When Temptation Comes My Way: How to Stand Strong in Times of Testing

A Chapter a Day

• Sunday, September 13, Matthew 7
• Monday, September 14, Matthew 8            
• Tuesday, September 15, Matthew 9
• Wednesday, September 16, Matthew 10
• Thursday, September 17, Matthew 11
• Friday, September 18, Matthew 12
• Saturday, September 19, Matthew 13

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Based on Matthew 3:13-4:11, ESV

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” ¹⁵ But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. ¹⁶ And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; ¹⁷ and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ And the tempter came . . . .

Four Times When Temptation is Likely

1. When we are just .
2. Right after a spiritual point.
3. When we are — isolated and disconnected from other believers.
4. When we are physically .

Seven Common Temptations (Strategies of the Evil One)

³ And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” ⁴ But he answered, “It is written,

“ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

1. To that what God has said is true.
2. To make what is material and temporal more important than what is spiritual and eternal.

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple ⁶ and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

“ ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

3. To and misapply God’s word.
4. To value spiritual and shortcuts over ordinary, ongoing obedience.
5. To act while presuming on God’s provision and protection.

⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’ ”

¹¹ Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

6. To trust the promises of Satan about how to find success and significance – the enemy offers what he cannot ultimately deliver.
7. To down before someone or something other than God.

How to Stand Strong and Win Over Temptation

1. Be filled with and led by God’s .
2. Be saturated with the truth of God’s .
3. Stay connected to God’s people.
4. Pray for God’s protection.
5. Establish and honor wise boundaries.
6. Eliminate the hiding places.
7. Invite and embrace accountability.

¹² Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
(1 Corinthians 10:12-13, ESV)

What to Do if You Have Given in to Temptation Already

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ² He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 1:9-2:2, ESV)

1. your sin.
2. Ask God for forgiveness.
3. Allow him to you.
4. Renew your commitment to obedience.
5. and follow Jesus wholeheartedly.