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How to deal with Temptation, in plain English. By JOHN CHOPORES First thing,
right off, what is temptation? Answer: The efforts of someone/thing to try and
get someone else, to sin. Second,
what is sin? Answer: To act in body and thought, in any way(s), not in line
with the Will of God. Third, what
is the Will of God? Answer: To love God, and serve Him. How to overcome
Temptation - 1.Resist Satan Cf. HEB 4:15 For we have not an
high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but
was in all points tempted like as {we are, yet} without sin. (KJV) 2. Be in obedience to God. Walk in His
ways. Cf. MAT 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto
him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy
God, and him only shalt thou serve. (KJV) 3.Be fortified by prayer. Pray to know God’s
Will in all things, and ask for the power to do it. cf.MAT 26:41 Watch and pray,
that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed {is} willing, but the
flesh {is} weak. (KJV) MAT 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our
Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (KJV) 4. Live filled with the Spirit cf. (Matthew 3:16-4:1
KJV) (16) And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up
straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he
saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
(17) And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased. (Matthew 4) (1) Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit
into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 5. Meet Temptation with Scripture, not the weak
power of the flesh. Cf. MAT 4:4 But he
answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but
by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (KJV) Let’s
take a look at some of the tricks that Satan uses to try and get us to sin.- Trick 1) To present the bait
and hide the hook cf. Mat 4:8 Again, the
devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the
kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; Cf. with 1 John
2:16 For all that is in the world, the
lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is
not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:17
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that
doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Gen 3:1
Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which
the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall
not eat of every tree of the garden? Gen 3:6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that
it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be [3] desired to make one
wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her
husband with her; and he did eat. Proverbs 23:31-32 31 Look not
thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32 At
the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 33 Thine
eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse
things. 2
Samuel 11:2 2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David
arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from
the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. solution #1.
That you keep far away from sin, and to put it out of your mind! Cf. Romans 12:9 Let
love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that
which is good. Prov. 5: 8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: 1
Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain
from all appearance of evil. Isaiah
33:15 15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he
that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of
bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from
seeing evil; (KJV) Keep yourself, in the thoughts and things of
God! That is in humility, love, peace, and holiness, that Jesus walked in. cf.
Philippians 2:5-7 5 Let this
mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the
form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made
himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and
was made in the likeness of men: Colossians 3:1-2 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. One
sin can very easily lead to another. Cf.. 1 Corinthians 5:6 6 Your
glorying is not good. Know ye not
that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Solution #2.
Know that sin has poison in it! Cf. Job 20:12 "Though wickedness is sweet in
their mouth, though they hide it under their tongues, 13 though they are loath to let it go, and
hold it in their mouths, 14 yet
their food is turned in their stomachs; it is the venom of asps within
them.[NRSV]. Solution #3. Know that sin brings with
itself great and sad losses to our souls. cf. Matthew 16:26 26 For
what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his
own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (KJV) John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose
it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
(KJV)
Trick (2). By making sin look like it has respectability. Satan
does not want people to see, sin, and its true hideousness. So, he gives it
nice sounding names and titles. Cf. Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good,
and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put
bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (KJV) Proverbs 17:15 15 He that justifieth
the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. (KJV) solution #1. Know. No matter how much
Sin, look good, honorable, and religious. It is in reality, dirty, depraved,
and contemptible. cf. Deuteronomy 20:18 so that they may not teach you to do all
the abhorrent things that they do for their gods, and you thus sin against
the LORD your God. (NRSV) Proverbs 24:9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. (KJV) solution #2. That, the more sin, is make
to look like good, the more deadly it is to your soul. Cf. James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it
bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
(KJV) Ezekiel 18:4 4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the
father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall
die. (KJV) solution #3. To see sin, as you will in a
little while! Cf. James 1:15 Then
when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is
finished, bringeth forth death. (KJV) Zechariah 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments,
and stood before the angel. (KJV) Isaiah
64:6 But we are all as an
unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us
away. (KJV) solution #4. That even the sins, that
Satan’s tryes to make look virtuous, cost the blood of Jesus Christ! Cf. 1 John
1:7 But if we walk in the
light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood
of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (KJV) Revelation
1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and
the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us
from our sins in his own blood, (KJV) Device (3) By way of, reducing and
lessening of sin. Cf. Genesis 19:20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape
thither, (is it not a little
one?) and my soul shall live. (KJV) Song
of Solomon 2:15 Take us the
foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. (KJV) solution #1 The sins that seem small,
have brought great wrath from God, unto men. Cf. James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law,
and yet offend in one point,
he is guilty of all. (KJV) solution # 2. That, if you give way to a
lesser sin, if makes way for a greater one. Cf. Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of
the scornful. (KJV) Ecclesiastes
10:13 The beginning of the
words of his mouth is foolishness:
and the end of his talk is mischievous
madness. (KJV) solution # 3. It is a sad thing, to fight
with God for a trifle. Cf. Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered
into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that
all have sinned: (KJV) solution #4. There is very much danger in
(so-called) small sins. cf. 1 Corinthians 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole
lump? (KJV) Solution # 5. That some saints have
chosen to suffer very bad torments, rather than commit the least sin. Cf.
Hebrews 12:4 Ye have not yet
resisted unto blood, striving against sin. (KJV) As Jesus Himself did! Cf. Hebrews
4:15 For we have not an high
priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in
all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin. (KJV) And Moses cf. Hebrews 11:24-25 By faith Moses, when he was come to
years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing
rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures
of sin for a season; (KJV) Solution #6. That our souls are not able
to stand-up under the guilt and weight of the least sin(s), when the Holy
Spirit brings it home. Cf. Psalm 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and
my sin is ever before me.
(KJV) Psalm 38:3 There is no soundness in my flesh
because of thine anger; neither is there
any rest in my bones because of my sin. (KJV) solution #7. To know that, there is more
death and evil in sin than in the greatest affiction. Cf. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord. (KJV) Trick #4. By presenting to the soul the (so-called) best men’s sins, and by hiding their virtues; by showing the soul their sins, and by hiding from the soul their sorrows and repentance Solution # 1. Notice that the Spirit of
God had been just as careful to show their rising by repentance out of sin, as
their falling into sins. Cf.
Job 40:4-5 4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand
upon my mouth. 5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I
will proceed no further. (KJV) Job
42:6 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (KJV) 2
Samuel 12:13 And David said unto Nathan,
I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath
put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. (KJV) Matthew 26:74-75 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying,
I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the
word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me
thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. (KJV) Solution # 2. These saints did not
commerce in sin. It was not their way of life! Acts
13:22 22 When he had removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony
about him he said, 'I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my
heart, who will carry out all my wishes.' (NRSV) Not
like those who are "trained in greed". Cf. 2 Peter 2:14 They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable
for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed.
Accursed children! (NRSV) Solution # 3. God will discipline His
people for their sins. Cf.
Psalm 51:8 Let me hear joy and
gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. (NRSV) Hebrews 12:7
Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children;
for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? (NRSV) Psalm
89:30-33 If his children forsake my law,
and walk not in my judgments; 31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my
commandments; 32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their
iniquity with stripes. 33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly
take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. (KJV) Solution # 4. Know that there are at
least two main reasons for God recording the falls of the saints. 1.
To keep us from falling ourselves. Cf.1 Peter 5:12 Through Silvanus, whom I
consider a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you
and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. (NRSV) 2.
To help those who have fallen, from going into despair. Cf.
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with
what you have; for he has said, "I will never leave you or forsake
you." (NRSV) Joshua 23:14 14 And, behold, this day I am
going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your
souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD
your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing
hath failed thereof. (KJV) Solution #5. To try to make God week and
made up of only mercy. Cf.
Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God
is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not
partial and takes no bribe, (NRSV) Romans 2:11-12 11 For God shows no partiality. 12 All who have sinned apart from
the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the
law will be judged by the law. (NRSV) Trick #5. To present God as all
mercy. Solution #1. God will and must judge
sin! For the soul that sins, will die!
Cf. Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that
sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father,
neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the
righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon
him. [KJV]. Solution #2. God is at the same time merciful, and just. See how He deals with angels who
disobey! Cf. 2 Peter 2:4-6 For
if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And
spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the
world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha
into ashes condemned them with an
overthrow, making them an ensample
unto those that after should live ungodly; (KJV) Solution #3. The
more that a person, sins against the mercy of God, the greater the judgment. Cf.
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we
escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken
by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (KJV) Solution #4. God’s
special mercy is to those that love and obey Him.. Cf.
Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy
unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (KJV) Cf.
Psalm 25:10 All the paths of
the LORD are mercy and truth unto
such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. (KJV) Trick #6. By trying to make repentance,
look like easy work! Solution #1.
Repentance is an unpleasant work. And that it cost Christ, much! Cf. Ac
5:31 Him did God exalt with his right
hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and
remission of sins. 2Ti 2:25
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God
peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; Solution #2. Think
about, what true Repentance is like! a.
It is a changing. b.
For the whole man. From sin, to God. Solution #3.
Know, that true repentance is a continued act.
We must go from faith to faith. Cf. Psalm 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:
I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. (KJV) Solution #4. Know
that Repentance is not as easy as Satan would to you think so. If it was, more
people would do it. Cf. Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust
and ashes. Solution #5. Know that to not sin, is a work of Grace! Cf.
Psa.26: 3 For thy lovingkindness is before
mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. 4 I have
not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. 5
I have hated the congregation of evil
doers; and will not sit with the wicked. Solution #6. Know
that Satan now tells you that repentance is easy. But will later speak the
other way, and seek to get you to despair! Cf. Job 2:7 ¶ So went Satan forth
from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the
sole of his foot unto his crown. Mr 4:15
And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when
they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that
was sown in their hearts. Trick #7. Encouraging us to be bold in sinning. Solution #1. Think on the scriptures that
encourage us to avoid opportunity to sin. In fact, even the appearance of evil.
Cf. 1 Thess. 5: 22 Abstain from all
appearance of evil. Solution #2. If you do not turn from the
opportunity to sin, where was your heart? Do you love the Lord, or sin more?
Cf. Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two
masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will
hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Romans 6:6
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin
might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Solution
#3. Know that other believers have turned from sin, by the power of God! Like
Joseph. Cf. Gen. 39: 10 And it came to
pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her,
to lie by her, or to be with her. Job.
Cf. Job 31: 1 ¶ I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I
think upon a maid? David.
Cf. Psa.26: 4 I have not sat with vain
persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. 5 I
have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the
wicked. Solution #4. Avoiding the opportunely to
sin, is one of the proofs that we are children of God! Cf. John 14:15 ¶ If ye
love me, keep my commandments. John 14:23
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep
my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our
abode with him. John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall
abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his
love. Trick #8. By showing the outward
property of sinners! Solution #1. God is against all sin, and
will deal with it. We do not now, see all of God’s dealings. But He can and
will deal with all sin! Cf. Numbers 11:23
And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? thou shalt
see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not. Solution #2. Know that those who take
comfort in the property of sinners, are helping to kill their desire to repent.
Solution #3. Know, that sinners are
losing more than they are gaining! Cf. Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain
the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange
for his soul? Solution #4. Many times what we think,
has value, does not. So is sin. Cf. Isaiah 55:2
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour
for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that
which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Solution #5. What a person does and
thinks, (unless they repent) will come back to them, with interest! Solution #6. Know that any fun in doing sin, is short lived
and will bring with it more pain than pleasure! Cf. Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the
people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Solution #7. We are only given, a little
time, on earth to serve God, why waste it?
Trick #9. By pointing to all the
sufferings, that comes with holiness. Solution # 1. That God will turn it all for good! Cf. Romans
8:28 And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according
to his purpose. Solution
#2. Know that our reward will be greater than the cost! Cf. Luke 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy:
for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their
fathers unto the prophets. Solution #3. The Ways of God bring us
peace! Cf. Romans 14:19 Let us therefore
follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may
edify another. Solution #4. Know, that as we stay close
to the Lord, that Satan cannot do harm to our spirit or separate from God. Cf.
Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we
are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For
I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from
the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Solution #5. Know that afflictions are
not forever! Cf. Heb. 10:36 For ye have
need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive
the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and
he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. John
16: 21 A woman when she is in travail
hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the
child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the
world. 22 And
ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall
rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Solution #6. That it can be used of God,
to grow us. Cf. Job.23: 10 But he
knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Deu.
8: 2 And thou shalt remember all the way
which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble
thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest
keep his commandments, or no. Solution #7. Know, that the ways of the
unsaved, are hard and full of trouble! Cf.
Isa. 57: 20 But the wicked are
like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21
There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. Trick #10. By having us to compare
ourselves to others worse than ourselves! Solution #1. We become a hypocrite, if we only see the sin
of others! Cf. Matt. 7: 3 And why
beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the
beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or
how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye;
and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou
hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou
see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Solution
#2. Our rule of life, are not other humans, but the Word of God. Cf. 2
Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou
hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Psalms
19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the
eyes. Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust
in him. Solution #3. Know that Christ die for all
of our sins, small and large! Cf. Psalms 103:10
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to
our iniquities. Matthew
1:21 And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their
sins. Matthew 3:6
And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. Romans
3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the
remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 1
Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto
you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures; Solution #4. Know that all your sins do
harm, to your soul. Cf. Isaiah 1:5 Why
should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is
sick, and the whole heart faint. Song of Solomon 2:15 Catch us the foxes, the little foxes, that
spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom." [RSV]. Solution #5. Know that we see and think
as humans, not as widely and deeply as God does! Cf. Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Isaiah 55:9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Solution #6. Know that blessing comes
with keeping right with God! Cf. Psa. 1: 1 ¶ Blessed is the man that walketh
not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor
sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But
his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and
night. Proverbs 8:32 ¶ Now therefore hearken unto me,
O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
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