#temptations – herbcotton.org

Are You Searching for Peace? Come Let Me Show You Where to Find It

Text:

John 16:33 (NKJV)

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Observation:

My friends, the answer to the question in the title is found in the Bible in John 16:33. Read the text listed above for your convenience. Did you see it?

The answer is Jesus. He said, “In Me, you may have peace.” Do you have Jesus alive in your heart?

John 1:12 (NKJV)

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

Are you a child of God? If you are, you have the peace of God within you. Notice what the Bible says about the peace of God.

John 14:1 (NKJV)

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

John 14:27 (NKJV)

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Application:

Make two columns. One the World, and the other Jesus on a sheet of paper.

The World Jesus

Sickness Jesus

Sorrow Jesus

Sin Jesus

Temptation Jesus

Testing Jesus

Trial Jesus

Isolation Jesus

Your problem Jesus

The world gives us troubles, but God gives His children peace, and the world cannot take it away. The peace that God gives you will stay with you. Your responsibility is to live in the presence of God who gave you the gift of peace. God gave you this peace when Jesus came into your heart.

Prayer:

Father God, hallowed be Your name. Father, I pray that your children will never forget the source of peace and that they will live in Your presence and enjoy the peace of God all of the days of their life.

Father, I pray that Your children will decide today that the devil is a liar, and He cannot steal our peace. Our Savior and Lord have us securely in His arms, and our peace is safe and secure in Jesus. Let all of God’s children say, Amen.

—

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

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Will My Troubles and Trials Ever Go Away?

Text:

Psalm 55:1-5 (ESV)

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!

2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan,

3 because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me.

4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.

Observation:

In this Psalm David writes about the troubles and terror that he was facing in a season of his life. The troubles were from within, and without, but they both drained him of his peace, and his joy.

Psalm 55:6-8 (ESV)

6 And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;

7 yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah

8 I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.”

When we find ourselves feeling like this, when we think will I ever get out of this pit. This is the time to be still, and remember who we are, and whose we are. It is time to connect with our Father in heaven.

Psalm 55:16-17 (ESV)

16 But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.

17 Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.

Yes, there is nothing in this world that will satisfy our souls, and heal our wounded hearts like the presence of the Lord. That is why David writes this near the end of his Psalm, and you can claim this promise in your season of trouble, and pain.

Psalm 55:22 (ESV)

22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

The Apostle Peter draws upon this wisdom, and writes this encouragement to the first century believers, and it speaks to us today.

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Prayer:

Father, I exalt and give praise and honor to Your name; the name that I cherish above every name on earth below, and in heaven above.

Father, hear our cry; hear our plea as we cry out to You in prayer for others, and for ourselves. Father, we declare that our hope is in You, and that our help comes from You.

Father, we know that You can, and that You will hear our prayer. We watch, and wait for Your answer to our prayers. Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

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How David Handled A Difficult Season of Trouble

Text:

Psalm 39:1-4 (ESV)

1 I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.”

2 I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse.

3 My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!

Observation:

In this Psalm David peels away some of the layers of his life to reveal the struggles he was facing.

In spite of his distress, and the difficulties he was facing personally, he resisted blaming God for his troubles. He remained silent before the Lord.

Psalm 39:7-9 (ESV)

7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool!

9 I am mute; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it.

David realized that the chastening of the Lord was a sign of God’s love for him. The best response to God’s chastening is to submit to God’s will, and allow Him to have His way in our life.

There is peace, power, and provisions when we take our troubles to the Lord in prayer.

Psalm 39:12 (ESV)

12 “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers.

It pays to pray, watch, and wait on the Lord. Remember that God’s delay is not His denial.

Psalm 40:1-3 (ESV)

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I pray that we would always be willing to bring all of our needs to You in prayer.

1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Father, I am so thankful that we can trust in You with our whole heart; and that You are willing, and able to help us.

Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

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Seeing Beyond Our Weaknesses#

Text:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (KJV)

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Observation:

When trouble, trials, difficulties, and disappointments come in our life we should cry out to God. However, we should not lose hope when God does not give us everything we ask.

We should allow what happened in Paul’s life to inform our lives when we pray for deliverance from our thorn in the flesh. Could it be that what we are going through is for God’s glory, and for our good?

2 Corinthians 11:27-28 (NLT)

27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.

There is something about thorns in the flesh that bends us toward humility. Additionally, the recognition of the weaknesses in our humanity bends us toward bowing the knee, looking up, and recognizing the greatness of God.

The recognition of the sovereignty and greatness of God, and the goodness and grace of God gives us peace, and contentment in knowing that God’s grace is sufficient for all of our needs.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, it is such a blessing to know that our weaknesses, even when they are painful, are working to bring about a higher goal, and that Your amazing grace is sufficient for all of our needs.

Psalm 46:1 (HCSB)

1 God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.

Father, we love You, and can’t get enough of You. Father, thank You for always being present, and on time. Father, I am so glad that the things that matter are things that are eternal. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)

13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

—

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In Whom Is Your Faith?

Text:

Psalm 31:19-20 (HCSB)

19 How great is Your goodness that You have stored up for those who fear You and accomplished in the sight of everyone for those who take refuge in You.

20 You hide them in the protection of Your presence; You conceal them in a shelter from the schemes of men, from quarrelsome tongues.

Observation:

Have you ever been in a hard place, and knew in the depths of your heart that it will take a miracle for you to get out of the hole that you found yourself in. That is the case of David. In his distress David took the upward look, and called out to the God of his salvation.

Psalm 31:3-5 (KJV)

3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.

4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.

5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

One of the things that we know about David is that he was a man who had faith in God. It is the only way that we can please God, and receive anything from Him.

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

It is not the quantity of our faith that makes the difference. Rather, it is the object of our faith. Who or what do you have faith in? This is the testimony of David.

Psalm 31:14 (KJV)

14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.

David’s faith in God was rewarded because God heard, and answered David’s plea for protection and deliverance. What he did for David, God will do for you. When He does, don’t forget to thank Him for His kindness, and tender mercies.

Let’s agree in prayer with David by joining him in his prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God.

Prayer:

Psalm 31:21-24 (HCSB)

21 May the LORD be praised, for He has wonderfully shown His faithful love to me in a city under siege.

22 In my alarm I had said, “I am cut off from Your sight.” But You heard the sound of my pleading when I cried to You for help.

23 Love the LORD, all His faithful ones. The LORD protects the loyal, but fully repays the arrogant.

24 Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD.

Let all who agree say, “Amen”.

—

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How Are You Doing Today?

Text:

Hebrews 10:36 (ESV)

36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Observation:

Are you tired of life in this world? I read this CS Lewis quote on Twitter yesterday, and I thought of it when pondering the question I just asked.

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is…we were made for another world.”

Our world is filled with trials and temptations; they are the common lot to all of humanity. Let’s look at some of them, and then look to a Word from the Lord that speaks to them.

pain
sickness
separation
cheating
lying
stealing
immorality
disease
divorce
emptiness
poverty
death

James 1:2-4 (ESV)

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

In the midst of our trials and temptations those who know the Lord, and have put their trust in Him have within them the power and patience to overcome the troubles we face living in the world.

James 1:12 (NLT)

12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Yesterday I attended a monthly meeting of senior adults at our church, and we had a time of testimony and prayer. Our leader started calling on different members asking them to sing a song. This morning I woke up with this song on my mind prompted by something I read recently.

The song said in part, “I believe I’ll run on, see what the end will be. At the end there is something waiting for me”. Then, it said, ” I will toil on, pray on, and sing on”. My, my how those old songs of the church feed your soul, and encourage you to endure.

Hallelujah! All my troubles will be over. My soul is singing, “Soon and very soon I’m going to see the King”.

Romans 12:12 (NLT)

12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I am so grateful that You are always near to Your people.

Father, I pray that we would learn to lean on the power of God that is alive within the hearts of all of Your dearly beloved children.

Father, I pray for transformation and renewal in the lives of Your people. Father, I pray for patience and endurance. I believe and declare that You are able to get us through all of the trials, temptations, and troubles we are facing living in the world. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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What Is Your Greatest Need?

Text:

Psalm 40:16-17 (HCSB)

16 Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let those who love Your salvation continually say, “The LORD is great!”

17 I am afflicted and needy; the Lord thinks of me. You are my helper and my deliverer; my God, do not delay.

Observation:

This morning I turned to one of the Psalms to speak encouragement into my heart, and I pray that it will speak into your heart.

David said, “I am afflicted and needy; the Lord thinks of me”. Isn’t it wonderful to know that the Lord thinks about you. The world will think about you when you are on top, but the Lord thinks of you when you are at your lows.

Psalm 34:18 (HCSB)

18 The LORD is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit.

David realized that the way out of his broken heart and crushed spirit was to humble himself, and to look up to the Lord.

Psalm 51:17 (HCSB)

17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

David always took the time to worship the Lord no matter what he was going through. He knew that God cared, and that God was always available to listen to his plea.

Why not follow the example of David, who the Bible says was a man after God’s own heart.

He magnified the Lord.
He sung praises to the Lord.
He told God his needs.
He trusted in God with his whole heart.

Remember, God is for you, and not against you.

Jeremiah 29:11 (HCSB)

11 For I know the plans I have for you”—{this is} the LORD’s declaration—”plans for {your} welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

My soul sings, “My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean on Jesus’ name”.

Prayer:

Father, I delight to lift up, and magnify You. Father, you are great, glorious, and gracious to all who humbly seek your face.

Father, I am so grateful for all of the love, forgiveness, grace, and mercy that I have received from You. Father, I am so blessed to be able to say with David, and the Saints of the ages these words.

Psalm 23:1 (HCSB)

1 The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

Father, help us to remember that the way out of our lows is to look up, and to give You praise and thanks for who you are, and for your mighty works. Let the people of God say, Amen.

—

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How Do You Keep Your Joy?

Text:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (HCSB)

16 Rejoice always!

17 Pray constantly.

18 Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Observation:

In times like these how can you stay joyful all the time? Our pastor said in our prayer time yesterday that the word he had on his heart was the word burdens.

The truth is that we all have burdens; your burdens are different from my burdens, but they are just as real.

How do you rejoice always, and give thanks in everything as this passages says in verses sixteen and eighteen?

Pray constantly (verse 17).
This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (Verse 18b).

When you hear people discount the value of prayer, don’t listen to them. Turn Your eyes to the Word of God, and listen to what Jesus says about prayer.

Luke 18:1 (HCSB)

1 He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged:

When I have burdens I love to sing, and one of my favorites is this one.

“What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer! ”

Again, turn your eyes to the Word of God, and listen to what Jesus says about the burdens you feel in your life. Why not take them to the Lord in prayer?

Matthew 11:28-29 (HCSB)

28 “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

29 All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.

Prayer:

Father, I am so grateful for the privilege we have to spend time continually in Your presence.

Father, the awareness that we are never alone in our walk through this world should give us joy and peace for today, and a bright and shining hope for the future.

Father God, I pray this prayer for all of the readers and the hearers of the Word that You have poured into my heart today.

Romans 15:13 (HCSB)

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe ?in Him? so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

—

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