What's your temptation?

Walking into the local mini mart can be a sugar-a-holic's paradise! From the Krispy Kreme's staked high into the air to the 3 for a dollar candy bars by the counter, the tempation can be too hard to resist.

It can be that way when we are dealing with sin as well, but God has made a way out for us! The Bible declares it!

Often we can think that to understand the Bible fully we need a type of theology degree, but that is not the case. Take the verse in 1 Corinthians 10:11-13...

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No 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.

This passage tells us 3 things about tempatation:

1. Every temptation you faced has been faced by others

2. You have never been tempted by something you didn’t have the power to resist

3. God provides a way out! – we must chose to accept

Jesus defeated the temptation of the Devil in Luke 4 by being full of the Holy Spirit, even when He was empty of physical food. Without the Holy Spirit's help, we will never be able to resist the enemies attacks.

Temptation can be like a parasite, sucking the life out of us and our relationships. The thing about a parasite is that it takes a while for a person to realize they have one. Sin can be that way too, the effects of it may not be felt until it is too late.

Here are 7 steps to resist temptation:

1. PRAY THAT THE LORD WILL KEEP YOU FROM TEMPTATION.

2. MAKE A COVENANT WITH YOURSELF.

3. LOOK FOR A WAY OUT.

4. DIVERT YOUR THOUGHTS

5. REMOVE YOURSELF.

6. EVALUATE WHEN YOU FALL DOWN.

7. ASK FORGIVENESS, RESOLVE TO DO BETTER, AND START AGAIN.

God has made a way out for us- it's Jesus , His only son!

Examine these steps to beating temptation and see where God would have you start!

Here is your Love Dare for this week:

IS THERE A PARASITE FROM WHICH YOU NEED TO BREAK FREE?

Valentine's Day is once a year ...

The first time you tell that special someone you love them , it can be a scary experience. What if they reject me? What if they don't hear me and I have to repeat myself? What if they laugh? When we find out someone loves us back it becomes easier to say "I love you" to that person. As time goes on, instead of that big build up to "I love you", it becomes a "Love you" shouted on the way out the door or a " Love ya" as the phone is hung up.

Truth be told, the words I love you really don't mean a whole lot unless there is action behind them.

Love itself is what is left when being in love has burned away.

Once a year we give that special someone a card , candy or flowers to remind them that we love them, but really we could hand a card to a person on the street that says "I love you" but it doesn't mean anything because there is no action behind it. No caring words, no quality time, no listening ear...

God calls us to love the way He loved - unconditionally. God doesn't need Valentines Day to show His love to us. He does it all the time, maybe not the way we always want, but in the way that is best for us!

Likewise a marriage is a lifetime commitment. Loving someone for who they are - faults and all - is an action and a choice.

Our message last Sunday reminded us of that fact...

Here are 3 skills of those who love for a lifetime

1. Remember we are different and adapt accordingly.

2. Asking for and granting forgiveness.

3. Decide to love and keep on loving!

Just as Jesus doesn't abandon us when we reject or "hurt" Him. so we should not reject or hold a grudge against those we have said the words "I love you".

God's love for us is not a once a year thing, and our love for others - whether it be a spouse, family member, or friend should not be either.

Practice the skill of a lifetime lover you'll "feel the love" in a way you have never felt before!

This week's Love Dare

Marries Couples: Renew your vows to each other

Singles:

1. Affirm differences in the opposite gender.

2. Be forgiving

3. Decide to love and keep on loving a close friend.

You can't give what you haven't got

The Bible calls us to love one another , just as God loved us. That can be hard when we may not have experienced love in our own lives. Trying to show love to others on our own can lead to failure, but loving with the love of God will lead to success!





Here are five principles about relationships from this week's message


1. When people have profound experiences , they want to share them with others.

2. An encounter with God is a profound experience.

3. Those who live close to God find that their love for others is always increasing!

4. Love eliminates fear.

5. We can love others because God first loved us!


1 John 4: 7-10 (Message version )

My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can't know him if you don't love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.

That is the true essence of love, that it is done without expected anything in return. That is the example that God gave to us, He sent His son Jesus for us to save us from our sins, even before we knew it , God loved us first!

This week's Love Dare:

SINGLES:

MAKE A LIST OF 6 FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS OR CO-WORKERS AND ASSIGN A DAY TO EACH OF THEM. THEN, EVERY DAY THIS WEEK, ASK THE LORD TO SHOW YOU ONE WAY TO LOVE THE PERSON OF THE DAY, THEN DO IT.

HUSBANDS:

EVERY DAY THIS WEEK, ASK THE LORD TO SHOW YOU ONE WAY TO LOVE YOUR WIFE, AND THEN DO IT.

WIVES:

EVERY DAY THIS WEEK, ASK THE LORD TO SHOW YOU ONE WAY TO LOVE YOUR HUSBAND, AND THEN DO IT.

It's my right!

Our sermon focus this month is on "fireproofing " your marriage, keeping it from being destroyed by the "fires" of life. The series doesn't limit itself to just marriage relationships. The challenge for this week is :


IN YOUR WORK, SCHOOL, OR HOME ENVIRONMENT, WHOSE LIFE WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD VALUE TO BY GIVING THEM GREATER LOVE OR RESPECT? WHAT CAN YOU DO THIS WEEK TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

Often times we feel we have the "right" to say something to someone or to do something to someone that we feel is within our "rights". Sometimes, even though we might have the “right” to do something, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the “right” thing to do. For example, choosing to follow through with something we may very well have the “right” to do, even though it’s not best for others is not what truly brings honor to God.

In the Love Dare for this week, think about how you can give up your "right" to do or say something. Jesus can be our example of giving up His rights for what God wanted Him to do...die for us on the cross.

At any moment when He was the cross shedding His blood for us as sinners, He could have called angels down to free Him from his suffering, but He didn't!

Why didn't Jesus stop and say - "It's my right to choose not do this!" ??

It was because of His great love for us. His love can certainly be an example in a marriage for husbands and wives to follow, but also in friendships and other relationships. Giving up our rights for the benefit of others can lead to relationships that are built to last!

Who can you show Christ's love to today?