How To Overcome Temptation

They also have to contend with the devil’s throwing every temptation he can throw at them every day to try to keep them from pleasing the Lord. It is a scriptural fact, as long as we live in these mortal bodies we will have to contend with this.

WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM?

Because, every Christian has two natures.

• The spiritual nature wants to please God.

• The fleshly nature (Adamic nature) is in direct opposition to God.

There are times in our lives when we are walking close to the Lord and our spiritual nature is in full control and temptation to sin is no problem.

Then there are times when we begin to drift from the Lord and soon the Adamic nature begins to try to control us and then temptation becomes a major problem.

Illus: It does not matter if a person is a preacher, deacon, teacher, choir member, or a lay person; we ALL have to deal with temptation. For example, Dr. Jack Hyles, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana, said when he was a young pastor he would hug the older women for there was no problem with temptation. But, he said that as the years have gone by, has had to stop that because the older he gets, the better the older women look.

It matters not how old we get, or how young we are; every child of God has to deal with temptation on a daily basis.

The Bible tells us that Christ had to deal with temptation.

The only ones who seem to not have to battle with Satan every day are the ungodly people. There is a reason for that.

Illus: This reminds me of the story of the black man named Sam. He was a servant to a wealthy plantation owner many years ago. One day the wealthy plantation owner said, “Sam, your loud praying at night is keeping me and the wife awake. I do not see why you need to pray like that. You are a good man already.” Sam said, “Sir, the devil has been working overtime on me lately, so I prayed for de Lord to help me!” The wealthy plantation owner said, “That’s odd. The devil doesn’t bother me. Why should he bother you?”

The servant said, “Master, it is like this; when we went duck hunting yesterday you shot some ducks and wounded others, but you sent me after the wounded ones.” The plantation owner said, “DO YOU KNOW WHY?” Sam said, “Yes Sir! It was because you knew you had the dead ones for sure, but the wounded ones might get away.” Then Sam said, “It is this way, master. The devil knows he got you for sure. That is why he doesn’t bother you, but he is not sure about me yet and that is why he keeps after me all the time.”

Temptations in this life are as much a part of life as breathing. When it comes to temptation, we need to consider at least two things.

I. HOW WE ARE TEMPTED.

Look at the various ways we are tempted by Satan.

A. He tempts us persistently.

This is exactly what Satan did with Christ. For example, forty days Satan threw every temptation he could throw at the Lord Jesus, and every time Jesus overcame every one of them!

Now, you would think after forty days that Satan would throw up his hands and say, “That’s enough! I give up! You win!” But Satan just kept right on tempting Jesus as long as Jesus lived on earth!

However, we are told in Luke 4:13, “And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from HIM FOR A SEASON.”

For how long? “...for a season.”

Illus: On one television broadcast, Evangelist, Benny Hinn was praying for a young man. When he got through praying for him, he stepped back and said, “Never again will Satan bother you!

Benny needs to read his Bible, or perhaps get another one, because God’s Word assures us for sure, as long as we live in these mortal bodies, we are going to have to contend with Satan’s trying to tempt us to sin. SATAN TEMPTS US PERSISTENTLY. Also...

B. He tempts us after mountain-top experiences.

We seem to be most vulnerable to Satan’s attacks just after “mountain-top” experiences.

Jesus had just come from His baptism.

• He could still hear the voice of John, the Baptist, as he pointed his finger at Him and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (Jo. 1:29)

He was finally beginning to receive recognition for who He was...The Son of God!

• He could still hear the voice of His heavenly Father saying, “This is my beloved Son; in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17)