Repenting of your sins, being baptized, receiving the Holy Ghost, and ultimately being born to a new life in Christ does not mean the temptation to sin instantly goes away. Accomplishing those things through Christ is a grand victory and something to celebrate. I know that after doing those things it feels as though the battle has been won. But, the devil does not like to lose and he will be back knocking on the door before you know it. Even after Jesus overcame the temptation of the devil in the wilderness the Bible says the devil only left Jesus for a season.
Luke 4:13 (KJV)
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
Since the devil is always going to try and tempt us to sin then what do we do? Well, the section of scripture that proceeds Luke 4:13 gives us the best example. In that, we can see that the devil tried to tempt Jesus multiple times. Each time Jesus responds with exerts of scripture that refutes what the devil said.
By doing this Jesus is showing that He knows the truth. And ultimately stating that He knows the devil is the liar. No matter what satan tries Jesus stands on the firm foundation of God’s word. Showing that He will not be tricked as Eve was in the garden.
Luke 4:1-12 (KJV)
4 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
We Can Do The Same Thing
I believe we are able to use this same principle to battle the temptation of the devil in our own lives. When you are tempted to sin find a verse or passage of scripture that fits the situation you are in. For example, if the devil tries to tempt you through adultery reach for Exodus 20:14. If the devil tempts you to lie then reach for Proverbs 12:22.
When you pull verses from the Bible and use them against satan. It is like pulling an arrow out of your quiver and shooting him. This wounds and causes him pain. After taking a few arrows he will back away slowly. Sadly he always seems to return time and time again once his wounds have healed. But, once you get some practice you will be able to hit him from a lot farther away. Causing that detestable beast to not look as frighting as he once did.
Right now we are just trying to fight the small battles. We may win some and we may lose a few. But if we can just hold if, just keep finding. We will make it to the final battle and as we know the final battle will be won by the King of Kings, the Lord of Lord, GOD ALMIGHTY!
Scripture to Fight Your Battle
To help you quickly load your quiver I have compiled a list of scripture to help overcome some common temptations of the devil. Of course, there are many more scriptures and sins that could be added to this list. So I highly recommend you think of where you struggle with temptation and find even more scripture that speaks into that area. You can never have too much ammo in the heat of the battle.
Lying
Proverbs 12:22 (KJV)
22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.
John 8:44 (ESV)
44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Colossians 3:9 (KJV)
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Adultery/Sexual Lust
Exodus 20:14 (KJV)
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Matthew 5:28 (KJV)
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Love of Money
1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV)
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Matthew 6:24 (KJV)
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Love of Possessions
Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 12:15 (KJV)
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Pride
Proverbs 16:18 (KJV)
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
James 4:10 (KJV)
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Stealing
Exodus 20:15 (KJV)
15 Thou shalt not steal.
Ephesians 4:28 (KJV)
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Anger
James 1:19-20 (ESV)
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Colossians 3:8 (KJV)
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Hate
1 John 3:14-15 (KJV)
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Leviticus 19:17-18 (KJV)
17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. 18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
Alcoholism
Ephesians 5:18 (KJV)
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Isaiah 5:11 (NLT)
11 What sorrow for those who get up early in the morning looking for a drink of alcohol and spend long evenings drinking wine to make themselves flaming drunk.
Divorce
Matthew 5:31-32 (KJV)
31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Cover-Alls
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NLT)
9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:12 (NLT)
12 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.
Galatians 5:19-21 (KJV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Hopefully one of the verses mentioned above can help you when the temptation to sin strikes. If you do not see scripture that fits your exact situation I assure you there is one among the over 23,000 verses in the Bible that will. Not sure where to find it? Please feel free to ask and we will help you find it.
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