Temptations and the Will of God

Temptations and the Will of God
Nehemiah 5:14-19

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“Adversity is sometimes hard upon a man; but for one man who can stand prosperity, there are a hundred that will stand adversity.” Thomas Carlyle

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Some Temptations of Prosperity

1. You will be tempted to Misuse your position (15a)
2. You will be tempted to Abuse your power (15b)
3. You will be tempted to Profit from your privileges (14,18)

Notice Nehemiah’s Words: “But I did not do so,”

Maintaining My Balance At The Heights of Prosperity

1. Deepen my Reverence for God (15c)

• Realize that God put me in this Position

“For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.” (Psalm 75:6–7)
“John answered, 'A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.'” (John 3:27)

“For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7)

• Realize that God is holding me Accountable (9, 15)

“For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:4–5)

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (James 3:1)

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” (Hebrews 13:17)

There is no authority without Accountability

2. Develop a Love for people (6, 18)

“And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.'” (Matthew 22:37–38)

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

“We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:8, HCSB)

• Wanderers focus on what they can Get
• Get R Done people focus on what they can Give

3. Think with an Eternal Perspective (19)

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:13–16)

“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.” (Luke 6:22–23)

• Wanderers focus on their Rights in the short term
• Get R Done people focus on their God-given Responsibilities and their eternal Rewards

4. Refocus daily on The Gospel

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:14–15)

What are you going to do with your one and only life that is going to matter for all eternity?