Resisting Temptation

1st Thessalonians 5:21-22

 

As Christians, we are charged to understand who the Tempter is, how he tempts us and how to resist and beat him.

1. The Tempter can masquerade as an angel of light, 2nd Cor. 11:14-15

2. God has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness, Col. 1:13

3. We cannot afford to be ignorant of his schemes, 2nd Cor. 2:11, Eph. 6:11.

4. The God of peace will crush the Tempter, Rom. 16:20

5. The Tempter snatches away the word from believers. Mark 4:5

6. The Tempter can’t tempt us beyond God’s promise of a way of escape 1st Cor. 10:13.

7.  The Tempter has the audacity to tempt the Lord, so we are not immune. Mat. 4:1-ff.

8. The Tempter is not controlled by God, but he is restricted.  2 Cor. 12:7-10.

 

Every Christian should read the entire Bible twice and then read C.S.Lewis’s book , “The Screwtape Letters” once. Satan appeals to us by luring and enticing us with our selfish desires of anything that delights our eyes, feeds our desires, and boosts our pride.  He appeals to our ignorance of God and his commandments, confusing us, as he snatches away the “seed”. Even when we know the commandments in their proper context, Satan can accuse you by causing doubts to arise in our hearts and minds, leading us to think that we have not got what it takes to handle and live the truth. If we do sin, Satan accuses us of being unfit for forgiveness and we struggle unnecessarily with guilt. However, guilt itself is designed in our conscience to bring about repentance to God, but Satan tries to use it to keep us under the burden of sin, Rev. 12:10.

Satan also tries to convince us that being tempted is as bad as committing sin, and in a way, makes the tempted person feel guilty for even being tempted. 

The sin of omission, (knowing to do good and not doing it, Jas. 4:17) is the way sin first entered the world through Adam.  He knew to tell Eve the truth, don’t touch, don’t eat, but Adam omitted to fulfil his husbandly duty and Eve was deceived. Rom. 5:12, Gen. 3:6.

 

      Help on how to resist…

1, 1st  Peter 5:8-9, take sin seriously, be prayerfully alert

2, Rev. 12:11, believe in the blood of Jesus, He HAS paid the price for you.

3, Psa. 97:10, know what is evil and hate it, not the sinner.

4, John 16:11, remember the prince of this world is already condemned.

5, Eph. 6:11, put on the whole armour of God.

6, Luke 7:37, serve God with gratitude.

7, Gal. 5:16-26, walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.

8, James 4:7-10, MEMORIZE THIS PASSAGE: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

 

This week’s prayer pointer: Have you ever asked God to show you what your “mountain or fig tree” is? How will you move it?  Mt. 17:20 & 21:21