In the world in which we live no one needs to go far to encounter temptation. Temptation is omnipresent, stalking every person throughout their lives. While temptation is not a sin, if not dealt with correctly and speedily, it persists until its victim is lured into sin (Jam. 1:14-15).
 
Through his network of demons, Satan is the source of all temptations and is relentless in his efforts to use old and new ways to bait us, using attractive lures that are aimed at snaring you and me with sin’s poisonous barbs. The apostle Peter says, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).
 
Although temptation cannot take away our salvation, it can have a serious effect on our spiritual well-being and growth, also causing disharmony with God, with others, and with the world in which we live. As God’s desire and plan for us is the enjoyment and celebration of His promise of an abundant life (Jn. 10:10b), His Spirit alerts us to the presence and danger of temptation.
 
The Bible teaches that temptation to sin comes to us from three sources; Satan, The Flesh, and The World:
 
SATAN is the source of temptation. From the first book of the Bible, Genesis, to the last Book, Revelation, Satan is active in doing what he does best… deceiving and tempting people to sin. Genesis says… “The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?’.  ‘Of course, we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,’ the woman replied.  ‘It is only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, you must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’  ‘You won’t die!’ the serpent replied to the woman. ‘God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil’” (3:1-5).
 
Friends, through diabolically crafted propaganda, Satan relentlessly tempts us to think and do what is not right through creating Doubt, Distortion and Deception in our minds concerning what is true. Satan’s lies are cleverly packaged to look like truth.
 
The FLESH is our old sin nature… fighting life-long battles with our new Spirit nature, seeking to draw us into unrighteous old habits. Paul says, “The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” (Gal. 5:17).
 
The WORLD involves the constant, subtle promptings that influence us to conform to the values and attitudes of our ever-changing, corrupt, and immoral earthly system. The following are worldly temptations to look-out for:
 
1. Striving for security offered by positions, power, possessions, or accomplishments,
2. Viewing life as harmoniously liveable apart from a vital relationship with God,
3. Believing that biblical truth is not absolute, but is relative to every individual, and
4. Adopting immoral practices of our Godless world (cf. Rom. 12:2, 1 Jn. 2:15-17).
 
Yes, there’s good news… temptation’s power can be overcome!
 
The Bible offers the following counsel for overcoming the power of temptation:
 
1. Be alert – We live in an environment of constant temptation. We need to always be on-guard and alert (cf. 1 Pet. 5:8a).
2. Be filled – Temptation cannot be managed by human strength alone. We need to “be-filled, and keep-on being-filled” with supernatural power that is available through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:8, Eph. 5:18).
3. Be quick – When tempted, we need to act immediately! The longer we entertain temptation the weaker we become to its lure (cf. Jam. 1:14-15).
4. Know biblical escapes – For believers, God promises ways of escape. In First Corinthians, the Lord gives instructions as to how we can gain victory over temptation. The Bible is filled with divine escape routes. For this reason, an increasing, sound knowledge of God’s word is essential to our success (10:13). (cf. Mat. 4:1-11, Jam. 4:7).
5. Act by faith – It is important to always take biblical escape routes whether you feel like it or not. If you rely on ‘feelings’ to motivate you to deal with temptations you will have already lost the battle (cf. Phil. 2:13).
6. Prayer – Prayer is powerful! It plays an essential role in achieving victory in the fight against temptation. The Bible counsels prayer for both your personal victory and the victory of others (cf. Mat. 26:41, Phil. 1:9-10). Being proactively prayer–pared will keep you out of trouble!
 
Friends, in this world, every believer and not-yet believer lives under constant temptation. The good news for believers is this… we don’t have to be its victims! We have the Spirit’s power and know-how to defeat temptation. Through Christ, we can say ‘no’ to unrighteousness! Don’t let the tempter get the best of you (1 Thess. 3:5).
 
Bill
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