How to Overcome Temptations
How to Overcome Temptations
1 Corinthians 10:13
The Terror of Temptations
We live in a time that terrorist threats are a regular occurance. For those in the bondage temptation poses a threat to life itself.
1 Corinthians 10:13: "For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin, no matter how it comes or where it leads) has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man (that is no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience and such as man can bear). But God is faithful to His word and to His compassionate nature and He can be trusted not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will always also provide the way out of the means of escape to a landing place that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently." (Amplified Bible)
Temptation- To be enticed, incited or attracted to do something wrong or a forbidden thing.
1. Where Do Temptations Come From - Each person is enticed by his own lusts.(James 4:1-4) “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Every person is tempted by their own desires, passions or selfish interests. Satan may tempt anyone as he did Jesus with offers of power, prestige and positions of greatness.
a.) Everyone can be tempted by the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and by the boastful pride of life. (I John 2:15,16)
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world.”
b.) Everyone can be tempted by bad associates or friends.
(Prov. 1:10) “My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent”.
c.) Some Christians can be tempted by well meaning fellow believers Temptations can come from all kinds of worries, riches or pleasures of this life.
2. God must give Satan permission to tempt us like in the case of Job. (Job 1:12) “ And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.” This is why we know it is not more than we can bear
Why Does God Allow Us to Be Tempted ?
1. God can use temptations to develop more of a Godly character in our life. He will show us our weaknesses so we can ask God to help us strengthen us in these areas.
2. God can use temptations to test the level of our maturity and obedience. God can use temptations to provide examples to others how they can overcome obstacles.
Why Does God allow Different Temptations For Every Person?
1. No temptation that comes to you is beyond your capacity to resist it. In fact temptations are universally appealing to all people, just in different forms. But God monitors the level of the intensity of each temptation so that we are able to bear up under its pressures.
(I Cor. 10:13) ”No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
What Are Some of the Means Through Temptations Come?
1. Frustrations, difficulties or discouragements can tempt us to give into feelings of defeat, despair and failure. Depression starts out as a choice to give in to the devil’s lies. (Psalm 42:5) Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
2. Bitterness can cause us to grow resentful towards people, organizations or even our own poor choices.
3. Temptations can come from many types of worries, riches and pleasures
4. Temptations can come from within our own sinful human nature.
5. Temptations can come from any and every member of our own families.
6. Temptations can come from the devil and the powers of darkness.
7. Temptations can come from ill health
8. Temptations can come from Pharisaical oriented believes
9. Temptations can come from conflicts within our own thinking, emotions or actions
10. Temptations can come from poverty or deprivation or disease
11. Temptations can come from accomplishments, accolades or worldly thinking
What Are Some Different Types of Temptations
1. We can be tempted by anything that appeals to our human desires that are contrary to the will of God. These temptations can come in the form of unbelief, mis-beliefs, worry, jealousy, anger, wrath, slander, clamor, immorality, laziness, drunkenness, complacency, selfishness, idolatry, selfish ambition, false securities, societal pressures, family pressures, peer pressures, sexual allurements, the love of money, possessions, unbelief, immaturity, failure to grow up in all aspects into Christ, unhealthy comparisons, sins of omission, sins of commission, sins of disposition, sins of wrong assumptions. (Gal. 5:19-21) “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
What are Some of the Results of Temptations
1. If you give into any temptation it will eventually become your Master.
2. Obsessions of pride, relationships or personal interests
3. Giving into temptations can ruin your credibility
4. Giving into temptations disqualifies you from being an example
5. Giving into temptations disqualifies you from being promoted to higher levels of responsibility
How To Conquer Temptations
1. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Singing and making melody in your hearts. Whatever you do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus”. (Col. 3:16)
2. “Watch and pray that you do not enter into temptations. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” (Matt. 26:41)
3. Learn to use the word of God at strategic times throughout the day - especially the morning to program your thinking to have the mind of Christ. (Matt. 4:1-11) “It is written…….”
5. Fix your thoughts on things above and not on things of the earth. (Colossians 3:1,2 - read) “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
6. Wisely choose your friends and close associates.
7. Meditate on the scripture day and night so that you can be careful to obey all of it. (Joshua 1:8 - read) “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” This was written to a KING
8. Draw near to the Lord through morning devotions before you do anything else. (Psalm 5:3 - read) “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.”
9. Follow the faith and the lifestyle of Godly people.
10. Sit under the teaching of Godly teachers.
11. Fellowship with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
12. Remind yourself of all the promises of God.
13. Decide that you want to be a slave of Christ rather than the temptations of this life.
14. Fix your eyes on Jesus as the author and perfector of your faith.
15. Have the joy of the Lord as your strength
16. Expect great things from God attempt great things for God
17. Flee lusts and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
18. Commit yourself to Christ, His church and the fulfilling of His great commission. (Matt 28:19,20 – Read) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.”