In the depths of adversity, Joseph, betrayed by his brother and sold into slavery, confronted the persistent allure of Potiphar’s wife. In a foreign land, Daniel resisted the harsh pressures that threatened to compromise his steadfast faith.
Amidst profound suffering, Job refrained from cursing God, while Mary, pregnant and unmarried, endured the rejection and hurtful gossip with remarkable restraint. Each of them relied on God’s power and help to resist temptations.
It's not easy to overcome the desires of the human heart when tempted. James 1:14 says, “Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.”
Temptations come in many forms, such as materialism, power, pleasure, deception, sexual immorality, and spiritual neglect. A thought comes out of the blue, and before you know it, desire kicks in. The next decision, either saying no or giving in, will determine the outcome.
Immediate help is available for the believer by relying on God, resisting temptations, and resorting to His abundant resources.
Highlighting the significance of Scripture and the benefit of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is our prime example of overcoming temptations, as seen in Matthew 4:1-11.
We can rely on God’s help.
1. Rely on God’s Help
Jesus experienced temptation Himself and empathized with our weaknesses. For 40 days and nights in the wilderness, Jesus overcame the attractions of the world that we face: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world” (1 John 2:16).
Jesus assures us that we can come to Him for help. “For we do not have a high priest who cannot empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).
There’s assurance that God’s grace will be enough because His “power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
God is faithful to provide a way out. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when tempted, He will also provide “a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
God’s help will enable us to say no to the temptation.
2. Resist Temptation
While God offers help, we are also responsible for playing our part. Thoughts that enter the mind remain neutral until we act upon or resist them. Resisting temptation becomes more manageable when we fill our minds with the Word, seek supportive relationships, and practice self-discipline.
God’s Word keeps our minds strong. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
Renewing our minds, as Romans 12:2 advises, helps us resist conformity to the world’s culture. Believers develop “the mind of Christ” and can discern spiritual things that guard our behaviors and actions, choices, and decisions. The Holy Spirit helps us do the right thing.
By captivating God’s will through renewing the mind, we can make better choices that resist temptation.
Seeking supportive relationships that aid our spiritual growth is crucial in fighting temptations. “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33), so avoid people and places that open the door to temptation. Trusted friends “carry each other’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2) and will help hold us accountable.
Practice self-disciple. The fruit of the Spirit includes self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), which improves with use. Learning to say no is an effective defense. The Holy Spirit within produces self-discipline with the power to overcome (2 Timothy 1:7).
While God will “provide a way of escape” from temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13), we must exercise self-control when temptation comes.
3. Resorting to the Power of God
God remains faithful to keep us from stumbling if we stand firm in the power of God’s Word, the power that comes through prayer, and the Holy Spirit’s empowerment.
God’s Word holds the incredible promise of guiding our actions and decision, shielding us from wrongdoing, and fortifying us against the enticements of the flesh.
Through study and application, we can understand His will and stand firm when temptation comes. As Psalm 119:11 declares, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I will not sin against you.”
Absorbing and internalizing His Word brings a cure for every situation of life.
In prayer, we have direct access to God’s strength, wisdom, guidance, and aid in overcoming temptation. We pour out our hearts to God, and He responds with a way out.
Connected to heaven, we find comfort in the intercession of Jesus, our High Priest, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Such communion gives us an unwavering assurance that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
The potency of prayer surpasses our human words and links us with the Spirit’s interceding in God’s perfect will, providing strength to say no to temptation.
There’s power in the Holy Spirit. As God’s kids, we are blessed with the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:11 reminds us, “The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you.”
This mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead is available and enables us to overcome temptations.
Although our flesh is naturally opposed to God (Romans 8:7), through the empowering work of the Holy Spirit, we can put to death the sinful deeds of the body (Romans 8:13).
By embracing the power of God’s Word, the power of prayer, and the power of the Holy Spirit, each believer can say “no” to temptation and obediently walk in His ways.
Through obedience and a deep reliance on God, we can resist every temptation, find refuge in His help, and tap into more power than we thought possible. The outcome is that we mature into our walk with God and overcome the desires of the flesh,
Sometimes, regardless of our best efforts, we experience setbacks and give in to temptations that we know are wrong or unwise.
However, these moments present an opportunity to learn from our mistakes and grow through them. Despite setbacks, we seek God’s forgiveness and depend on His strength and help.
We cultivate spiritual growth and resilience by immersing ourselves in God’s keeping power of the Word, exercising self-disciple, seeking support from trusted friends, and embracing the efficacy of prayer and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Setbacks do not define us, for we are declared “more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37). We embrace the truth that, with God’s love and empowerment, we can rise above our failures and find victory in Jesus.
For further reading:
Why Do We Pray 'Lead Us Not into Temptation'?
How to Resist Temptation with Encouraging Bible Verses
What Is Temptation in Christianity?
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