Enduring Satan’s Temptations
Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:15
Satan tries to get a foothold by tempting our flesh through emotional driven desire. Our emotions add power to our desire and combats our self -discipline. If we don’t capture the thought our emotions will usually take control. We take the thought captive so the desire is not conceived in our minds.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) There is no temptation that we cannot endure, if we capture the thought before the emotion is conceived it our mind. The longer we entertain a sinful thought the more difficult it is to escape.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) If we plan our escape from Satan’s temptations, we can immediately and aggressively demolish our thought and take control of the emotion, which will give us time to change the thought to the obedience of Christ. We must plan an escape that works for us, and be motivated for victory.
Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4) We overcome the world and Satan’s temptations through the power of Christ. When tempted let it trigger our minds to run to Christ for his power to overcome. Christ has power over all creations and we realize that with his power in us we can overcome anything. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20) If we call for the Lord’s power, we can overcome immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.
Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. (Matthew 24:4) This is what Jesus told his apostles when the they asked about end times. We have to very careful and alert for any deception from Satan or from other people, even people in the Church. Satan’s tempts us to be complacent, read the Bible less, pray less, and think on things above less. Satan’s temptations are sometimes not noticeable. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21) If we seek to do something good for the Lord, putting the Lord first in our lives, it can help in not being deceived.
Today endure Satan’s temptations by capturing the thought before it becomes a strong emotion. Pray for the Lord’s power to overcome anything from Satan.
Prayer: Lord give us the power to always do your will and let the Spirit tell me of Satan’s temptations and deceptions. In Jesus name, Amen