Temptation - I Hear You Knocking, But You Can't Come in

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13 

As a Christian there are a few things that are certain. One is that you are going to die one day.  Another is that if you are born again you are going to heaven when you die.  That is because you have eternal life in Jesus.  Another is that you are going to face temptation to sin until you do .. go to heaven one day.  The question is .. How will you respond to it?  

Temptation is not sin, but what you do with temptation can lead to sin.  ( “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”  – James 1:13-15 

You will face opportunities to sin by way of temptation every day.  First you must recognize that your struggle with temptation is a spiritual issue not a physical one. 

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” – Ephesians 6:12

My point is that if you try to defeat temptation through shear will power or I suppose, more appropriately, “won’t” power, you will fail.  You are trying to do something that is impossible.  It’s likened to trying to save yourself.  You need faith and the Spirit of God to be saved, not works or personal effort. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  The next time you are tempted do what Jesus did … trust in God and His Word. When Jesus was tempted in the desert in the ways the Apostle James described in James 1. Satan tried to get Him to focus on Himself, but Jesus would only focus on the Father and His Word. 

Pastor Greg Laurie said with regard to temptation, “You can’t keep a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from making a nest in your hair.” God has made a way to deal with the temptation He knew we would face because we live in a sinful world. 

“Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11 

You don’t have to sin. You don’t have to give in to the temptation to sin. But you most likely will. That doesn’t mean you should resolve yourself to it.  Let God continue to conform you into the image of His Son. Don’t make excuses for your sin.  Confess it and be cleansed. 

“If you confess your sin, God is faithful to forgive you of your sin and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9