HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 330
page A328
Temptation continued
• 1 J O H N 4 :4 | The Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
• 1 J O H N 5 :4 -5 | For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory
through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe
that Jesus is the Son of God.
You can break free from temptation when you change your focus and train your mind.
Instead of thinking about your weakness, fill your mind with the promise of God’s strength.
Instead of thinking about what you’re missing out on, think about what you’ll be gaining by
moving in a different direction. You have far more power available to you than you think.
The Holy Spirit within you is great enough to overcome any threat against you.
• J U DE 1 :2 4 | Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring
you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.
As you depend more and more fully on God and really trust him to help you, you will discover the power to resist temptation.
How can I avoid falling into temptation?
• 1 T I MOT H Y 4 :7 -8 | Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales.
Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is
much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”
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The time to prepare for temptation is before it presses in on you. Train yourself in the quieter times so that you will have the spiritual wisdom, strength, and commitment to honor
God in the face of intense desires and temptation.
• G E NE S I S 3 9 :1 2 | He ran from the house. (See note on page 38.)
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If possible, remove yourself from the tempting situation. Sometimes you must literally flee.
• PR O V E R B S 1 :1 0 | If sinners entice you, turn your back on them!
Sometimes your greatest tempters are those you think are your friends. If you know you
are liable to give in to the pressure of certain people, it is best to avoid their company.
• DA NI E L 1 :8 | But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food. (See note
on page 772.)
A solid commitment made before temptation strikes is the best prevention to sin. A temptation will have less power over you if you have already determined that you will not yield
to it.
• 1 C O R I NT H I A NS 1 0 :1 2 | If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. (See note
on page 1037.)
A first step toward dealing with temptation is to recognize that we, as fallen people,
have a tendency to give in to it. This awareness allows us to prepare in advance through
prayer.
• MAT T H E W 6 :1 3 | “And don’t let us yield to temptation.”
Make resisting temptation a constant focus of prayer.
• PSA L M 1 1 9 :9 | How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.
Knowing what the Bible calls “sin” enables you to recognize and resist temptation.
• T I T U S 2 :1 2 | And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures.
Christian growth brings an increased awareness and sensitivity to temptation. The more
you are committed to God and his ways, the less you will be attracted to Satan and his
ungodly ways.
• E C C L E S I A S T E S 4 :1 2 | A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two
can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not
easily broken.
Enlisting a Christian friend as an accountability partner will give you far more spiritual
strength than you have on your own.
• MAT T H E W 2 6 :4 1 | “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the
spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”