Temptation – What To Do When It Comes Knocking

“Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom.” —1 Kings 2:28

What does the story of King David's commander, Joab, betraying King David have to do with temptation? Joab was fiercely devoted to King David.  When faced with the choice of who to follow, he had resisted following Absalom, but later buckled when faced with the opportunity to betray David and join Adonijah.  No doubt that something he never imagined he would do, but he did it.  Have you ever had that experience?

“Beware of thinking that the areas of your life where you have experienced victory in the past are now the least likely to cause you to stumble and fall.[…] Unguarded strength is actually a double weakness, because that is where the least likely temptations will be effective in sapping strength. The Bible characters stumbled over their strong points, never their weak ones. ‘…kept by the power of God…’— that is the only safety.  (1 Peter 1:5)” – Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13

As a Christian there are a few things that are certain. One is that you are going to heaven.  You have eternal life in Jesus.  Another is that you are going to face temptation until you do .. go to heaven.  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.  To overcome temptation, 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

The 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 when He was tempted in the desert … trust in God and His Word. Pastor Greg Laurie, when describing temptation, said “You can’t keep a bird from flying over you head, but you can keep it from making a nest in your hair.”

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” – Jude 24-25

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone