Overcoming Temptation

Professionals have a way of making the difficult look so easy. But when we, the non-professionals, attempt to do the same, we find out just how hard it is to achieve favorable results. It is very helpful if the professionals let us in on the secrets of their success. Perhaps a step-by-step plan to follow. In our study on Overcoming Temptation, we've been watching the professional-- Jesus Christ-- as he successfully resists Satan's best three shots in luring Jesus away from His obedience to the Father. He makes it look so easy. But we know just how difficult it is to resist temptation. And so we need a plan, preventative measures we can take to avoid temptation, and then remedial measures we can employ when we find ourselves in the midst of temptation. The Scriptures outline four. The two preventative measures we can take are to WATCH and PRAY. Watch both for the seasons of temptation and for the suspension of it-- for it is during the lull between temptations that we are tempted to think that we have finally achieved permanent success. We need to also pray that God would not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. The two remedial measures are to RUN and RESIST. We are to flee temptation, taking the exit that God provides to get as far as possible away from the source of temptation. When we cannot run, we are to resist. We resist by submitting ourselves to God, by siding with God and His Word, by declaring our allegiance to the LORD. And when we submit ourselves to God, resist Satan, the Bible says that Satan will flee from us! We either run or we cause Satan to run. That's how we can be successful in overcoming temptation!