CHRIST FOR PRISONERS WEEKLY BULLETIN
Sunday, March 11, 2007

Temptation

Believers should never be shocked or discouraged by encountering temptation. Satan fights against believers and will mount an assault at every opportunity. God knows that all human beings are tempted, and that different people will be tempted by different things. Being tempted is not a sin; giving in, however, is. God promises that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. He also provides “the way of escape.” Every time we face temptation, we can know that God will help us through it. We should look for His way of escape [1Cor. 10:13] and then run for the door!

James 1:12-16 (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.
¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

¹² Bienaventurado el varón que soporta la tentación; porque cuando haya resistido la prueba, recibirá la corona de vida, que Dios ha prometido a los que le aman.
¹³ Cuando alguno es tentado, no diga que es tentado de parte de Dios; porque Dios no puede ser tentado por el mal, ni él tienta a nadie;
¹⁴ sino que cada uno es tentado, cuando de su propia concupiscencia es atraído y seducido.
¹⁵ Entonces la concupiscencia, después que ha concebido, da a luz el pecado; y el pecado, siendo consumado, da a luz la muerte.
¹⁶ Amados hermanos míos, no erréis.

We see here seven steps in temptation. They are:

1. We are tempted – that is the thought of evil. It is not a sin to be tempted. We can stop the sin at this point.
2. We are drawn away – that is the strong imagination. Otherwise you keep thinking about the sin over and over. We can still stop the sin at this point.
3. Now there comes the lust – that is a delight in viewing the sin. That strong imagination becomes lust. Through prayer we can still stop the sin.
4. Now we are enticed – that is a weakening of the will. You continue to imagine until lust comes in and that turns to weakening of the will. You still have the chance to stop before the sinful act is committed.
5. Lust is conceived – That is yielding to the sin.
6. Sin – The sinful act committed. You let go of God and fall into the trap or snare of the devil.
7. Death – the result of the actual sin.

There is a chance for repentance at any of these steps but if we do not repent and come to God we will suffer the final result, eternal separation from God.

The Bible says:

1 Corinthians 10:13
¹³ There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (RVR)
¹³ No os ha sobrevenido ninguna tentación que no sea humana; pero fiel es Dios, que no os dejará ser tentados más de lo que podéis resistir, sino que dará también juntamente con la tentación la salida, para que podáis soportar.

There is always an escape route. God can help us at any of these steps.

When the devil comes to you with any temptation, you need to learn to be sensitive to God and you can escape without falling into sin.