These consequences did not just impact David, but also all those around him and under his control. David cried out to God, pleading that it was his poor decision before God and to spare those whom he hurt. He was willing to take the blame and to suffer whatever the cost.
Temptations are areas of our life that we know we should not be doing, yet there is a pull towards those areas and the enemy encourages us in that direction so we will destroy our own lives.
As followers of Jesus we have become part of His kingdom, but still have old desires from our former life in this world. How do we abstain and fight this battle within so we don’t self-destruct?
Staying Away From Self-Destruction:
1. Always Look for the Lie
Temptation is ALWAYS based on a lie. If you do “this” (fill in your temptation) you will be happy. This has been part of life since the Garden after the Fall of man. Satan deceives by telling a lie, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. There is no truth in him and when he lies he speaks his native language. He only uses truth to tell a greater lie seen in half truths. We need to ask, “Where is the lie?”
The bait is the temptation,
the hook is the lie. There is always a hook!
2. Learn Your Weaknesses
What is the most likely way Satan can bring you down? We all are different and we need to know what our weaknesses are. Satan is very strategic! He will only tempt in areas we are weak in. We need to know those times in our life to prepare. What is your Achilles’ heel?
We are most vulnerable to attack when we are weak
or in times of great strength.
3. Watch for God’s Way Out
Temptations are usually 1:1, Satan against you. We need to know we are NOT alone! God is there to show us a way out, like a fireman in a burning building showing us how to escape. The message from Satan is; “Sooner or later you will give in, so you might as well do it now!” Our confidence is that God is with us and He will meet us in the fire and show us the way out. We need to listen to God.
Six Ways Out
a) Supernatural deliverance. God just removes the temptation.
b) New spiritual truth. At the end of the battle, God shows us a personal truth.
c) Spend more time with God to get the power we need.
d) Share our struggle with a trusted friend.
e) The Holy Spirit will give us a specific assignment to find a way out.
f) Flee from temptation—run, don’t discuss or reason—run!
When facing temptation we are not alone;
God is our life coach showing us a way out!
4. Submit to God and Take a Stand
We need to submit to God and not play with temptation. Praying to God when we are not serious usually results in defeat. We underestimate the power of the enemy! We usually ask for deliverance when we are in the center of temptation. We need to avoid placing ourselves in those areas of vulnerability. Satan will flee from us if we are serious about submitting to God. The longer we dabble with the temptation, the more difficult it will be to submit.
The best time to stop a temptation
is at the beginning of the temptation!
5. Never Give Up
Never give up even when we fall. Every time we give in to temptation it takes a piece of our soul. Sooner or later we will win against the temptation. God is greater than the temptation. Satan’s message is, “God doesn’t love you anymore!”
It is only when we give up that we lose!
Christianity says, “Here’s what we need to do in life, but there’s no way you can do it alone!” God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness, through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and His goodness, and through these He has given us very great and precious promises so that through them you might participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in this world caused by those evil desires. We are not alone!
Lord, thank you for teaching us. Whatever area of temptation we are facing, we ask that you help us understand what we are up against and most of all help us understand the temptation is always a lie. Those desires that tempt us are waging a war against our soul. Father, as commander of the Lord’s army, help us fight this battle well, that we would be victorious.
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