Temptations means to test or entice. It is as old as man is old. It first happened in the garden of Eden with the woman. It is common to man.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Why do we have to deal with temptations?
1. Temptations take us away from God’s best for us.
God made Man with great plans. Temptations come with tests enticing you with something different with the hope of moving you away from what God has for you. It is to take you off course because on course with God is greatness.
2. Temptations end is death.
Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer ( James 1:13-15:MSG)
Temptations are designed to take one away from God’s best and that will lead to sin and produces death. Most times we don’t realise the effect of yielding to temptation so it is birthed in sin and grows to its adulthood and ends in death. Death doesn’t have to be physical, it is anything outside of God’s plan and purposes for your life.
3. Temptation is a bait and the price can be heavy for taking it.
It appears sweet at the start like a piece of food to a mouse. It looks good and smells good but once the mouse picks it, the trap locks it in. That is the same with temptation.
See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done. (Hebrews 12:16-17)
Esau fell for the bait and paid for it heavily much later in not inheriting the blessing from his father.
Joseph had his temptations but he did not fall for it. It took a long time but he did not fall and it paid at last. If he had fallen, he would have remained the head of Potiphar’s house but he withstood and became the Prime Minister of Egypt.
3. There is a reward for anyone who withstands temptation.
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:6-7
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12
God is pleased when you withstand tests and he carefully also rewards that. Hebrews 12:1 captures it this way.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, Hebrews 12:1
It is like a theatre and you are surrounded by the witnesses and host of heaven. They cheer you on and rejoice when you overcome.
When you resist temptation, like Jesus who rebuked the devil and afterwards angels ministered to him, so also when you overcome temptation, you are ministered to, you get stronger sand stronger. You go on to maturity.
How do temptations come?
James 1:13-15 tells us clearly that you are tempted when something inside draws you away. It is your own lusts.
What lust?
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
1 John 2:15 -16
Everything in the world is outside God and they are:
1. The lust of the flesh – a physical desire or craving r.g. food, sleep, fornication, adultery. Eve saw the fruit and craved it physically. Your eyes can make you sin. Before it leads to sin, look away. Anything that appeals to the body is a ludt of the flesh.
2. The lust of the eyes – always tells you you can have more. It is always pleasant to the eyes. It is greed.
3. The pride of life – tells you if you have certain things, you will be elevated and you can oppress people. It is about showing people you have the best material goods. It is about showing yourself to be better thsn others. Those cravings lead to sin.
It is important to recognise them and stop them. We should not be ignorant of the devices of the enemy. When you know his tactics, you are better equipped to deal with them. What are they?
1. He sows doubt – the enemy will come in thought for you to doubt what God has said about you. After Jesus was announced as the beloved son in whom he is well pleased, immediately he was led into the wilderness to be tempted. The enemy came saying ‘if you are the son of God..
2. He makes you to have confidence in yourself and in your flesh – he comes subtle. Gently and sweetly so people think they can deal with it. Look at Samson. He was told to make sure he married from his own but Samson married from the Philistines. Samson kept Delilah thinking he was strong and she kept tempting him. He fell for her eventually.
You are to flee from every appearance of evil. Samson did not do that. A great man like Samson fell stupidly because he placed his confidence in the flesh. Place no confidence in the flesh. No one gets to the point of experience and decides to relax. Abstain from every appearance of evil.
3. Your weak link – the moment you mention your weakness, the enemy knows your weakness and will come through your weakness.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:1
Deal with it as soon as possible in the place of prayer.
How do we win against temptation?
See temptation as war. The enemy wants to exchange the best inGod for the rubbish alternative.
1. You must prepare your heart.
He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord. 2 Chronicles 12:14
King Rehoboam did evil in God’s sight because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord. The heart of man is the seat of life. As a man thinks in his heart so is he Proverbs 4:23 so it is important to constantly prepare your heart before God. Not when the temptation comes. You prepare for war in the time of peace.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalms 119:11
Hide the word in your heart before the sin comes. When the enemy came for Jesus, he responded it is written. It is important to know what God’s word says and put it in your heart. It tells you who you are and how to withstand the devil. You have the ability to say no to sin.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
There is no temptation uncommon to man. It is common and God’s faithfulness ensures that anything that comes to us we can bear. Nothing comes my way that God has not vetted. He will provide a way of escape.
2. Learn to avoid things that stimulate the flesh – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22
1 Corinthians 6:18 flee fornication, 1 Corinthians 10:14 flee idolatry, 1 Timothy 6:11 lust of money. We must be careful not to watch he wrong things and listen to the wrong things. Seeds are sown when we watch things and they germinate. It looks normal but it is sowing seeds. Guard your heart with all dilligrnce for our of it flows the issues of life.
3. Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh
Gal 5:16 – pray the Word of God, pray in the Spirit, pray in tongues. Praying in tongues makes power available. The more you pray and study God’s Word, you see things in the Spirit. Your sensitivity is so sharp. It is easier to say no to sin. It is like blocks building yourself up as a spiritual edifice. You are able to discern correctly.
Remember life is spiritual. You must be able to unmask the devil who comes in a subtle way. When temptation comes it comes as a good thing but it is bringing death your way.
4. The company you keep
1 Cor 15:33 evil communication corrupts good manners. The company you keep influences you. If you stay among the wrong folks you will do the wrong thing. Your company is very important. Stay in the company of people who will sharpen you and move you in the direction you need to go. Choose carefully.
We must triumph over temptations. Rise up and move on when you do fall. Seven times a righteous man falls yet he rises again.
