OVERCOMING TEMPTATION
There is a spiritual battle going on around us all the time. It is important to know that the devil is not an imaginary character but a very real invisible enemy; and he is working all the time to distract and lure us away from God.
However, Gods word reassures us that Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world. - 1 John 4:4. The power of Jesus is inside us to overcome the schemes and plans of the devil as we daily live-in obedience to God!
In this lesson we are going to look at how the enemy will use temptation to try and to lure us away from God; and how to make good choices to overcome temptation.
GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN ME.
One night Pastor Yongi Cho (Pastor of a church in Korea of 800,000 plus people) woke up with a start when he felt an evil presence at the end of his bed. Looking over and seeing it was the devil himself, he said, Oh, its only you! and rolled over and went back to sleep.
1. THE TEMPTATION
Where do you think temptation comes from?
JAMES 1:12-17
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.
When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Dont be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Do you think that being tempted is a sin?
Temptation in itself is not a sin. It is when we give in to our selfish desires and act on them that produces sin.
Where does temptation start?
Temptation starts from our own lust and selfishness. It starts in our thoughts, and we will often give in to it if we choose to keep thinking about it.
2. YOUR CHOICE
The choices that you make today will determine where you end up tomorrow.
Every day we are faced with millions of choices; the ones which will affect our future the most are the choices we make to either obey God, or to follow our own desires.
If you know that you have a weakness in a particular area of temptation, first think of some practical ways to avoid putting yourself in that situation.
AVOIDING TEMPTATION
What are some practical ways to avoid temptation?
LUKE 22:40
On reaching the place, he said to them, Pray that you will not fall into temptation.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:33
Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.
2 CORINTHIANS 6:14
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
GENESIS 39:4-12
Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So Potiphar left everything he had in Josephs care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his masters wife took notice of Joseph and said, Come to bed with me!
But he refused. With me in charge, he told her, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, Come to bed with me! But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:13
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.
Remember: The temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you cant stand up against it. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.
When we are tempted God gives us so many ways out. We can make it harder or easier on ourselves depending on what choices we make. E.g. If you have a drinking problem, it is easier to make the decision to not go down to the shop and buy the alcohol than to go and buy it, sit looking at it, and choose not to drink it.
3. HOW TO FIGHT
EPHESIANS 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devils schemes. 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. 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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lords people.
The secret to overcoming temptation is to daily put on the armour that God has given us. Each piece is significant. As we protect our thoughts with the helmet of salvation, as we stand on Gods righteousness and not our own, as we extend our hand with the gospel of peace, and as we shield ourselves with our faith in God, and by His Word, our sword, we put ourselves out of the reach of the enemy.
2 CORINTHIANS 10:3-5
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.