Resisting temptation is something everyone deals with on a daily basis this side of eternity. Our Savior, Jesus, was no exception as the devil tempted him in the wilderness as recorded in Matthew 4. We read in James 4:7, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. [1] The Greek word translated “submit” is hupotasso and means “a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden”.[2] Why is submission to God is the key to resisting the devil? When I obey and submit to the Lord, it gives me the ability to resist the devil because I am looking to the Lord for my strength not myself.
When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He knew the cross was ahead of Him and He prayed to His Father in heaven. Jesus says in Luke 22:42, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”[3] Jesus models looking to His Father. Jesus models submission. On Good Friday Jesus was crucified on a cross and all of our sins were poured out upon Him. Jesus was an overcomer, but He submitted and looked to His Father for strength. Joseph was being tempted by the wife of Potiphar. Who was he dependent on to resist the sin of adultery? Who was he submitting himself to? The answer to both those questions is the Lord.
Genesis 39:6Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, 7 and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. 8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. 9 No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” 10 She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible.[4]
What is tempting you? How could submitting yourself to God help you to overcome temptation? If we fall into temptation it is not too late. Submit to God in repentance and confess your sin and ask for forgiveness.
Prayer To Keep From Yielding To Temptation
Heavenly Father, I believe that temptation is not a sin while yielding to temptation certainly is, and so I come to pray that You would help me not to yield to any temptation, whether it is a temptation of the body or the mind. Keep me pure in thought, word and deed for Lord, I want to follow You and I want to live my life to Your honor and praise.
Father, I believe that no temptation comes to any of us that is not common to all men and that by Your grace You always provide an escape from temptation. Help me not to be tempted and give me the eyes to see and grasp hold of the escapes from temptation that You, in Your grace, offer me.
Lord, You know the areas of my vulnerabilities and You know when and how I will be tempted today and in the days that lie ahead, and Lord, although I know that I must make the choice not to succumb to temptation, I do ask that you would prompt me to flee temptation, and to walk in the light of the glorious gospel of truth. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.[5]
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https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/hope-when-falsely-accused
[1] The New King James Version. (1982). (Jas 4:7). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[2] Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
[3,4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[5] https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Prayers-about-Temptation, Accessed June 16, 2020.