More Than Conquerers: Claiming Victory Over SinSample

Temptation

The struggle is real! It seems like once you put your faith in Jesus Christ, the devil would leave you alone, right? Not true. If you are a child of God, the Enemy knows he can’t have your soul, but he still wants to steal your joy and render you ineffective for the Kingdom, lest you live a life of victory and freedom that leads others to salvation in Jesus Christ.

Thankfully, God is with us, not only in Heaven, but right now here on earth, talking to us, guiding our steps, encouraging us, warning us, and He has promised to provide a way of escape when we are tempted. If we lean in close and listen to the Holy Spirit, we will find it.

When we resist temptation, we spare ourselves the convicting twinge of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, Who is grieved by the sin in our lives; the temporal consequences of our sin, not eternal death, but earthly events that our sin sets in motion; and the pain of regret. When we resist temptation, we grow stronger, learn more about God, and prove His power to save and transform to those who are watching.

When we give in to temptation, knowingly or unknowingly, we cause relational static between ourselves and God. Jesus’ death and resurrection paid the price for all sin, past, present, and future, so the sin that we commit after becoming a child of God does not undo our salvation, but it makes it difficult to communicate with God, weakening our defenses against the Enemy and thwarting our efforts to lead others to Christ. It is just not worth it!

• What consequences have you suffered as a result of your own sin?
• Does anything that you stand to gain by giving in to temptation ever outweigh the cost?
• Knowing this, what will you do next time you are tempted to sin?

Read Romans 16:20, John 10:10, and 1 Corinthians 10:13.