How To Defeat Temptation
January 23, 2012
Friends,
One of the main problems people often have is to resist and defeat temptation. How do we reduce this battle and assure victory every time? What we do is, we make up our minds that we will have zero tolerance toward being defeated. But is this enough? Of course not. As so many people say, “I try and try to resist temptation, but inevitably, I give in every time.” What a sad and hopeless predicament! Yet this is precisely what Satan, as well as so many false teachers, tell the masses is our fallen state.
But is it? It’s not. Jesus came to set the captives free. (Isa. 49:9 & 61:1) He came to release us from sin’s mastery, save us from sin, and take away our sins. (Matt. 1:21 / 1 John 3:5) He came to rescue us from the dominion of darkness and our slavery to sin. (Col. 1:13 / Rom. 6:16-18,22 & 7:14,23-25) This is the Great News! It is the News we are to believe! (Mark 1:15) And to prove we believe it by repenting (same verse) and producing fruit in keeping with repentance. (Luke 3:7-9 / Acts 26:20)
But, many ask, “How?!” Here’s how: We not only make up our minds to have a zero-tolerance attitude toward allowing sin to defeat us, but we train ourselves in how to overcome. (1 Tim. 4:7 / 2 Tim. 2:4) And what is the main source of our training? The Word of God. (2 Tim. 3:15-17) Why, then, should we wonder why Satan and those who work for him (supernatural and human) should not try hard to keep us from it? And why should we not be wise to this scheme and take time to study it –under the tutelage of the Spirit (1 John 2:26,27)– even when all seem to work against us in being able to do so?
But, is studying God’s Word enough? No. We must put what we learn to practice. (Matt. 7:24) Yes, this can be hard and frightening, but the Lord promises to be with us and give us His power. (2 Peter 1:3,4 / Gal. 5:16 / Heb. 13:5,6) Through Him we can press forward (Phil. 4:13) which we must do in order to get better and better and become the victorious warriors who win every time. This stretching and training is what most people would especially rather not do. The studying is hard enough, though there’s some prestige, thus motivation, in being “knowledgable”. But what is the glamour when we are in a back room, a back street, a back country, or some other lonely field, submitting to God’s orders? For much of what God commands of us does not bring one bit of worldly recognition or honor. Ah, there is where we break down in our faithfulness if we are not truly willing, submitted, and committed.
So, in short, how is it that we resist temptation and win over it every time?
1. We determine that being defeated is out of the question.
2. We study God’s Word diligently.
3. We put God’s Word to practice –without excuse.
When we do these things, always looking to Jesus, the Word, and listening to His voice from it (the Spirit), then we will find our appetite different, we will find our strength to be as steel, and we will hardly even be fazed by the temptations that are thrown our way. In other words, we will have become victors.
Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel
