For Grace And Strength To Resist Temptations
10 Steps to Resisting Evil and Online Temptation
For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. – James 1:13-14, NIV
a modern-day postcard of James’ letter to the 12 tribes, this picture communicates profound wisdom. The message is increasing relevant and desperately needed in this wired world. If you spend a good portion of time on the Internet, how you receive and respond to it may be the difference between living out your faith online and losing it.
Your ears, eyes, and mouth are portals to the soul and every day, you decide how to regulate what goes in and what comes out. How many times have you done an innocent Google search and among the results you find something far different from what you intended? Exactly.
The Real Danger
You need to understand dear one, you’re only a click or two away from content that is dangerous and deadly. When you entertain temptation online, the enemy drags you to the place where evil desires are conceived, sin is born, and destruction follows.
For example, consider the impact of Internet pornography. It delivers one of the deadliest assaults with its gripping addiction. The consequences include abnormal desires, wrecked relationships, fallen leaders, and shattered lives.
The research on pornography released several years ago is painfully disturbing. It’s heartbreaking to sort through the statistics. And even though in June of 2011, it was reported that social media activity has displaced porn as the top online activity – don’t be deceived or fooled.
The dangers remain real and more life-threatening than ever.
The Response
No different from any other mission field, when you’re online you must be aware of the terrain and fully present to avoid the traps.
- Take action now.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to build a firewall of protection around you and your family.
- Execute this ten-point power plan for resisting evil and overcoming temptation.
- Memorize these scriptures and be infused with Divine power and strength.
The Plan
#1. Know the Word. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. – Psalm 119:11
#2. Clean house. Therefore get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is prevalent and humbly receive the word that was planted in you, which can save you. – James 1:21
#3. Confess sin. He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. – Proverb 28:13
#4. Receive forgiveness. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – I John 1:9
#5. Profess faith. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. – Hebrews 4:14-16
#6. Suit up. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. – Ephesians 6:10,11,16
#7. Stand guard. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. I Peter 5:8,9
#8. Submit and resist. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you – James 4:7
#9. Sprint to the exit. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it. – I Corinthians 10:12,13
#10. Give praise for the victory. God is greater than all evil. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. – I John 4:4
How are you guarding your heart and resisting online temptations?
Editor’s note: If you struggle with temptation in the area of sexuality or pornography, we encourage you to reach out to Celebrate Recovery to find a recovery ministry in your area, and consider getting additional help from online sources.
Источник: //pastors.com/10-steps-to-resisting-evil-and-online-temptation/
29 Bible verses to empower you to resist temptation
Temptation is a part of life. Until we no longer have a body of sin we will be tempted to commit sinTo commit sin is to consciously do something that you know goes against God’s will and His laws.
It is when you are tempted by the lusts and desires that dwell in you and you consciously agree to act on that temptation, … .
But in reality, every temptation is an opportunity to overcome and to get victory over sin! With the word of God as our weapon we can always resist temptation!
Here is a selection of Bible verses about temptation that show us how to overcome and the promises we will receive as a result of overcoming temptation!
Believe that God has a way of escape for you. Temptation doesn’t become sin until you agree with it, so the way of resistance is the way of escape. Resist temptation and be an overcomer!
“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” James 1:14-15.
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13.
Use the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s the strength you need to resist temptation until the end:
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” Galatians 5:16-17.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4.
Get God’s Word in your heart before you are even tempted, so that you have it when you need it:
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11.
“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” Psalm 119:9.
Remember your covenant with God:
“How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9.
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman?” Job 31:1.
Love Jesus more than your lusts:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15.
“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8.
Love righteousness:
“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.” 1 Timothy 6:11.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6.
See the sin that you are tempted to as worthless, ugly, and unbearably sinful:
“Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.” Colossians 3:6.
“You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 97:10.
Resist Satan in time of temptation. Jesus shows us just how we can do that: by using the Word of God:
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7.
“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Matthew 4:10.
Stay close to Jesus:
“… For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Hebrews 2:14-18.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.
Remember that it is Christ who lives in you, and you are already dead to sin! Sin has no dominion over you:
“wise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” Romans 6:11-12.
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4.
Pray! Go to the throne of grace to get help (power to overcome) in your time of need – when you are tempted:
“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6:14.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16.
Follow Jesus’ example:
“Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Hebrews 5:7.
Know that the battle is already won, if you just hold out and resist temptation until the end:
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6.
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12.
Remember that overcoming leads to a deeper fellowship with other believers. We fight for each other, so that the body of Christ can be built:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9.
“… choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.” Hebrews 11:25.
You may be interested in reading more about temptation and how to resist it on our topic page about temptation and sin, or in the following articles:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Источник: //activechristianity.org/29-bible-verses-to-empower-you-to-resist-temptation/
