Learning to Handle Temptation

Posted on July 8, 2007

 

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Genesis 3:1-7

ONE GREAT TRUTH: Temptation has plagued mankind for the entire history of the human race, yet Satan’s methods have never really changed. Therefore, it is possible to learn to overcome temptation in the strength, wisdom, and power of God. 

Genesis chapter three is perhaps the most important chapter in the book. It has been said that if you remove chapter three from the Bible, you remove the basis of the entire story of redemption in Jesus Christ. Therefore, it’s one of the most attacked chapters in the Bible as well. Subtle Satan still attacks it in subtle ways today. It gets turned into the stuff of folklore and legend. But in this chapter begins what is known as the “scarlet thread of redemption” which weaves its way throughout all of the Bible.

In this morning’s message, we said that marriage is one of life’s greatest tests. More generally, temptation is life’s constant test. From God’s standpoint, temptation can make us stronger saints. From Satan’s standpoint, temptation can wreck and ruin our lives. But it is God’s will that we grow in Christ and be able to withstand temptation God’s way.

HANDLING TEMPTATION…

I. Identify the Enemy.

The enemy, introduced to us in obscurity in this passage, is Satan.

BMA Doctrinal Statement, Article IV: “Satan is a person, rather than a personification of evil (John 8:44), and he with his demons opposes all that is true and godly by blinding the world to the gospel (2 Cor. 4:3-4), tempting saints to do evil (Eph. 6:11; 1 Pet. 5:8), and warring against the Son of God (Gen. 3:15; Rev. 20:1-10).”

II. Identify the Enemy’s Tactics.

Satan almost never comes to us with a flashing billboard declaring “I’m evil and I’ve come to destroy your life.” Instead, he comes with subtlety and cunning craftiness.

A. He comes to us in an appealing form. (1 John 2:16) There is a lot of disagreement about the nature of Satan’s visit in the garden. Personally, I believe that the serpent was the most sophisticated and beautiful of all of God’s creatures and that Satan inhabited its body to tempt Eve. Others believe that the “serpent” was Satan himself. Either way, He always comes in an appealing form.

B. He causes us to question or misuse Scripture. First, Satan casts doubt upon God’s word, then He outright denies it.

C. He blinds lost people to the gospel. (2 Cor. 4:3-4)

D. He seeks to destroy lives. (1 Pet. 5:8)

III. Use Biblical Defenses.

A. The Armor of God. (Eph. 6:10-18) All of these wonderful resources are at our fingertips if we’ll only apply them spiritually every day.

B. The Sword of Scripture. (Eph. 6:17; Matt. 4:4, 7, 10; Psalm 119:11) Scripture is the one weapon we’re given. By memorizing Scripture, we can keep our ways pure!

C. The Power of Prayer. (Eph. 6:18) When should we be on guard in prayer? Always, always, always! In every circumstance, in the face of every temptation, in times of peace, in times of war, we should always be guarding our lives through the power of prayer.

D. The Honorable Retreat. (1 Cor. 10:13) It may seem tough to stand up and fight off Satan, but it rarely works. It’s always better to choose God’s retreat.

E. The Possibility of Resistance. (1 Pet. 5:8, 9; James 4:7) How do you resist Satan? In prayer? He isn’t an answerer of prayer. You simply say “No!” to him. You go the other way, you claim the power of Christ. You simply refuse Him a place in your life and choose to submit to God instead.

IV. Claim Victory in the War.

We fight battles with temptation every single day. Our wits are always being tested by the enemy within, the enemy without, and the world around us. We will win some battles to the glory of God. We will lose some ground at times to the enemy’s forces. But ultimately, there is permanent and sure victory in Christ for all of God’s children!

Rom. 8:37; 1 Cor. 15:54-58; Rev. 20:10