The nation is infused right now with people falling into sin as we are seeing it at the highest level of leadership across this nation. We have entered the hour of the great falling away. Every blood-bought believer must defeat the power of temptation. You must understand that temptation will come but God will always provide a way of escape.
1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “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 way of escape, that you may be able to bear it!”
1. WHAT IS TEMPTATION?
The Scripture says no temptation has overtaken you than that which is common to man. When the devil offers you sin stop believing the lie that he is tempting you because of any other reason than the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Temptation leads to sin and sin separates people from God and leads to death. No temptation has overtaken you more than what is common to every person on the planet.
Temptation is defined as a desire or craving for something especially something considered wrong. There are desires and cravings on the inside of you that want what you can’t have. Temptation is at the door of every heart every day. The Word of God declares that no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man. The word overtaken you in Greek means that no temptation has seized you, taken you, or laid hold of you than that which is common. When temptation has overtaken you then satan has deceived you. Let this old powerful quote about the effects of sin sink into your mind for a moment. “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, it will keep you longer than you want to stay, and it will cost you more than you want to pay.”
2. WHERE DOES TEMPTATION COME FROM?
It is extremely important to understand where temptation comes from. If we don’t know what the Word of God says about temptation then the enemy may convince us that he is not the only source of temptation. Temptation comes from the devil even though he can use people as his delivery system. We must understand these things about temptation.
A. God Does Not Tempt Mankind
God is not involved with tempting you with sin. God is not tricking you, testing you, or trying to see if you can handle the temptation of sin. Don’t ever think for one second that God is in heaven putting you in a situation to tempt you to see if you will sin or not. God loves you so much that he would never ever set you up for failure or put your holiness at risk.
James 1:13 says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God! For God can not be tempted by Evil nor does He himself tempt anyone.”
B. Satan Is Called “The Tempter.”
Satan is called the tempter in the Word of God. Every time you feel the temptation of sin you must know that satan is involved. You can see this truth revealed in these verses: Matthew 4:1, Mark 1:13, Genesis 3:1, and many more verses.
The word cunning in Hebrew means subtle which means an “unfavorable tendency of character,” with a connotation of being “clever” or “cunning.” The serpent is symbolic of the devil in the Word of God. Please watch the video podcast to understand the parallels between a snake and the devil.
C. Temptation Comes From Our Lust
Thirdly Temptation comes from our lust. Satan comes and tempts the very thing that you desire in your heart.
James 1:14 says, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desires were conceived it gives birth to sin, and sin when it is full grown brings forth death!”
The reason you did what you did or are tempted to do certain bad things is because in your heart you lust after that thing and as soon as you want it satan tempts you with it. The devil can’t make you do it he just tempts what you already want. He uses your eyes, your flesh (sinful nature), and the pride of this life to tempt you.
1 John 2:16 says, “For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life is not of the father but is of the world.”
3. WHY DOES GOD ALLOW TEMPTATION/ REWARD?
Though God does not bring the temptation He does allow it to happen in your life. He is always there to help empower you to overcome. Allow these verses to sink in as you consider the reality that God empowers you to overcome temptation, receive your crown, and defeat the power of death.
James 1:1-4 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
James 1:12-15 says, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
4. HOW TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION
Let me give you three quick ways to overcome temptation so that you can be made perfect, receive your rewards of heaven, and defeat the power of death.
A. Overcome Temptation By Faith
God instructs every Christian to resist the devil by being steadfast in faith.” 1 Peter 5:9 says, “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”1 John 5:4 says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
B. Overcome Temptation By Word
Read Matthew 4 and you will find that Jesus used the Word of God over and over to overcome the temptation of the enemy.
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
C. Overcome Temptation By Prayer
Read the “Lord’s Prayer” as Jesus taught His disciples how to pray and you will find that temptation can be overcome by prayer.
Matthew 6:13 says, “And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
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