Confronting Temptation and Sin

The main thrust of this lesson is to be extremely careful what you entertain or consider in life. This is a huge reason Christ prompted believers to pray – “and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:13). The Greek word used here and in many instances is peirasmos, meaning placing under scrutiny, testing or proving. Christ desired for us not even to arrive at the point of temptation.

This desire by the Lord is a life-long development process by His believers. I like to call the actual development a Moment of Pause. This temporary halt in action and words when tempted or tested mentally, physically or spiritually should immediately be followed by inquiry of The Lord and/or the Holy Spirit. Temptation is the invitation to sin or rebel against God, not the act itself, so call upon The Lord first.

Believers in Christ do have a few things in our favor. First, our bodies are vessels of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) who will be advocating on our behalf in all situations (John 14:26; 1 John 2:1).

Secondly, Paul encouraged the Roman believers and all Christians down through the ages in Romans 8:37 – “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

And thirdly, Godly counsel from a trusted source is always an awesome jumpstart on the potential sinful situations staring at us in life.

The human condition is so weak that we, even as a new creation in Christ, will battle sin and lose from time to time. When you do cross the threshold of temptation and sin, be sure to realize the key of returning and not only proceeding but progressing is agreeing with God’s repulsiveness of your behavior, seeking His forgiveness, His help and moving on with Him.

“Sin haters walk through this world armed with spiritual weapons (Romans 8:13; Ephesians 6:17) — not to harm others, but to harm every enemy within themselves. They watch and pray against temptation, needy enough to ask for daily deliverance (Matthew 6:13). They resolve to make no provision for the flesh, even if doing so requires abstaining from otherwise neutral substances, situations, and forms of entertainment (Romans 13:14). Their battle plans are not vague (“Read the Bible and pray more”) but specific (“Wake up at 6:00 to read and pray for an hour”). And though they know that no wall of accountability can rise higher than their sin, they also live like they are dead without help (Hebrews 3:13).

“Sin seems beloved to us only when Christ does not.”

And what’s more, they do not fight for a day or a season or a year, but for a life. They know this warfare ends only when their breath does (2 Timothy 4:7). So, though they sometimes feel weary in the war, they refuse to lie down on the battlefield. In time, fresh strength comes from above, fresh resolves fire from within, and despite many discouragements and defeats, they make progress.” [https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-does-ongoing-sin-say-about-me]

The victory in confessing comes when you stop taking for granted God’s forgiving graces and forsake/hate the sin itself. This is an empowered stance and is spelled out in Proverbs 28:13 – “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”

“Self-examination can help us discern the state of our souls, but it cannot change the state of our souls. Wherever we find ourselves in these questions, if we would hate sin increasingly, then only one path lies before us: love Christ increasingly.”

[https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-does-ongoing-sin-say-about-me]

For my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, I encourage you as you face the many temptations, testings and trials in life – seek God first, obey His leading and feed your love of God more than any temptation or sin.