Temptation
In the book of Genesis there is the story of Adam and Eve, we see sin for the first time in the Bible. Life is perfect in the garden for these two love birds until the shrewdest wild animal of all – the serpent – asks Eve a question, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
Satan was asking Eve a question he already knew the answer to! This is manipulation at its best.
Eve answers, “of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden. It is only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
Here’s the backstory on satan:
Satan is disguised as a serpent. When the serpent deceives us with lies we are tempted and must choose to sin or not to sin. Satan was an angel full of pride and had rebelled against God in heaven. God casted him out of heaven for this sin. Satan’s ultimate goal is to tempt us away from God.
Satan lies to Eve, “You won’t die, God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
Eve was convinced! She believed satan’s lies he whispered to her and temptation started. The tree was beautiful, the fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took action, took some fruit, and ate it! She went against God’s living Word, she chose to sin after being tempted.
Satan’s plan against us in today’s world is still the same, he wants to tempt us so we will choose to sin. When we fall to temptation it is an invitation to live satan’s kind of life versus God’s kind of life. Satan tempted Eve and because Eve chose to fulfill her own desire of wanting wisdom, evil succeeded.
To sin or not to sin…please ask yourself this question when you feel tempted by the serpent. We make the ultimate choice to sin or not!
So…we must know our enemy and his tactics. He loves for us to have doubt, discouragement, diversions, defeat, and delay. We learn how he tempts us by reading the Bible and seeing him in action.
Jesus was tempted by him in the desert in Matthew 4:1-11. Jesus answered satan’s lies and temptation with scripture and stayed obedient to God’s Word, therefore he did not choose to sin. Jesus is the example of how we need to respond to temptation from Satan. (Prayer, fasting, & scripture)
TemptIon will make us desire to do something against God’s way…you fill in the blank! Maybe…A desire to do something illegal, a desire to be with someone outside of marriage, or a desire to fulfill our selfish needs. Temptation is how satan sparks our desire to sin.
So many people say, the devil made me do it! Well…the devil did not make you do it, he just lies to you, tempts you, and then your own desires make you sin! Being tempted by satan is not a sin, it is when you “give into” the temptation a sin occurs.
Satan wants us to be self absorbed and think we can be our own gods, we can be in control. When Eve listened to his lies that she would be like God if she ate from the middle tree, satan was like, “YES”, she turned away from God, she loves herself more than God!
The enemy wants us to leave God out of our plans and serve ourselves. Self- exaltation leads to rebellion against God. The death of self is not accomplished quickly and is actually a living death daily. But… that is another blog for another day! #becomeselfless
Satan was cast out of heaven because of self pride and rebellion against our God! He wants us to rebel with him here on earth – so he tempts us to follow his evil ways and turn away from God by sinning.
Temptation comes from satan, not from God. We all will be tempted by the enemy but there is a way to escape it and choose not to sin.
Paul reminds us, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
1 Corinthians 10:13
Here are some ways out of temptation that God has shown me:
– PRAY! Prayer is a powerful way to resist temptation, pray for strength and the power from the Holy Spirit. God hears us!!
– Paul tells us when we see temptation to RUN from it and not allow it to produce evil thoughts. “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” 2 Timothy 2:22
– Saying NO is also a great way to resist temptation, resist doing something that you know is wrong. Just say NO!
James tells us, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12
My goal on my faith journey is to recognize temptation and take it to God immediately. “Patiently endure” are two words I repeat to myself daily. Be slow to respond to my own desires and wait on God!! God wants to help and be part of everything we do! He is so faithful.
There have been occasions when I have a hard time recognizing something that is a temptation to me, so hanging out with the right crowd is a must! When we are around like minded people who put God first, these friends will hold us accountable and help us see temptation we can’t. Paul says, “Enjoy the companionship of those that call on the Lord with pure hearts.”
Temptation is how satan sparks our desire to sin – don’t play you all! He wants us to make it ALL about us but we need to become selfless and make it all about God!!
To sin or not to sin…this is the question you need to ask yourself when temptation comes your way!
It is a choice.
Stay Rooted,
Lisa & Heather
