Temptation & Evil

Who is the Tempter

The tempter can be a combination of three things: The Devil. The Flesh and The World.

The Devil is the tempter of our souls

Matthew 4:1 ESV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Matthew 4:2 ESV

And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Matthew 4:3 ESV

And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

The Flesh

Galatians 5:16 ESV

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

The World

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Temptation vs. Testing

Mark 8:33 (ESV)

33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Temptation is a situation in which the the believer is enticed to do wrong, to sin. Testing or Trail is situation in which the believer has opportunity to affirm his or her faith by doing what is consistent with God’s Character.

Temptations always has a tempter. If you are being asked, persuaded to do wrong it is a temptation. If you are being asked, persuaded to do right, it is a testing.

With a Temptation, you want a way out of it, but a testing you want a way through.

Overcoming Temptation

Know you don’t have to give into temptation. You can overcome sin through the power of the Holy Spirit. What power from the Holy Spirit do you need to overcome Temptation?

Power To Avoid

Matthew 6:13 ESV

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Power To Flee

1 Timothy 6:11 ESV

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

What is Timothy flee from? The love of money, the desire to be rich, many senseless and harmful desires. “It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

When you flee you are turning away from the situation you are in and that good. You want to get out of situations that can lead to sin but what is even better is when you flee from the situation know where you are going to flee to…Paul tells Timothy to pursue righteousness, pursue godliness, pursue faith, pursue love, pursue steadfastness, pursue gentleness. When you turn to flee temptation, let that fleeing turn into a pursuing of God.

Power To Resist

What does Jesus’ brother tell us about the power to resist?

James 4:7 ESV

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Do you need to submit to God?

Tools To Avoid, Flee and Win

Pray:

That is what our passage is all about. That you would not be lead into temptation and we ask for that through prayer. It is a part of the model the Lord gave us for prayer.

Know Your Bible -

Three times Jesus said, “It is written...” to overcome the temptation that Satan tempted Him with in the wilderness.

David said,

Psalm 119:11 ESV

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Your heart, your soul should be a storage room for Scripture.

Walk With The Lord

When you begin to walk with the Lord, and know His word you will realize that you don’t walk this path alone.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

When you walk with the Lord, When you walk with the Spirit you cannot gratify the flesh, the sinful nature.

Galatians 5:16–18 ESV

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.