Responding to Temptation
The Mustard Seed newsletter, Campus Ministry column
September 2009 - May 2010
Pastor Ron Friedrich
September 2009 - May 2010
Pastor Ron Friedrich
Part 1
Surveys among Church-going Christians, college students, and high school youth, have revealed a common theme in response to this question: What is your biggest personal challenge? Consistently, the chief challenge is difficulty in achieving personal victory over temptation. When Dr. D. James Kennedy developed a popular program for teaching people how to introduce others to Jesus, he asked Christians what was their worst obstacle to sharing their faith. The number one problem was not lack of knowledge or inadequate training. It was persistent personal moral failure.
In the next several issues of the Mustard Seed, we will devote this page to this important issue in daily living as God's children -- dealing with temptation. The Bible not only commands us to do what is right and not do what is wrong, the Bible also gives us the tools, the motivation, and the strength for moral victory when temptation hits.
#1. Avoid places, people, and things that tempt you.
The Bible says:
Surveys among Church-going Christians, college students, and high school youth, have revealed a common theme in response to this question: What is your biggest personal challenge? Consistently, the chief challenge is difficulty in achieving personal victory over temptation. When Dr. D. James Kennedy developed a popular program for teaching people how to introduce others to Jesus, he asked Christians what was their worst obstacle to sharing their faith. The number one problem was not lack of knowledge or inadequate training. It was persistent personal moral failure.
In the next several issues of the Mustard Seed, we will devote this page to this important issue in daily living as God's children -- dealing with temptation. The Bible not only commands us to do what is right and not do what is wrong, the Bible also gives us the tools, the motivation, and the strength for moral victory when temptation hits.
#1. Avoid places, people, and things that tempt you.
The Bible says:
Make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Romans 13.14 NKJV)
The New International Version expresses the same verse this way:
Do no think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
You already know your own weaknesses. You may feel discouraged by your frequent failures to resist temptation to a particular sin. Arrange your life so that you will have less opportunity to face that temptation.
But in doing all that, temptations still beckon us. How can we resist? We will offer more counsel from Scripture about this in in the following lessons.
- If you often give in to a certain sin when you are in a certain place, don't go near that place.
- If certain friends pull you down, don't go with them.
- If you regularly buy something that is destroying you morally, spiritually, physically, or financially, shop at a different store which does not sell that item.
- If something in your home temps you beyond your ability to resist, get rid of it.
- If your debt is out of control, cut up your credit cards. From now on use cash or a debit card instead.
But in doing all that, temptations still beckon us. How can we resist? We will offer more counsel from Scripture about this in in the following lessons.
Part 2
In Part 1 we touched on how to prevent temptation by avoiding situations where we know temptation awaits. However, there are times when temptation hits us when we don't expect it. Or worse, we deliberately go looking for an opportunity to surrender to a particular temptation. How do we deal with that!? One thing that we can and should do is:
#2. Remember Bible verses that talk about your specific temptation.
Jesus demonstrated how to do this:
In Part 1 we touched on how to prevent temptation by avoiding situations where we know temptation awaits. However, there are times when temptation hits us when we don't expect it. Or worse, we deliberately go looking for an opportunity to surrender to a particular temptation. How do we deal with that!? One thing that we can and should do is:
#2. Remember Bible verses that talk about your specific temptation.
Jesus demonstrated how to do this:
After [Jesus had fasted and prayed for 40 days], he was very hungry. The devil came to Jesus to tempt him, saying, "If you are the Son of God, tell these rocks to become bread."
Jesus answered, "It is written in the Scriptures, 'A person does not live by eating only bread, but by everything God says.' "
Then the devil led Jesus to the holy city of Jerusalem and put Him on a high place of the Temple. The devil said, "If you are the Son of God, jump down, because it is written in the Scriptures: 'He has put his angels in charge of you. They will catch you in their hands so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.' "
Jesus answered him, "It also says in the Scriptures, 'Do not test the Lord your God.' "
Then the devil led Jesus to the top of a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and all their splendor. The devil said, "If you will bow down and worship me, I will give you all these things."
Jesus said to the devil, "Go away from me, Satan! It is written in the Scriptures, 'You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.' "
So the devil left Jesus. (Matthew 4:1-11 NCV)
When you are facing strong temptations, you can do the same as Jesus did. Each time when Jesus remembered a Bible verse that answered a temptation, that temptation completely lost its power. God's Word has the same power for us. It is an effective weapon against Satan's lies. God's Word also gives us wisdom and direction when we face difficult decisions.
Memorize the Ten Commandments. Also study Matthew 5, 6, and 7, where Jesus applies the Ten Commandments to every day life. Very often we can find God's final answer to Satan's temptations in the Ten Commandments. The Old Testament book of Proverbs and the New Testament letters of Paul are filled with wise counsel that can help defend you against temptation. The trick is to learn that counsel before temptation hits.
This is one reason why it is important for us to constantly be reading and memorizing Scripture, so it will be there in our minds and hearts in that unexpected moment when we really need it.
Memorize the Ten Commandments. Also study Matthew 5, 6, and 7, where Jesus applies the Ten Commandments to every day life. Very often we can find God's final answer to Satan's temptations in the Ten Commandments. The Old Testament book of Proverbs and the New Testament letters of Paul are filled with wise counsel that can help defend you against temptation. The trick is to learn that counsel before temptation hits.
This is one reason why it is important for us to constantly be reading and memorizing Scripture, so it will be there in our minds and hearts in that unexpected moment when we really need it.
Part 3
A popular poster of the comic strip character, Charlie Brown, says, "I can resist everything except temptation." The truth is, if we try to resist temptation to sin only in our own strength, we will fail. We need God's help. In the Bible, God promises to help us to have victory over temptation as we use the resources that He provides for us.
Our third tactic answers Charlie Brown's complaint about his inability to resist temptation. This may come as a surprise -- the Bible does not tell us that we should fight against temptation. If we try that approach, we will probably fail. Rather, the Bible says that we should
#3. "Flee" temptation -- run away from situations and from people that tempt us. Check out these basic instructions:
We know that this is the right thing to do. But when we face temptation, we don't often follow Joseph's example. Why not? Because we let curiosity override our good sense. We foolishly think that we can enjoy temptation without actually giving into sin.
Temptation often comes to us at unexpected times and in unexpected places. We are not always able to get away from it. So what should we do then? We will look at more of the Bible's advice next month.
A popular poster of the comic strip character, Charlie Brown, says, "I can resist everything except temptation." The truth is, if we try to resist temptation to sin only in our own strength, we will fail. We need God's help. In the Bible, God promises to help us to have victory over temptation as we use the resources that He provides for us.
Our third tactic answers Charlie Brown's complaint about his inability to resist temptation. This may come as a surprise -- the Bible does not tell us that we should fight against temptation. If we try that approach, we will probably fail. Rather, the Bible says that we should
#3. "Flee" temptation -- run away from situations and from people that tempt us. Check out these basic instructions:
- Flee sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18)
- Flee from the worship of idols (1 Corinthians 10:14)
- Those who want to become rich bring temptation to themselves and are caught in a trap. They want many foolish and harmful things that ruin and destroy people. The love of money causes all kinds of evil. Some people have left the faith, because they wanted to get more money, but they have caused themselves much sorrow. But you, man of God, run away from all those things. (1 Timothy 6:9-11)
- Flee also youthful lusts. (2 Timothy 2:22)
We know that this is the right thing to do. But when we face temptation, we don't often follow Joseph's example. Why not? Because we let curiosity override our good sense. We foolishly think that we can enjoy temptation without actually giving into sin.
Temptation often comes to us at unexpected times and in unexpected places. We are not always able to get away from it. So what should we do then? We will look at more of the Bible's advice next month.
Part 4
Actions have consequences. We know that is true, but do we really believe it? Often when we feel the urge to do something we know is wrong, we disregard what we know to be true, while we tell ourselves two stupid lies.
The first lie is, "Do this, and you will feel good." Wrong. Remember the last time you gave in to temptation, and how bad you felt afterward. Remember how disappointed you were with yourself. The Tempter knew that would happen, and now he is laughing.
A variation on this same lie is, "Do this, and your problems will disappear." Wrong. Giving in to the temptation only makes your problems worse.
The Tempter is a fisherman. You are the fish. And like any good sport fisherman, the Tempter uses bait and a hook. You can see the bait. But you can't see the hook. So you bite. Then you feel the hook, when it is too late.
The Bible says,
Actions have consequences. We know that is true, but do we really believe it? Often when we feel the urge to do something we know is wrong, we disregard what we know to be true, while we tell ourselves two stupid lies.
The first lie is, "Do this, and you will feel good." Wrong. Remember the last time you gave in to temptation, and how bad you felt afterward. Remember how disappointed you were with yourself. The Tempter knew that would happen, and now he is laughing.
A variation on this same lie is, "Do this, and your problems will disappear." Wrong. Giving in to the temptation only makes your problems worse.
The Tempter is a fisherman. You are the fish. And like any good sport fisherman, the Tempter uses bait and a hook. You can see the bait. But you can't see the hook. So you bite. Then you feel the hook, when it is too late.
The Bible says,
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-25 NIV)
Notice that the Bible calls sinful desires "deceitful." That means they lie.
The second lie from the Tempter is, "Nothing bad will happen." Wrong. Sin always has consequences. The Bible says,
The second lie from the Tempter is, "Nothing bad will happen." Wrong. Sin always has consequences. The Bible says,
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NIV)
Our sins are never secret. God sees and knows them all. When we deliberately choose to sin, we reject God's authority, and we remove ourselves from His protection. Even though we may not recognize it, sin always has destructive consequences. The Bible is full of examples of "harmless" temptations that eventually destroyed people's lives:
In our battle against temptation, we are armed with two more important weapons:
#4. Recognized that temptation is a hook baited with a lie.
#5. Remember that sin always has consequences.
After you experience the consequences of sin several times, you can answer temptation with those painful memories. You have learned the hard way that giving in to temptation is not worth it! A wise person learns from his mistakes. A foolish person ignores those lessons and continues in his foolish ways.
- Eve's desire to be "wise as God" and Adam's failure to protect her (Genesis 3)
- Cain's hatred of his brother Abel (Genesis 4)
- Abraham & Sarah's impatience (Genesis 16)
- David's lust (2 Samuel 11)
- Greed (Joshua 7; John 12; Acts 5)
In our battle against temptation, we are armed with two more important weapons:
#4. Recognized that temptation is a hook baited with a lie.
#5. Remember that sin always has consequences.
After you experience the consequences of sin several times, you can answer temptation with those painful memories. You have learned the hard way that giving in to temptation is not worth it! A wise person learns from his mistakes. A foolish person ignores those lessons and continues in his foolish ways.
Part 5
Temptation is the place where desire and opportunity meet -- the desire to do something that we know is wrong, and the opportunity to do it. An easy, though temporary, fix for the problem of temptation is to eliminate the opportunity. The more difficult challenge is changing the desire.
Thus far we have looked at five strategies for responding to temptation:
#1. Avoid places, people, and things that tempt you.
#2. Remember Bible verses that talk about your specific temptation.
#3. "Flee" temptation -- run away from situations and from people that tempt you.
#4. Recognized that temptation is a hook bated with a lie.
#5. Remember that sin always has consequences.
Now #6: Recognize the danger of the "second look."
The Bible tells a tragic story that begins with this verse:
Temptation is the place where desire and opportunity meet -- the desire to do something that we know is wrong, and the opportunity to do it. An easy, though temporary, fix for the problem of temptation is to eliminate the opportunity. The more difficult challenge is changing the desire.
Thus far we have looked at five strategies for responding to temptation:
#1. Avoid places, people, and things that tempt you.
#2. Remember Bible verses that talk about your specific temptation.
#3. "Flee" temptation -- run away from situations and from people that tempt you.
#4. Recognized that temptation is a hook bated with a lie.
#5. Remember that sin always has consequences.
Now #6: Recognize the danger of the "second look."
The Bible tells a tragic story that begins with this verse:
One night David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing... (2 Samuel 11:2)
King David did not sin when he first saw the woman bathing. His sin started when he decided to keep looking.
You may ask, "What was so bad about that?"
That is a fair question. Once, when Jesus was analyzing the Ten Commandments, He said,
You may ask, "What was so bad about that?"
That is a fair question. Once, when Jesus was analyzing the Ten Commandments, He said,
You have heard that it was said, "Do not commit adultery." But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27,28)
The instant that bathing woman caught David's eye, he immediately faced a decision: Will he keep looking? Or will he look away and keep walking? He had about 0.5-seconds to make that decision. And he made the wrong decision. Once you deliberately make one wrong choice, the next one comes a little easier. That is exactly what happened to David. Before this story was over, the woman was pregnant (by David), and her husband was conveniently killed in battle (by David's orders). But the story did not end there. The deadly consequences of David's actions followed him for the rest of his life. The Bible says,
The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)
In David's case, this proved to be literally true. And it all started with a "harmless" second look.
The moment a temptation comes, you have less than one second to decide what to do. Will you flee? Will you look away and keep walking? Or will you give in?
Every good soldier trained for battle already knows what to do before the battle comes. Every Christian needs to know how to respond to temptation before temptation strikes.
The moment a temptation comes, you have less than one second to decide what to do. Will you flee? Will you look away and keep walking? Or will you give in?
Every good soldier trained for battle already knows what to do before the battle comes. Every Christian needs to know how to respond to temptation before temptation strikes.
Part 6
When Senator Harold Hughes was a young man, he made his living as a hard drinking truck driver. When he trusted Christ, Hughes joined AA to help him overcome his alcohol addiction.
One time he had to travel out of town on business. He had the evening free with nothing to do but sit in his hotel room and watch TV. Nothing interesting was on. Suddenly the urge hit him to go down the street to a bar he had often visited and "have a drink" (get drunk) as often had done in the past. He recognized the danger, so he quickly found the phone book, looked up the number of the local AA contact person, and called for help.
Unfortunately, Hughes' phone call did not come at a good time, so the person who answered was not able to (or just didn't want to) come to take him to an AA meeting. That made Hughes mad, so he decided to just give up and go get drunk.
But while he rode the elevator down, something inside of him kept crying out, "God help me! Please stop me! Because I can't stop myself." Outside on the street, the flashing neon sign of the bar beaconed to him. In his last, fading effort to resist, he grabbed a parking meter, and prayed, "God, please stop me!"
In that moment, Hughes heard someone calling his nickname, "Pack!" He turned around and there was an old friend whom he had not seen in years. "Imagine that!" said his friend. "I step out of a cab and there you are. What are you doing for dinner?"
Hughes answered, "I was on my way out to eat."
"Well, come join me," said his friend.
As they walked together into a restaurant, Hughes felt the urge for a drink fading away.
After the meal was over, Hughes' friends said, "Wasn't that a coincidence, our meeting like this?"
Hughes remembered his desperate prayer in the elevator, and he saw how God had answered that prayer. "No, Sam, I don't believe it was a coincidence at all!"
One of the greatest men who ever lived said,
When Senator Harold Hughes was a young man, he made his living as a hard drinking truck driver. When he trusted Christ, Hughes joined AA to help him overcome his alcohol addiction.
One time he had to travel out of town on business. He had the evening free with nothing to do but sit in his hotel room and watch TV. Nothing interesting was on. Suddenly the urge hit him to go down the street to a bar he had often visited and "have a drink" (get drunk) as often had done in the past. He recognized the danger, so he quickly found the phone book, looked up the number of the local AA contact person, and called for help.
Unfortunately, Hughes' phone call did not come at a good time, so the person who answered was not able to (or just didn't want to) come to take him to an AA meeting. That made Hughes mad, so he decided to just give up and go get drunk.
But while he rode the elevator down, something inside of him kept crying out, "God help me! Please stop me! Because I can't stop myself." Outside on the street, the flashing neon sign of the bar beaconed to him. In his last, fading effort to resist, he grabbed a parking meter, and prayed, "God, please stop me!"
In that moment, Hughes heard someone calling his nickname, "Pack!" He turned around and there was an old friend whom he had not seen in years. "Imagine that!" said his friend. "I step out of a cab and there you are. What are you doing for dinner?"
Hughes answered, "I was on my way out to eat."
"Well, come join me," said his friend.
As they walked together into a restaurant, Hughes felt the urge for a drink fading away.
After the meal was over, Hughes' friends said, "Wasn't that a coincidence, our meeting like this?"
Hughes remembered his desperate prayer in the elevator, and he saw how God had answered that prayer. "No, Sam, I don't believe it was a coincidence at all!"
One of the greatest men who ever lived said,
I don't understand myself. The good things I want to do, I don't do them. And the bad things I don't want to do, that is what I do... What a miserable man I am! Who will save me from this body that is bringing me death?
Then he answered his own question:
Thanks be to God for saving me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:15-25)
The Bible says,
The only temptation that has come to you is that which everyone has. But you can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, He will also give you a way to escape. (1 Corinthians 10:13 NCV)
In our series about temptation, we have been learning several strategies which the Bible offers for living victoriously against temptation. However, there are many times it happens that will-power fails and strategies don't help because we don't want them to. So when temptation hits, pray! We are not strong enough to resist alone. We need God's help. When you see temptation coming, immediately cry out, "Lord, help me! Show me Your way of escape!"
Part 7
Over 1,300 years ago, there lived in the city of Damascus, Syria, a monk named John. In one of his writings, he said:
Over 1,300 years ago, there lived in the city of Damascus, Syria, a monk named John. In one of his writings, he said:
The cross of Christ shows us two things. First, the cross shows us how serious is our sin. If you were the only person in the whole world who every disobeyed God, Jesus stilled would have needed to go to the cross to suffer and die for only you, in order to pay the penalty for just your sin.
But second, the cross shows us how great is Christ's love for us. If you were the only person in the whole world who ever disobeyed God, Jesus still would have been willing to go to the cross for only you
Often we Christians become careless about following our urges to do what we know is wrong because we are confident that God will forgive us. We forget how serious sin is. We forget the awful price that Christ paid for our forgiveness. Our sins caused Jesus to suffer and die. Do we really hate Him so much that we would deliberately add to the horrors of hell that our Savior suffered for us on the cross? The Bible says that when we deliberately sin, we are "nailing the Son of God to the cross all over again." (Hebrews 6:6)
One of your defenses against temptation is to picture in your mind Christ suffering on the cross for that specific sin which tempts you. The Bible says,
One of your defenses against temptation is to picture in your mind Christ suffering on the cross for that specific sin which tempts you. The Bible says,
Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so we would stop living for sin and start living for what is right. And you are healed because of his wounds. (1 Peter 2:24 NCV)
God's purpose for the cross was not to bring us guilt, but to bring forgiveness and healing. As John of Damascus reminds us, the cross is God's greatest expression of love for each one of us.
As we have learned in our previous study in this series, will-power is not strong enough to win against temptation. We need the Holy Spirit's power in us, helping us to "live for what is right." When good intentions fail, look again to the cross. See Jesus suffering in love there for you. And as Jesus died and rose again for you, see yourself also having died, with Christ now in you, and living His life through you (Galatians 2.20)
As we have learned in our previous study in this series, will-power is not strong enough to win against temptation. We need the Holy Spirit's power in us, helping us to "live for what is right." When good intentions fail, look again to the cross. See Jesus suffering in love there for you. And as Jesus died and rose again for you, see yourself also having died, with Christ now in you, and living His life through you (Galatians 2.20)
Since we have a great high priest, Jesus the Son of God, who has gone into heaven, let us hold on to the faith we have. For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses. When he lived on earth, he was tempted in every way that we are, but he did not sin. Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God's throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it. (Hebrews 4.14-16 NCV)
Part 8
There is a humorous proverb that says, "Women civilize men." Even an adolescent slob will clean himself up in order to impress a girl. Marriage has an even greater civilizing influence on us men. My love for my wife and my children makes me want to do the right thing for them, even when I don't care about doing the right thing for myself.
The key word here is "accountable." If anyone can suggest one good clear Sign for that word, I would appreciate it. The word "responsible" has only part of the meaning of "accountable." When I am accountable to someone, I must give an answer to that person for my actions. My wife and I have made ourselves accountable to each other for the way we spend money. We do this by writing down how much we spend, and on what we spend, every time we spend anything. (In the past we kept our ledger in a notebook; now we do it on the computer.) This forces me to think twice any time I want to buy anything. My accountability to my wife motivates me to save and spend wisely.
When my wife and I share these principles with other people, we get some interesting reactions. One young couple wanted to throw us out of their house, because they refused to become accountable to each other. Their marriage ended in divorce a few months later. One single mom who was struggling financially stopped herself from making a wasteful purchase because, she said, "when I get home, I will have to write it down, and I knew that Ron and Georganne will see it."
Accountability can also help us resist temptations that habitually defeat us. If another mature Christian knows about your sinful habits and moral failures, that person can become your mentor, counselor, and encourager. The Bible says, Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. When a believing person prays, great things happen. (James 5:16 NCV). When we confess our specific sins and receive God's specific forgiveness through our accountability partner, God frees us from the bondage of guilt. Confession and forgiveness loosens Satan's hold on us, which keeps dragging us down.
Then the next time temptation hits you, before you give up and give in, you will realize that you must answer to your accountability partner for your action. For your own sake, you may not care. But for the sake of your friend, you are motivated to do the right thing.
When you choose an accountability partner, it is very important to choose a person whom you can trust to keep your confession secret. That person also must be gentle, patient, wise, and mature. And that person must know God's Word. When a Christian brother or sister encourages us and counsels us from God's Word, we receive more of God's gifts for faithfully living the Christian life.
There is a humorous proverb that says, "Women civilize men." Even an adolescent slob will clean himself up in order to impress a girl. Marriage has an even greater civilizing influence on us men. My love for my wife and my children makes me want to do the right thing for them, even when I don't care about doing the right thing for myself.
The key word here is "accountable." If anyone can suggest one good clear Sign for that word, I would appreciate it. The word "responsible" has only part of the meaning of "accountable." When I am accountable to someone, I must give an answer to that person for my actions. My wife and I have made ourselves accountable to each other for the way we spend money. We do this by writing down how much we spend, and on what we spend, every time we spend anything. (In the past we kept our ledger in a notebook; now we do it on the computer.) This forces me to think twice any time I want to buy anything. My accountability to my wife motivates me to save and spend wisely.
When my wife and I share these principles with other people, we get some interesting reactions. One young couple wanted to throw us out of their house, because they refused to become accountable to each other. Their marriage ended in divorce a few months later. One single mom who was struggling financially stopped herself from making a wasteful purchase because, she said, "when I get home, I will have to write it down, and I knew that Ron and Georganne will see it."
Accountability can also help us resist temptations that habitually defeat us. If another mature Christian knows about your sinful habits and moral failures, that person can become your mentor, counselor, and encourager. The Bible says, Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. When a believing person prays, great things happen. (James 5:16 NCV). When we confess our specific sins and receive God's specific forgiveness through our accountability partner, God frees us from the bondage of guilt. Confession and forgiveness loosens Satan's hold on us, which keeps dragging us down.
Then the next time temptation hits you, before you give up and give in, you will realize that you must answer to your accountability partner for your action. For your own sake, you may not care. But for the sake of your friend, you are motivated to do the right thing.
When you choose an accountability partner, it is very important to choose a person whom you can trust to keep your confession secret. That person also must be gentle, patient, wise, and mature. And that person must know God's Word. When a Christian brother or sister encourages us and counsels us from God's Word, we receive more of God's gifts for faithfully living the Christian life.
How to respond to temptation:
1. Avoid places, people, and things that tempt you.
2. Answer temptation with God's Word. Remember Bible verses that talk about your specific temptation.
3. Flee (run away from) temptation.
4. Recognized that temptation is a hook bated with a lie.
5. Remember that sin always has consequences.
6. Recognize the danger of the "second look."
7. When temptation hits, pray, "Lord, show me Your way of escape!"
8. Picture in your mind Christ suffering on the cross for that specific sin which tempts you.
9. Find an accountability partner with whom you can confess your sin and receive forgiveness.
1. Avoid places, people, and things that tempt you.
2. Answer temptation with God's Word. Remember Bible verses that talk about your specific temptation.
3. Flee (run away from) temptation.
4. Recognized that temptation is a hook bated with a lie.
5. Remember that sin always has consequences.
6. Recognize the danger of the "second look."
7. When temptation hits, pray, "Lord, show me Your way of escape!"
8. Picture in your mind Christ suffering on the cross for that specific sin which tempts you.
9. Find an accountability partner with whom you can confess your sin and receive forgiveness.