Temptation means the desire to do something wrong or unwise. It may mean a testing or trial. In the Bible, temptation is a desire to act in disobedience to God’s will. Its sources are the flesh, the world, and the devil. God will never tempt us.
James 1: 13 says, And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.
The devil will often tempt us when we are tired, lonely, facing emotional or physical stress, or even when we are faced with making a big decision. He can also tempt us through our strengths. Such as when we would trust in our own thinking. Thinking the worlds way is better than God’s way. Or if we are an expert at something our pride can get us into trouble.
We sin trying to fulfill our own fleshly desires outside of God’s will or ahead of his timetable. We must learn to ask the Holy Spirit if he is leading us or if its the devil trying to get us off track.
TEMPTATION IN THE BIBLE
We see temptation several times in the bible but the most common temptation was when Jesus was tempted in the desert by the devil. He was tempted 3 times.
The first time the devil asked him to turn the stones in front of him into bread. Now Jesus was hungry after going 40 days and 40 nights without food and the devil knew that. But Jesus quoted scripture to make the devil flee.
Matthew 4: 3-4 - During that time the devil came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread." But Jesus told him, "No! The scriptures say, People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
The second temptation was when the devil tried to test God. Which again Jesus comes back with scripture to fight off the devil.
Matthew 4: 5-7 - Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the scriptures say, He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone." Jesus responded, "The scriptures also say, You must not test the Lord your God."
The third temptation the devil tried to get Jesus to bow before him. The devil was trying to get Jesus to follow him and accept his way rather than God’s way. Following the devil would mean Jesus wouldn’t have to die on the cross. But again Jesus quoted scripture and the devil fled.
Matthew 4: 8-11 - Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. "I will give it all to you," he said, "if you will kneel down and worship me." 'Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the scriptures say, You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him." Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
Notice how Jesus was tempted but he didn’t give in. We of course are sinners and we fall short of the glory of God. Although being tempted is not a sin, to give in and listen and then disobey God is a sin.
HOW TO RESIST TEMPTATION
Notice the pattern of how Jesus was able to get the devil to flee?
He quoted scripture. That is the first way that we can resist temptation. It is so important for us as believers to know the word of God. Not only to glorify him but to use it as a weapon against Satan.
Hebrews 4: 12 says, For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
There will always be temptation in this world. But we can resist it with the help of God. He will help us recognize the situations that may bring about temptations. And he will help us to flee from them.
James 4: 7 says, So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
The second way to help us in resisting temptation is that we need to pray and pray heavily in the midst of the temptation. I can not stress this enough. I have been tempted many times and I had quit praying because I didn’t hear from God. I gave up and the temptation got worse. We can not give up on prayer. Just because we are not seeing results doesn’t mean God isn’t working behind the scenes.
He was working out a plan for me all along but I gave up on him and the temptation increased to where I ended up sinning as a result.
And the third way is we need to find a trusted friend to pray with us. There is more power when there is more than one praying. Find a good friend and ask them to help you get through the temptation.
Ecclesiastes 4: 12 says, A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken.
CONCLUSION
We need to remind ourselves that with sin there will be consequeces. And the more we saturate our lives with God’s word the easier it will be to not sin and give into temptation. We all make mistakes, we are only human. And I am so thankful our God is a forgiving God. But we must remember that God knows the best way to handle any situation. And we must learn to let go and let him handle it.
