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Fatal Attractions

Overcoming Temptation

01 - Make Your Commitment

April 26, 2015 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

Temptation is like a fishing lure. To the naked eye, it appears colorful and attractive, but hidden behind its outward facade is a deadly hook lying in wait. And while temptation comes in various shapes and sizes, like fishing lures, the purpose is the same—to fatally seduce an unsuspecting victim. From where, then, do these “lures” of temptation come and how can followers of Christ resist them? And how, if at all, can Christians know for sure the difference between a temptation (from Satan) and a test (from God)? In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann provides the tools to help believers overcome temptation in the power of the Holy Spirit.

02 - Manage Your Conscience

May 3, 2015 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

As believers at war against temptation, Paul tells us to set our “minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2). In other words, if we want to become impervious to sin’s seducing ways, we must think about and meditate on godly things (Php. 4:8). This requires managing our mind, to include our thought-life and conscience. In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann provides the tools to help believers overcome temptation in the power of the Holy Spirit.

03 - Maintain Your Character

May 10, 2015 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

The Bible teaches that we, as Christians, are a chosen race—a royal priesthood—who have been adopted, redeemed, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. As such, God has regenerated our souls, renewed our minds, and renovated our character. A key weapon to overcoming temptation, then, is to be mindful of our new identities in Christ—that is, who we are in Christ—and of the Holy Spirit who is within us. In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann provides the tools to help believers overcome temptation in the power of the Holy Spirit.

04 - Minimize Your Circumstances

May 17, 2015 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

There is an old proverb that says, “Don’t play with fire, or you might get burned.” The meaning, of course, is self-evident. The more one dabbles with fire, so says the axiom, the greater the odds of falling victim to it. And so it is with temptation. To court temptation is to court getting burned. Christians must therefore make every effort possible to avoid its burning flames. In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann provides the tools to help believers overcome temptation in the power of the Holy Spirit.

05 - Magnify Your Consequences

May 24, 2015 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

God grants all believers the power in Christ to walk in the Spirit and in the fruit of self-control. But some days, truth be told, are easier than others. Yet one way to remain in control and empowered (particularly when tempted) is to consider the costs. We would do well to magnify the dire consequences—soberly estimate the results—that come with falling to sin. In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann provides the tools to help believers overcome temptation in the power of the Holy Spirit.

06 - Master Your Christianity

May 31, 2015 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

To excel at anything in life, discipline is required. This is not only true of athletes, musicians, plumbers, and accountants but also disciples of Jesus. Not surprisingly, the Word of God commends certain disciplines as a means of augmenting spiritual growth and enabling us to withstand the enemy. Without applying (or exercising) these spiritual disciplines, a Christian cannot hope to overcome temptation. In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann provides the tools to help believers overcome temptation in the power of the Holy Spirit.

07 - Mash Your Craving

June 7, 2015 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

What's your plan for the next encounter with temptation? Puritan John Owen said it best: “Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.” Perceptive Christians, in other words, not only flee from sin, but they run from the temptation that precedes it. Joseph fled the seductive eyes of Potiphar’s wife (Gen. 39) in the same way that Timothy was told to flee “the evil desires of youth” (2 Tim. 2:22). In this sermon series, Pastor Ronald H. Gann provides the tools to help believers overcome temptation in the power of the Holy Spirit.