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Temptation
Promise of Pleasure—Lured by a Lie
by June Hunt
On a rough wooden pier, the seasoned fisherman tediously fastens his hook on a line, then baits the hook with what he suspects will lure the fish to bite.
This old angler knows that certain fish can be caught only with certain bait … a dry fly for trout, worms for bass, stink bait for catfish.
What the fish doesn’t know is, “All is not what it appears to be.”
Within a tempting moment there’s a bite—a fight—and then a skinned fish fillet!
We all know too well what it’s like to be lured by a lie.
Something offers a promise, but in the end it doesn’t pay.
Temptation is that attractive lure hiding the deadly hook.
But take heart, you don’t have to take a bite.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”
(Proverbs 14:12)
I. DEFINITIONS
A. What Is Temptation?
• The most common meaning of the word temptation is “an enticement to do wrong.”
— The word entice comes from an old Greek hunting and fishing term deleazo, which means “to lure by a bait.”
— No bait will tempt everyone, but everyone is tempted by some type of bait.
What will tempt you depends on the desires within your heart.
“Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.”
(James 1:14)
• The Old Testament Hebrew word nasah means “an attempt to prove the quality of something.”
— Nasah is most often translated in the Bible as “test, prove, tempt or try.”
— God permits us to be tested (tempted) in order to reveal our strengths and our weaknesses.
Biblical Example:
God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, as a burnt offering.
Isaac was the apple of Abraham’s eye.
Though he could have refused, he obeyed.
When Abraham proved his faithfulness, God spared Isaac’s life.
(Read Genesis chapter 22.)
“Some time later God tested Abraham.
He said to him, ‘Abraham!’
‘Here I am,’ he replied.
Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah.
Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering.’
”
(Genesis 22:1–2)
• The New Testament Greek word peirasmos means “a temptation to sin” or “a trial with a beneficial purpose.”
— This same Greek word is also translated “test” or “trial.”
— When you are tempted, you are in a trying situation that reveals your character and tests your commitment.
— When you are tested by temptation, you are being refined by fire.
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
(1 Peter 1:6–7)
Temptation was experienced by Jesus.
Therefore, He is fully able to help you in your temptation.
“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
(Hebrews 2:18)
B. What Are Some Twisted Truths about Temptation?
Twisted Truth #1:
“Temptation is sinful.”
Truth:
Temptation is not sin.
Jesus was tempted in every way, yet He did not sin.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.”
(Hebrews 4:15)
Twisted Truth #2:
“God is tempting me!”
Truth:
Temptation is not from God, but it is allowed by God.
“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’
For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”
(James 1:13)
Twisted Truth #3:
“The devil made me do it!”
Truth:
Temptation is Satan’s attempt to lure you into sin, but he can be resisted.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
Twisted Truth #4:
“Somebody else made me do it.”
Truth:
No one can make you kill, steal, lie, cheat or commit any immoral act.
You have a choice as to whether you give in to temptation or not.
“My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.”
(Proverbs 1:10).
Twisted Truth #5:
“She is so saintly, she is above temptation.”
Truth:
Everyone is tempted, just in different areas.
In fact, the mature Christian is often subject to greater temptation.
“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12)
Twisted Truth #6:
“A thought can’t be sinful.”
Truth:
An initial impure thought is not sinful, though it is a temptation.
However, continuing with an unholy thought can make you captive to sin.
“Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord.
Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.
For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” (Acts 8:22–23)
Twisted Truth #7:
“Just pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”
Truth:
Temptation is not overcome by your own willpower.
Temptation is defeated by admitting your weaknesses and yielding to Christ’s power within you.
“He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Twisted Truth #8:
“God is angry at me when I’m tempted.”
Truth:
God does not disapprove of you because you are tempted.
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