How To Respond To Temptation and Satan
How To Respond To Temptation and Satan
How To Respond To Temptation and Satan
One thing that Christians found so disturbing is how to respond to temptation and Satan.
It’s a great challenge for most Christians. Learning how to respond to temptation and Satan will significantly shape our lives. Global population keeps growing in the faith; this would help in adding to church to fight Satan and his co-host.
One thing is certain as a follower of Jesus Christ. We will face temptation from the devil seeking to destroy our standing in the Lord. This happens right in front of me, when i girl came to seduce me, I patted her and sat beside her long enough to crash that.
We can face temptation from our flesh or tells us things that are not factual and untrue.
The devil can say to us some things to throw us off balance and derail us from the ways of Christ. If Satan had no fear of tempting Jesus Christ, why would he not tempt us?
Jesus was tempted by the devil even as He is God’s only begotten son. The devil had no fear nor respect for the Lord’s son. So, we, the followers of Christ, should also expect his temptation to come in diverse ways.
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. – Luke 4:1-2
When The Temptation Is Much
It is amazing to see that Jesus sympathizes with our every need (Hebrews 4:15-16).
When the man is weak, facing hunger, and gets tired…and then Satan comes in to tempt him in different ways. How often have we been tempted by the devil when we are weak?
Sometimes, as Christians, we feel we are tempted too much by Satan and will be consumed.
When we feel the temptation is getting too much and we can’t bear it anymore. Let’s look at how Jesus responded during His time on earth.
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”
And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him. “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him. “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”
And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him. “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here. for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. – Luke 4:3-13
We Have Got To Read The Bible
Since man is always looking for means to survive and hardly has time to read the Bible and spend time with The Lord. It’s truly a battle.
However, Jesus reminds us that it is very important that we read the scripture often. We should spend some time interacting with the Lord to know His ways.
When Satan tempted Jesus, he responded every time with a scripture verse, and nothing else was added to it.
This reminds us of the importance of reading and knowing our scriptures. We should endeavor to know what the Bible says and tell that to Satan. Even to anyone who yields in to be used to tempt us.
Things we hear from Satan or ourselves and will likely dwell in them in anguish, but they’re certainly not true:
- Do I really have to spend time doing this?
- I’m worthless.
- What’s the point of this anyway?
- If only I had that, my life would be better.
- I have no value and no purpose.
- See, I knew it; I’m a failure.
- Am I really a follower of Jesus?
- Go ahead; no one is looking.
- But I really need this.
- I’m stressed, and I keep worrying.
How To Respond To Temptation And Satan
When we face such periods or hear such statements in our minds, let’s not be deceived by the antics of the devil and the flesh.
Let’s not be fooled by such words; we should encounter such moments with scripture.
Even today, we must have encountered many of these words and dealt the devil a big blow by responding with scripture.
Remember that Jesus Christ is our role model, and during His temptation by Satan, He encountered the devil by responding with scripture.
If Jesus responded with scripture, why would we think otherwise to counter such moments? The devil also gives even these other methods or procedure that we may want to try except the SCRIPTURE.
In every temptation faced by man, nothing will even come close as much as the Bible to counter them (Hebrews 4:12).
If Jesus responded to Satan with scripture during His temptation, why would we try a different method or way?
Living In The Face Of Temptation
When next you’re tempted in any way or with anything, remind yourself of the ways of the Lord Jesus, be conscious of the Gospel, and be conscious of the scripture.
And remind yourself of what He has done in your life and on your behalf so that you may have life and have it abundantly.
Ensure to walk through the scripture when next you face temptation from the devil.Let the words of the Lord below guide you in your walk with Jesus Christ.
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” – Proverbs 19:11
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21
Final Thoughts On How To Respond To Temptation And Satan
As Christians, temptation is unavoidable, and through temptation, we are tested. Let’s not feel weary or fall apart when tempted by every good thing in life.
Temptation can come at any time; whether we are wealthy, poor, or average, at all time, Satan will always tempt us. And by the scripture, we can overcome the devil and its temptation.
When we don’t know what to do, let’s look at the disciples of Christ when Jesus left them. They recognized the scripture and Lord Jesus in all their sufferings and tribulations.
They never said evil things against those who had treated them. Let’s be conscious of our words when we are tempted; as the Bible says, let’s be as smart as a serpent and lowly as a dove. By so doing, we shall know how to respond to temptation and Satan.