Resisting Temptation

Simple Answer for Resisting Temptation

Today we are continuing our series called Reality. We have been talking about Spiritual Warfare. A big part of spiritual warfare is temptation and I have a simple solution for temptation. Watch this video!

Play Video of Mad TV - Stop It!

Of course if it was as easy as just stopping it, then none of us would have an issue with temptation.

Go with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 10. I have one verse I want to read for my text today.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

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.

As we look at this verse, there are several things that I want you to know about temptation.

1. Temptation is Not Sinful

Temptations come into every believer’s life—no one is exempt. So, temptation is not sinful; the sin comes when we give in to temptation. Even Jesus was tempted. Look at Matthew chapter 4.

In this chapter we read that Jesus was tempted 3 different times.

After Jesus is led to the wilderness, he fasts and is hungry. The first temptation by the devil encourages Jesus to use his power as the Son of God to feed himself, but Jesus refuses by quoting Deut. 8:3.

Matthew 4:4 NIV

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

The second time Jesus was tempted, Satan uses a different strategy. Since Jesus used scripture to avoid temptation, Satan decides to used scripture to try to tempt Jesus. He says...

Matthew 4:6 NIV

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.’”

Jesus response is the same as the first.

Matthew 4:7 NIV

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

The final temptation has the devil taking Jesus to another hight point, this time a mountain. The devil tells Jesus that he can receive these things if he just bows down and worships the devil. But Jesus answers with scripture again. He says,

Matthew 4:10 NIV

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

Jesus never sinned in the midst of being tempted. Temptation is not sin. But it becomes sin when we give in to that temptation. We have to do everything that we can to resist temptation and Jesus is going to help us get past the temptation that we are faced with.

2. God will NOT Leave You Alone When Facing Temptation.

God is faithful. God does not leave his people. He will not let you go through being tempted alone.

But, when you go through being tempted and you come through the other side, God has a reward waiting for you.

James 1:12 NIV

12 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.

God will not let you go through it alone. He is always with you. He never promised that it would be easy. He never said that you being tempted would be easy to resist. However, He will be with you as you are going through it.

3. We Have All the Power We Need to Win.

When we go through temptation, God has given you all the power you need to overcome the temptation.

Followers of Christ have all the power and ability they need to fight and win personal battles against sin and spiritual forces of evil.

Where do we get this power? First, it came through God’s grace. He sent Jesus to earth to be the perfect sacrifice.

Ephesians 2:8 NIV

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

When he went to the cross and became a sacrifice, He conquered death. And gave us the power to overcome temptation.

1 Peter 2:24 NIV

24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

God’s Word gives us all the power we need to overcome temptation. It was scripture that Jesus used to conquer the devil when the devil tried to tempt Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NIV

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

We have the power by the Holy Spirit that is moving among His people.

And Christ is interceding for us, pleading our case in Heaven.

You have all the power you need to resist temptation.

If you want to resist temptation, then you need to recognize the source of the temptation and then recognize the source of strength in temptation. Your source of strength is Jesus. That means that greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.

4. God Will Always Provide You a Way Out

God promises in his word to provide you a way out so that the temptation will not lead to sin. It is going to take some self-discipline to look for that “way out” even in the middle of the temptation and then you need to take it when you find it.

If you have a problem with alcohol, don’t drive down the street that has your favorite liquor store on it. If you have a problem with pornography, put a software on your computer that won’t let you look at those sights or get rid of the computer. If you have a problem with gambling, stay out of the casinos.

Another way that God will provide you a way out is with the help of a Christian friend. Instead of trying to deal with temptation alone, you can explain your dilemma to a close Christian friend and ask for support. This friend can pray, hold you accountable, and give you valuable insights and advice.

However, if you are having problems with your marriage do not go to someone of the opposite sex and discuss those problems. You are walking into a landmine that will explode faster than you can blink.

God loves you and He wants to help you find your way out of any situation that you find yourself in.

I want to close today with this verse found in James 4:7.

James 4:7 NIV

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

Too often as believers we focus on the later part of this verse, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” But as believers we need to focus more on the first part of this verse, “Submit yourselves, then, to God.”

The key to spiritual victory is complete submission to God rather than depending on your own resistance to the devil.

You will not win this battle on your own. You will need God’s help each step of the way and it is only with God that you will win this battle.