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Overcoming Temptation
If you are using the King James translation, youll find the
word temptation is used in two ways. One is the general meaning
of being enticed to do evil and the other simply means to test
or to try. You need to carefully examine the context of each
passage to determine how the word is used. Later translations
such as the New King James, New American Standard or New International
Version usually make that distinction for you. |
| God does not tempt us to
do evil (James 1:13), but He does allow us to be tested so that
we learn to trust Him in difficult situations (Job 1:12). Tests
or trials may take a variety of forms such as illness, bereavement,
false accusations or persecution. We fall into sin when we allow
these experiences to result in discouragement, anger, self-pity,
or complaints against God for letting such difficulties come
into our lives. |
| Satan, on the other hand,
tempts us to do evil. He desires for us to fail and displease
God. His desire is not for our good but for our ruin. |
| A person could make no greater
mistake than to assume that, since becoming a Christian, he
or she will not have any more trials, or be confronted with
situations where a choice must be made between right and wrong.
More experienced Christians may escape from falling into some
of the obvious forms of temptations, but there are subtle temptations
to do evil, which are constantly put in our path by the tempter
(Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5).
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| Who
May Be Tempted? |
| The Christian is exhorted
to be on the alert at all times lest he fall into temptation:
“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest
he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). No child of God
can safely say that he has attained sinless perfection and will
never be tempted (1 John 1:8,10). |
| How
Do Temptations Come? |
Temptations, or enticements
to evil, often come from within us. “But each one
is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed”
(James 1:14; see also Mark 7:21). Temptations also come from
outside us. We are warned in 1 John 2:15,16 not to love
the world (the secular system apart from God) or the things
of the world. If we love the world, the love of the Father is
not in us. Satan, who is behind most temptations, may use the
avenues of the flesh (our physical
desires) and the world to tempt us. The Christian does not wrestle
against flesh and blood but against wicked, spiritual forces
in high places (Ephesians 6:12). |
| Why Does
God Permit His Children to be Tempted ? |
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The fact that a Christian cannot altogether
escape trials shows that God has some purpose in them. Temptations
or tests are needed to make a strong Christian just as exercise
is needed to make a strong athlete. The Bible says,
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various
trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience”
(James 1:2,3). While they are necessary, yielding in
a carnal way (following our sinful desires) to them is sin.
A preacher illustrated the difference between testing and
yielding by saying, “You can’t help it if a crow
flies over your head, but you don’t have to let it build
a nest in your hair.”
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How Can We Overcome Temptations?
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The Bible says that God is faithful and will
not permit us to be tempted or tested beyond our ability,
but He will provide a way to escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The Lord was tempted as we are, yet was without sin (Hebrews
4:15,16). He constantly intercedes for us, and His grace and
power are all sufficient
(2 Peter 2:9).
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James 4:7 tells us what we must first do
to overcome Satan’s temptations:
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Paul wrote to Timothy: “Flee these things; and pursue
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
Fight the good fight of faith” (1Timothy 6:11,12; see
also 2 Timothy 2:22). There is both a turning from evil and
a turning to righteous living. Both are absolutely essential.
By the shed blood of Jesus, Satan’s power has been broken
(Hebrews 2:14), so that the tempter is actually a defeated
foe. We should act toward him according to that fact.
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Second, we are told to overcome temptation
by turning to God’s Word. The psalmist asked many hundreds
of years ago: “How can a young man cleanse his way?”
Then he answered, “By taking heed according to Your
word” (Psalm 119:9). The Bible teaches that the basic
means for victory is the Word of God. An outstanding example
of this is the way Jesus Christ used the Word when Satan tempted
Him in the wilderness. Three times Satan tried Him, using
three different appeals, and three times the Lord met the
test by quoting the Word, saying, “It is
written” (Matthew 4:4,6,10). The Lord could have easily
displayed His authority over Satan, but He chose to use a
method that each one who follows Christ can also use. Today
the same enemy tests us, and we also may depend upon the same
sure Word of God to defeat him.
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The Word is described as the “sword
of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17). This is the only offensive
weapon of the Christian. The Spirit of God, who lives in us,
uses the Word of God to bring the victory that we are promised.
Our responsibility is to have the Word ready so that the Holy
Spirit can help us use it in driving off Satan’s temptations
to do evil. The best way to have the Word ready for
instant use is to have it memorized.
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The psalmist acknowledged the importance
of having it memorized when he wrote, “Your word have
I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You”
(Psalm 119:11). We can’t always have the Word
with us in printed form; but when it’s stored in our
hearts it’s ready to be used, day or night, under any
circumstances. This is the means God provides so that we can
resist Satan and cause him to flee.
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| The Results of Overcoming
Temptations |
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The Bible says, “Blessed is the man
who endures temptation [testing];
for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of
life which the Lord has promised to those who love him”
(James 1: 12). Job climaxed his great time of testing by this
positive testimony: “But He knows the way that I take;
when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job
23:10).
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| Study Questions |
- Explain the two definitions of temptation
discussed in this lesson.
How can you determine what kind of temptation you are facing
so
you know how to deal with it?
- The lesson mentions both temptations that
come from within
and temptations that come from without. To which are you
most
susceptible? What can you do to become stronger in resisting
these temptations?
- Describe a recent situation in which you
were successful in overcoming
temptation. What did you do to resist? How did you feel
about it afterward? What did you learn from that experience
to help
you deal with future temptations?
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