Sermon on Temptation | The Challenge of Fighting Inner Demons

1. Selfishness is defined as follows: “devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one’s own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.” (Source: dictionary.com).

1) It is easy to let our own personal desires dominate our decisions and disregard the feelings and thoughts of others.

2) This doesn’t mean that there are never legitimate reasons to be concerned for self.

3) Only that being concerned for one’s self don’t become the dominate force in our lives.

2. The Bible doesn’t talk directly about selfishness per se, but it does tell us about the attitudes involved in both selfish and unselfish behavior.

1) Consider 2 Timothy 3:2-5 “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

2) 1 Corinthians 10:34 “Let no man seek his own, but each his neighbor’s good.”

3) Philippians 2:4 “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

4) Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

3. We don’t have to let the inner demon of selfishness control our decisions.

1. Greediness is an excessive desire for wealth (including money or property); it is a lack of contentment.

1) Many in our society today have the inner demon of greediness.

2) They must have this item or that; they must make more money; they must have more “toys.”

3) Greediness can so blind a person that it makes enemies out of friends and families.

4) It will cause us to go back on promises, lie, and steal.

5) Paul talks about it in 1 Timothy 6:9-10 “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

2. In contrast to the inner demon of greediness, there is the attitude of contentment.

1) 1 Timothy 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

2) Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

3) Philippians 4:11-12 – “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

3. We can fight the inner demon of greediness by being content with our life.

1. Pride is having a higher opinion of one’s self than is warranted; it is a lack of humility.

1) The inner demon of pride can often cause us to be baited into doing what we normally would not.

2) The old child’s game of “I dare” draws directly upon pride.

3) Adults may act upon pride when they believe that they are superior.

4) The Proverb writer tells us, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18).

5) Paul says in Romans 12:3, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

2. Humility is the opposite of pride and will go a long way toward fighting this inner demon.

1) James writes, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:10).

2) Peter says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (1 Peter 5:6).

3) Jesus said, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12).

3. We can fight the inner demon of pride by practicing humilty.

1. Sexual lust is a tremendous problem in our society today.

1) It is an inner demon of many.

2) Giving oneself over to impure thoughts will eventually lead to impure actions.

3) The evil of pornography only exacerbates the problem in our society today.

4) Jesus said, “That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).

2. The bible teaches that there is a proper place for such desires, namely, in marriage.

1) Consider 1 Corinthians 7:2 “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”

2) Godly women and men will be considerate of the fleshly desires of the opposite sex and dress in modest apparel. Paul says, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety;” (1 Timothy 2:9).

3. We can fight the inner demon of sexual lust by being faithful to our spouses and by dressing appropriate around others.