Temptation

JAMES 1 : 12 - 15 NKJV
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Firstly God does not tempt us. Secondly everyone who is tempted is drawn away by their own desires. Thirdly if given to the temptation then sin is born. Finally that sin brings death.
Therefore we must not give in to temptation because if we do then it is a death sentence. In other words sin does not bring forth salvation, but eternal condemnation.
Satan and his demons are constantly tempting people into sin. 

GENESIS 4 : 7 NKJV
If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.

LUKE 4 : 13 NKJV
13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

Just as Jesus was tempted by satan so is all of mankind. Jesus though endured much more than we could and overcame it.
Satan always appeals to a persons weaknesses so that he can entrap them, condemn them and weaken them further. Generally in an area that a person has failed in already.

1 TIMOTHY 6 : 9 NKJV
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Those who desire to be..........
Desire is the beginning. Satan tempted Eve with something which he knew was desirable to her and she sinned and death entered mankind.

What is it that we desire so much that is it worth spending eternity in Hell for??? Would we give up our salvation for a temporary pleasure? Will we let satan destroy us? How then can we overcome the desires, the temptations, the sin?

JAMES 1 : 12 - 15 NKJV
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

From verse 12 we can see that after a person has endured temptation and has been approved, then and only then can that person receive the crown of life.

1 CORINTHIANS 10 : 13 NKJV
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

From 1 Corinthians 10 : 13 we can see that God is faithful to us, that He does not allow us to be tested beyond what we can endure. Therefore if we are tempted and do sin, then it is our own desire. That would show us that God is just and that the person who gives in to temptation is unjust. Has God made us weak? Certainly not. How then do we overcome?

MATTHEW 26 : 41 NKJV
41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

The answer is that when we are weak God is strong. When we are tempted then we need to pray for God's help, strength and empowerment to overcome, that we do not fall into sin. If a person does not want to pray or to get help, but desires to sin more than to obey God's will, then that person is not a christian.

GENESIS 4 : 7
If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.

ROMANS 12 : 21
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 JOHN 5 : 1 - 5 NKJV
 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The way to overcoming the world, the flesh and the devil, is to be born of God and to rely on The Holy Spirit to empower us to overcome. This means praying and asking Him to deliver us from all temptation.

MATTHEW 6 : 9 - 13 NKJV
In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

ROMANS 8 : 13 - 14 NKJV
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

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