TEMPTATION IS SATAN ATTACK
1 Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
James 1:13, “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:”
Satan attacks Christians mostly through temptations. Satan is a tempter not God. Satan focuses his attacks on the following:
- The desires of the world: He tempts Christian’s behaviours to become absorbed into the world’s system. 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” James 4:4, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
- By making the honour and recognition of the world an important goal.
- By making material blessings that the world offers their central desire.
- By making the comfort of being friendly with the world the basis for their security.
- The desire of the flesh: Despite Jesus Christ redemption work for us, Christian still lives in physical body that is subject to natural appetites and desires. Satan uses these to make him place greater importance on these things than the prompting of the Holy Spirit within him. Ephesians 2:3, “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” James 1:4, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Romans 8:5-9, “5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” As Christians, we should let our desires be on the things above rather than worldly and fleshy desires. This will make us to be victorious always over the temptations of life.
James 1:2-4, “(1:2-4) 2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
QUESTIONS:
Discuss ways by which Satan can attack Christians
VICTORY TIP:
Set your heart on the things Above.
PRAYER
- Pray that God will make a way for you from any form of attack that comes to tempt you in Jesus’ name.
- Father, no temptation of life will be able to overcome me in the name of Jesus Christ.
- I am empowered to overcome all temptations that cross my path in the name of Jesus Christ.