YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION

By David J. Riggs

                       
Intro.
   A. These are the words (See Chart below) of Number 442 in our
      songbooks.
   B. It is a song that is easy to sing and conveys some wonderful
      truths by this old world.
      1. Let's consider some of them.

I. YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION.
   A. James said, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation..."
      James 1:12
   B. God has promised that we will not be over tempted.  1 Cor.
      10:13
   C. To gain the victory, we need the proper equipment.  Eph.
      6:10-17
   D. Jesus said, - Matt. 26:41

II. FOR YIELDING IS SIN.
   A. Temptation, which is common to everyone, is not a sin in and
      of itself.  Yielding to temptation is sin.  James 1:15
      1. One commits in his heart when lust conceives.  Matt.
         5:27-29
         a. The verses which follow are certainly appropriate. 
            Matt. 5:29-30
      2. One can sin in the heart in many other ways.  Prov.
         21:25-26

III. EACH VICTORY WILL HELP YOU SOME OTHER TO WIN.
   A. When you overcome a certain temptation, the next will be
      easier.
      1. One need to set a mold of service to God.
   B. Consider the example of Joseph.
      1. Though he was sold as a slave by his brothers, he didn't
         become despondent, but served as a good servant.  He
         tried to make the best of a bad situation.
      2. When tempted by Potiphar's wife, he said - Gen. 39:9
      3. He did not retaliate against his brothers.  Gen. 50:15-21
      4. Joseph won many victories because determined in his
         heart to serve God.  See also Ezra 7:10

IV. FIGHT MANFULLY ONWARD.
   A. The song suggests the need to "fight the good fight of         
      faith..."  1 Tim. 6:12
   B. One of Satan's greatest tools against the child of God is
      discouragement.
      1. There's an old fable that says the Devil once held a sale
         and offered all the tools of his trade to anyone who
         would pay their price.  They were spread out on the table
         and each one labeled. Hatred, malice, envy, despair,
         sickness, sensuality -- all the weapons that everyone
         knows so well.  But off to one side lay a harmless
         looking wood-shaped instrument marked
         "discouragement."  It was old and worn looking but it
         was priced far above all the rest.  When asked the reason
         why, the Devil replied, "Because I can use this one so
         much more easily than the others.  No one knows that it
         belongs to me, so with it I can open doors that are tightly
         bolted against the others. Once I get inside I can use any
         tool that suits me best." 
      2. Perhaps you have been there.  Maybe you have lived for
         a while behind closed doors.  Many good people have.  I
         was reading recently about a young lawyer who
         descended into the valley of despond. Things were going
         so poorly for him that his friends thought it best to keep
         all knives and razors away from him for fear of a suicide
         attempt.  In fact, during this time he wrote in his
         memoirs, "I am now the most miserable man living. 
         Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell. I fear I     
         shall not."  The young lawyer who unleashed these desperate
         feelings of utter hopelessness?  His name was Abraham
         Lincoln. 

V. DARK PASSIONS SUBDUE.
   A. Peter said - 1 Pet. 2:11.  Paul - Gal. 5:24
      1. Watch for the ones which are more subtle and difficult to
         detect.  Examples:
         a. Contentions, jealousies, selfish ambitions, envy. 
            Gal. 5:20-21
         b. The cares of this world.  Luke 21:34-36

VI. SHUN EVIL COMPANIONS.
   A. This is greatly needed instruction for all Christians.  1 Cor.
      15:33.
      1. Prov. 13:20; 22:24-25; Rev. 18:4-5

VII. BAD LANGUAGE DISDAIN.
   A. This is sorely needed in our time. It seems everywhere you
      turn, someone is using profane, vulgar language, or taking
      God's name in vain.
      1. Nearly all movies nowadays are full of vulgar language,
         not to mention the corruption on TV.
   B. Eph. 4:29; Col. 4:6

VIII. "GOD'S NAME HOLD IN REVERENCE, NOR TAKE IT IN VAIN."
   A. Ex. 20:7
      1. People who use the term "God" frivolously fail to realize
         how serious it is.
      2. We should respect His name and use it appropriately,
         speaking it in praise or worship rather than in jest or
         curse.
      3. The way we use God's name conveys how we feel about
         Him, wether we are reverent or irrverent.
   B. Lev. 24:10-16 - Does the Lord feel any differently today?

IX. BE THOUGHTFUL AND EARNEST, KINDHEARTED AND TRUE.
   A. These are divine principles for godly living.  Eph. 4:31-32;
      Col. 3:12-14

X. TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH, GOD GIVETH A CROWN.
   A. Rev 2:7,11,17,26-28; 3:5,12,21; 12:11
   B. We can have the victory through Christ.  Rom. 7:24-25; 1
      Cor. 15:54-57

XI. THRO' FAITH WE SHALL CONQUER, THO' OFTEN CAST DOWN.
   A. 1 John 5:4
   B. Like Paul, we can often be cast down, but not destroyed.  2
      Cor. 4:8-11

XII. HE WHO IS OUR SAVIOR, OUR STRENGTH WILL RENEW.  Also, three     
   times the song says, "LOOK EVER TO JESUS, HE WILL CARRY YOU       
   THROUGH."
   A. Phil. 4:13; Heb. 12:2
      1. Others have been cast down, but have conquered.  Job
         16:11-17

Concl.
   A. The song "Yield Not To Temptation" is a wonderful song
      with a vital lessons for all of us.
      1. Perhaps we should sing it more often.
   B. More importantly, though, we should live in accord with the
            divine principles mentioned in it.

Chart:
           "Yield Not To Temptation"
                By H. R. Palmer

"Yield not to temptation, For yielding is sin,
Each victory will help you Some other to win;
Fight manfully onward, Dark passions subdue,
Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.

"Shun evil companions, bad language disdain,
God's name hold in reverence, Nor take it in vain;
Be thoughtful and earnest, Kindhearted and true,
Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.

"To him that o'ercometh, God giveth a crown,
Through faith we shall conquer, though often cast down;
He who is our Savior, Our strength will renew;
Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through."