TEMPTATION
We will be and have been tempted. In life, there are all types of temptations. Temptation comes from the devil. It is an evil attempt to rob you from your blessings and set you back. Jesus Himself was even tempted by the devil. Most times when I think about this, it shocks me that the devil would have the audacity to do such a thing, but this only emphasizes his desperation. If he is bold enough to tempt our Heavenly Father, we should know that we are no exception.
Jesus was tempted
Hebrews 2:18
Hebrews 2:18
For because He himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let’s look at an example of how Jesus was tempted:
Matthew 4:6- “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.
Here we see the devil, yes the devil, quoting scripture to Jesus Christ as a way of tempting Jesus. The devil knows the Word of God backwards and forwards. He uses his knowledge to ensnare and trap us. That is why it is imperative that we know, use, meditate on and speak The Word in spiritual warfare because it is a war in the spirit. 2 Corinthians 10:4-For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.
Ephesians 6:12
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
THE BIBLE INSTRUCTS US ON HOW TO HANDLE TEMPTING SITUATIONS.
Pray & Take our Exit!
We need to be alert:
1 Peter 5:8 —8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
We need to take “The way out or exit”!
1 Corinthians 10:13
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.
Most times, (if we think about it) when we fell into temptation(s) there was a thought of “You shouldn’t do this” or “You shouldn’t say that” or maybe something interrupted you right before you were about to do something wrong. These “thoughts” and “happenings” are not accidents.
God provides us an opportunity to choose what is right. Because God is a gentleman, He does not “force” His will on us. He gives us the option to choose. However, we should know that in our “choosing” we may reap the consequences of our decisions, good or bad.
Therefore, we should pray and ask God to help us because sometimes the temptations are beyond our level of self-control. Continuing in prayer we see…
Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
*Sometimes we want to do right, but our flesh is weak. Therefore, we need to pray!
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
*Sometimes we must make certain decisions to leave and flee situations in which the devil is trying to “bait” us.
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
1 Corinthians 6:13
Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
1 Corinthians 7:2
But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
1 Timothy 6:9
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Ecclesiastes 10:19
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry; but money answereth all things.
This is not to say that having dreams and goals are wrong, in fact we should be writing our vision and goals down, however, we need to have a Godly balance in our pursuits.
Click the link below to hear this episode on the Anchor Podcast!
https://anchor.fm/katim-brown/episodes/TEMPTATION-e1ep24t/a-a4rqds3
