God wants us to succeed and prevail over temptation, but Satan, God's sworn enemy, longs to devour us. In fact, 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings
Fighting temptation focuses on the cravings and desires of the flesh versus doing what is right. No one is above temptation or the potential to sin (1 John 1:8). When fighting temptation, society's solutions revolve around personal stamina and will-power. However as worthwhile as this may seem, the chances of success are minimal, due to the focus being on natural ability. As Scripture clearly tells us, the battle is not natural-but spiritual. Ephesians 6:12-13 says, "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." As an example to us, Jesus used the weapon of God's Word in resisting temptations (Matthew 4). Since He is the only human who has ever been tempted, yet did not sin, His example is a good one to follow! God knows how to provide a way to both get through temptation, and overcome temptation. Psalm 34:17 says, "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles."
When we choose to rely on our own strength in defeating temptation, independent of God, God looks at this as pride (James 4:6). He has a plan of deliverance, a way of escape which is found primarily through relationship with Him and experiencing His loving hand of correction (Hebrews 12).
When we come to God for salvation, He gives us a new nature. The old one - full of deceit and the desire to please only ourselves - is gone. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" What begins to transpire at this point is a literal transformation. As we start to read the Bible and get to know who God is, our way of thinking is gradually changed. This is a renewing that changes the moral fiber and character of a person. New traits and disciplines are learned and integrated, replacing the old characteristics. Through a relationship with God, we become likeminded with Christ and grow in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord.
Temptation always involves choice - do we obey God or give in to our own desires? Yet climbing out of the pit of temptation is rarely simple, as anyone who has been there knows. The good news is that with God's help, we can end the cycle. There may be pain and anguish in your heart and mind when declining temptations of the flesh, but overcoming temptation is treasure for the soul.
Fighting Temptation - How the Battle is Played Out
Fighting temptation can feel like struggling for breath. It's everywhere you turn, like a boxer wanting to pummel his opponent. Victory involves God's Word, prayer, confession, and avoiding situations where temptation is likely to occur. God knows who we are. After all, in the person of Jesus, He has been tempted as we have. He knows what we need to do in order to defeat sin. Whatever your area of greatest temptation is, ask God to help you recognize and stay away from compromising situations.
Use God's Word to change harmful thought patterns. We have this good news from the Apostle Paul, "We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans and methods. We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NLT).
1. Ask God in earnest prayer to help you stay away from people, places, and situations that offer temptation.
2. Memorize and mediatate on porportions of Scripture that combat your specifice weaknesses. At the root of most tempatation is a real need or desire that God can fill.
3. Find another believer which whom you can openly share your temptations and call this person for help when temptation strikes.
Remember...
"...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." 1 Corinthians 10:13
I. Who or what is the source of temptation?
A God does not tempt man.
James 1:13
B. Satan is called "the tempter."
Mat 4:1, 3; Mk 1:13; 1 Corin 7:5; 1 Chron 21:1; 1 Thes 3:5
C. Temptation comes from our own lusts.
James 2:14, 15; 1 John 2:16
II. God has put certain restrictions upon Satan's efforts.
A. God never allows us to be tempted beyond our ability to endure & triumph victoriously.
1 Corin 10:13
B. Satan is limited in his power in that he must request permission of God to come against us.
Job 1:12
III. Why does God allow temptation?
A. The primary purpose of temptation, if overcome, is to "perfect" us, or to make us complete.
Job 23:10; Jas 1:1-4
B. We have the choice of what to do with each temptation: either to overcome it by God's grace; or, to yield to it in sin.
1. The reward for victory over temptation will be the crown of life.
Jas 1:12; Revel 3:11
2. The result of defeat under temptation is death.
Ezek 18:4; Jas 1:15
IV. How can temptation be overcome?
A. By faith.
1 Pet 5:9; 1 Jn 5:4
B. By the Word of God.
Mat 4; Luke 4 ("...it is written...")
C. By prayer.
Mat 6:13; Lu 22:40, 46
V. In fighting temptation, it is important that the child of God recognize exactly what he is up against. "We are not ignorant of [Satan's] devices." 2 Corin 2:11
A. We do not fight "against flesh & blood" (things in the natural realm), "but against...spiritual wickedness..."
Eph 6:12; 2 Corin10:3-5
B. Satan deals most successfully in the realm of deception.
Gen 3:1; Mat 4:3; 2 Corin 11:3
C. Satan operates in the soulish realm, too--that of the mind, will and emotions--for our thoughts have yet to be put under subjection to Christ.
2 Corin 11:3
VI. Much can be learned from the account of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness.
A. Jesus was tempted on all three levels: 1. the lust of the flesh; 2. the lust of the eyes; and 3. the pride of life. (Mat 4; Lu 4) This was the same means by which Satan tempted Eve (Gen 3:6), and it is the same way he tries to make us fall today (1 Jn 2:15-17).
B. This is what God means when He says that Jesus was "in all points tempted like as we are."Heb 4:15
C. However, Jesus never yielded to temptation. He never sinned.
Jn 8:29; 14:30; 2 Corin 5:21; Heb 4:15; 7:26; 10:7 1 Pet 2:22; 1:19; 1 Jn 3:5
D. Therefore, Jesus Christ is qualified to be an understanding Mediator (go-between) for man.
Heb 2:17, 18
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Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.
Great post Texas Oaks, I used to struggle with this as a new Christian more than I do now anyway. The hardest part was finding things to do with my time. The people I knew at the time I became had no interest in God so I lost a lot of what I thought were friendships. We lived about 45 min. from our church so it was hard to make new friends at first but now we are much closer so that makes it easier, plus my kids keep me busy now too.
It really is good advice to the young men who are teenagers, they grow up in such a sexually-saturated world, and they have to deal with not thinking about sex every day.
Praise Jesus, through him, I am more than a conqueror, he pulled me out of perverse thinking, praise his name, the great Liberator.
TO (as in TexasOaks not Terrell Owens), do you care if I use your post as a sermon outline and preach it in a service somewhere.
Figured I'd ask since it's not my original stuff, but...it's that good.
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πνεύμα γ*μισα
"Error never shows itself in its naked reality in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than truth itself."
-Irenaeus of Lyon
ha ha, i started to say the same, great post and yes we all face temptaions, but i can tell you, the more you believe/trust the less the temptation seem to matter, i am getting old, but there are fewer and fewer things that have any attraction for me than the love of God and family, at some point i believe we all figure out those other thing don't mean anything, and that the simpleist thing will give pleasure, i just hope everyone lives long enough to see
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John 3:16
things are more like right now than they've ever been
It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.
William James
ha ha, i started to say the same, great post and yes we all face temptaions, but i can tell you, the more you believe/trust the less the temptation seem to matter, i am getting old, but there are fewer and fewer things that have any attraction for me than the love of God and family, Triple amen to that..maybe it's our age..The main thing that I desire now is that my children would serve God and my wife would get her health back.at some point i believe we all figure out those other thing don't mean anything, and that the simpleist thing will give pleasure, i just hope everyone lives long enough to seeI hear that brother...I'm getting stuff ready for a garage sale...it grieves me to see the money I've wasted.
Flee Temptation...
