Overcoming Temptation

While God either causes or permits all things, we cannot accuse Him of subjecting us to the temptation to do evil. The scripture clearly states: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed" (James 1:13-14).

The scripture promised that when temptation does come that Jesus is there to strengthen and to give us victory. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). He has promised to either see us through it, take it away from us, or to take us away from it.

I think that all of us will admit to being tempted to do wrong at one time or another. It seems that some have less difficulty than others, while some seem to perpetually live in its snare. What constitutes the difference? What causes one to be tempted? The following thoughts might be helpful.

1. The failure to address the memory of past sin through confession and repentance leaves that memory alive to serve as an enticement to future sin. The failure to thoroughly judge specific acts of sin and to repent of them will leave the memories of those sins as open doors and beacons to further sin. It is extremely important for one to confess his sins to the Father and to be specific and thorough in his confessions. A blanket acknowledgement is inadequate and will leave one infected by the memories of specific sins with such infection prone to enlarge and to spread. A "generic" acknowledgement will only leave one in defeat and discouragement.
2. One should avoid subjecting himself to settings that will provoke temptation. Two very powerful avenues of temptation are the TV set and the Internet. Both provide and provoke temptation through their ready accessibility to material that entices one through various forms of temptation.
3. Discussion, jokes, or idle talk that promote temptation should be avoided. "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savior. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks" (Ephesians 5:1-4).
4. One should avoid relationships or contacts that provoke temptation.
5. Proverbs teaches, "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls" (Proverbs 25:28). When one has a gap in his defenses he should work specifically to close that gap and to strengthen his moral and spiritual stand at that point.

There are several things one might do to strengthen his defenses.

1. Take seriously his tendency to moral failure. Refuse to take any thought of it lightly. Learn to despise it.
2. Make himself accountable to someone who is mature, wise, and competent to whom he would become totally transparent.
3. Memorize scripture that takes issue with his temptation and build Godly conviction in place of his failure.
4. Immediately confess any failure to God thus removing all advantage from Satan. Reject any sense of condemnation, knowing that it comes from Satan.
5. Be sensitive and submissive to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit, recognizing the difference between that and the condemnation of Satan.
6. Rejoice in all victory but at the same time not being careless, i.e., taking that victory for granted.
7. Submit oneself to the cross. Only at the cross is the self-life brought into subjection and the flesh crucified.
8. Make a conscious effort to walk daily in the Spirit.

The extent and intensity of temptation is largely contingent upon one’s past failure. The more he has failed in a particular area of his life, the more diligent he should be in his efforts to overcome. He must not give any credibility to the enticement of the flesh, the world, and the devil.

John voiced is very aptly when he said: "For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4-5).

Jeff