Take some time to honestly think about and ask yourself these questions: “Have I given my heart to God for today? Do I make it a habit to give Him my heart every day? Do I spend time daily in prayer, Bible study, and heart searching? Have I repented of and confessed my sins to God, and made right any wrongs I have done toward others? Am I holding back anything, or am I surrendered and allowing God to work His will in me? Am I consistently experiencing victory in my life throughout the day; or do irritations cause me to let go my hold upon God, do habits and inclinations control my actions, do I find myself wanting to do right but seemingly powerless to do it? Am I sharing my faith and love for the Lord with others, and is my practical experience worth sharing, or am I still floundering myself?”

Many of you will likely find as you search your heart with these questions, that you have a great work to do yet in perfecting your character and getting ready for Jesus’ soon coming.

This, then, is what we would like to study in this lesson. How do I, practically, day-by-day, experience victory over sin and walking with God as did Enoch, Elijah, Daniel, and most of all, Jesus Himself?

1) what is one of the first things we must do to help ourselves gain the victory over temptation? ____________________________

“______________, and ______________, and at ________, will I ________, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17

“And in the morning, rising up a ____________________________________________, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there ____________.” Mark 1:35

“But thou, when thou ______________, enter into ____________________, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is __________________; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6

It is so important that we spend time in prayer with God each day. If we have not given our hearts to God for this day, asking for Him to be Lord (ruler) of our lives, and surrendering our wills for His, we will be floundering through our day, without real purpose. We will find ourselves hopeless in the battle against temptation. We may get so busy with the cares of life, that we don’t even recognize our empty and powerless condition until the end of the day when things slow down and we have a quiet moment for contemplation. But if we do spend time with God in prayer each morning, and continue to maintain that connection with Him throughout the day, we may have the opposite experience. We will have purpose and direction to our day, and will experience victory through the power of Christ over the temptations that beset us; and we will have peace in our hearts at the close of the day.

“Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, ‘Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee.’ This is a daily matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ.” SC 70

2) In addition to prayer, what else should we do every morning? ____________________

“__________ to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, ________________________________ the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

“__________________________________________; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39

“And that from a child thou hast known the ______________________________, which are able to make thee ______________________________________ through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for ________________, for ______________, for ____________________, for instruction in __________________________: That the man of God may be ______________, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 timothy 3:15-17

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto ________________ hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth ______________

__________________, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of __________

____________, went and sold ______________________________, and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46

In addition to our daily time with God in prayer and reflection, we need also time with Him in His Holy Word (the Bible) and in the Spirit of Prophecy. And I am not just speaking of a casual reading, but of thorough searching and study. We desperately need the counsel we have been given. We are living in very serious times and Satan will use every means he can to deceive us. We must fortify our minds with the words of God, yet I am deeply troubled as I see how little many of us know of it, and how even less we practice what we do know. The willingness I so often see to justify our pet sins and indulgences, and to reason away the counsel in the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy which condemns them, as not really meaning what it says, or as not relevant to our time and culture, frightens me! These are not man’s words; they are God’s words, and we are tampering with them if we try to make excuses for our sins. Let us begin searching for the truth as for hid treasure, with a willingness to give up all that we have and are to possess it.

“Christians should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise, and this preparation they should make by diligently studying the word of God and striving to conform their lives to its precepts.” PK 626

3) What serious warning does the Bible give to those who add to or subtract from God’s Word?

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall __________________________________________, God shall ____________

___________________________________ that are written in this book: And if any man shall __________________ from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall ____

_______________________________________________________________________, and ________________________________________, and [from] the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18, 19

4) Is it safe to just trust in what our minister tells us, without studying for ourselves? YES / NO

“There is a way that seemeth __________ unto a ______, but the ______ thereof [are] the ways of __________.” Proverbs 16:25

We need to know why we believe and live as we do, and our reasons must be based on our own personal study of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, not on any church ruling or Pastor’s word. Friends, we need to be testing every sermon we hear in our churches by the word of God, because we are told that “Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan.” TM 409,410. We cannot safely take everything we hear as truth. We must each know the truth for ourselves.

5) What is a third thing that will help us prepare for the trials and temptations of the day?

__________________________________

“________________, and know that I [am] God:” Psalms 46:10

“I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made __________________________

…. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” Psalms 77:6, 12

“Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his ______ doth he ________________ day and night.” Psalms 1:1-2

“Mine eyes prevent the [night] watches, that I might _____________________________

___________.” Psalms 119:148

“__________________, O God, and know my heart: ____________, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] ____________________ in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23, 24

Quiet contemplation of the things of God, and searching our hearts, also draws us closer to God and prepares us to face temptation.

In lesson #5 we will look more practically into how to have meaningful personal devotional time with the Lord, but now, let us turn our attention to facing the temptations that come to us during the day.

6) As we enter into the activities of the day, what are we to do first to resist temptation?

“Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, _______________________________________

______________________: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3

“______________________, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the ________, ye [are] the ________________: He that _______________________, and I ____________, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4, 5

It is very easy to have an inspiring morning time of prayer and study with the Lord, and then rush out into our day and “leave the Lord behind,” so to speak. We let our minds be distracted, and we don’t keep a constant realization of God’s presence with us, and His willingness to help us in the battle with self. Then, when temptation comes our way we hastily respond to it in the flesh without ever asking God what He would have us do. If we want to be victorious over temptation, we must abide in Christ all throughout the day, and be connected with Him as closely as the branch is connected to the vine. If we allow this connection to be severed, we will not have the strength of ourselves to gain the victory.

7) How are we to practically keep our minds stayed on God and abide in Him?

a. __________________________________

“________ without ______________.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

“______________, and ______________, and at ________, will I ________, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by ____________ and supplication with thanksgiving let your ________________ be made ____________________________. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6, 7

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we _______________________ _____________________________________________, he ____________________: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” 1 John 5:14, 15

Three times a day make time for personal prayer, on your knees with God in a quiet place. Then, all throughout the rest of the day, commune with God in the quietness of your mind as you do the dishes, care for the children, do your schoolwork, work at your job, or whatever else you may be doing.

b. __________________________________

“Speaking to yourselves in ____________ and __________ and __________________

___________, ______________ and __________________________ in your heart to the Lord;” Ephesians 5:19

Singing hymns and Scripture songs as you go through the day is a wonderful way to practically keep your mind stayed on God.

c. __________________________________

“________________________________________ for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” Ephesians 5:20

“______________ evermore…. In __________________________________________: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16, 18

Thank and praise the Lord for all He has done for you. You may find it helpful to even make a written list of the things you are thankful for, that you can add to and refer to. When your mind is filled with thankfulness and rejoicing, it is much easier to stay connected to Jesus and not be drawn away by the troubles of the day.

d. __________________________________

“Thy ________ have I __________________________________, that I might not

______ against thee.” Psalms 119:11

“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy ______ [is] ________________________ __________.” Psalms 40:8

“Thy ________ [is] a ________ unto my feet, and a __________ unto my path.”

Psalms 119:105

Memorizing the words of Scripture, and repeating them in our minds or aloud throughout the day is another way to keep our mind stayed on God. You may also wish to hang Scripture verses around your home on walls, doors, or refrigerator, and read them often.

Keeping our minds stayed on God all day is a discipline, and it takes prayer and practice to become natural to us. Remember that the over-commitments and busyness of life are Satan’s trap to draw you away from God, and resist them.

8) How earnestly is the devil working to overcome God’s people, and what attitude should we maintain toward him? We must w__________ and p__________.

“Be __________, be ________________; because your adversary the devil, as a _______

_________________, walketh about, ______________ whom he may ____________: Whom ______________________________ in the faith,” 1 Peter 5:8, 9

Therefore let us not __________, as [do] others; but let us __________ and ___________

__________.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6

“__________ and ________, that ye enter not into ____________________: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.” Matthew 26:41

9) When temptation comes to us, how are we to gain the victory over it?

1________________________ 2_________________________

3________________________ 4_________________________

5________________________ 6_________________________

7________________________

“____________ yourselves therefore to God. ____________ the devil, and he will flee from you. __________________ to God, and he will draw nigh to you. ______________ [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and ____________ [your] hearts, [ye] double minded. ______

__________________, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and [your] joy to heaviness. ____________ yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:7-10

Notice the seven steps to victory: 1) submit or surrender yourself to God; 2) resist the devil - your own effort is required, combined with God’s power, to gain the victory;

3) draw close to God in total dependence on Him; 4) cleanse your hands and, 5) purify your hearts of every sin you may have been cherishing or holding on to - otherwise you will not be able to gain true victory in the area you’re struggling; 6) be afflicted and mourn for your sins, and repent of them; 7) humble yourself before God - recognize your own unworthiness and your inability to be victorious unless your effort is combined with His power - do away with spiritual pride.

10) How did Jesus, our Example, gain the victory over temptation? _________________

_______________________________________________________________________

“But he answered and said, __________________________, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God…. Jesus said unto him, __________________________ again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God…. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for __________________________, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil ______________________.” Matthew 4:4, 7, 10, 11

He quoted the words of Scripture, and thus gained the victory over temptation.

11) Who are we fighting against, and what kind of armor must we put on for this battle?

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole ___________________________, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of __________________. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with __________, and having on the breastplate of __________________________; And your feet shod with the preparation of the ______

________________________; Above all, taking the shield of __________, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of __________________, and the sword of the ____________, which is the _____________

___________: Praying always with all ____________ and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” Ephesians 6:10-18

“The night is __________________, the day is ______________: let us therefore ______

_______________________________________________________, and let us _______

_____________________________________________.” Romans 13:12

The Christian’s armor - Girdle of __________________________________

Breastplate of ______________________________

Shoes of __________________________________

Shield of __________________________________

Helmet of _________________________________

Sword of __________________________________

P_________________________________________

Consider carefully each part of this armor, and what part it plays in gaining the victory over sin:

Truth - “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32. Knowing the truth enables us to discern between right and wrong.

Righteousness - Only as we are clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness can we gain the victory over temptation. If we try to do it in our strength alone, we will fail.

The Gospel of Peace - The gospel is the good news that Christ came to save us from our sins. This is the practical gospel that we must experience in our own lives and then carry to all the world - how to be overcomers.

Faith - Faith is very simply our total dependence upon God and His power to help us gain the victory. We must trust Him and cooperate with Him fully, doing whatever He asks us to do.

Salvation - In order to gain the victory, we need to practically experience the steps of salvation each day (recognizing our own unworthiness and God’s worthiness, repentance and confession of our sins, turning away from our sins, accepting Christ’s sacrifice for our sins and the forgiveness He offers, surrendering our hearts and lives fully to God, living a new life by faith in Christ - walking in obedience to all His commands).

The Sword of the Spirit - This is the Word of God, our guidebook in the battle of life.

Prayer - “At the sound of fervent prayer, Satan's whole host trembles. . . . And when angels, all-powerful, clothed with the armory of heaven, come to the help of the fainting, pursued soul, Satan and his host fall back, well knowing that their battle is lost.” MYP 53

12) To whose lives may we look for encouragement in walking with God and overcoming temptation, and Who is our great Example? Read Hebrews 11, then, on the lines below, list some of the “cloud of witnesses” as given there:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a ____________________

__________________, let us lay aside every weight, and the ______ which doth so easily __________________, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto __________ the ____________ and ________________ of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For ________________________ that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, ____________________________________ and faint in your minds.” Hebrews 12:1-3

13) How much of our own effort may we have to put (in cooperation with God) into the battle against sin? _____________

“Ye have not yet ______________________________________, ___________________

____________________.” Hebrews 12:4

“________________________________________ of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12

The answer is all.

“Believe that He is ready to help you by His grace, when you come to Him in sincerity. You must fight the good fight of faith. You must be wrestlers for the crown of life. Strive, for the grasp of Satan is upon you; and if you do not wrench yourselves from Him, you will be palsied and ruined. The foe is on the right hand and on the left, before you and behind you; and you must trample him under your feet. Strive, for there is a crown to be won. Strive, for if you win not the crown, you lose everything in this life and in the future life. Strive, but let it be in the strength of your risen Saviour.” MYP 428

“There is hope for every one of us, but only in one way, and that is by binding ourselves to Christ, and exerting every energy to attain to the perfection of His character.” 5T 541

“Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil.” GC 425

14) What shall we not be entangled in if we want to be victorious over temptation?

____________________________________________

“No man that ______________ entangleth himself with __________________________

____________________; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:4

If we become wrapped up in the things of this world (pleasure and entertainment, fashion, eating, moneymaking, easy and luxurious living, increasing our possessions, etc.), we will not be able to gain the victory over temptation, because we will be so distracted from the work of character building, and our interests will be divided between Christ and the world.

15) What must be put to death if we would be conquerors in the battle with sin?

______________________________________

“Knowing this, that our ______________ is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not __________________. For he that is dead is freed from sin…. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore __________ in your mortal body, that ye should ________ it in the lusts thereof. Neither __________ ye your members [as] instruments of ______________________________ unto sin: but __________ yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of __________________________ unto God. For _________
_____________________________________________ over you:” Romans 6:6-7, 11-14

“And they that are ________________ have __________________ the __________ with the ____________________ and __________.” Galatians 5:24

The old man, the flesh, must die. We must be born again, made new creatures by the power of God. If we are surrendering our life fully to God day by day and moment by moment, we will not continue to be controlled by our natural fleshly inclinations and impulses.

16) What other counsel are we given on how to gain the victory?

a. __________________________________

“Wherefore let him that ________________ he ________________ take ________ lest he ________.” 1 Corinthians 10:12

Do not indulge in spiritual pride and think you are pretty good and secure in your standing with God. Remember that it is only as we maintain that moment by moment connection with and dependence on Him that we will not fall.

b. __________________________________

“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and ____________________________________ for the __________, to _______________________________ [thereof].” Romans 13:14

Do not make “provision for the flesh”. What does this mean? practically, it means don’t put yourself in the way of temptation. If you find yourself watching ungodly TV programs, get rid of the TV. If you struggle with alcohol or tobacco, don’t go where those things are sold or hang out with people who are using them. If you struggle with lust, don’t look at the billboards or read the magazines in the checkout line. Ask God to show you how you may be making provision for the flesh in your life.

c. __________________________________

“But thou, O man of God, ________ these things; and ____________ after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” 1Timothy 6:11

“Be not overcome of evil, but ______________________________________________.” Romans 12:21

Flee from what is evil, and replace it with what is good. For example, if your temptation is to be angry, smile instead… to speak harsh words, say something kind… to read a romance novel, read of God’s love for you in His Word… to sit and watch TV, get up and do something useful around the home… to complain, think of something to be thankful for. The list could go on and on. Think of some of the sins you struggle with, and ask God what good things He would have you do in their place.

17) Are we to be happy even when we are tempted? YES / NO

“My brethren, ________________________________ when ye fall into divers ______________________; Knowing [this], that the ____________ of your faith worketh ________________. But let patience have [her] ________________________, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack ____________, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:2-5

Amazingly, the Bible tells us that even when we are facing temptation, we are to be joyful in the knowledge that we can be victorious, and if we choose to accept victory instead of defeat, we are thereby perfecting our characters for heaven!

18) What are some Bible promises we may claim when we are facing temptation?

“I can do ____________________ through ____________ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

“And he said unto me, _____________________________________________________

_________: for my ________________ is made perfect in ________________. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

“There hath no ____________________ taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] ________________, who will not suffer you to be tempted _________________
__________________________; but will ______________________________________ also make a __________________________, that ye may be able to bear [it].”

1 Corinthians 10:13

“But thanks [be] to ______, which __________________________________________ through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Corinthians 15:57

“Behold, I [am] the LORD, the God of _________________: is there ________________ too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27

19) What promises does the Bible give to those who are overcomers?

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man ____________, that shall he also ________. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the ____________ shall of the Spirit reap __________________________ _______________. And let us not be weary in ____________________: for in due season we shall ________, if we __________________.” Galatians 6:7-9

“He that ____________________, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not ________________ his name out of the ________________________, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels…. To him that ____________ __________ will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelation 3:5, 21

“He that ____________________ shall ______________ all things; and I will be his ______, and he shall be my ______.” Revelation 21:7

“Blessed [is] the man that ______________________________________: for when he is tried, he shall receive the __________________________, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12

God’s promises are full and abundant; claim them, memorize them, put them to song, repeat them when you are tempted!

20) Do you believe that God can and will teach you how to abide in Him and give you the victory over the temptations you face day to day; and do you choose now to surrender your heart and life fully to Him, and to unite your effort with His power to gain that victory? ________________________________________________________________

Is it your desire to experience walking with God, knowing Him as your personal Savior to save you from sin, and finding consistent victory in your life; and are you willing to make it your #1 priority to gain this experience, no matter what the cost? _________________

What are some practical keys for abiding in Christ and overcoming temptation that you have learned in this lesson, that you plan to use in your battle with sin? ______________

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