A Few Thoughts About Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 WEL Therefore, the one who thinks he stands, beware lest he fall. 13 No temptation has taken you but what is common to humanity, but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, and with the temptation he will also make a way to escape, so that you can endure it.

We must be aware that we are weakest when we think we are strong.

A false confidence will lead to problems.

You’ve probably see pictures as this:

If we are confident we can overcome a temptation, a tempting situation, a tempting environment, etc., we probably will fall.

So Peter thought: Mark 14:31, 69-71 NET But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you." And all of them said the same thing. ... When the slave girl saw him, she began again to say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them." But he denied it again. A short time later the bystanders again said to Peter, "You must be one of them, because you are also a Galilean." Then he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, "I do not know this man you are talking about!"

Temptation

Will happen:

• God does not tempt: James 1:13 NET Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.
• The underlying principle of temptation is our desires. Even as Christians, we have desires. A desire that is godly is OK, but ungodly desires are wrong. A desire to eat is expected, but when it consumes us, overpowers us, and we indulge in overeating, we are addicted. Note, sin itself is addicting, for we cannot stop. Only God’s grace is suffice.

Need to be alert, aware, that temptation will happen:

• Matthew 26:41 NKJV "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
• 1 Peter 5:8 NKJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Help to be delivered. We cannot do it on our own: 2 Peter 2:9 NKJV Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.

Satan hates God and believers

He tempts, so Believers will fall away: 1 Thessalonians 3:5 NKJV For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

He makes sin attractive and stirs up our desires: James 1:13-15 NIV 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.

Deliverance. We need to be

• Awareness of God’s grace: Romans 6:14 NLT Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace.
• Awareness of seeking His wisdom: 2 Corinthians 1:12 NLT We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God's grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.
• Awareness of temptation, even temptation from fake Christians: 2 Corinthians 1:12 NLT We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God's grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.
• Avoid those things we know are dangerous as an alcoholic should not be a bartender.
• Be humble. As our verse states, “Therefore, the one who thinks he stands, beware lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12 WEL).
• Knowing that temptation comes in 10 broad areas.
  • Related to God
    • No other God except Yahweh, so anything of greater importance is sin
    • No images of God, since we do not know what God looks like, so no idols.
    • No blasphemy, so not to diss His name, His character, His actions, His decisions, His rules, His judgment, His attributes, etc.
    • One day a week special to God. The Sabbath is not repeated in the New Testament for Christians. Still, there needs to be one day of rest and worship.
  • Related to Humans
    • Honor parents, so respect them and help them if possible.
    • No murder
    • No adultery, so no sexual sins.
    • No stealing
    • No false witness, so no lying.
    • No coveting
  • These sins and temptation to sin can be in thoughts, desires, words, and/or deeds.
  • Temptation itself is not a sin
• We need to know God’s ways and thoughts. This can come only from reading and studying the Bible in its plain, normal sense.
• We need fellowship. We can’t make it alone if there are other believers available.
• We need to pray. Hebrews 4:16 NIV Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
• We need to realize that all sin is addictive. John 8:34 NLT Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.
• We need to understand that even the greatest saints are tempted: Romans 7:23-25 NLT But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Some resources (I can’t vouch for the website but found these helpful).

7 Tips to Avoid Temptation

Overcoming Temptation

Daniel and many other sought God’s help: Daniel 6:11 NLT Then the officials went together to Daniel's house and found him praying and asking for God's help.