TEMPTATION (1)

1. Bible Topic

a) To learn what the Bible has to say on a variety of topics affecting our everyday lives, we may find what we are looking for here.

2. Temptation

a) Temptation does not come from God, but comes from our own sinful desires. It’s in the Bible, James 1:13-15, NKJV. “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

b) You cannot have both God and your sinful desire. It's in the Bible, Matthew 6:24, NKJV. "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

c) When you are faced with temptation, run the other direction! It’s in the Bible, 2 Timothy 2:22, NKJV. “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 

d) It's in the Bible, James 4:7, NKJV.  “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

e) Joseph is an example of someone who successfully resisted temptation. It’s in the Bible, Genesis 39:6-20, NIV. “Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ But he refused. ‘With me in charge,’ he told her, ‘my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?’ And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.”

f) Prayer strengthens us against temptation. It’s in the Bible, Mark 14:38, NKJV. “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”