed.”  Implies outside lure.  What lures? That which man desires but

                             is unlawful.

          3.       Internal lust and external enticement - both essential.

C.      HOW DO WE OVERCOME?.

          1.       Work on the heart ( Luke 6:43-45 ).

          2.       Avoid enticement ( 1 Cor. 15:33 ).

III.    WHO IS LIKELY TO FALL INTO THE DEVIL’S D?

A.      THE CARNAL MINDED, WORLDLY MAN ( 1 Tim. 6:9-10;  Matt. 13:22 ).

B.      THE SHORT-SIGHTED, UNTHINKING ( 1 Cor. 2:14-16;  James 4:13-17 ).

C.      THE CARELESS INDIVIDUAL ( Eph. 5:15-16 ).

D.      THE UNDECIDED ( James 4:1-4;  Matt. 6:24 ).

E.      ONE WHO RESTS IN HIS OWN STRENGTH ( 1 Cor. 10:12 ).

F.      BUT NOT THE MAN OF FAITH ( Eph. 6:16;  Col. 3:1-2 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      DO YOU HAVE FAITH IN GOD?  ACT ON IT! ( James 2:24 ).

B.      IF YOU HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED, BUT HAVEN’T BEEN LIVING RIGHT, THEN

          YOU ARE IN THE DEVIL’S D.

          1.       Take up you shield ( Eph. 6:16 ).

          2.       Resist the Devil ( James 4:7 ).

          3.       Come back to Jesus ( 1 John 1:6-7, 9 ).