Woodstream Church
Women’s Institute
September 2015
“I
am the way, and the truth,
and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through
me.” John 14:6
1. Temptation
2. Reconciliation
3. Unbelief, Uncertainty and
Unsure of Salvation
4. Thoughts
5. Humanity of Christ
 Temptation
is common to all
Christians
“But remember this – the wrong
desires that come into your life
aren’t anything new and
different. Many others have faced
exactly the same problems
before you.” 1 Cor. 10:13, TLB
 Temptation
is of the devil.
(Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus was
tempted)
 Temptation is not sin but
succumbing to it is.
 God
does not lead us into
temptation.
“Let no man say when he is
tempted, I am tempted of God;
for God cannot be tempted
with evil, neither tempteth He
any man.” James 1:13, KJV

God does allow us to be tempted (Job)
so that we can face temptation,
overcome it and become stronger. “I
have written unto you, young men,
because ye are strong, and the Word
of God abideth in you, and ye have
overcome the wicked one.” 1 John
2:14, KJV. We are also blessed in
victory (James 1:12).

No temptation is irresistible.
“You can trust God to keep the
temptation from becoming so strong
that you can’t stand up against it, for
He has promised this and will do
what He says. He will show you how
to escape temptation’s power so that
you can bear up patiently against it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13, TLB
 We
have an example in Jesus
Christ.
He “was tempted in all points
like as we, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15, KJV.
 “The
sin is when we use the
temptation for giving in.” None
of us should seek out
situations to be tempted.
Satan will always attack us
where we are the most
vulnerable.
 “But
each one is tempted when, by
his own desire, he is dragged
away and enticed. Then, after
desire has conceived, it gives
birth to sin; and sin, when it I fullgrown, gives birth to death.”
James 1:14-15, NIV
 Reconciliation
is forgiveness,
pure and simple. It is through
forgiveness that we are
reconciled with God!
The Basis for Forgiveness
 Own
up to what we are and have
done (repentance). “For I know my
transgressions, nd my sine is
always before me. Against You,
You only have I sinned and done
what is evil in your sight …” Psalm
51:3-4, NIV
 Ask
for it (confession).
“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I
will be clean; wash me, and I
will be whiter than snow. Hide
your face from my sins and
blot out all my iniquity.” Psalm
51:7,9, NIV
The Results of Forgiveness

Reconciliation. When God forgives,
there is an immediate and complete
change in relationship. Instead of
hostility, there is love and acceptance.
Instead of enmity, there is friendship.
“God … reconciling the world to
himself in Christ, not counting men’s
sins against them.” 2 Cor. 5:19, NIV


Purification. The very essence of
forgiveness is being restored to our original
standing before God. “Purge me … and I
shall be clean; wash me and I shall be
whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7, KJV
God forgets our sin when He forgives it.
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will
remember their sins no more.” Heb. 8:12,
NIV
 Remittance.
God drops the
charges against us. He will not
enforce judgment because of our
sins. Jesus said to the woman
taken in adultery, “… Neither do I
condemn thee, go and sin no
more.” John 8:11, KJV


Unbelief, uncertainty and unsure of
salvation is doubt … doubting God and His
Word.
Doubt can be debilitating. Hesitation and
uncertainty are characteristics of the
doubter. James says that the “doubleminded” man is “unstable in all he does.
That man should not think he will receive
anything from the Lord.” James 1:7
The opposite of doubt is faith. Jesus
encouraged those who were passing
through trials to “ask of God” and “ask
in faith” (James 1:5-6, KJV).
 Doubt is an effective tool of Satan. He
caused Eve to doubt by asking, “Ye,
hath God said” (Gen. 3:1, KJV).

 The
history of mind is largely
centered around the battle for his
mind. What we think is
important. “He that ruleth his
mind is greater than he that
taketh a city.” Prov.16:32, KJV “As
a man thinketh … so is he.” Prov.
23:7, KJV

The mind – or related words, such as
“thoughts,” “the understanding,” and “the
heart” which is used interchangeably for the
mind, occupies an important place in
Scripture. God wants to control our mind; so
does Satan.
 The
Bible mentions the
unbelieving mind which is
“hostile to God” (Romans 8:7,
NIV), is blinded because of sin
(2 Cor. 4:4), and is morally
defiled (Mark 7:20-22).
 The
Bible also mentions the carnal
mind which is characteristic of the
worldly Christian walking in the
flesh (James 4:4), the unbelieving
Christian (Hebrews 3:12), and the
disobedient Christian (Luke 6:46
and Ephesians 2:2).
Controlling our thoughts requires us to:
1. Model Christ’s Example – “Let this
mind be in you which was also in
Christ Jesus … (He) made Himself of
no reputation, and took upon Him
the form of a servant … and became
obedient unto death, even the death
of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8, KJV
2.
Focus on God – “Thou will
keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on
Thee: because he trusteth in
Thee.” Isaiah 26:3, KJV
3.
Transforming to God – “Be not
conformed to this world: but be
ye transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect will of
God.” Romans 12:2, KJV
Prioritize God – “Casting down
imaginations, and every high thing
that exalteth itself against the
knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the
obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5, KJV
“Commit thy works unto the lord, and
thy thoughts shall be established.”
Prov. 16:3, KJV

 Remember
we are admonished
to think about such things that
are true, noble, right, pure,
lovely, admirable, excellent or
praiseworthy. Phil. 4:8
The predominant theme of the Scriptures
is the Person and the work of Jesus
Christ.
1. He is God.
2. He became a human being, died by
crucifixion, and was buried.
3. He rose again from the dead.
4. He is the only all-sufficient Savior of
the world.
5. He will come again.

Jesus Christ became Man:
 “And the Word was made flesh
and dwelt among us … full of
grace and truth.”
John 1:1, KJV
 His
miraculous birth was
prophesied 800 years before
His coming: “Behold a virgin
shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall call His name
Emmanuel.” Isa. 7:14, KJV
 The
prophecy was fulfilled to
the letter. “Fear not, Mary: for
thou hast found favor with
God. And, behold, thou shalt
conceive in thy womb, and
bring forth a son, and shalt
call his name Jesus.” Luke
1:30-31, KJV
Jesus demonstrated human
characteristics:
 He became tired (John 4:6).
 He thirsted (John 19:28).
 He ate food (Luke 24:40-43).
 He showed feelings (Mark 6:34).
 He wept (John 11:35).
 He knew temptation (Hebrews 4:15).
 He died (John 19:30)
If we are naming the name of Christ and
Jesus Christ is the truth then our lives
should mirror Christ’s life in how we
manage:
1. Temptation
2. Reconciliation
3. Unbelief
4. Thoughts
5. Christ’s humanity within ourselves

Does my life reflect the truth of Christ?

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Thank you for the birthday card and the $25
VISA gift card!!!
Sowing Seeds Interest Meeting on Wednesday,
September 16th at 6:30 p.m. in Atrium.
WOW Fellowship is Friday, September 25th @
6:30 p.m.
Next week is Ministry Sunday – No Women’s
Institute.