The hardships of temptation are something that all of us will go through. It is not if we will go through them, but when we will go through. If all of us will hit this wall of temptation, then we should learn where temptation comes from, how to resist it, and how to overcome it. We should also be aware of what is the downfall to giving in to temptation and what is the upside, if we do not fall.
If you find yourself today in some form of temptation whether from family, friends, or at work,, I want you to know you are not the only one, for the devil will try to tempt all to fall and leave the Lord. You need to understand that there is a way out and not only a way out to escape at the moment, but a way to flee and to overcome temptation. Do not linger in temptation!
God Does Not Tempt
James 1:13-15 – Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
1 Corinthians 10:13 – There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Many want to blame God when they get tempted. James 1 tells us that no man should say that they are tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted by evil neither does He tempt any man or woman. God equates temptation with evil. This shows us that if we are tempted, it is done by the evil one and not Him. That means that the tempter is none other than the devil himself. If you ever become tempted it’s because of the devil.
Furthermore, James 1 also says that every one is tempted from their own lust and becomes enticed. The devil will do everything in his power to find out what entices you and he will tempt you in hopes of you wanting it and falling for it. And when the lust that is conceived overtakes you, then it brings forth sin, and when sin is finished, it brings forth death in your life.
So how do we overcome temptation if it’s something we desire so much? Let’s look to see how Jesus Christ overcame the temptation that was presented to Him. We can learn from Him and apply it to our own lives.
Jesus Overcame Through God’s Word
Matthew 4:1-4 – Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Psalm 119:11- Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
We see in the passage above that Jesus was led by the Spirit of God into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, yes the DEVIl. This was after His fasting; it shows us that when you’re fasting and praying to get closer to God that is precisely when the devil will try even more to tempt you with something.
The devil, which is the tempter, knew that Jesus was hungry from fasting for so long. The devil tried to tempt Him with what He wanted – with food/bread and His Godship. He said to Jesus, “if you are the Son of God tell these stones to be bread.” But Jesus responded back with the Word of God, saying, “it is written that man shall not live by bread alone but every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”
Jesus overcame temptation by using God’s Word. And we need to realize the state of Jesus here – He had just finished fasting for 40 days! That is a long time. Even if you consider fasting 40 days straight but eating at night. Either way you look at it, this is something very difficult to do.
In Psalms 119, David writes that he has hidden the Word of God in his heart, for the purpose that he might not sin against God. Jesus did the same; knowing the word of God and being able to use it when it was necessary so that He would not sin against the God the Father.
If you and I can remember and keep the Word of God in our hearts, we will be able to use it when we need to, to make sure we do not sin against God. You hide the Word of God in your heart when you are able to remember/memorize God’s words.
Temptation Can Pull You Away From God
Matthew 6:24 – No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Mark 14:38 – Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
If we allow room for temptation in our life it can pull us away from God. Matthew 6 tells us that no one can have two masters, because he will always hate and despise one and love and hold the other dear. The word used here for the other master is “mammon” which refers to the riches of this world. This can be money, gold, clothing, houses, cars, even girls or men, drugs, etc. It is whatever the world declares makes you rich or what the world says that if you have it, makes you rich and mighty. We will find out that an idol, a false god, is anything that you love more than God Himself.
When we look at it this way, we will find out that if riches equal god in your life, those riches can be many things, including what is written in the paragraph above plus, sex, alcohol, homosexuality, masturbating, pornography, and lustfull eyes; for what ever brings pleasure and glory to you and not to God becomes a god in your life.
Mark 14 says for us to always be watchful and to pray that we will not enter temptation. Because, yes, the Spirit truly is willing and ready, but the flesh is weak. So we must alway stay on guard. If we do not, we may allow the flesh to be overtaken by the lust and temptation of this life and we willbe enticed into addiction. It will keep us chained and tied down for the rest of our lives. Remember, do not let temptation linger; once you see it is there, remove the obstacle from your way. The longer you linger, the more enticed you will be to take it and fall.
If we fall into temptation the consequence can be an everlasting one. If you are a child of God it is time to be more vigilant, to be watchful and ready for when temptation comes so that we can overcome it with God’s word and strength or flee it if we must.
Flee From Temptation To Overcome It
2 Timothy 2:22 – Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Genesis 39:6-20 (Read the story of Joseph, of the temptation with his master’s wife)
One way to overcome the temptation that comes is to flee from the scene. Do not stay in the temptation, run, do not linger in it.
Two Timothy says to flee from youthful lust; literally, running away from what is lustful in the eyes of the youth. Think about this: as a teenager the lust can be towards smoking, marijuana, makeup, certain hair styles, girls and/or boys, sex, pornography, masturbating, cursing, parties with alcohol and drugs, cheating, and other desires, all to make you either fit in, be cool or stand out, or to bring pleasure to yourself. This has never changed. The Word of God tells us that there is nothing new under the sun. The same temptation we face today, even if it’s easier to be tempted by it, was the same temptation everyone else encountered throughout the world, since creation.
In the same passage it says to follow what is righteous, faith, charity, and peace for the one that calls to the Lord does so out of a pure heart. If you want to follow God and overcome the temptation of the devil then you need to flee from what is wrong, even if you must literally run away and go the opposite direction.
We see this was done in Genesis by Joseph, when his master’s wife tempted him. The master was gone for business and his wife wanted to go to bed with Joseph, but instead Joseph literally ran away from her. He fled the scene and by doing so he even tore his clothing, which she was holding onto. He said how could he sin against God? He was rooted to God and was seeking a pure heart in front of God, as James 4 tells us to do as well.
James 4 tells us that if we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil that the devil will flee from us. That means if the devil flees, the temptation will also leave with him. Tell the devil to flee from you, for you are rooted in God and you have submitted yourself to God, and by resisting, the devil will flee.
Make No Time For Temptation
Romans 13:13-14 – Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Philippians 4:8 -Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Let’s make no time for temptation to be able to overcome us. Romans 13 says, “walk in honesty in all the days,” not bringing into our life what can induce temptation suchas drunkenness, chambering (which is a private room for sexual means), in always being reckless with no control, nor in strife or envy.
But instead, let us put on the character of our Lord Jesus Christ and not make any provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust of it. This also speaks to not letting temptation linger in your life, we must move it away from it and not give it time.
No matter what, just don’t go to the place or do the things that can bring temptation into your life. If you know a party is happening yet you know there will be drugs, alcohol, or some forms of sexual desire there, resist going , no matter who calls you or begs you to go. Don’t go and make a door which is shut, open. If you know going to your friends or family’s house will open a greater door of hatred or doing something you will regret, flee from the scene. If you know if your friend’s wife or husband wants you to be there for them in a situation, and know their spouse will not be there, do not go lest you fall into sexual temptation.
Whatever the reason may be, if the door is shut or just trying to crack open, put a lock on it and close it up so that there is no time for temptation to happen, to leave no provision or way in. Just as in Philippians 4, meditate and think on what is honest, just, pure, lovely in God, good, virtuos and praiseworthy; meditate on these so that there is no door in your mind that can lead to form temptation in your life.
Think upon our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
Love For Christ Will Help Us Out Of Temptation
2 Corinthians 5:14a – For the love of Christ constraineth us;
Genesis 39:6-20 (Story of Joseph of the temptation with his master’s wife)
Two Corinthians 5 states this, “the love of Christ constrains us.”The love that we have is in Christ and the greater this love is, the more it will constrain us from doing wrong and to do what is good before our God. Just as it was for Joseph and many others in the Word of God.
If you love your wife or husband this love will help you do what they like and that same love constrains you from doing what they don’t like. Why? Because the love you have makes you care enough to make sure you don’t hurt or ignore them. This is the same with our God.
The love we have for Him is for what He has done for us.
The love we have in following Him will Help us flee from temptation.
It will help us to run away from what is wrong.
It will help us search and meditate on what is good and pure.
It will help us make no time for temptation in our life and to be ready to flee when it comes.
It will help us lock and close the door when we see it being opened to temptation.
It will help us overcome temptation with God’s Word.
Our Reward for Enduring Through Temptation
James 1:12 – Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Our great reward, if we endure through this temptation, will be a blessing; we shall receive the crown of life and this is a promise for them that love Jesus Christ and follow Him.
When we endure, flee, close the doors, and endure until the very end we shall be blessed and receive a crown of life. Remember this – that after our fight and battle there is a reward in the end. This reward will be an everlasting life with God.
If you are struggling with temptation, stand firm in God’s Word, meditate on Him and what is pure and good. Flee if you need to, ask God for the strength to do so. And leave no door open or opportunity for temptation to come. There’s a way out, a way to freedom in Jesus Christ.
The peace of God be with you and God bless you.