Sometimes it may seem like some sins are impossible to repent of and that Satan is far to strong for us to resist. The scriptures clearly state “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Many of us know, especially those who have dealt with addiction, how difficult it is to resist. Too often, many Christians treat resisting the Devil like its this really simple thing, like if you are a good enough Christian, and your positive enough, and you act the right way, and you go to Church a certain amount, and you act just like them that somehow all the temptations from the evil one will just vanish. Or there are other Christians who will make you feel guilty, that your using the devil as a scapegoat, again treating you as if this temptation thing is so easy to deal with. They are liars, lying out of their own arrogance. I hate to be harsh, but I need to stay “Stop listening to those people”. The reality is that “No one is good no not one” (Romans 3:10) and that those who say they have no sin are deceivers (1 John 1:8).
The reality is that there is temptation, there is a tempter, and that we can't do it on our own, we need Jesus, because we are not strong enough in ourselves.
I want to talk about some practical steps to dealing with temptation. And this is where we start.
The reality is that there is temptation, there is a tempter, and that we can't do it on our own, we need Jesus, because we are not strong enough in ourselves.
I want to talk about some practical steps to dealing with temptation. And this is where we start.
- Avoid deceivers in your life. Avoid people who use themselves as a good example for righteousness. If they imply that in order to deal with your sin you should be more like them. This is not helpful, because you are not them. You will find yourself chasing after an impossible standard.
But of course a deceiver can also be found in the temptation itself. Like the deception that what you see on the tv or computer screen is real, that your anger will make people change, that getting drunk is a great way to blow off steam, that everybody skims a little off the top of the companies profits, these are all lies that come from deceivers. Identify, those deceivers and avoid them at all costs. That may mean turning off the TV for a time, removing certain friends from your life, or getting out of institutions where your sins are deemed acceptable. - Turn to the the truth giver; Jesus. The Bible tells us that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) and that Jesus came to testify to the Truth. So when temptation comes, pray and don't just half heartedly pray, go into a quiet place away from the temptation. Sticking around the temptation while talking to God is like checking facebook on your phone while getting important information from your boss. Pray, if your willing to give your attention to your tempter then you should also be willing to give it to Jesus.
- Avoid weak theology: It's no surprise that issues with infidelity, divorce, alcoholism, addictions are on the rise amongst Christians, if you look at statistics from PEW and Barna, you will find a direct correlation between this and the rise in weak theology. Jesus address repentance and sin often, if what your reading or hearing in terms of Christian teaching does not address sin and repentance then those teachers are not giving you the whole picture and the part they are leaving out is the part that will help you with your dealing with temptation. If your being taught the following:
-Being a “good” person is how you get to heaven.
-By your own positive thinking you can change your circumstances.
-If you pay your Church enough you can purchase your salvation.
-That there is no judgement and no hell (or that we shouldn't talk about judgement or hell).
-That praying and listening to God's word in the Bible is the pastor's job, you just need to listen to them, and don't worry about reading it for yourself.
-That heaven is anything but eternity praising God in his Glory. (I.e. heaven can be achieved on earth by our actions, heaven is a place in the clouds where our loved ones are focused on us and not God, heaven is whatever we want it to be---none of that is in the Scriptures).
-God is impersonal and is not concerned with you.
-That you are dealing with sin because of superstition or curses or that God is making you sin.
-Jesus is just one way and only part of the truth, which can include the truth of secularism, hinduism, buddhism.
These things are not in the Bible. They are not weak theology because of opinions, they are weak theology because they are contrary to Scripture, yet they are often taught because they appeal to the world. I mean it's nice to think we can control everything, but, again, if you've dealt with temptation on a deeper lever, you know this is not the case. - Get in the company of friends. This goes back to the false idea that we can do this on our own. We can't, God ordained a system for our lives, that we are so close to one another that we are one body, when one part feels pain we all should feel it and help deal with it. The last thing you should do is look to yourself when your dealing with temptation. Instead, you do as James says and you surround yourself with brothers and sisters who are so close that you can confess your sins to them and they can help lead you away from sin. DO NOT TRY TO GO IT ALONE! YOU ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH!!! We are alone way too often in today's society and when we are not our relationships are often superficial, but God has given us closeness through being part of the body of Christ. The Bible and the witness of the lives of believers found in the Bible has the follow practical advice.
-Get a prayer/accountability partner.
-Gather together as often as possible (daily as in the case of the Church in Acts) with believing friends.
-Study, worship, and pray with other people.
-Never do your work alone. - Be honest with yourself and be practical. No, in the face of temptation, you are not strong, you are not able, and you are not the best you can be. There is nothing wrong with admitting that. Remember what was repeated in Romans, Ecclesiastes, and Psalms, “No one is Good” that includes you. So be honest with yourself. Take the following practical steps.
-If it's lust your dealing with get an internet filter and throw away the password.
-If its gambling use the “Self Exclusion” options that all casinos are required to accept.
-If it is alcohol do the same. You legally have the right to exclude yourself from pubs and bottle shops through “Self Exclusion”.
-If it's violence against your spouse and children get away from the situations that make you angry and get counselling. - Get addicted to righteousness. The world says (and some of the Church) it's OK to put a few dollars down on the races, to have a few too many drinks at the Christmas party, to buy the lust filled magazine, to objectify women to sell a product, its OK to do all that stuff but what is often socially unacceptable is to speak out against it. But if your trying to fight temptation in yourself than help fight against it for others as well. If your going to do battle with temptation, then help others do battle as well. Remember your doing alone in this and just as much as others might help you, you also need to be helping them. If your passions lead you to sin, you repent of that sin, then fill that time and energy with being passionate for righteousness.
- Do not seek the applause of men: The point above may make you unpopular, especially with those who used to enable your sin. We see this on television and media where the recovering addict or the person who doesn't drink is made the butt of jokes. Spend time with people who are going to support you and those people who wont, don't be yoked with them, don't let them be an influence on you any more.