Overcoming Temptation

Recently in my office, the Holy Spirit reminded me of a few topics that as a Pastor I need to go over again with the congregation. One of those topics was about temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NLT says, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin. But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.”

So what is temptation? Temptation is any solicitation to do evil or the means to tempt with the purpose of causing one to fall or sin. Simply put, Satan tempts us to sin against God. If we fail to see temptation for what it is, then we also become blinded to the consequences of sin, which is death. As believers, we must realize sin was designed to steal, kill, and destroy from our lives and then kill us too. God didn’t lie, John 10:10 and Romans 6:23.

4 Things We Should Understand About Temptation

  • Satan is the tempter. Have you ever heard the saying, “Well you know, God won’t put on you more than you can bear.” People misquote this verse to say God is doing or putting something on you. No, the verse is saying Satan is tempting you. God isn’t putting it on you and you must resist it. But as long as you think God is doing it, then you have played into the hands of the devil.
  • All are tempted. All will be tempted in this life, Christ was and we will also be as part of humanity. The ways we may be tempted or what we are tempted with may differ, but all will be tempted. So don’t see yourself as an isolated case or the only one going through something difficult.
  • It is not a sin to be tempted. We haven’t sinned just because we are tempted. Christ Himself was tempted, but He didn’t sin. Don’t fall for Satan’s lie that if you are tempted with a thought to sin that you have already committed the sin, so you just as well go ahead and do it. That is a lie which leads to condemnation and guilt, which will keep you in a circle of defeat. 2 Corinthian 10:4-5 tell us, to cast down or destroy imaginations which mean most temptations start in the mind. With tempting thoughts or imaginations come strong emotions and feelings which Satan will use to try to deceive you or at least make you feel that you have sinned. Cast them down! It is not a sin to be tempted; yielding to the temptation is the sin. It only becomes sin when we yield to the temptation or act on the thought. This is a powerful truth we must understand, that thoughts not acted upon and which are resisted die unborn and have not power over us!
  • God is faithful 1 Corinthians 10:13 AMP. tells us God is faithful to His Word and His compassionate nature, meaning He will do what He said He would do and do it for you! He will provide a way out or a means of escape to a safe landing place. God is faithful means He provides a way to overcome every temptation and gives us the power and strength to win over it!

– Pastor Chris