No temptation has overtaken you that is not
common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your
ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that
you may be able to endure it.
This indeed is a powerful verse and it has power to change our
lives. The focus is not on you but on
God. Too often we hear someone
said: “I just can’t resist.” Does that sound familiar?
We
are told that Christ was also tempted: “For we do not have a high priest who
cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all
things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
Where,
then, do these temptations come from? First of all, they do not come from God,
although He does allow them. James 1:13 says, “For God cannot be tempted by evil, and He
Himself does not tempt anyone.” In the first chapter of Job, we see that God
allowed Satan to tempt Job, but with restrictions. Satan is roaming around on
the earth like a lion, seeking people to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Verse 9 tells us to resist him, knowing that other Christians are also
experiencing his attacks. By these passages we can know that temptations come
from Satan. We see in James 1:14 that temptation originates in us as well. We are
tempted when we are “carried away and enticed by our own lust” (verse 14). We
allow ourselves to think certain thoughts, allow ourselves to go places we
should not go, and make decisions based on our lusts that lead us into the
temptation.
Temptations come in many forms and some are not as easily seen such as
addiction, drugs, gambling, internet gaming and the list goes on.
How
then do we resist the temptations? First of all, we must return to the example
of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by Satan in Matthew
4:1-11. Each of Satan’s temptations was met with the same answer: “It is
written,” followed by Scripture. If the Son of God used the Word of God to
effectively end the temptations—which we know works because after three failed
efforts, “the Devil left him” (v. 11)—how much more do we need to use it to
resist our own temptations? All our efforts to resist will be weak and
ineffective unless they are powered by the Holy Spirit through the constant
reading, studying, and meditating on the Word. In this way, we will be
“transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).
There is no other weapon against temptation except the “sword of the Spirit,
which is the Word of God” (Ephesians
6:17). Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on the things above,
not on the things that are on earth.” If our minds are filled with the latest
TV shows, music and all the rest the culture has to offer, we will be bombarded
with messages and images that inevitably lead to sinful lusts. But if our minds
are filled with the majesty and holiness of God, the love and compassion of
Christ, and the brilliance of both reflected in His perfect Word, we will find
that our interest in the lusts of the world diminish and disappear. But without
the Word’s influence on our minds, we are open to anything Satan wants to throw
at us.
Other scripture references:
Watch
and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing,
but the flesh is weak.”
Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Blessed
is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he
will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot
be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted
when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has
conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth
death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
For
because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are
being tempted.
Put
on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of
the devil.
Then
Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter
came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to
become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the
devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple ...
And
give no opportunity to the devil.
Watch
and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing,
but the flesh is weak.”
For
you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Blessed
is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he
will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
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.
And
when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into
temptation.”
Count
it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know
that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness
have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
In
your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding
your blood.
Since
therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of
thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to
live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for
the will of God.
So
that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his
designs.
Beloved,
do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as
though something strange were happening to you.
“Food
is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both
one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the
Lord, and the Lord for the body.
Little
children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is
greater than he who is in the world.
For
all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes
and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
So
that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes
though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and
honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Therefore
take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on
the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as
shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish
all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Let
not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do
not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present
yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your
members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion
over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
And
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the
Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate
nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil
said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”
And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a
moment of time, ...
And
so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to
him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to
himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.
Because
you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of
trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
You
therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried
away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.
But
each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then
desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown
brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
The
Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly
kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
For
the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit
are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from
doing the things you want to do.
Flee
from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body,
but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know
that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from
God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in
your body.
And
he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter
into temptation.”
Trust
in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your
own understanding.
Now
the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say,
‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the
serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said,
‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden,
neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman,
“You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will
be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ...
Do
not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of
the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the
Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its
desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
The
end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for
the sake of your prayers.
In
this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been
grieved by various trials,
Count
it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
For
while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law,
were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.
And
forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
And
as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on
their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and
their fruit does not mature.
And
the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with
joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing
fall away.
And
they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,
for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Let
no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be
tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
