Tag: What the Bible says about temptation

Bible Verse of The Day – 4-9-21

James 1:12 (NKJV) 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Temptation comes to us all. Not one of us is exempt.

What we are tempted by will vary from person to person.

We all have different weaknesses. It’s those weaknesses that cause us to be pulled in the direction of things that can destroy us or do great harm to us and those around us.

It’s up to us to take the necessary steps to disarm the devil in his war against us.

We do this in different ways, depending on who we are and what we wrestle with.

In the end, though, there is common ground between us all. And the steps we take to stay away from these sins is also similar.

1. Stay in God’s word. Feast on it. We can’t fight if we’re not strong. We can’t be strong if we’re under-nourished.

2. Learn to hate the sin that ensnares us. Until we hate the sin, we will continue to gravitate back to it, toying with it until we fall into that same sin again and again.

3. Don’t tempt God. We can’t expect to fight temptation and escape sin if we constantly flirt with it. The Holy Spirit will warn us, and He will help us turn from it. But if we constantly throw ourselves at the sin, it will eventually win and it will defeat us.

James 1:14 (NKJV) 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

4. We need to know and understand that when temptation comes (and it will come), God will always, always, always provide a way of escape. He will never leave us cornered and helpless. We just have to be willing to turn from it.

On that note, I want to mention one last thing; something very specific that we often overlook.

God’s way of escaping temptation will seldom be anything that we would view as being miraculous. In fact, it’s usually so simple and lackluster that we fail to recognize it.

It’s this; we simply turn and walk away from it.

God gives us the ability to do this. He provides the warning, the opening, and the strength to walk away. We just have to be willing to listen, understand and obey His leading and His promptings.

So, if we’re looking for lightning bolts or rumblings of thunder from the sky, it’s time that we get back to reality and recognize how God works on a daily basis.

Regardless of His methods, He is faithful.

And He gives us what it takes to do the same; be faithful.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 2-2-21

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

God is faithful!!

He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear. Even when temptation may approach us, He will help us escape it, If we are listening, watching and praying.

Temptation is the devil’s way of getting us. And he does know our weaknesses.

But our faith and trust in God to help us escape will be the key to not letting it overtake us.

God is our strength. Through Him we can turn away quickly, as we submit to Him.

When we resist satan and his schemes, God’s word tells us the devil will leave.

James 4:7 (NKJV) 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Those who are facing even the smallest temptation today, what are we waiting for?

Don’t play with it. Move on. It will not overtake us if we resist. He has made an escape out. Take it!!

We love you. God bless you. Enjoy your day.

Amen.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 7-20-20

James 1:14 (NKJV) 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

Temptation is something that so many wrestle with.

We’ve written about temptation a lot over the years. It’s a subject that’s familiar to most of us, since we’re all human beings.

Because we’ve written about it and studied it so much, we’ve gotten a deeper understanding of it and what really causes it, so we want to make sure that we share that with others.

As we have often taught, temptation in and of itself isn’t necessarily wrong.

But we have learned that there are definitely factors that come into play for each of us that dictate how we react to temptation and how it comes about to begin with.

Temptation begins in us because we are drawn away by our own desires.

This makes it plain and clear that the temptation comes based on a desire that is within us.

When I first got revelation of that, it was extremely eye-opening.

So, if we look at this at its most basic root, the temptations that we wrestle with are largely caused by what’s inside of us.

Let me explain.

If we have a weakness for something, that thing will be what tempts us.

If we have a weakness in the area of lust, we will be most tempted by things that draw on that weakness.

If we have a weakness for drugs or alcohol, those will be the things that cause us to struggle the most.

And the same can go for anything that we desire. That will be what causes us to struggle and stumble, over and over again.

You might ask, “So, how can I ever expect to overcome temptation if the root of it lies within me?”.

Here’s the answer.

The temptation, and the weakness that causes us to give in to it, will go away when the desire for the sin goes away. And that desire will go away when we finally surrender ourselves fully to God.

You see, it’s when we surrender to God that our desires begin to change.

We will no longer desire sex that is impure or improper. We will no longer desire drunkenness or the use of drugs to “escape” reality and the troubles of life. We will no longer covet things that are not ours. We will no longer steal. We will no longer be greedy. And the list could go on infinitely.

Why? Because as we submit to God and surrender to Him, He will replace those impure, unholy desires with new ones; desires that are in alignment with what He wants for us.

And those old desires, the ones that cause us to be so easily tempted? They will fall away, as the old man is slowly washed away and the new man is raised up and groomed by the Holy Spirit for righteous living.

We hope this will shed some new light on this topic and help everyone understand it better, so that fighting temptation won’t be something that occupies every waking hour for so many believers.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 6-10-20

James 1:13-14 (NKJV) 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

If most of us were asked what or who we are tempted by, the vast majority would say that we are tempted by the devil.

And while this may be partially correct, let’s look closely at the verses above, where we will find some revealing insights about this.

First off, it’s important that we understand that we are never, ever tempted by God.

God has no darkness nor evil in Him, therefore He cannot tempt anyone with what is evil.

We are tempted by what is in us. Let me explain.

The scripture above states that we are tempted when we are drawn away by our own desires.

The desires within us cause us to be tempted, lured away, and drawn into sin. If we were 100% clean, and free of sinful desires, being tempted would have no power over us. We would simply turn and walk away without giving it (the temptation) a second glance.

But, because of what is hidden inside of us, we become tempted.

Maybe you’re asking how we can fix this, or how we can ever avoid being tempted and caught up in sin.

We have to learn to let God change our desires.

God has a way of “cleaning us up” that will remove our evil desires and replace them with righteous desires.

It doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, it doesn’t necessarily happen in a few days or a few weeks. It can happen that quickly in some cases, but that’s not the norm.

The cleaning up of our desires is a process that takes place as we surrender and submit to God, allowing Him to transform and renew our minds with His word, through the Holy Spirit.

So, how fast it happens for us is our own choice, based on how quickly we let Him go to work in our hearts and our minds.

One thing is for sure, though. As we do submit and surrender, we will never, ever be disappointed in what He does in us.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 2-20-20

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

With temptation there will also always come a way for us to escape it. As we walk through life there is temptation all around us.

Nowadays everything is so carefree.

People do what they want, dress the way they want, be who they want. It’s all about what we want to do and how we want to do it. Just about everything and anything goes.

It’s hard for Christians not be tempted. At times when we are tired and we have been busy, with a lot on our minds, it’s easy to get caught off guard. It’s going to happen to the best of us.

But remember, no matter what we are tempted with, God has made an escape. So, don’t fall for it. And don’t try using the excuse that we were caught off guard.

It’s up to us to be alert. It’s up to us to be watching, listening and sharp. Why? Because we have an enemy that roams about looking for those he can devour, including followers of Christ.

He wants to destroy every one of us. And tempting us is his way.

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Stay vigilant, alert, attentive and awake. If temptation tries to overtake us, God is always there with an escape plan.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 5-29-19

James 4:7 (NKJV) 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Temptation is something that we all deal with on a daily basis. Even Jesus dealt with it.

So, whether we deal with temptation or not isn’t the question or the issue. The real issue is how we deal with it when it comes.

Jesus used the word of God to rebuke the enemy when he tempted Him. For each time that the devil tempted Him, He responded with a specific scripture. And while that worked well for Jesus, sometimes we might not have specific verses pop into our minds right away to use.

As we study God’s word more, it will tend to become easier and easier to remember specific verses, which can really help us ward off temptation.

But sometimes we might need to deal with it in other ways or take additional actions in order to fend it off successfully.

The thing is that this tends to get over-complicated by many people. Really, though, it’s quite simple. The verse above says to resist the devil and he will flee from us.

This doesn’t require us to quote scripture. It doesn’t require us to bind the devil. It doesn’t even require us to pray. It only requires that we genuinely, earnestly resist him. Period.

Here’s the key to successfully resisting the devil and keeping him from coming back again and again with a particular temptation or sin: learn to hate the sin and what it does to us and those around us.

That’s right. Hate the sin. Until we despise the sin that’s destroying us and our family, we will forever return to it, only to have it eat away at us one little piece at a time, until it has destroyed us.

Alcohol, drugs, lust, porn, stealing, lying, adultery, you name it. They will all kill us eventually if we don’t learn to hate them and walk away from them. That may sound blunt and direct, but it’s that simple.

It’s up to us to do something to change it. Nobody else can stop us from falling into sin when we’re tempted. Not our family, not our friends, not even God. They can all give us guidance, encouragement, direction, love and mercy.

But until we learn to hate the sin, and actually make a choice to stop, we will be like a dog returning to its vomit.

Proverbs 26:11 (NKJV) 11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.

Let’s stop behaving like dogs and allow God to set us free. Let’s see the sin for what it is and what it is doing to us and the ones we love.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 5-23-19

James 1:14 (NKJV) 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

Temptation does not come from God. It comes when we are drawn away from what we know is right and we tap into the things that are wrong. We open the door for temptation to have its way.

Who opens the door? We do.

It’s so important that we realize it’s not anyone’s fault but ours. We open the door to it.

It will come and try to lure us in, and if we flirt with it enough, we won’t even care anymore if it is right or wrong. Our own desires will draw us away.

Some of us today are being tempted with some pretty major things, jealousy, porn, greed, anger, lust, drugs, alcohol, etc.

If we are the ones that open this door to our desires, we must also be the ones to close the door. Only we can do it.

No counselor can close it for us. We have to do it. No medication will stop the temptation. We have to stop it. No excuses for why we do it will justify it. We have to take the step and shut the door.

How do we stop being drawn away?

We stop it by changing the desires that we have toward these certain things.

Let us help you by joining together and praying for complete deliverance from these things. If we really mean it with all sincerity, God will help change our desires.

Dear God,

I come to you this day and ask for your help. I am tempted by things that are not good for me and my walk with You. And I know that it is because I enjoy what I am doing. I admit that they are desires in my own heart. Forgive me, Father. I don’t want to enjoy these things that are wrong, I don’t want to enjoy things that are bad for me. Please help me to take a stand and say, “No more”. Help me to not be drawn away by my own desires. I need You, Father. I need your strength, your discipline and all Your wisdom to get past this.

I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 1-17-19

Psalm 119:11 (NKJV) 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

We all struggle with sin on varying levels. Each day we face different kinds of temptations that attempt to lead us from the path that God has set before us.

Do we stray, or do we stay steadfast on God’s path?

It’s safe to say that we all disappoint God and ourselves sometimes, as we make the wrong choice and fall to those temptations. It’s not what we want to do, but we do it anyway.

So, how do we fix this? How do we stop falling into the trap of sin?

God’s word. That’s how!

God’s word is the key to avoiding temptation and giving in to temptation. We need to “hide” God’s word in our hearts. Why? Because hiding it in our hearts keeps us closer to God.

As we store His word in our hearts, it gives us a “well” to draw from. And when we are in need of something, the Holy Spirit will remind us of the things we have read in God’s word. Those little reminders will help steer us away from sin.

But if we fail to “fill our well”, we will never have anything to quench our thirst when we need it! There will be no words there to be reminded of, and it will make it easier for us to fall into sin when we are tempted.

Hiding God’s word in our hearts also gives us heightened discernment. As God’s spirit prompts us about different things, we are more apt to hear Him and give heed to what He says. This will also help keep us from falling when temptation comes our way.

While this might seem oversimplified, it’s a basic truth that we can’t overlook. Doing so will be detrimental to our spiritual health and wellbeing, and will cost us dearly over our lifetime.

Hide His word in our hearts, that we might not sin against Him.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 1-5-19

Hebrews 2:18 (NKJV) 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Temptation comes in many forms. And we can be tempted in many different areas of our lives.

Most people tend to think only about sexual sins when it comes to being tempted. And although this may seem like one of the most prevalent types of sins, there are a host of others that we get barraged with each and every day.

Sometimes the sins that are the easiest to be lured into are the ones we consider to be “less bad” than others.

These might be things like using company property for personal tasks. Or maybe keeping the extra change that the cashier accidentally gives us at the store. It might be one of a million other things like these that don’t seem blatant enough to be noticed by others.

We also may be tempted in the area of pride and power. Jesus was tempted with these when the devil offered to give Him all that He could see, if He would just bow down and worship him. But Jesus flat our refused, and He rebuked the devil with God’s word.

The thing is, we all deal with these temptations every minute of the day no matter who we are or how close we are to God. The best part is that the closer we are to God, the easier they are for us to fend off.

Why? Because as we draw closer and closer to God, our heart is slowly transformed to become more and more conformed to His will. This helps us fight off temptation much more quickly and with more power.

God has told us in the scripture above that if we are tempted, He will help us fight that temptation. He has also given us this promise:

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Let’s be careful and pay attention to the things we’re tempted with. Even those things that are very subtle and seem less damaging than others can lead us astray if we’re not careful

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 12-18-18

James 1:14 (NKJV) 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

Most times when we are feeling temptation it is only because we hold within in us the desire to do whatever it may be that is tempting us at that moment.

In order to get rid of the temptation, we have to hit that desire that’s within us with the Word of God.

Studying the scriptures that strictly pertain to that subject will help us to overcome that temptation, if we listen and let the Holy Spirit guide us, giving us the strength to push down our own fleshly desire.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We have to remember we do not fight temptation on our own. We use the two-edged sword for that. God gives us the power we need through His Word, to win.

Many Christians struggle with some kind of temptation. Don’t just sit there and cry out to God for help. We need to get up and start helping ourselves by looking for the scriptures, the answers to our own questions. God didn’t give up on us. He made a way for us. Most times we have to go get it.

Dear God in Heaven,

We come to You today to ask for help in getting free from personal temptation. We know we need to take steps within ourselves to win this fight. Help us to kick out those wrong desires within us and get the right ones manifesting through the reading and studying of what You have to say about them.

We thank you Father, in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 5-10-18

Mark 14:38 (NKJV) 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Watch and pray. This is what Jesus instructed His disciples to do when He was heading off to pray by Himself. He was in a time of great duress and needed to get alone to spend time with the Father.

For many years I never really paid much attention to the truth behind that phrase, “watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation”. Until today.

As Pastor Ellie and I were out walking today, we were discussing some various Biblical topics and this verse came to mind. And God showed me that the words that Jesus spoke here are instrumental for all of us if we wish to understand the key to avoiding and overcoming temptation in our own lives.

It has been taught by so many, including us, that to be tempted is not a sin. And this is still true. Giving in to temptation is sinful, not the temptation itself.

But, there is a very important principle here that many of us miss. And if we can get a good grasp on it, it has the power and potential to change our lives drastically.

It’s this; understanding the secret to avoid being tempted!

Many times we become tempted because of choices we make, things we do. We tend to put ourselves in situations where temptation comes easily, and we find ourselves constantly fighting it off. This can be very tiring after a while.

So, why don’t we just learn how to avoid the temptations altogether, right?

How do we do that? What do we do in order to keep temptation away? Watch and pray.

As we learn to watch and pray, we will become acutely more aware of everything going on around us, especially in the spiritual realm. This will cause us to be far less likely to put ourselves in situations where we become tempted.

This is something that God has been teaching me to put into practice for several years now, but today He showed me how to put it into words so it can also help others.

We hope it will help you too.

Watch and pray!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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