How To Overcome Temptation

How To Overcome Temptation

By Apostle Felix

11  All the tests they endured on their way through the wilderness are a symbolic picture, an example that provides us with a warning so that we can learn through what they experienced. For we live in a time when the purpose of all the ages past is now completing its goal within us.
12  So beware if you think it could never happen to you, lest your pride becomes your downfall.
13  We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously. 

1 Corinthians 10: 11 – 13

Temptation is a universal human experience. It is impossible to live on this earth and never face temptation; therefore, complaining about its existence is entirely pointless. Often, Christians excuse their compromises by simply stating they were tempted, but this is a weak argument. Living a life completely free of temptation is an unrealistic expectation. Instead of asking why we are tempted, the real question should be: How do I overcome temptation when it comes? As long as you are alive, you will face pressures to violate the Word of God.

13  When you are tempted don’t ever say, “God is tempting me,” for God is incapable of being tempted by evil and he is never the source of temptation.
14  Instead it is each person’s own desires and thoughts that drag them into evil and lure them away into darkness.
15  Evil desires give birth to evil actions. And when sin is fully mature it can murder you!

God never tempts anyone with evil. Because God is entirely holy and righteous, there is absolutely no evil in Him, making it impossible for Him to be tempted or to tempt others. Temptation requires an evil source; therefore, God must be completely ruled out whenever temptation arises. Instead, temptation is deeply connected to our own familiar sins, desires, and thoughts. We are rarely tempted by things unfamiliar to us. If you find yourself repeatedly trapped in the same temptation, it is time to examine your inner life, as worldly and perverted desires are what ultimately drag a person into sin.

2  Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3  And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 

Luke 4: 2 – 4

Jesus was tempted by Satan as a man, not as God. As the Son of Man, He experienced the same basic human desires we all do—such as the need for food, water, and sleep. However, the defining difference was that Jesus exercised total control over His desires rather than allowing them to control Him. Ultimately, the difference between a person of self-control and one who lacks it comes down to managing these appetites; an undisciplined person simply gives their body whatever it demands. Throughout history, great individuals have been destroyed by their unchecked appetites. Samson, for example, was a man of immense physical strength, yet he utterly lacked self-control. Because he could not master his desires, he ultimately lost his sight, his freedom, and his life.

We overcome temptation by actively aligning our desires and thoughts with the Word of God. In fact, there is no other way to achieve true victory. When Jesus defeated the evil one in the wilderness, He didn’t do it by screaming empty words at the devil; He spoke the Word because He was completely filled with it. Overcoming temptation requires us to discipline ourselves according to Scripture. God has already provided a way of escape through His Word, but you must know exactly what it says regarding the specific temptation you are facing. Immerse yourself in the Word of God, and use its truth to subdue the desires of the flesh