It is important to understand the process, person, point of contact and path to victory to overcome temptation. Temptation comes when one is drawn away from convictions by one’s own desires and enticed into sin. However, temptation itself is not a sin until one yields to it. Once yielded to, sin is committed which leads to death.
Satan is behind every temptation, though he may use other people or circumstances. Satan uses intelligence about individuals to target areas of vulnerability and entice them into compromising. Jesus recognised Satan during His own temptations in the wilderness. Satan tempted Eve through subtle lies and questioned God’s instructions. He also tempted David to number Israel and provoked him to sin. The real tempter is always Satan working behind the scenes.
The mind is identified as the primary point of contact for temptation. Satan seeks to desensitize the mind through his subtle tactics so that one’s thinking becomes corrupted Once the mind yields, sin is given entry to take control.
Four aspects of the path to victory over temptation are explained: relying on the written Word of God daily for the strength to resist; avoiding people, places or things that make one vulnerable to falling; remembering the temporary nature of sin’s fleeting pleasures in contrast to eternal rewards; and recalling that God promises a way of escape and will only allow testing one can withstand through His grace.
Anyone can overcome temptation and its negative consequences through trusting and applying these wisdom points from God’s Word. Victory over temptation is promised through Christ. If someone has grown weak, repentance and renewing the mind to godly thinking are essential with God’s reviving help. With His help, anyone can endure all Satan brings and remain standing by walking in obedience to the principles taught in this encouraging message on temptation.
