You Need to Know How 5 Powerful Truths Defeat Temptation
Simply put, you need to know how these 5 powerful truths will defeat temptation, sin, and eventually spiritual death. These 5 truths are actually Biblical ways that lead you to walk in the fruit of the spirit. They take us out of the temptation to the foot of the cross and an encounter with Jesus Christ. According to the Scriptures, Jesus is the only way to defeat temptations. Therefore, what are these 5 powerful truths?
One: Run to God and Focus on Him
Two: Believe the Truth
Three: Jesus is Your Example
Four: Focus on God in the Moment of Temptation
Five: Take Every Thought Captive to the Obedience of Christ During the Moment of Temptation
Step One: Run to God and Focus on Him
My wife Janean has a saying, “You tell your life story when you make love.” Literally, all of life’s experiences, the good, bad, ugly, trauma, and pain end up in the bedroom and affect your sexuality and intimacy with your spouse. I also have a saying, “You don’t manage or control your life so bad things don’t happen, you live life fully in Christ, and when you’re disrupted and tempted, you take it to Jesus.” Both statements deal with how you respond or react to temptations. What you do in the past and now at the moment will affect your future! Believe me, we know about temptation personally, and in our counseling ministry!
Food Can Be A Temptation
One of our clients was raised by a single mother who failed to provide regular nourishment for her. Of course, this is a basic need for every child. When her need for food was not met, fear set in. She had to control her life, protect herself, and find ways to survive. Food became a preoccupation. When a parent doesn’t cover their child, Satan sees this as an opportunity. He uses temptations to influence you to manage life apart from God. In this case, food became a stronghold. It became a way to cope with stress, depression, challenging life experiences, and even a reward when things were good. Her focus was to relieve pain through food. I think everyone can relate to this to some degree.
Only Two Ways to Deal with Temptation
The 5 truths to defeat temptation reveal there are only two ways to handle or respond to temptation. Every response or reaction to temptation is a variation of these two.
"For My people (those who believe God) have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, Broken Cisterns that can hold no water” (Jerimiah 2:13).
According to the Scriptures, the two ways to deal with temptation are one, run to God the living waters. Two, dig your own wells or cisterns that hold no water. Any temptation handled apart from God is referred to as evil. In fact, they expressly represent two evils against God. The first evil is that you don’t run to God. You forsake Him; maybe you don’t trust Him or know His power, goodness, and faithfulness. The second evil is that you run away from God and develop (hew, craft) your broken cisterns, strategies, and coping mechanisms. Broken cisterns are every way we deal with temptation in our strength apart from God. It is focusing on self rather than God.
Step Two: Believe the Truth
What is Temptation?
So, what is temptation? First of all, the temptation is not sinning, although it leads to fleshly living, sinful behaviors, extended bondage, and eventually death. We know this because Jesus, in every way, was tempted but without sin.
"For we do not have a high priest (Jesus) who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
Secondly, God does not tempt you.
"Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone” (James 1:13).
In the next sentence, James defines temptation.
"But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust (thoughts). Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin (actions, behaviors, bondage); and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived (misled), my beloved brethren.” (James 1:14-16)
Lust is often defined as an intense and selfish desire for gratification outside the bounds of God's design, purpose, and marriage. It is seen as a distortion of God's gift of masculinity and femininity where the focus is solely on satisfying one's own desires without regard for the well-being and dignity of others and self. Lust is a strong desire. It is an intense, overwhelming, or unrestrained sexual craving or addictive compulsion. According to Jesus, the very act of lusting after a woman is the sin of committing adultery in your heart.
“Your ancestors have been taught, never to commit adultery (any sex outside of marriage). However, I say to you, if you look with lust in your eyes at the body of a woman who is not your wife, you’ve already committed adultery in your heart” (Matthew 5: 27, 28).
Therefore, lust is a sin and a reaction to temptation. We believe lust comes from not being regenerated in your spirit (unbelief), carnal desires, compulsive behaviors, and addictions. In this attitude, mental state, or thought life, you choose to focus on the exciting object (whatever appears to give gratification) and give in to temptation rather than focus on God. Focusing on God, His Word, and His presence is the only appropriate response to temptation.
Three Forces Behind Temptation
The 5 powerful truths defeat temptation and reveal there are three forces behind temptation designed to deceive and mislead Christians: the world, the flesh, and the devil.
The World
The world is anything apart from Jesus; philosophies, religions, and isms (secularism, legalism, socialism, materialism). It says we can accomplish anything apart from God. And if we can’t, the culture will lower the standards or redefine its truth. It is what I call the Romans chapter 1 decline of humanity and nations.
1) You reject God. followed by worshiping idols.
2) Then, you embrace self-indulgence or sexual sin. (see my blog on sexual immorality)
3) God gives you over to a depraved mind.
The inhabitants of a world without God are immoral in their behavior and wicked in their thinking. In this case, Satan tempts you through the world, you believe its lies, you act and behave accordingly—sin, and you remain in bondage and eventually spiritual death.
"And his fullness fills you, even though you were once like corpses, dead in your sins and offenses. It wasn’t that long ago that you lived in the religion, customs, and values of this world, obeying the dark ruler of the earthly realm who fills the atmosphere with his authority and works diligently in the hearts of those who are disobedient to the truth of God. The corruption that was in us from birth was expressed through the deeds and desires of our self–life. We lived by whatever natural cravings and thoughts our minds dictated, living as rebellious children subject to God’s wrath like everyone else. But God still loved us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy. Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, he united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by his wonderful grace! He raised us up with Christ the exalted One, and we ascended with him into the glorious perfection and authority of the heavenly realm, for we are now co-seated as one with Christ! (Ephesians 2: 1-6).
The Flesh
The flesh is our own/carnal thoughts, desires, or lusts. Jesus took care of the sin issue for all who believe in His Sacrifice. Christians are forgiven of their sins, filled with the Holy Spirit, and promised eternal life. So, what is the issue involved with temptation? Paul makes it evident in Galatians chapter 5. A believer’s war or conflict with temptation isn’t sinning; it’s whether they walk in the Spirit, focused on God, bearing fruit, or walk in the flesh, focused on self, remaining in bondage.
"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh … But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law” (Galatians 5:13, 16-18).
It’s interesting to note here that trying to handle temptation through the Law is the opposite of walking in the Spirit. Walking in the flesh under the Law is striving, working harder, strategizing, following man’s formulas, and mustering up enough faith to obligate God to help you resist temptation. I know these are harsh words, but our hope and faith are only based on the sufficiency of Christ Jesus. Jesus plus nothing! In this case, you react to temptation by feeding your lust and gratifying your wants, you act and behave accordingly, you sin, and you remain broken and in bondage.
The Devil
Lastly, the temptations are tools or
schemes of the devil. He’s a liar, a deceiver, an accuser of the brethren. His purpose on earth is to mislead you with lies. He uses lies to kill, steal, and destroy your freedom and abundance in Christ. The Apostle James says we are to resist the enemy (acknowledge the enemy’s strategies), no denial, no pretending, no broken cisterns, no works, or plan. You are to submit to God (focus on God, not the temptation). The result is that he will flee, present tense. God obliterates the devil’s temptation! God gives you grace (unconditional love and mercy) that is greater than temptation.
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore, it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4: 5-8). The Message says, “So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God, and he’ll be there in no time.”
Step Three: Jesus is Your Example
The 5 steps to Defeat Temptation show you that Jesus is your example when it comes to temptation. Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil after His baptism and before His ministry started. Is it comforting to know that even when you’re tempted that God is in control? Jesus quoted the Scriptures and then told the Devil to leave. He resisted the Devil by believing the truth of Scripture, quoting it which demonstrated a submission to God (James 4:7).
“Afterward, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the lonely wilderness in order to reveal his strength against the accuser by going through the ordeal of testing. And after fasting for forty days, Jesus was extremely weak and famished. Then the tempter came to entice him to provide food by doing a miracle. So he (Satan) said to Jesus, “How can you possibly be the Son of God and go hungry? Just order these stones to be turned into loaves of bread.” He answered, “The Scriptures say: Bread alone will not satisfy, but true life is found in every word, which constantly goes forth from God’s mouth.” Then the accuser transported Jesus to the holy city of Jerusalem and perched him at the highest point of the temple and said to him, “If you’re really God’s Son, jump, and the angels will catch you. For it is written in the Scriptures: He will command his angels to protect you and they will lift you up so that you won’t even bruise your foot on a rock.” Once again Jesus said to him, “The Scriptures say: You must never put the Lord your God to a test.” And the third time the accuser lifted Jesus up into a very high mountain range and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and all the splendor that goes with it. “All of these kingdoms I will give to you,” the accuser said, “if only you will kneel down before me and worship me.” But Jesus said, “Go away, enemy! For the Scriptures say: Kneel before the Lord your God and worship only him.” At once the accuser left him, and angels suddenly gathered around Jesus to minister to his needs” (Matthew 4:1-11).
Satan tempts Jesus by lying, using half-truths, and even Scripture out of context. Jesus acknowledges the deception and resists the devil and submits to God’s Word. He speaks the truth and rebukes the lie. Christ takes every thought captive to God’s revealed truth. He does it the very moment He is tempted. Satan tried to deceive Jesus two more times. He responded the same way. The devil had to flee when Jesus to him to go away.
You will be tempted until the day you see Jesus face to face. Resisting the devil and submitting to God requires an intimate relationship with Jesus in the same way He had a close relationship with His Father in Heaven. Who is the truth, of course, it's Jesus.
"So, Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “IF YOU CONTINUE IN MY WORD, THEN YOU ARE TRULY DISCIPLES OF MINE; AND YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE” (Jn 8:31-32).
The truth that makes you free is not only accurate for salvation but temptation. Conversely, if you believe the devil lies, you will act according to the deception and remain in bondage. The Scriptures call these strongholds or fortresses. The truth sets you free the lie keeps you in bondage and dead spiritually.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings (sins), made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)" (Ephesians 2:4-5).
Step Four: Focus on God in the Moment of Temptation
The 5 steps to Defeat Temptation reveal the key is living in the present moment. You immediately take it to God. So how do you live in the moment? You focus on God, His Word, Jesus, truth, and the Holy Spirit living in and through you. God does not call us to fix the past or manage the future. God lives in the moment! Yes, He is God of the past, but He doesn’t ask you to live, fix, or focus on the past. Indeed, He is the God of the future, but He doesn’t ask you to manage or focus on the future. When the world, flesh, or devil tempts you, God asks you to focus on Him and run to Him in the present moment. Therefore, when you are tempted, you desperately need Jesus, and He freely gives you more than you can imagine. He offers you rest, peace, and grace.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7). “Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
I Pray, and Nothing Happens
You might say, “I pray, and I pray, and God hasn’t healed me!” Do you pray, Lord help me with my addictions, and nothing happens? Your prayers are likely not in the moment of temptation. But after giving in to temptation or praying for victory in the future. God heals our past wounds, and He paves the way for future freedom. But He only helps you with temptation when you resist, submit, and act on His Word, Truth, and Spirit living in and through you at the moment.
In our counseling and prayer ministry, most of the husbands have sexual addiction—pornography, lust, sexual sin. In fact, it’s rampant in our culture. One thing in common is that none of them want to sin, or do they? They all pray for God to take away their sexual addictions. So why do they continue to sin? Well, it is simple; in the moment of temptation, they want or desire self-satisfaction more than God. In the moment of temptation, our desire is self-pleasure, not exercising our faith in Jesus. We are more comfortable with our sins than we are in being intimate with God. Most of us fear intimacy or experiencing God at a personal level. So, we react to what we are comfortable with or pleasing in the moment. I know that has been true in my case.
"Do not love the world nor 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 lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father but from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
They gave in to the temptations to act out their carnal desires, the lust of the eyes, and pride. Their prayers were always after the sin, not at the moment of temptation. It is why we teach every person, male or female, married or single, that comes to see us how to run to God. We call it God’s Intimacy Prayer.
Step Five: Take Every Thought Captive to Christ During Moment of Temptation
Step five is to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ during the moment of temptation which is an actual assault, harassment, or enticement from the world, flesh, or devil. As we have discussed previously, the key is focusing on God in the moment of temptation, not after. So, how does God give you a way of escape and what is it?
God Gives You a Way of Escape
God gives everyone a way out when tempted, and it comes into play, or full bloom around the word submit. Submit is taking every thought captive and focusing or giving them to Jesus, again, at the exact moment of temptation.
Temptations are common to all humans, and you can trust God to be faithful and help. Therefore, we focus on God. He is the way of escape! Let’s go back to why we give in to temptation and lustful thoughts. The Lord asks us to take every lustful thought or vain imagination captive to the obedience of Christ.
"No temptation has overtaken you, but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
God Gives You Mighty and Powerful Weapons
"You live in the world, but you do not wage war against temptation as the world does. God does not ask you to use the weapons made by mere men to fight the temptation of lust (any strong desire). You are to use mighty weapons that are divinely powerful to knock down Satan’s fortresses or strongholds. In this way, you are destroying human reasoning, smashing warped philosophies, false arguments against the knowledge and truth of God. You will be a part of demolishing this entirely massive and corrupt culture. You are to use these powerful God tools to tear down all barriers erected against the truth of God” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4, Message).
What are these mighty weapons that are divinely powerful to knock down Satan's fortresses or strongholds? Jesus! You are to use these powerful God tools to one, destroy human reasoning, two, smash warped and false philosophies, three, reveal false arguments against the knowledge and truth of God, four, demolish an entirely massive and corrupt culture, and five, tear down all barriers erected against the truth of God in the Name of Jesus.
Remember, all temptation comes from one of three sources the world, flesh, or the devil. So, how do you do this? It all starts by living in the moment and being aware of your thinking, urges, desires, and beliefs when you are tempted!
"By taking every loose thought, emotion, sexual desire, and impulse captive as obedient to Christ. You simply focus on and agree with Jesus. This type of thinking allows your thoughts and life to be structured and shaped by Christ. Responding and using God’s way of escape clears away every temptation (obstruction) and rebuilds your experiences” to produce faith, grace, victory, and maturity” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6, Message).
REVIEW: Five Truths to Defeat Temptation
There are only two ways to respond to temptation and acknowledge that you are being tempted. You and you alone are the one who determines what path you take. You will either give in to temptation and sin or defeat temptation through the power of Jesus!
Run to God and focus on Him the exact moment you are being tempted.
Run to God the spring of living waters.
Acknowledge your broken cisterns or coping mechanisms.
Everything happens the moment you are tempted.
Believe the truth!
Jesus was tempted in every way but without sin.
God does not tempt you!
You are tempted by the world, flesh, and devil.
Focusing on temptation rather than God leads to sin.
Your thoughts become lustful and turn into behaviors.
Thoughts and behaviors acted out become sin.
Unrepentant sin becomes demonic strongholds and, eventually, death.
Focus on God in the moment of temptation.
Humbly submit to God, and He will draw near.
Resist the devil and he must flee.
You are not tempted beyond your means.
God is always faithful.
God always provides a way of escape—Jesus!
Jesus is our mighty and powerful weapon!
Jesus is your example!
Acknowledge the temptation at the moment.
Be intimately acquainted with God and His Word.
Reject the lie of the enemy, accept the truth.
Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ during the moment of temptation.
You take every loose thought, emotion, sexual desire, and impulse captive to Christ by running to Jesus.
Simply focus on and agree with Jesus.
This type of thinking allows your actions and life to be structured and shaped by Christ.
Responding and using God’s way of escape clears away every temptation (obstruction).
END RESULT: Walking in the Fruit of the Spirit-Love
Following these 5 Steps to Defeat Temptation will assure that you will defeat temptation and the sin that follows. These steps will lead you to trust and depend on the sufficiency of the cross and the resurrection of Christ. It will nurture an intimate relationship with Jesus. Being victorious over temptation will increase your faith and help you respond out of the fruit of the Spirit which is an inheritance of your salvation. These characteristics or attributes are aspects of your true Identity "IN" Christ. As is everything, they are a gift from God to be enjoyed and used for His glory.
“But the fruit of the Sprit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
It is important to remember that you cannot focus on God and focus on your selfish desires at the same time. Again, you can't walk in the Spirit and carry out the desires of the flesh.
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want" (Galatians 5:16-17).
Christians live in Christ’s love. The believer is love-inspired, love-mastered, and love-driven.
"For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died, and He died for all so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
Therefore, what does it look like to defeat temptations and walk in the Spirit of Love? The following list defines God’s love and its subsequent characteristics.
Joy is Loves Strength
Peace is Love’s Security
Patience is Love’s Endurance
Kindness is Love’s Conduct
Goodness is Love’s Character
Faithfulness is Love’s Confidence
Gentleness is Love’s Humility
Self-control is Loves Victory
Therefore, maturity and grace are what you can look forward to when you use the “5 Steps to Defeat Temptation and Sin.”
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We All Have the Same Dilemma, We're Dead in Sin
Every human being, ethnic group, race, or gender finds themselves in this same dilemma. Therefore, there are three questions you would be wise to ask yourself and extremely prudent to answer.
One, why do I need to be saved?
Two, what does it mean for me to be saved?
Three, how am I saved?
I believe Only Jesus plus nothing not only saves you but answers these three questions.