In James 1:12, we read that the man that endures temptation is blessed, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him. Temptations will come in life. Christians are not excluded from the temptations in life. How will Christians be tempted? How to deal with temptation in life according to the Bible?
Everyone has to deal with temptation
Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death (James 1:12-15)
Sin is disobedience to the words and will of God and obedience to the words and will of the devil. In the previous post To sin or not to sin, that’s the decision, Jesus commanded to sin no more. Therefore, you have been given the power (authority) to rule over sin and resist the temptation that leads to sin.
Everyone, including you, will be tempted in life. Your job is to resist temptation and don’t give in to temptation.
When you resist temptation and stay obedient to the words of God, you will receive the crown of life.
Jesus promised the crown of life to those, who love Him.
This means, that the crown of life will be given to those, who will keep and do His commandments and say ‘no’ to temptation, and ‘no’ to sin.
You will be tempted because you have an enemy; the devil. The devil shall always try to get you back into his kingdom and destroy your life.
The only way to get you back into his kingdom is if you listen to his words and obey his words and the lusts of your flesh and sin.
Man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (James 1:13-15).
The devil will always tempt you and try to get you back into your old former habits and your old former life, which was full of sin. It all starts with the lust of the flesh. When lust is conceived, it produces sin and sin produces death.
How to deal with temptation?
How to deal with temptation? Well, it is important to recognize in your life how lust enters and avoid that. That way you won’t be tempted and be led into temptation. Is it that simple to deal with temptation? Yes, it is that simple, if you really hate sin and want to remove sin from your life. Because if you still love your sins, then you won’t be able to get rid of your sins.
When you say with your mouth: “I don’t want to do this”, but in your heart, you think: “I like it, I don’t want to give this up”, then it will be impossible to get rid of it. When the temptation comes, you will give in to the temptation.
People can pray for you over and over again to break the power of sin over your life, but the enemy will always try and try and will never give up. Therefore you are the only one, who can stop it. You are the one, who can resist lust and resist temptation. There is no one else, who can do it for you.
Don’t fulfill the lust of the flesh, but fulfill the will of God
The way to avoid temptation is to keep walking after the Spirit. Because when you walk after the Spirit, you will not fulfill the lusts of your flesh. Therefore seek those things which are above and not those things which are upon this earth. Get your eyes off of yourself and get your eyes on Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.
Build yourself up in your most holy faith. Speak in tongues, fast, and pray. Feed and renew your mind with the Word of God so that you become strong (spiritually) and resist temptation, and kill the deeds of the flesh.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
