Satan just loves to tempt us to sin and hinder the intimacy we have with our Savior. He is a conniver and deceiver. He hates God and anyone who belongs to Him. He only wants to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus has come that we may have life, and have it to the full (Jn 10:10 NKJV). In order to live the abundant life Jesus wants to give you, you need to recognize these 3 lies about temptation.
3 Lies about Temptation Satan Wants You to Believe
Lie#1: BEING TEMPTED IS A SIN
Although temptation can lead you to sin, being tempted is NOT a sin. Jesus Himself was tempted but never gave in.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
(Heb 4:15)
Believing this lie will keep you in a pit of guilt and defeat.
Lie #2: WE CAN HANDLE IT
“I won’t let it go too far. I can stop.”
Famous last words from many a teenager in the backseat of a car! God makes a way of escape (1 Cor 10:13). The problem is most of us don’t heed the first or second warning. It’s a fact: the longer you wait the harder it is to resist!
We cannot always prevent temptation, but we can certainly decrease the possibility by not putting ourselves in a vulnerable position. (see Rom 13:14)
Lie #3: WE CAN’T HELP GIVING IN
The truth is—you and I don’t have to sin; we can choose not to!
The first time I heard that I was dumbfounded. Then I got downright excited! I personally was tired of repeatedly sinning against my Savior and grieving His heart.
But I didn’t know how not to sin!
What helped me was understanding that we cannot resist temptation in our own strength. We must tap into God’s strength.
Turn to me, and be gracious to me; grant Your strength [Your might and the power to resist temptation] to Your servant….
(Ps 86:16 AMP, emphasis added)
In fighting temptation, Jesus relied on His Father’s power—not His own human strength, or His own divine power. Although Jesus is fully God, He was/is fully man and lived as such while on earth. He willingly laid aside the use of His divine power (Phil 2:6-8).
Some think we have an excuse to sin because we don’t have divine power like Jesus did to resist. But we do! We have the Father’s power just like Jesus. In those moments of testing Jesus acted as a man, fully dependent upon His Father’s resources. Otherwise, how can Jesus be our model if He used His divine power to defeat the Devil? That doesn’t make sense.
This concept might be new to you, but I hope you will think it through and study the Bible for yourself (see resources below for help).
And do you know what weapon Christ wielded against His tempter? The same that is available to you and me: the Word of God. When tempted in the desert Jesus used verses from Deuteronomy to counter each of Satan’s lies. The enemy is too strong for you.
He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
(Ps 18:17)
But not too strong for the One living inside of you as a believer.
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
(1 Jn 4:4 NLT).
My friend, Satan wants you and I to sin and hinder our relationship with God and others. Although we cannot completely stop sinning here on earth, we can strive to stop hurting God and others by learning to recognize the lies of our enemy (2 Cor 2:11).
Satan wants to rob God of His glory and he wants to rob you of peace, joy, and effectiveness for God’s Kingdom. Don’t let him!
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith….
(1 Pet 5:8-9)
Helpful Resources
7 Things You Need to Know about Your Enemy Free PDF
Knowing Christ Mark Jones
Our Knowable God
Except where indicated all Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV. ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.(NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
(AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.