The best way to fight temptation

[terawave]

Hello all,
I came across this sermon by Pastor Greg Laurie, I hope this can help you in your time of need.


Temptation. There is no escaping it. But know this–it can help you to deepen and grow spiritually, causing you to cling that much tighter to the Lord Himself.
It’s been said, “Christians are a lot like teabags. You don’t know what they are made of until you put them in hot water.”
Perhaps your in the “hot water” of temptation right now. God has given you a weapon to use, and it’s called the Bible.


Jesus was tempted
When Jesus faced His temptation in the wilderness, He gave us an example to follow, a template to apply.
Being God, He could have sent Satan away or even removed Himself from the place where the enemy was. Instead, He faced Satan as a man and stood on ground that we too can occupy.
When tempted, each time Jesus quoted the Scripture. We read in Luke 4:12, “And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘It is written, “You shall not tempt the LORD your God.”‘”


It is written
You need to know and quote Scripture when you are tempted. The psalmist wrote, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” (Psalm 119:9) and “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!” (Psalm 119:11)
It’s good to carry a Bible in your briefcase, backpack, or purse. But the best place to carry the Word of God is in your heart!
Why? Because Satan can quote Scripture to you too!
Satan entices you, trips you up, and then tells you “God will not forgive you!” We pull out the sword and reply, “It is written, ‘If we confess our sin . . . ” (1 John 1:9).
Satan whispers in your ear, “You’ve sinned, and now God condemns you!” We can come back with, “It is written, ’There is therefore now no condemnation” (Romans 8:1).
The devil tells us, “You’re not going to make it. I’ll get you. You’ll fall again!” You reply, “It is written, ‘And I will give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28).
You can also say, “Being confident of this very thing that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it unto the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).


Even when tragedy hits
Perhaps when tragedy hits, the enemy will say, “Your life is over, and ruined. God has abandoned you.”
You come back with God’s Word! It is written, “He causes all things to work together for good to those that love Him” (Romans 8:28).
When a loved one dies, the enemy says, “That’s it. They are gone. Death is the end!” You reply, “It is written that to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord” (see 2 Corinthians 5:8). Jesus also said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25).
I encourage you to memorize and use the Word of God when being tempted. It will make all the difference.

[Robert E.]

I have been saved since about Feburary now. I quit my old habits of smoking, chewing, and drinking all the time. I try my best to be a godly man but not until this past Thursday when my life was turned upside down from my own actions did the lord guide me to stop this addiction. It is a sick addiction and I know with all my heart only the lord can help me. Thanks so much for posting this. I hope your on this forum more and more. Have a great day. God bless.

[terawave]

I'm glad to hear this helped you, stay strong in your walk with Christ. If I can give you some support in your spiritual walk, I would be happy to.

Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)13 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.







Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.



terawave

[Robert E.]

Terawave,
Thank you so much for the verses. I think I have posted it up a bunch of times tonight but John 21:15-17 has helped me so much. To know how Jesus asked Simon if he loved him more than these, asked him three times. Like Simon Peter we must love Jesus more than anything. And always try to please him. Thanks so much and I hope that we can both help each other with Scripture and just plain old support with P addiction. God bless and thanks again for the kind words and verses.