27 Defeating Temptation

 

 

 

PURPOSE # 3

 

 

You Were Created To Become Like Christ

 

 

Let your roots grow down into Christ

and draw up nourishment from him.

See that you go on growing in the Lord,

and become strong and vigorous in the truth.

Colossians 2:7

 

 

27 Defeating Temptation 

 

 

Run from anything that gives you the

evil thoughts... but stay close to anything

that makes you want to do right.

2 Timothy 2:22

 

Remember that the temptations that come

into your life are no different form what others

experience. And God is faithful. He will keep

the temptation from becoming so strong

that you can't stand up against it.

When you are tempted, he will show you

a way out so that you will not give in to it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

 

There is always a way out.

God has promised never to allow more on you

than he puts within you to handle it.

He will not permit any temptation that you could not overcome.

 

Refocus your attention on something else.

It may surprise you that nowhere in the Bible are we told to "resist temptation."

We are told to "resist the devil,"

James 4:7

but that is very different, as I'll explain later.

 

Every time you try to block a thought out of your mind,

you drive it deeper into your memory.

By resisting it, you actually reinforce it.

Since temptation always begins with a thought,

the quickest way to neutralize its allure is

 to turn your attention to something else.

This is the first step in defeating temptation.

The battle for sin is won or lost in your mind.

Whatever gets your attention will get you.

 

"I made a covenant with my eyes

not to look with lust upon a young woman."

Job 31:1

"Keep me from paying attention to

what is worthless."

Psalm 119:37a

The more you think about something,

the stronger it takes hold of you.

You are setting yourself up to repeat it.

 

Temptation begins by capturing your attention.

What gets your attention arouses your emotions.

Then your emotions activate your behavior,

and you act on what you felt.

The more you focus on "I don't want to do this,"

the stronger it draws you into its web.

 

Ignorinng a temptation is far more effective than fighting it.

Once your mind is on something else, the temptation loses its power.

So when temptation calls you on the phone,

don't argue with it, just hang up!

To avoed being stung, stay away from the bees.

 

Spiritually, your mind is your most vulnerable organ.

To reduce temptation,

keep your mind occupied with God's Word and other good thoughts.

You defeat bad thoughts by thinking of something better.

This is the principle of replacement.

You overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21

 

"Fix your thoughts on Jesus."

Hebrews 3:1

"Always think about Jesus Christ."

2 Timothy 2;8

"Fill your minds with those things

that are good and that deserve praise:

things that are true, noble, right,

pure, lovely, and honorable."

Philippians 4:8

 

The wisest man who ever lived warned,

"Be careful how you think;

your life is shaped by your thoughts."

Proverbs 4:23

"We capture every thought

and make it give up and obey Christ."

2 Corinthians 10:5

This takes a lifetime of practice,

but with the help of the Holy Spirit

you can reprogram the way you think.

 

Reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group.

"You are better off to have a friend

 than to be all alone...

If you fall,

your friend can help you up.

But if you fall

without having a friend nearby,

you are really in trouble."

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

 

God says it is the only way you're going to break free:

"Confess your sins to each other

and pray for each other

so that you may be healed."

James 5:16

God's solution is plain:

Don't repress it; confess it!

Don't conceal it; reveal it.

Revealing your feeling is the beginning of healing.

 

The truth is, we're all in the same boat.

We all fight the same temptations,

1 Corinthians 10:13

and "all of us have sinned."

romans 3:23

The truth is, whatever you can't talk about is

already out of control in your life.

 

Yes, it is humbling to admit our weaknesses to others,

but lack of humility is the very thing that is keeping you from getting better.

"God sets himself against the proud,

but he shows favor to the humble.

So humble yourselves before God."

James 4:6-7a

 

Resist the Devil.

After we have humbled ourselves and submitted to God,

we are then told to defy the Devil.

The rest of James 4:7 says,

"Resist the Devil and he will flee from you."

"Put on salvation as your helmet,

and take the sword of the Spirit,

which is the word of God."

Ephesians 6:17

 

The first step is to accept God's salvation.

You won't be able to say no to the Devil unless you've said yes to Christ.

If you are a believer, Satan cannot force you to do anything.

He can only suggest.

 

Second, you must use the Word of God as your weapon against Satan.

Every time Satan suggested a temptation,

Jesus countered by quoting Scripture.

There is power in God's Word, and Satan fears it.

Don't ever try to argue with the Devil.

He's better at arguing than you are,

having had thousands of years to practice.

 

You can't bluff Satan with logic or your opinion,

but you can use the weapon that makes him tremble—the truth of God.

This is why memorizing Scripture is absolutely essential to defeating temptation.

If you don't have any Bible verses memorized,

you've got no bullets in your gun!

 

Realize your vulnerability.

God warns us never to get cocky and overconfident;

that is the recipe for disaster.

"The heart is deceitful above all things

and beyond cure."

Jeremiah 17:9

Given the right circumstances,

any of us are capable of any sin.

We must never let down our guard and think we're beyond temptation.

 

Don't carelessly place yourself in tempting situation.

Avoid them.

Proverbs 14:16

Remember that it is easier to stay out of temptation then to get out of it.

"Don't be so naive and self-confident.

You are not exempt.

You could fall flat on your face

as easily as anyone else.

Forget about self-confidence; it's useless.

Cultivate God-confidence."

1 Corinthians 10:12

 

 

 

 

DAY TWENTY-SEVEN

Thinking About My Purpose

 

 Point to Ponder: There is always a way out.

 

Verse to Remember: "God is faithful. He will keep the temptation

from becoming so strong

that you can't stand up against it.

When you are tempted,

he will show you a way out

so that you will not give in to it."

1 Corinthians 10:13b

 

Question to Consider: Who could I ask to be a spiritual partner

to help me defeat a persistent temptation

by praying for me?

 

 

p 209~216

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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