What Does Jesus Says About Temptation

Day 37

Topic: What Does Jesus Says About Temptation

Text: James 1:12-16

 

INTRODUCTION

Temptation is the desire to do something, that is especially considered wrong or unwise. In the context of the Christian faith, a temptation is a tendency or urge to act or feel in a particular way contrary to the tenets of scriptures. No human is above temptation – even out Lord Jesus Christ faced it in Matt. 4:1-11 

 

LIFE LESSONS 

It is not a sin to be tempted.

The sin is giving in to the temptation, yielding to the temptation. Temptation is the tempter knocking on the door; the sin is open the door and letting him in. Temptation comes our way in all sorts of forms and sizes. One should not confuse temptations with trials that come our way. Most often, trials are allowed, by God to cause the Christian to stand. Temptations are sent from the devil to cause the Christian to stumble. James 1: 13-14.

 

God provides a way of escape for us.

God will not allow you to be put in a situation where you must give in to sin. The pressure may be enormous, but he always provides a way out 1 Cor 10:13. God’s way out does not necessarily remove you from temptation, but it puts you in a position to endure it with grace. Sometimes we will be tempted over and over again. Each time God promises to give us what we need to resist successfully. None of us needs to succumb to the temptations that come our way. Jesus will make a way of escape. Many who have fallen into sin did so willfully because they refused to take the path of escape that the Lord put before them.

 

LIFE APPLICATIONS 

 

A Time to Flee from Temptation

To flee from temptation means that we flee from sin before we ever get to the point of committing it. We cannot put our confidence in our fleshly ability to resist temptation; our confidence and strength are in Christ, and He provides us with the tools we need to flee from temptation. Gen. 39:11-12; 1 Cor 6:18; Prov 22:3. As we flee from temptation, we naturally flee toward something else, and Paul tells us what that should be – 2Tim 2:22.

 

A Time to Resist Temptation

The Word of God has always been our best defense against Satan’s temptations, and the better we know His Word, the easier it will be to claim victory over our daily struggles. The psalmist tells us, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). When Christ was tempted by Satan in the desert, the first thing He did was to quote Scripture (Matthew 4:4–10), which eventually caused the devil to leave Him. Indeed, Christians need to be diligent in studying God’s Word.

 

Wisdom is the Principal Thing

Prov 4:7 tells us that Wisdom is key. We need wisdom and understanding of ourselves to know when to flee and when to resist. There is a time and place for each. We need to watch and pray Mark 14:38; fill our minds with his word Phil 4:8; fill our hearts with his word Psa 119:11

 

LESSON OF THE DAY: 

Armed with God’s Spirit and the truth of His Word, we are well equipped to overcome Satan’s assaults. No matter what trials and temptations come our way, God’s Word and Spirit are infinitely more powerful than any of Satan’s schemes. When we walk with the Spirit we can look at temptations as opportunities for us to show God that He is indeed the Master of our lives.