The Nature of Temptation (Part 1)

Everyone faces temptation.  Even Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Matthew 4:1) and Scripture tells us that He was tempted in all ways like we are yet He was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).  In this post I want to share with you the nature of temptation and cover some facts about temptation and where temptation comes from.

The Nature of Temptation

As I stated in the opening paragraph, everyone faces temptation.  It is common to all men and women, no one is exempt (1 Corinthians 10:13).  The nature of temptation is to ultimately deceive you and cause you to do wrong. There is always an attraction to sin via temptation, else we wouldn't be so drawn to it.  When a person yields to temptation it is because they allow fleshly desires to control them.  Temptation often begins with something very small and seemingly insignificant but then grows into something bigger and bigger.  The allure of temptation is that it is built on fantasy or imagination.  Temptation itself is not a sin.  Sin occurs only if we act on the temptation.

Facts About Temptation

• Temptation means to "entice, test, persuade or urge to do evil."
• The source of temptation is found in James 1:12-14.  The source of temptation is rooted in
• The flesh
• The world's system
• The devil.
• 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 gives us an idea of how temptation works.
• It begins with a thought
• Then it becomes a "fantasy or imagination"
• Then it moves to a desire
• Next it moves into your will
• Then you make a choice
• It's at the point of choice where a person gives in to sin or says no to the temptation

Three Categories of Temptation

There are all kinds of temptation, but the book of 1 John 2:15-17 tells us that all temptation can be put into three categories.

• The lust of the flesh
• The lust of the eyes
• The pride of life

These are the broad areas of temptation that all of us are confronted with from time to time.  These are also the same temptations that came to Eve in Genesis 3:6.  Eve saw that the tree was good for fruit (lust of the flesh).  She saw that the fruit was pleasant to her eyes (lust of the eyes).  And she saw that it was a tree to make one wise (the pride of life).

Temptation is always designed to draw our desires and heart away from God. Nothing should take the place of God in your life or take you away from God.  If there is anything drawing you away from God, you have to get it under control now.

What are your desires?  What is it that you want more than anything?  God wants the answers to those questions to be Him.

-- Pastor Temple