TEMPTATION
Temptation is the desire to do something wrong or unwise. Temptation is something wrong that can be acted on and can lead to guilty feelings or a repercussion. As Christians, Temptation can come in many ways, we can be tempted as saints (i.e. not wanting to fast when we know to do so) or sinners (wanting to go out and get drunk). Sometimes we get tempted and fall into temptation even when we do not want to be tempted. However, this post will focus on two different reasons that causes temptation.
Desires
Our desires are the roots of our temptations. They are our own sinful flesh. James 1: 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
When we do not desire something we do not do or go near it, meaning we would not be tempted by it. Therefore when we desire something, we can be tempted by it.
There are people in the Bible whose desires caused them to sin through temptations such as; * Solomon – his love for women. * Ananias and Saphhira – money * Judah – was money too *Samson – Women King David – Women
So somewhere along the way of a Temptation is a Desire. Pastor Dan (Potters house Preston)
Devil
We ought not to say God brought us into temptation, this is because the Bible says; God doesn’t tempt with evil. We can’t blame the devil either, as he does not have power over us to do something we do not want to do. However, temptation can come from the devil as he knows and has strategies to tempt us, thereby causing us to sin through them. When Eve was tempted she knew the tree was there, but her attention was not drawn to it until it was pointed out to her and she then desired it. Satan can create and manipulate desires that can tempt us. The Devil’s strategy is to use our desires or form a desire within us and then uses the desire to entice us into sinning.
James 1:14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
Desires and Temptation can seem very exciting and very good. But the Bible says, when our desire has being conceived it gives birth to sin, and sin when fully grown it gives birth to death.
James 1:15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
The devil uses different desires to trap us into sin through temptation. The devil’s strategies keeps us in the thought that all this desires that do not glorify God are normal I.e drinking, sex before marriage, adultery, idolatry, love of money, pornography etc.BUT… It is good to remember that temptation is not beyond or above anyone, temptations are real. Joseph, Job and even Jesus were tempted. However, temptation is not a sin in itself, it becomes a sin when we give our self into our desires. It becomes a sin when we fall into the temptation. At times, we do not have to act, at times our thought can become sin, we can be tempted with our mind I.e. Lust. These are temptations no body sees except God but the moment we put this tempting thoughts into action that is when it becomes a sin.
Mark 7:20-23 20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
When we entertain this thoughts we replace the fruits of the spirit for the fruit of the flesh.
Good Thing Is: We can deal with our temptations and deal with the strategies of the devil. When we make no provision for the flesh, we will keep ourselves out of situations that may prove too tempting. God always provides way of escape in tempting times and situation.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
We need to get closer to God and ensure that he his our true desire. We need to pay our attention to God and avoid the path of destruction. If our desire is for Christ and it is to work with Christ, then we can overcome temptations. There is no evil in Christ (God cannot tempt with evil). Joseph was tempted but fled and did not give temptation time to take its root. Joseph did not stay, reason or try to justify anything, he fled. Jesus put the devil in his place each time the devil brought temptation him. Therefore, if we put our trust in Christ, we can overcome our flesh and the strategies of the devil.
Romans 13:13-14 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Shout out to Pastor Dan of Potters House Preston