Topic: Victory over Temptation
Text: James 1:12-16
Key text: James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Discussion: temptation is common to all Christian pilgrim, if we are really on our way to heaven, there will always come temptations which we must overcome, if we will get to heaven, but to overcome we must understand this basic things about temptations: the Source, the strategy, the solution.
The Source: the ultimate source of temptation is the Devil, he comes in a cunny way, using your Self (flesh) or someone else, how?
The Strategy: Having realized that Satan is the ultimate source of temptation, our text reveals the strategy he uses,
-Drawing away: Satan understands that when we are in the will of God, it becomes impossible to fall into temptation, so he dangles goodies before us, with a purpose of drawing us out of God's will. He tries to create a desire for the things of this world in us, of Which Jesus said, if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him, this will make the individual to lust after that thing.
-Lust to lust is to passionately desire a thing, damming the consequence of getting that thing, it may be money, position, power, or anything.
When Satan has successfully drawn an individual away, and put within him a lust, Satan can then easily, capture such ca back into sin. Sometimes Satan uses things that are not sinful to lure men into sin, that is why we must learn to discipline ourself, deny ourself and carry our cross after him.
The Solution: Temptation is not a sin, but to fall into the suggestion to sin, is a sin, therefore we must be victorious over temptation, what is the solution, the way to be victorious over the tempter and his temptation.
-The Savior: Jesus came to deliver us from sin and give us Victory over temptation. (See Luke 1:74&75), it is important to note that a sinner is not tempted, he is still a slave to sin hence he lives in sin, only one that has been saved by Jesus Christ, that can be tempted to forsake him, or to commit sin (read 1 John 3:5-9) it is through Jesus' death and resurrection that we can be free from sin, and live a virtuous life over sin.
-Self denial, sacrifice and service: several times Jesus reiterated these points as condition for following him, because, except we deny ourselves of somethings, we cannot live victorious over temptation, hence we cannot be a disciple of Christ. These three talks about delebrate avoidance of some basic necessities that are offered on a platter of an appearance of evil, also intentional submission, and devotedness to the will of God, and absolute surrender to the cause of Christ, with the aim of winning souls to the kingdom.
-Saintly equipping: Also to live victorious, saints must have the following in their Armoury; Righteousness, Truth and sincerity, Evangelism and soul winning, Faith, asurrance of Salvation, the reading the word of God, watchfulness against appearance of evil, perseverance and supplication for all saints. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.(read also, Ephesians 6:11, 13-18)
Challenge: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Prayer: Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil, let me learn to live in your Victory, in Jesus name. Amen
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