Escaping Temptation!

• Printable Version - Share on Facebook - Posted by Pastor Marty Pena January 30, 2017 - Filed in Arts & Culture - 1,388 views

  Our God will make a way where there seems to be no way. James 1:4-15 "14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death."

  Temptation if not dealt with turns into sin. It is a deception from the devil. It is a trap. Nobody ever sin's without first being tempted which means that if the person who sinned knew how to deal with temptation, the sin would have never happened.....it goes like this "I know I shouldn't but I am not doing anything wrong, it won't hurt....." that one decision can end in disaster. 

  Temptation draws us, it plays on our desires, it entices us, temptation stalks us, a temptation is dangerous, and it leads to spiritual death, why? Because it separates us from the will of God, it separates us from righteousness and holiness only if we let it. So, what do you do when you are tempted, how can you overcome temptation and have victory over defeat? It does bring destruction to homes, destruction of marriages, chaos in your home and life by the way we respond to temptation. How should we respond to temptation? An example, when I was a 5-year-old little girl (already saved and led to Christ by Kathryn Kulman) our parents took us to a local store that we would visit on Sunday's. There was a beautiful pink clear eraser that was so enticing, my first instinct was to put it in my pocket, back then they had no camera's, etc..... so it was so easy to steal anything, but I dealt with the temptation at age 5 and did not take that eraser, but the devil was so quick to whisper in my ear that there was nothing wrong about stealing that eraser! Yes, I did not take the eraser. I had the knowledge at the age of 5 that it was wrong. I immediately asked God to forgive me of my thoughts and I was only 5 years old.

  Temptation leads people to the substances that enslave them, temptation can be tough stuff. Temptation doesn't have to ruin your life. One bad thing about temptation is that it's everywhere these days but it all started in the Garden of Eden, today it is a disease that consumes any human if given power. Back in the days, there were certain sins that you had to go looking for. Now, all you have to do is open your computer and there it is, you did not even have to leave your house. The other thing..."nobody knows"...society seems to encourage sin like never before, have what you want, sin is awarded and applauded by society. I recently saw a billboard that read "Just the right amount of wrong" sin is cool, so what do you do? Satan separated Adam and Eve from God by temptation and luring them with a beautiful tree, Eve made a crucial mistake, her curiosity engaged her into the temptation (Genesis 3:2-3; Genesis 3:4-6). She not only fell to the sin but led her husband to it, and that was that. They ate and sin came into the world with all it's attended misery. Eve allowed herself to be beguiled as the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4. We can be enchanted or tricked.

  When temptation comes 'call on God right away'....and don't linger and hang around temptation when the enemy comes calling, close the avenue he is leading you to, if it is getting too far, stop and pray. We are all given the choice daily to flee temptation just like Eve had the chance and we are still paying the price for her indiscretion today. The temptation is a powerful thing. An image on a billboard, a strong habit, a drink in a glass, a cigarette in a hand, an attractive face, the chance to get easy money, etc...there are all kinds of temptations.

  2 Samuel 11:2...take the life of David, he saw a beautiful woman, he got tempted, he has seen something he likes, David sinned and inquired about the woman. Nothing wrong with asking about a person, but he was opening the door to temptation "Bathsheba" she was married and David was married, he should have walked away and just remained her friend. Nothing wrong with friends. We should always have friends of all kinds it is loving one another and it is a Commandment from God. By the time David and this sin was over he had committed adultery, dishonesty, murder, so judgment came swiftly. What a mess! But if David would have handled that temptation better it would of all been different. What should have David have done? A similar situation was found in the life of Joseph Genesis 38:7. Temptation? Yep! It was a temptation for Joseph but he did not welcome it. He was loyal to his master Genesis 38:8-9. Joseph was moved by a sense of right, loyalty, and duty, where David failed at the sense of right. Joseph was led by principle and not desire and would not sin against God. Joseph made God's desires more important than his own. Joseph found honor in God's eyes big time, becoming second to Pharaoh the second largest kingdom in the world. Temptation didn't have to bring David down, but sadly it did. When the door of temptation opened right there before him he walked clear through it. Joseph, on the other hand, slammed that door shut. Joseph decided ahead of time that by God's grace he would honor God in what he did and God honored him for that.

  Here are 3 ways to deal with temptation 1) Call on God 2) Trust completely (James 4:7). In this scripture God is telling us we can be victorious over sin, we don't have to fall. If you have that idea "I guess I am just too weak" but God is strong enough! HE can keep you from sinning! If you can resist the devil while submitting to God, the devil will flee! Why do I know that? Because it is written, God said so! 3) Claim God's Promises...1 Corinthians 10:13. Gather up the promises of God so that when you are tempted by impurity you can say "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8; Psalm 101:3 "I will set nothing wicked before my eyes." or many other promises. 2 Peter 2:9 "The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations. You don't have to fall when temptation comes. It is not easy but yet it is so simple! The temptation is a daily struggle, but if we take it to God every time you can rest assured that God will deliver you. "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"...it's real, God will deliver you. By following these 3 godly steps, it will revolutionize your life. Repent daily, and remember we are all sinners saved by Grace.

  Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.