INTRODUCTION:
On the path of Christian life, there are three realities that the Christian must face daily to prove his faith in God, among these three realities there are persecution, trial and temptation. And in this new series we will focus on temptation.
WHAT IS TEMPTATION?
Temptation is a trial (test) to test a person’s ability to choose between good and evil. It is an enticement to evil; according to the process, the evil spirit seeks to push man to sin and to follow the voice of Satan rather than that of God.
WHAT IS TEMPTATION IN PRACTICE?
Here is an example to help you understand what temptation is. You must understand that you are tempted when you are attracted to something, especially something that is bad. For example: you are shopping and you see an item that you like. The thought crosses your mind that you could easily steal it and not get caught. But your conscience forbids you! So you banish this thought and move on. At that moment, the temptation is behind you: you have conquered it.
WHERE DOES TEMPTATION COME FROM?
According to biblical knowledge, temptation has three main sources: the devil, the world and our heart. However, the devil and his demons remain the greatest source of many temptations, but on the other hand man can also be tempted by the world and his own heart.
1. THE DEVIL (THE KINGDOM OF EVIL)
Historically, you must know that the devil tempted the first man in the Garden of Eden and succeeded in leading him away from God, he tempted Jesus the son of God and he will not be afraid to tempt you. This is the reason why he is called in the scriptures the Devil which means the tempter.
From the first appearance of Satan in the scriptures, in the book of Genesis, he appears as the Devil the tempter, which also means the seducer.
MATTHEW 4:1-3
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And after he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
REVELATION 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: and he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
2.THE HEART OF MAN (THE DESIRE OF THE FLESH)
Our own fleshly desires or bodily lusts can be a source of temptation. This is why we need self-control which is one of the fruits of the Spirit so as not to fall into temptation.
According to the Bible, our flesh has desires that oppose those of the Spirit and these desires tempt us almost every day and push us to evil. This is why we must let the spirit dominate so as not to obey the desires and lusts of the flesh.
ROMANS 7:5
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were by the law worked in our members, so that we were bearing fruit unto death.
ROMANS 7:23
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
MARK 7:21
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
JAMES 1:14-15
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. 15 Then lust, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.
GALATIANS 5:17
This is what I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are contrary to the desires of the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are contrary to the desires of the flesh; they are opposed to each other, so that you do not do the things you would.
GALATIANS 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: fornication, impurity, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, wrath, disputes, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, drunkenness, revelry, and things like these. I tell you before, as I have told you before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
ROMANS 8:7-8
For the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
ROMANS 6:13
And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin; but present yourselves to God, as those who were alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
3. THE WORLD ( THE WORLD SYSTEM )
ATTENTION! When we talk about the world, we are not talking about the United Kingdom, the United States, etc. But we are talking about the system established by the governments of the world, this system controlled by the evil one that has become a trap for true Christians who want to live in holiness. because the current socio-political and economic system, especially in the so-called developed countries, has been built to distance people from God.
For example, if you are in a relationship, you will receive less aid from the State, but if you are a single mother, you will receive more aid. And this system encourages people to remain single, to throw their husbands out, and even to lie about their marital status.
In these cases, the social and economic system becomes a trap, a source of temptation for those who want to live piously in the Lord. Many are forced to live a lie their entire lives and this system not only destroys the stability of families, but also trivialises marriage and promotes celibacy.
6 things to remember to avoid falling into the world's trap:
1. DO NOT CONFORM TO THIS AGE
To conform means to submit or accept. For example, to conform to the rules, standards, or laws of a nation.
ROMANS 12:12
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
1 PETER 1:14
As obedient children, do not conform yourselves to the lusts you formerly had in your ignorance.
2. DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD:
Do not have love for the world, this means do not cling to the system of these worlds which is corrupted by evil. Do not cling to the things of these worlds for they are transitory.
1 JOHN 2:15
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him;
JAMES 4:4
You adulterers! Do you not know that to be friendly to the world is to be friendly to God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
3. FLEE THE CORRUPTION IN THE WORLD:
The world system is corrupted by evil, inequality, injustice, wickedness and all kinds of sin... As children of God we must flee this corruption.
2 PETER 1:4
Which are given to us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust,
4.THE SYSTEM OF THIS WORLD IS UNDER THE DEVIL’S DOMINION:
The reason they pass laws that go against God’s Word is to cause people to disobey the voice of God.
1 JOHN 5:19
We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
5.DO NOT FOLLOW THE MULTITUDE:
Do not follow the crowd to find a reason to live in evil, but consider first that you are a child of God and that you must live in holiness regardless of the realities of the world system in which we live.
EXODUS 23:2
You shall not follow the multitude to do evil; nor shall you testify in a lawsuit by siding with the many to pervert justice.
6.THE WORLD HATES YOU:
The world hates us because we refuse to submit to its system. It hates us because we have God and have chosen to obey God alone.
JOHN 15:19
If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
4 THINGS TO MANAGE IN YOUR LIFE TO AVOID FALLING INTO TEMPTATION!
Most temptations come from lust or desire for these 4 things listed below; If you don't know how to manage these 4 things in your life, you will easily fall into the devil's trap:
1. Money
2. Success
3. Power
4. Sex
HOW TO RESIST TEMPTATION
First, realize that being tempted does not make you a bad person. The Bible says that we are all subject to temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). What matters is our response. Some people dwell on a wrong desire and sooner or later succumb to it. Others chase it away immediately.
It is written: Each one is tested when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed (James 1:14).
Remember that God allows temptation in the life of a believer because it is a test of faith that causes him to grow. But at the same time, God controls the temptation, its level and intensity, and gives us believers greater power to overcome temptation with the help of His Spirit.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man. And God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
HERE ARE 7 THINGS TO DO TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION:
1. BE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
We must have a life of fellowship with God, spending time in His presence in prayer, fasting and meditation on the Word to have the spiritual strength to resist temptation.
2. SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM EVERYTHING THAT FEEDS TEMPTATION
It is important to distance ourselves from everything that feeds or tempts us. It is written: If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than having two eyes to be cast into hell. (Mk 9:47)
3.CONFESS TO ONE ANOTHER
The Epistle of St. James encourages us to confess our sins to one another. “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)
Confessing our sins to one another is a force to destroy the power of temptation over us.
4.AVOID ISOLATION:
Two men together are stronger than one alone, isolation facilitates temptation. Because often temptation becomes strong when one is alone.
5.ACT QUICKLY IN THE FACE OF TEMPTATION:
Why is it wise to act quickly in the face of temptation? Because the Bible speaks of the steps that lead a person to do evil.
James 1:15 says, “Lust, when it is fruitful, gives birth to sin.” »
In other words, just as a pregnant woman gives birth to a child, do not give a bad desire time to develop in you, it will lead you to a bad action and you will end up being a slave to these bad desires. It is possible to suppress these bad desires. By focusing on something else, for example: an activity, a conversation with a friend or a healthy thought (Philippians 4:8). Prayer is also a great help. Jesus Christ said: “Pray always, that you may not enter into temptation” (Matthew 26:41).
6. REMEMBER THAT CHRIST ALSO WAS TEMPTED
In the fight against temptation, we must remember that Jesus Himself was tempted: “He was tempted as we are, yet he did not sin.
7. STAY WATCHFUL AFTER TEMPTATION:
Even after you have overcome temptation, stay vigilant like Jesus Christ. It is written: The devil departed from him until another time. (Luke 4:13)
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