The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

Day 26: Growing through Temptation

• Every temptation is a chance to do good
• God develops the fruit of the spirit in your life by presenting you with the exact opposite situations in your life
  • We can’t be good if we’ve never been tempted to be bad
  • We can’t be faithful if we haven’t been tempted to be unfaithful
  • Etc
• All temptations follow the same pattern – 4 steps
  • Desire – Satan identifies a desire within you and tempts you to take advantage of it – could be good or bad things
  • Doubt – Satan will make you wonder if it is really a bad thing
  • Deception – Satan will only be telling lies or half-truths
  • Disobedience – This is when you will act on that lie that Satan has told you
• How do we overcome it:
  • Refuse to be intimidated – not a sin to be tempted, only when we give into it
  • Recognize your pattern of temptation and be prepared for it
    • When and where are you most tempted
    • Who is with you?
    • How do you feel?
  • Request God’s help – Can’t do it on your own
• Ending:
  • Every temptation is an opportunity to do good
  • James 1:12
  • What Christlike character quality can I develop by defeating the most common temptation in my life?

Day 27: Defeating Temptation

• 4 Biblical keys to defeating temptation
  • Refocus your attention on something else
    • Don’t fight the feeling
    • Get interested in another idea
    • If you keep saying, “stop eating so much” it will be counter-productive
  • Reveal your struggle to a friend or support group
    • Revealing your feeling is the beginning of healing
    • Millions have felt what you’re feeling and can help
    • Pride is the only thing standing in the way
  • Resist the devil
    • Accept God’s salvation, otherwise you will be defenseless
    • Use the Word of God as a weapon against him
  • Realize your vulnerability
    • None of us are exempt from falling into temptation

• Ending:
  • There is always a way out
  • 1 Chor 10:13b
  • Who could I ask to be a spiritual partner to defeat a temptation?

Day 28: It takes time

• Why does it take so long?
  • We’re slow learners
  • We have a lot to unlearn
  • We’re often afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves
  • Growth is often painful and scary – having fear can take time to overcome
  • Habits take a while to develop
• How do you cooperate with God during this process?
  • Believe that God is working in your life, even when you don’t feel it
  • Keep a notebook or journal of lessons learned
  • Be patient with God and yourself
  • Don’t get discouraged
• Ending:
  • There are no shortcuts to maturity
  • Phil 1:6
  • In what area of my spiritual growth do I need to be more patient and persistent?

Purpose 4: You were shaped for serving God

Day 29: Accepting your assignment

• We were created not to just consume, but to serve a purpose
• This is our ministry – meant for all of God’s children, not just church leadership
• Service is the pathway to real significance in your life
• God wants to use you to make a difference for His purposes
• Ending:
  • Service is not optional
  • Eph 2:10
  • What is holding me back from serving God’s call to serve Him?

Day 30: Shaped for serving God

• 5 factors that form your SHAPE
  • Spiritual gifts
  • Heart
  • Abilities
  • Personality
  • Experience
• First 2:
  • Unwrapping your spiritual gifts
    • We are each uniquely made to serve God’s purpose for our life
    • Our personality and traits are to be used for His glory in everything we do
  • Listen to your heart
    • Reveals the real you
    • Why you think and act the way you do
    • Understand your emotional heartbeat
    • Use your natural interests to serve Him
    • If you’re not doing what your passionate about you will not be as effective
    • Don’t live for the good life, live for the better life
  • Ending:
    • I was shaped for serving God
    • 1 Chor 12:6
    • In what way can I see myself passionately serving others and loving it?