Temptation is common to man. The Bible clearly declares that no temptation has seized you except what is common to man. But God, who is faithful, will not allow you to be tempted beyond your capability to bear it. He will also provide a way out of it for you:
In Joseph’s case, he was given grace to run out of the presence of Potiphar’s wife. Jesus was able to quote the Scriptures saying, “It is written,” to defeat Satan’s temptation.
Temptation comes to the best of men and women. Jesus Himself was tempted. It is important to note that temptation is strongest when God’s anointing on your life is strongest. When the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him and make war.
Jesus, immediately after the Spirit of God descended on Him at the River Jordan, was led into the desert to be tempted by the devil. So be on your guard when God’s presence and anointing is strongest in your life.
Again, temptation in itself cannot be sin. This is because Jesus was tempted in every way just as we are; yet was without sin. So what you do with temptation is what counts.
When the devil throws his flaming arrows at you; if it finds a similar desire in your heart, you’ll be dragged away by that temptation (For example, imagine: If your heart is full of sand, the devil’s flaming arrows will be extinguished. On the other hand, if your heart is full of straw, then the devil’s flaming arrows will make a huge fire in your heart.).
Then your evil desire has conceived. It gives birth to sin. And sin grows; and when it is fully grown it gives birth to death. So make sure that the flaming arrows of the devil does not fall on ready-to-burn fuel stored in your heart!
God never tempts anyone. But temptations come because your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion. He is looking for someone to devour. He is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short.
His main weapon is to cause you to doubt God’s Word. This is what he did in the Garden of Eden too: “Did God really say?” The Bible says that if you resist the devil he will flee from you. To do so you have to hide God’s Word in your heart; and then use it because it is the sword of the Spirit.
Prayer has an important role in resisting temptation too. That is why Jesus taught you to pray: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” He also asks you to “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Related Posts:
Angels Come to Help During Temptations
The Struggle of Young Christians against Repeated Sins (Part 4) The Entangling Sin
