Resisting Temptation

How do we resist temptation? First thing I would say is that no one can resist temptation without being born-again because all are born with a sin nature, excluding Jesus of course, but even He had to resist temptation and testing.  How did He resist temptation?  He resisted by speaking the Word.

Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

How can believers resist sin?  First we can look for the way out.  Read what it says in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “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 the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  God always gives a believer a way out so that we can resist any temptation.

Studying and memorizing scripture is very important.  Read what 2 Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

When Jesus was tempted He came back with the Word, read what Jesus said in Matthew 4:1-11, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’

But He answered and said, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’

Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’

Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’

Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”

The devil knew the Word too, but he disobeyed the Word and disobeyed God also, but Jesus obeyed both, the Word and God, His Father!!  If Jesus would have given into Satan, then we would still be lost in our sin, but praise be to God, Jesus resisted the temptation and fulfilled God’s plan for His life, praise You Jesus!!

Remember Joseph, what he did when he was tempted by Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39, read verses 7-12, “And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, ‘Lie with me.’

But he refused and said to his master’s wife, ‘Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?’

So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.

But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me.’ But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.”

In this case Joseph fled, he ran from the temptation.  Sometimes that is what it will take to resist temptation.  You will have to flee and not stand around thinking about it or talking about it, but just running is the answer, getting away as fast as you can.  Sexual sin is hard to resist no matter how much you try; Joseph did the best thing he could have done, he ran.  Never forget to pray and ask the Lord to help you to resist temptation.

What does it say in the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples?  Read it in Luke 11:2-4, “So He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us day by day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins,

For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.”

Now read verse 4 again, “And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

How can we get the devil to leave us alone?  It says this in James 4:7, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Enough said, I hope this has been a help.  May God bless you and yours and may you have a nice day, and don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord!!