6A-Temptation happens: Bible Survival

The Big Idea: Temptation is not a sin. Getting sucked in to it is. Turn to Jesus who sympathises with our weaknesses and helps us. 

It's Tempting!

"I would never be tempted to steal," a friend told me. "I don't understand how that can tempt people. It's not an issue for me."

We all have our weak spots. Sometimes it is hard to see our own weakness and areas of temptation. For those of which we are aware, we are often too embarrassed to admit. My area of temptation might look silly to you. Or you might be shocked. We are wired so differently from each other. And cultural understandings of weakness and perception of sins differ.

When I worked as a missionary in West Africa, I lost my cool during a difficult baby delivery. Later when I apologized, my African friend who was there said, "I'm not sure I can even believe you are a Christian anymore."

Ouch. It took a long time to earn back her trust.

No matter how long you have walked with God, there are things that will tempt you. And there are times you will fall into it and need to find a way out. Of course we go to the Lord Jesus as ask Him to forgive us of the sin (I John 1:9).  But there are often consequences that effect others, our relationship with God and even our perception of ourselves.

While Satan does not know us intimately like God our Creator does, the devil can see how we live our life and our life responses. He seems to know exactly how to push our buttons. He sees our weaknesses, our fatigue or our insecurities and pounces on us like a lion after his prey.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8.

TEMPTATION IS NOT SIN

Did you know temptation is not a sin? Jesus was tempted by the devil after he fasted 40 days in the wilderness, but did not sin. Temptation is not the sin. Giving in to it is. Giving in to sin often starts small. Then as it becomes more familiar to us and as it seems to have done harmless damage, it grows and becomes harder and harder to resist.

Sometimes giving in to temptation is a really big deal; for instance, a spiritual leader who gives in to adultery. Sin is sin, of course. All sin sets us apart from a right relationship with God. But certainly some sins have bigger consequences than others and deeply hurt other people along the way. Some raise such serious concern in people's minds, they write off our faith completely. The cost is high. Very high.

We all have temptations. Fighting it off gets tiresome.

We can survive temptation by using scripture. Know it. Use it.

Jesus had forty days alone in the wilderness followed by what is called the Temptation of Christ. He used Scripture to counter every temptation Satan threw at Him. In fact Satan himself twisted Scripture to attack Jesus. Jesus didn't stand for it even one minute. You can examine the story yourself in Luke 4:1-13.

If Jesus used Scripture (the Word of God) to resist the Tempter, we can too. In fact, we must! It is our best weapon.

Jesus was fully God and fully human at the same time, as He walked the earth. And because of that human life experience, in a body just like ours, He is able to understand our temptations and help us overcome them.

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. I Corinthians 10:13

 For we do not have a high priest [Jesus] who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

This is the first of three blog posts on using Scripture to combat temptation. Next week check out the post about common danger zones and how to avoid them! 

Up Next: Danger Ahead

Previous Post: Rock Bottom

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Reflect:

1. How aware are you of your areas of temptation? Where have you found yourself caught short and struggling? 

2. Look at the two Bible verses above, 1 Corinthians 10:13 and Hebrews 4:15-16. Does it comfort you to know that God understands the pressure of human temptations?  Might that make you more inclined to ask Him to help you overcome it? 

3. Form a simple prayer using these verses, asking for mercy and grace, or for Him to help you find a way out of temptation. Consider using this when you find yourself in the midst of temptation.