Based on “For Better or for Worse” by Pastor Dean Corns; 7/21-22/12,
Message #DC141; Daily Devotional #5 - “Overcoming Temptation”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): I remember that after I accepted the gift of salvation from Jesus, I would often become frustrated because I was still tempted to do things contrary to God. My expectation was that once I was saved, in an instant I would be completely free of sinful thoughts and temptation. The truth is that the Christ follower will face temptation throughout their lives, and it is not something that should surprise us. Jesus freed our minds and spirits from the chains of sin, but we still live in earthly bodies. The key is to live in the Spirit, as opposed to the fleshly body.
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): There is a distinct difference between God allowing us to be tempted in order to grow us and the enemy tempting us to destroy us. God allows us to be tempted only because when we overcome temptation it grows us to be more like Jesus. God will never allow a temptation to enter our lives that we cannot overcome. "...God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) Jesus faced temptation and overcame it; therefore, we can rest knowing that it can be overcome. The Bible tells us, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) Sinful thoughts will still enter our minds. According to Scripture, the key is to catch them early and replace them with a Godly thought or they will lead to sin. “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:15) The Christ follower should have a quiver full of Godly thoughts in their arsenal, built by meditating on and memorizing verses from the Word of God. The psalmist David wrote, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11) To be ready to overcome temptation, we daily pray for understanding and strength and submit to the will of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul wrote to encourage the Christ follower to, “live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Galatians 5:15)
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): As we meditate and study the Bible consistently, the Truth of God’s Word will renew our minds and give us strength to overcome temptation. If there is a specific temptation with which you are having difficulty, I recommend sharing it with God and asking Him, in prayer, to take it from you. There will be times when you will give in to temptation; please remember that Jesus forgave you for all your sins past, present and future. If you give into temptation, it will only separate you further from God and lead to more backsliding. If you confess your sin to Jesus in prayer (1 John 1:9), you will be forgiven, and He will give you the strength to resist that sin.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): 2 Peter 2:9; James 1:2-4
WSK
Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.