Overcoming Temptation

Other articles

"'See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,' declares the Lord."

These words from Isaiah (54:16-17) show us one function of the stresses we undergo as Christians; to form us into an unmatched weapon, fit for its work. Temptation is one of these formative stresses. But if it is to form, and not deform, we must be able to resist it and overcome it.

The Nature of Temptation

First, we must understand the nature of temptation. There are three main avenues, described by John (1 John 2:16) as "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (KJV), or, more freely but still accurately translated, "the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does" (NIV).

These three main kinds of temptation faced Eve, who "saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom" (Gen.3:6).

They also faced Jesus, in the temptation to turn stones into bread, take the devil's offer of the kingdoms of the world which he had shown him, and leap presumptuously from the temple. This is why Hebrews says that he "has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin" (Heb.4:15).

The Weapon against Temptation

How did Jesus turn away the temptations of the devil? "It is written . . . It is written . . . It is written." The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is our weapon against all evil, including temptation.

Note that it is the sword of the Spirit - he helps us both by supplying the Scriptures (he inspired them originally, and even if we have memorised them it is he who brings them to our minds) and by giving them "divine power to demolish strongholds" (2 Co 10:4).

Which Scriptures? Two main kinds are especially useful - those which deal with who we are in Christ, with the nature of God, and with the consequences of these things; and those which call upon God for aid and proclaim his victory - and it is always his victory, not ours.

The Psalms have a multitude of passages of both these types, especially the latter, and daily reading of the Psalms strengthens and enriches us in faith. I have found it useful to follow Billy Graham's example, reading five Psalms each day in order to go through the book in a month.

It is also useful to write out a list of key verses on who we are in Christ and memorise, if not the reference and the exact words, at least their general location and the main statement that they make - and/or to hang the list in a prominent place where it will encourage you often.

The devil's native language is lies (John 8:44), and he has never learnt any other, so any message from him will be a lie of greater or lesser cunning. This includes temptations.

The best way to expose and oppose a lie is by knowing the truth, so that the truth shall make you free (John 8:32).

"This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith," says John (1 John 5:4), and in context he is speaking of the faith as a body of revealed truth which has the power to put us in touch with Christ, the Truth. Hence the martyrs in Revelation are said to have overcome the devil "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony" (1 John 5:4).

Truths against Temptation

There are several specific truths which help turn temptation to God's purposes rather than the enemy's.

The first is contained in John's use of the past tense: "This is the victory that has overcome the world." Greater is he who is in us, than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4); the enemy is totally defeated at the cross of Christ and so cannot force us to do anything, though he will tell you otherwise.

From this truth comes the second, that yielding to temptation is just as much an act of will as resisting it - an easier act of will, true, but an act of will nonetheless.

So the choice is never taken away from us; God will not take it away, and the enemy cannot. It is up to us to make the decision with which both Moses and Joshua faced the Israelites: "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life . . . For the Lord is your life" (Dt 30:19-20).

"If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Josh 24:15).

The third truth, of course, is that serving the Lord and seeking his will is always best, even if it is (or seems) harder. However attractive the temptation, obedience is better - it may well seem less attractive, but if so, you have been blinded and fed lies. That gives you, incidentally, every right to be angry at the tempter - Jesus was.

Lest we emphasise human action, logic and experience too much, let us take the fourth truth from that wisest of New Testament books, James. In the context of condemning evil desires and wrong motives, he boldly and without apology or qualification declares, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (Jas 4:7).

He continues, "Come near to God, and he will come near to you" (v 8a); and if we wanted to give a formula for resisting temptation in one and a half verses, these would be the ones to choose. If every temptation drives you to the Father's arms, the enemy's purpose will be defeated and God's purpose - to forge a weapon fit for its work - will be fulfilled.