What do we do about mental temptation? What does the Bible say about overcoming mental temptation? In Hebrews 4, the Bible says that Jesus was tempted in all points, just like we are, but He didn't sin.
Jesus never fell into the temptation that attacked him (Matt. 4). What did Jesus do with the thoughts that bombarded His mind? He resisted them with the Word of God by saying, "It is written." Jesus took the Word and used it as a battle tool against the devil to overcome him.
We see in Matthew 4 that Jesus resisted the devil by speaking God's Word. How do we resist the devil today? We resist him the same way Jesus did, by speaking God's Word and submitting to the Lord.
Let's read James 4:7: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
The Bible says that we are to submit to God, and when we do that, the devil will flee from us.
Submit to God by arranging yourself under the authority of His Word. Submit to God by making Him the Lord of your life, and allowing Him to have control. We are commanded to resist the devil. No one else will do it for us, but when we resist or confront him, he will flee!
First Corinthians 10:13 says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
The Bible says that the temptations we face are not uncommon and are not exclusively our own. People have dealt with the same things we have dealt with for thousands of years. The Amplified Bible says that no temptation is beyond resistance.
God can be trusted and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your ability and power to endure. In other words, He has provided an exit door for us! Another way to look at it is that He has provided a way of escape, or a landing place, for us.
We can be strong enough and capable of bearing up under the temptation patiently. We can overcome every temptation with God as our fortress and refuge. He will make a place we can run to!
The Bible goes on to say in 1 Peter:
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.God is saying that temptation only lasts for a little while. It is only around for a short time. But, praise God, the good news is that we win every time!
(vv. 5:9-10)
He has made us overcomers through Jesus when we arrange ourselves under Him.
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Pastors Mike and Barb Cameneti are the founding and lead pastors of Faith Family Church. What began as a small basement Bible study in 1988, has flourished into a multi-faceted ministry reaching the world and helping people establish and grow in their relationship with God.
