How to Overcome Temptation – Life Is a Journey, part 28
God doesn’t tempt us but the enemy does. This message helps us understand the ways we can be tempted and how to fight the good fight against temptation that leads to sin.
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Are you walking in faith and victory? Set your eyes on the promises of God. You only have one life journey; say yes to Jesus.
A journey in overcoming temptation.
I believe it’s because of a good spiritual foundation that we can strive to overcome temptation. Temptation can come from all different directions. Often it is when we are tired, weak, have no strength, or when we are experiencing a physical, emotional, spiritual need. It comes at a spiritual crossroads. The enemy of your soul tempts you to sin and rebel against the Lord especially after a spiritual victory. Satan speaks fear and doubt into your heart even after a spiritual victory. Temptations have one goal: to get you to sin.
‘When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters’ (James 1:13-16, NIV).
In verse 14, the idea of “evil desire” can also be thought of as lust or something we want. Moving on…
‘Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves’ (Genesis 3:1-7).
In the story of Adam and Eve and the serpent, Eve fell prey to the serpent’s lies. Eve thought the serpent was on her side. The enemy will use people and circumstances to tempt you. Eve saw some thing that appeared to be a gain that she wanted. She fell prey to the serpents trickery and the twisting of God‘s command. If we’re not careful, there’s so much out there that sounds right, sounds good, sounds logical, even scriptural, but it can be far from God.
When you yield to temptation, what follows is spiritual rebellion and sin. Friends, giving into temptation leads to sin; and sin breaks down your relationship with God. Sin destroys and always ends in spiritual death.
The pattern of temptation is always the same: Eve listened to the lie, she saw the fruit, that it was something desirable for gaining wisdom, she took the fruit, she gave it to her husband and both of their eyes were opened.
When you sim you’re not just affecting yourself, you’re affecting others. Your family, your coworkers, your neighbors can all be affected by your sin. What we do affects others. The same can occur when we take a stance for God, we can influence and affect others for good. The enemy of your soul knows your weaknesses and he will play on your weaknesses until you say yes or you tell him to be gone in the name of Jesus.
The enemy will not give up and he will try to tempt you again, and again, and again. Refuse to listen. Refuse to give in. Turn away, stand firm in faith, and know that God is God and he has a great plan for you, a plan to prosper you and not to harm you plans for a hope and a future and eternity with him (Jeremiah 29:11).
Jesus was tempted. He had been in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights and I’m sure he was physically weak, drained, and tired. Listen to how the devil tempts Jesus.
The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him’ (Matthew 4:3-11).
If you’re the son of God, prove it. Test God. See if he’ll do what he says he will do. Jesus knew the cross was before him. He knew the suffering was before him. Jesus said, “away from me, Satan!”
Notice the devil tempts Jesus regarding his physical need and weakness: hunger, food, emotion. Jesus had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and he would’ve been physically weak. The devil will always go for what he sees as your weakness. You may not even realize that you have this weakness. You may not realize that a desire is hidden in your heart, maybe it’s money, a relationship, an emotional need, ego, pride, a job, A practical need, or some other desire that you have in your heart. Friend, you may be tempted to cut corners, to lie, to steal. And in doing so you are turning your back on God, and to what you know is right. You will be tempted to ignore what is right and blindly satisfy a selfish desire without considering the physical, spiritual, or emotional consequences.
When you sin, do you really take into consideration the consequences? We often don’t. If we did, I think it would keep us from being tempted, from sinning.
The next two Temptations the devil brings to Jesus to try to get him to sin involves testing God and trusting in God‘s faithfulness. Has he ever done that to you? You wonder if God‘s really listening, if God‘s really there? It also involves worship of something or someone other than God. The devil was trying to trick Jesus in exchange for Jesus worshiping Satan rather than worshiping the sovereign Lord of all creation. But understand, the devil had no authority to give Jesus the kingdoms of the earth. The devil had only limited authority, God alone has all the authority. The enemy of your soul will get you to question God, he will tempt you to doubt God and God‘s ability, he will try to get you to worship anything, anyone for you to turn your back toward God.
Many people are focused more on their job, pleasure, money, possessions more than the Lord. And that is spiritual idolatry.
The person who focuses on their own ability, status, desires rather than God, that person has taken the bait of Satan and has turned their back on God. Refuse to listen to the enemy. Refused to believe in his lies. Refuse to dwell on the enemies patterns.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Ephesians 6:10-13).
The armor of God is the belt of truth, the breast plate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the sword of the spirit, the helmet of salvation, and praying in the spirit. That is the armor that we have to fight against temptation and the enemy. Some of this armor is defensive while other parts are offensive.
We need to be defensive against the devil‘s schemes, but we also need to be on the offensive when he tries to attack and we fight back in the spirit. We can’t fight back in the natural, we can’t fight a spiritual battle in the physical.
Jesus was tempted but he didn’t consider it or dwell upon it, he spoke truth and fought back. He confronted and neutralize the temptation by standing on the word of God. Temptation is different from sin. Temptation is not sin. Soon as acting on the temptation. Soon as a matter of the heart.
Sin can be condoning of a wrong act, but it can also be not confronting or stopping something that you know to be sinful. You can also sin by causing another believer to sin because you weren’t sensitive to their weaknesses. For example, drinking alcohol in front of an alcoholic.
What we do affects others, good or bad.
We are to cut out sin, get rid of it, don’t save any of it. Obeying God partially is one way you can sin. Partial obedience is not obedience. Sometimes we don’t even pay attention to what we’re doing. Showing favoritism is another form of sin (James 2:9?).
We must always be alert and turn away from sin. Turn away from sin that so easily in tangles and entices us. You know what some of those things are. Don’t buy chocolate if chocolate is going to entice you; give it away, get rid of it. Don’t buy wine if wine is going to entice you. Don’t go to a casino if gambling is going to entice you.
‘“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:26-32).
We need to take a stand against temptation and sin. If we are going to overcome temptation, we need to focus on the Lord. Refuse to grow weary and never lose heart. Focus on Jesus. When you focus on him, the temptation will slowly go away.
Remember, temptation and sin have a cost. And it was Jesus who paid the debt. By faith in Jesus you are saved, and you will overcome because of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
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