STEP ELEVEN – Exercise #8 Overcoming temptation
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When you became a follower of Jesus, you did not become immune to temptations. The Bible teaches that you will be tempted, and that Jesus was also tempted.
Hebrews 4:15 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.
Where does temptation come from? (James 1:13-15)
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When you allow certain thoughts, allow yourself to go places that you should not go, and make decisions based on your own lusts, you will be lured into temptation.
We also learn from Job that God allowed Satan to tempt him. 1 Peter 5:8-9 says that we must resist him in faith for he wants to devour us. We also see in Matthew 4 that Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness and as Christians we also experience his attacks.
How do you overcome temptation?
The way Jesus did. He is your perfect example. He met every temptation with the same answer: “It is written”. Jesus used scripture to overcome temptations and after three times, the devil left Him.
You will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome temptations, when you constantly read, study and meditate on the truth of God’s Word. You must be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). Your weapon against temptation is the “sword of the Spirit”. Set your mind on things above and not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2).
What are some of the earthly things that can lead you into sinful desires?
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When you fill your mind with the majesty and holiness of God, the love and compassion of Christ and reflect on His perfect Word, you will find that your interests in the desires of the world will disappear. If you fill your mind with the Word, it will not be open to other influences.
Read Matthew 26:41. How can you apply that to your own life?
Prevention is better than cure!! Most Christians don’t just jump into sin, yet they fall into sin because of their flesh and they are not strong enough to resist the temptation. That is why you need to be pro-active. You need to no longer think like the world or walk in the same way as the world.
Proverbs 4:14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
What does this scripture mean to you? How can you apply this to your own life?
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We need to realise that our flesh is weak and therefore we must avoid the ways of the world that leads us into temptation. It is easy to be carried away by your own lusts.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:29 that if your right eye causes you to sin, you should tear it out and throw it away. Jesus did not mean that we should literally remove body parts, but He used figure of speech to stress the point that one must be willing to make sacrifices in order to be obedient.
What happens when you fall into sin?
You need to understand that as a child of God, sin does not affect your eternal relationship with Him. The penalty for all your sins, past, present and future have been paid for by Christ’s death. However, sin does affect your fellowship with God. It does affect your prayer life, and your usefulness in doing His will.
You need to confess your sins. It means to agree with God who already knows you’ve sinned. Read 1 John 1:9. What does it mean to confess your sins?
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