How to Overcome Temptation in Your Life

Within the Sin Matrix, temptations abound from our own fleshly desires, to the world thrusting itself in our face, to the enemy firing his fiery darts. Temptations are a battle for everyone and we need to recognize the temptations in our life and learn how to combat them.

This article will show us how to identify temptations and battle them by answering 4 questions:

1. What is temptation?
2. Does God tempt us?
3. Where do temptations come from?
4. How do we overcome temptation?

What Is Temptation?

A temptation is something that moves us to sin. It isn’t a sin in and of itself. It’s something that presents itself external to us or internal usually as a thought in the mind that if we hold on to it and allow it to take root, it will get to our heart and from our hearts lead to a sinful action, as Jesus says in Matthew 15:19:

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

Solomon warns in Proverbs 4:23 (NLT):

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Acting upon a temptation, whether mentally or physically, is the point where temptation becomes sin.

Jesus puts it this way in Matthew 5:27-28:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Jesus says, look with lustful intent. This is a thought you keep and hold on to and allow to take root in your heart, as mentioned earlier. This is the inflection point where temptation becomes sin. Having a thought isn’t sin, it’s what you do with that thought that can lead to sin.

And this goes for anything you lustfully pursue: money, cigarettes, food, drugs, alcohol, etc. When these lustful wants become idols in our life, they become addictions.

So now that we have a background of what is temptation, let’s answer our next question: does God tempt us?

Does God Tempt Us?

The Bible answers this quickly and to the point, as it says in James 1:13-15 (NLT)

And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

So does God tempt us? That answer again is a quick and emphatic NO! While God does not tempt us, He does test us. Through trials and tribulations, our character and reliance on Him become stronger.

Which leads us to our next question about temptation.

Where Do Temptations Come From?

Are they just random thoughts and desires that pop into our head? Or is there something more to it? What does the Bible say?

The Bible discusses temptation in Genesis 3 with Adam and Eve’s temptation by the serpent.  It further communicates this in 1 John 2:16, James 3:14-16 and Ephesians 2:1-3:

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Temptations come from 3 places:

• The world
• Our flesh
• Spiritual

Now that we’ve established what temptations are, realized that God does not tempt us, and the sources of temptation, let’s answer our last question.

How Do We Overcome Temptation?

The first step to overcoming temptation is to remember where our strength comes from.

Ephesians 6:10 (ESV) says:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Philippians 4:12-13 (NLT) mentions:

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Psalm 73:26 says:

My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

It’s not in our strength that we can fend off temptation, but His strength! May we all enjoy God’s strength as Paul imparts wisdom in 2 Corinthians 12:9:

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

So amid temptation, what should we do?

Jesus’ Temptation in the Wilderness

Let’s see how the author and finisher of our faith, our strength, Jesus, overcame temptations.

Luke 4:1-13

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.

3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

* (This is a temptation of Jesus’ flesh)

4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”

* (Jesus stopped this temptation by quoting scripture)

5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

* (This is a temptation of Jesus’ flesh by not having to go to the cross, temptation of the world as every kingdom of the world will be His without going to the cross, temptation of the spiritual as Jesus will only gain all the kingdoms of the world if He worships Satan)

8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

* (Jesus again answers this temptation with scripture.)

9 Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you,’

11 and,

‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

* (This is a spiritual temptation)

12 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”

* (Jesus again responds with scripture.)

13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

Hebrews 4:15 (ESV) says:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Realizing Jesus was tempted as we are tempted yet did not sin gives us hope to stand in His strength in times of temptation. And Jesus gives us insight into how to combat temptations; with scripture. So read your Bible and be ready to fight temptation with God’s Word.

Renew Your Mind

In Romans 12:2, Paul, the apostle says:

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

How do we renew our mind? By reading and understanding the Bible through the Holy Spirit and by holding every thought captive.

Hold Every Thought Captive

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5:

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ

OK, I’ve held this thought captive. Now what? 

We can answer that question by comparing the thought to what Paul says in Philippians 4:8 where he says:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Paul is saying to compare your thought to these 8 questions:

1. Is your thought true?
2. Is your thought noble?
3. Is your thought just?
4. Is your thought pure?
5. Is your thought lovely?
6. Is your thought admirable?
7. Is your thought virtuous?
8. Is your thought praiseworthy?

If you answered no to any of these, then discard that thought and move on. If you answered yes to all of these questions, then meditate on that thought.

And always remember 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT):

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.

He will show us the escape route, but it’s up to us to take it, to run to it, to escape the temptation that lies before us.

Take Home Points

• Temptation is not a sin unless you act upon it
• God does not tempt us
• Temptations come from the world, our flesh, and the spiritual
• How do we battle temptations?
  • Give your life to Jesus so you can battle in His strength
  • Know God’s Word by reading it
  • Renew your mind by meditating upon God’s word and understand it through the Holy Spirit
  • Hold every thought captive to the obedience of Christ
    • We do this by comparing our thoughts to Philippians 4:8
• Trust that God is faithful and will show you your escape route. But it’s up to you to take it.

You will overcome temptation when you stand firm in the strength of Jesus and He will show you the way out.