HOW CAN I OVERCOME TEMPTATION

UNION GROVE CHURCH OF CHRIST, CLEVELAND TN.

WHHOW CAN I OVERCOME TEMPTATION?

Every person is tempted to do wrong. Does the devil play a role in this? Of course, he does. The Bible calls him "the tempter" (Matthew 4:3). He is our enemy, who like a roaring lion, goes about seeking whom he might devour (1 Peter 5:8). Satan tempts all men through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). He is powerful, but we know that first century saints were able to overcome him: ". . . ye have overcome the wicked one" (1 John 2:12,13). With God’s help we, too, can overcome him. Just what can you and I do to overcome his temptation? Here are some "must" items:

1. First, we must have a strong desire to overcome him. In sporting events there are sometimes tie scores. But with Satan, there will be no ties. We will either defeat him, or else he will defeat us. If we are going to overcome him, then we must first possess the desire to do that. Ask yourself, "How strongly do I really desire to overcome Satan?" The Bible says, "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence [‘be even more diligent,’ NKJV] to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall" (2 Peter 1:10).

2. We must resist Satan. Overcoming the devil does not happen by accident! "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). Some Christians fail to overcome temptation because they never really try to resist the tempter. With what must we resist him? "Whom resist stedfast in the faith" (1 Peter 5:9). What else can we use? "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11, 12-17).

3. We must fill our hearts with God’s word. If our heart (mind) is filled with the word of God, then we will know what is right and wrong in the sight of God, and this will help us be prepared in advance when the devil tempts us. The Psalmist wrote, " Thy word I have hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11). Christians are instructed, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Colossians 3:16). If we will obey this instruction, then we will be better prepared to overcome the evil one.

4. We must imitate the example of Jesus. What did Jesus do when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness? Each time He was tempted, He said to Satan, "It is written," then quoted the word of God. Like Jesus, we must also use "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17) when we do battle with the tempter.

5. We must flee from iniquity and spiritual danger. "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away" (Proverbs 4:14,15). "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity . . . Flee also youthful lusts" (2 Timothy 2:19,22).

6. When tempted, we must look for a way of escape. ". . . but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Where is the way of escape from temptation? We must seek for it.

7. We must watch and pray. Jesus said, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41).

Satan does not want any of us to go to heaven. He uses every means at his disposal to get us off course. If we are serious about overcoming him, then each of the seven things that we have noted above is essential in our fight against him. May God help us.

-- Roger D. Campbell