How to Overcome Temptation
We are all tempted, every one of us, but we do not have to give into that temptation. The Bible says God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to resist. He will make a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The Bible also says that God does not tempt us. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:13-14 KJV). God tests us to bring the best out of us, but the devil tempts us to bring the worst out of us because he is trying to destroy us.
Before Peter denied Jesus, Jesus warned him, saying, “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:31-32). You know it is God’s love that prepares us in advance when an attack is coming. A lot of times, the Holy Spirit will warn my wife and I, through the Scriptures and through dreams, that an attack is coming, and we will know how to be prepared.
So, Jesus warned Peter to stay on guard because the devil wanted to sift him as wheat. The Bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Shortly after Jesus warned Peter, he and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane, and “when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation” (Luke 22:40).
How do we overcome temptation? Pray! Pray that God would give you the strength to overcome the temptation when it comes because it is coming. But it is only in the place of prayer that our flesh is conquered and spirit strengthened by the power and presence of God. The Bible says, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). It is in the place of prayer where the plans of the enemy are thwarted and completely destroyed.
Jesus understood the power of prayer. “And (he) kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:41-42). Jesus knew he was about to die, and he was crucified for the sins of the world. So, how did Jesus endure the cross? How did he resist the temptation to come off the cross and destroy those who wrongfully accused him, flogged him, mocked him, spat upon him, and crucified him? How was he able to forgive those who killed him? He prayed.
“And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation” (Luke 22:45-46). This isn’t the time to slack up in your prayer life. It’s the time to pray and press in because if you don’t, you will not be able to handle what’s coming.
The disciples did not pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, and when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, they all gave into their flesh and fled, forsaking Jesus. Peter even denied that he knew Jesus three times. But in the end, Jesus restored Peter. And all the disciples learned how to overcome temptation because they all eventually died as martyrs for their faith in Christ. Peter was crucified upside down.
Let's pray. Dear God, draw us back into prayer. I join my faith with every person reading this newsletter, many of whom are in the fire or are getting ready to go through it. Remove every distraction out of our lives that would hinder us from pressing into seeking you and reading the Bible. Equip us with strength, with the Word of God. Renew our minds. Help us get rid of anything that is causing us to stumble. We know we will all be tried by fire, but with you, God, nothing is impossible. We are coming out victorious. We are coming out more than a conqueror in Jesus’ name. Amen.
To give and help support this ministry, you can visit the platform of your choice:
The Bible also says that God does not tempt us. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:13-14 KJV). God tests us to bring the best out of us, but the devil tempts us to bring the worst out of us because he is trying to destroy us.
Before Peter denied Jesus, Jesus warned him, saying, “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:31-32). You know it is God’s love that prepares us in advance when an attack is coming. A lot of times, the Holy Spirit will warn my wife and I, through the Scriptures and through dreams, that an attack is coming, and we will know how to be prepared.
So, Jesus warned Peter to stay on guard because the devil wanted to sift him as wheat. The Bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Shortly after Jesus warned Peter, he and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane, and “when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation” (Luke 22:40).
How do we overcome temptation? Pray! Pray that God would give you the strength to overcome the temptation when it comes because it is coming. But it is only in the place of prayer that our flesh is conquered and spirit strengthened by the power and presence of God. The Bible says, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). It is in the place of prayer where the plans of the enemy are thwarted and completely destroyed.
Jesus understood the power of prayer. “And (he) kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:41-42). Jesus knew he was about to die, and he was crucified for the sins of the world. So, how did Jesus endure the cross? How did he resist the temptation to come off the cross and destroy those who wrongfully accused him, flogged him, mocked him, spat upon him, and crucified him? How was he able to forgive those who killed him? He prayed.
“And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation” (Luke 22:45-46). This isn’t the time to slack up in your prayer life. It’s the time to pray and press in because if you don’t, you will not be able to handle what’s coming.
The disciples did not pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, and when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, they all gave into their flesh and fled, forsaking Jesus. Peter even denied that he knew Jesus three times. But in the end, Jesus restored Peter. And all the disciples learned how to overcome temptation because they all eventually died as martyrs for their faith in Christ. Peter was crucified upside down.
Let's pray. Dear God, draw us back into prayer. I join my faith with every person reading this newsletter, many of whom are in the fire or are getting ready to go through it. Remove every distraction out of our lives that would hinder us from pressing into seeking you and reading the Bible. Equip us with strength, with the Word of God. Renew our minds. Help us get rid of anything that is causing us to stumble. We know we will all be tried by fire, but with you, God, nothing is impossible. We are coming out victorious. We are coming out more than a conqueror in Jesus’ name. Amen.
To give and help support this ministry, you can visit the platform of your choice:
By Mail:
Sean Pinder Ministries
P.O. Box 2726
McKinney, TX 75070
God Bless,
Sean Pinder Ministries
P.O. Box 2726
McKinney, TX 75070
God Bless,
Pastors Sean and Aimee Pinder
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