For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
I have found that many Christians struggle with the distinction between temptation and sin. Bombarded by tempting thoughts, they conclude that there must be something pretty sick about them. But even Jesus was "tempted in all things as we are." But finish the
verse: "Yet without sin." As long as we are in the world, we are exposed to temptation just like Jesus was. But He didn't sin, and we don't have to sin either. (Please read 1 Corinthians 10:13)
Temptation becomes sin when we try to meet our legitimate, God given human needs illegitimately. We have a choice between two options: we either look to the world, the flesh, or the devil to have our needs met; or we can learn to look to Christ who promises in His Word to meet our needs. (Philippians 4:19) The essence of temptation is the invitation to meet our legitimate needs illegitimately, independent of our relationship with God.
Many times the power of temptation will depend on the strength of the strongholds which were developed in our minds as a child and young person growing up. Let me explain: Some of you were raised by parents who didn't have sexually explicit magazines, books, or videos, and who didn't allow television programs of questionable moral value. God protected you from exposure to inappropriate or even harmful pornographic materials or sexual behavior, the power of sexual temptation in your life may not be as great as for someone who grew up exposed to these things. On the other hand, the person who grew up in an environment of immorality, or who was molested, or an adolescent child who was inadvertently exposed to pornography and then, knowing it was wrong began viewing porn regularly forming a habit or addiction; that person will experience a greater struggle with sexual temptation simply because the stronghold in the mind was well established before he or she was able to protect him or herself.
A stronghold becomes stronger as we continually give into the temptation to dwell on the sinful thought or even act-out on the obsessive and compulsive thoughts. If we continue to give in, with or without knowing it, we have opened the door to the devil and are allowing him to build a fortress of sinful thinking in our mind. Soon we have developed an attachment or addiction to an obsessively sinful way of thinking and possibly even an addictive sinful behavior.
Jesus was tempted to meet His own physical needs by using His divine attributes independently of permission from his Father to turn a rock into bread. But instead He responded by quoting his Dad, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God".(Matthew 4:4) We must also learn to respond to temptation by believing, recalling and speaking God's Word while humbly relying on God to meet our needs.
Those of us who have let Satan trap us in an on-going sinful habit of thinking and behavior will need the additional prayer, help, and support of a trusted brother or sister in the Lord. One who is knowledgeable in spiritual warfare. We may even have to seek professional help from a Christian councilor or a support group. Obsessive thoughts and behaviors are not something we can entertain for long without facing the consequences. But we don’t have to fight the battle alone; God's grace will help us find the freedom we seek in Christ, if we are diligent.
Dear Jesus, help me not to listen to the voice of the tempter today but to run to you and your word as the source for meeting all my needs.
Rockin’ on with Jesus,
Bill Glover