Overcoming Temptation

Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:1-11

We all face temptation. We are not alone, everyone faces temptation. Our scripture reading tells us that even Jesus was tempted. Hebrews 4:15 “ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.”. Temptation is common to man and has been since the beginning of time but there is encouragement in scripture. 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”. Let’s take a closer look into God’s word.

Where Do These Temptations Come From?:

They do not come from God but He does allow them. James 1:13 “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;”

We see in the book of Job God allowing Satan to tempt Job, but with restrictions. 1 Peter 5:8 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”. Vs. 9 tells us to resist him, knowing that other Christians are also experiencing his attacks. By these passages we know that temptations come from Satan.

James 1:14 “but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.”. Temptation comes from within us, when we are “carried away and enticed by our own lust” (vs.14). We allow ourselves to think certain thoughts, allow ourselves to go places we should not go, and make decisions based on our lusts that lead us into the temptation.

Satan and our own evil desires create temptation

How Do We Resist Temptation?:

Let us look at when Jesus was tempted by Satan. Each temptation was met with a common answer “It is written” followed by scripture. If the Son of God used God’s written word to overcome his temptations what should we do? We know that it was successful. Satan fled (Vs. 11)

Our efforts to resist will be weak and ineffective unless they are powered by the Holy Spirit through the constant reading, studying, and meditating on the Word. Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”.

There is no other weapon than God’s word (Eph. 6). The only weapon in the armor of God.

Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”. When our minds are cluttered with the latest TV shows, music, and all the rest the culture has to offer, we will be bombarded with messages and images that inevitably lead to sinful lusts. But if our minds are filled with the majesty and holiness of God, the love and compassion of Christ, and the brilliance of both reflected in His perfect Word, we will find that our interest in the lusts of the world diminish and disappear. But without the Word’s influence on our minds, we are open to anything Satan wants to throw at us.

How Do We Guard Our Heart’s And Minds?:

Remember the words of Christ. Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”. Most of us do not want to jump into sin, yet we cannot resist falling into it because our flesh is not strong enough to resist. We place ourselves in situations or fill our minds with lustful passions, and that leads us into sin.

We need to renew our thinking. No longer think as the world thinks or walk in the same way that the world walks. Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will”.

We also need to turn from evil. Proverbs 4:14-15 “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.”. We need to avoid the path of the world that leads us into temptation. Our flesh is weak. We are easily carried away by our own lusts.

Matthew 5:29 has some excellent advice. “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw if from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”. That sounds pretty severe. Sin is severe. Jesus is not saying that we literally need to remove body parts, Jesus is teaching us that if necessary, a drastic measure should be taken to avoid sin.

If we follow the advice God gives us, we shouldn't have to go to the extremes to overcome temptation.

I pray that you can resist temptation and sin. Till next week may God Bless you and yours.