Here is Andrew’s latest blog…
What did Jesus say about temptation?
Who is more important in the bible and Christianity than Jesus, the sinless Lord of Lords and King of Kings? Who better to help us conquer the temptation of sexual sin?
Matthew 4:s 1-11 says:
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
and also:
For we do not have a high priest 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 ESV
Jesus is the perfect person to understand our failings. The Lord was tempted in every way and so He will not mock you, look down on you, or punish you when you come to Him with an honest and repentant heart seeking forgiveness. If you are struggling with temptation He will help you.
His word will empower you in this battle and the above verses teach us many things about temptation. Firstly, we can see that Satan is not foolish, and chooses to attack when you are at your weakest and not when you have the strength and awareness to flee, but rather when you are tired, weak, down or depressed, hungry (either spiritually or physically) or lonely.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 ESV
We always need to be aware and never give in to prideful ideas like ‘I am too strong’ or ‘that has never happened and will never happen me’. You are not a spiritual titan on your own strength. Even angels have fallen under the lies of Satan to join his army.
So if staying up alone at night leads to watching porn then don’t do it because you won’t always have the willpower to defeat it. If you are hurting, instead of falling into porn as a crutch, get accountable with some godly friends, church members or your spouse.
I speak from experience on all these things, so don’t think you are alone, no matter what your particular temptations are. All sin is the same before God even if we as people like to categorise it and try and make our particular sin seem less sinful than others.
So how do these verses explain Jesus’ response to temptation?
- “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
This one is easy to expound. Reading God’s word will convict any true Christian into action! Satan will use anything to separate you from God’s word. Thought precedes action and if your thought-life is godly then your chances of falling into temptation will be reduced greatly. So get into the word of God and have it engrafted into your heart so you will be ready to stand against the temptations of the devil.
- ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”
Don’t test God and don’t expect Him to do all the leg work. You are his servant, He isn’t yours. You have your part to play. He has provided all the power you need in him. Build up your mental strength in Jesus, meditate on God’s word, don’t forget the damage and pain sexual sin causes you and others. You are more than a conqueror with God’s power and can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 ESV
- “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'”
You also have the power to say “BE GONE SATAN!” Don’t worship satan or any of the false gods he goes by! He is nothing compared to the power that lives in you! You have to make a decision each time you are tempted commit sexual sin. Are you going to worship Satan, yourself or whatever else or are you going to worship God and serve Him only.
May God strengthen you in your battle brother or sister in Christ and I pray you will resist temptation as you worship and serve the Lord your God.
Gen 3x