Conquering Temptation 3

Who is the ultimate source of strength in resisting temptation?

He is called the Word made Flesh, the Bread of Life, our Wonderful Counselor, and our Prince of Peace. Jesus is not only our Savior but also our example. When He faced temptation in the wilderness, He wielded Scripture as His weapon.

“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’” – Matthew 4:4 (NIV).

Abide in Him, and You Will Bear Fruit

The first and most important strategy for resisting temptation is to abide in Christ.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 (NIV).

Staying connected to Jesus through prayer, worship, and studying His Word equips us with the spiritual resilience needed to stand strong. Pastor Charles Stanley once said, “His voice leads us not into timid discipleship but into bold witness.” When we stay close to Jesus, we are emboldened to resist the devil and stand firm.

The Living Word: Our Greatest Defense

Jesus modeled for us how to use Scripture as a defense against temptation.

Psalm 119:11 tells us, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Regular engagement with the Bible—reading, meditating, memorizing—fills our hearts and minds with truth that counters the lies of temptation.

The Essential Role of Prayer

Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s will and strengthens us in our weakness.

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” – Matthew 26:41 (NIV).

 Jesus invites us to seek His strength through prayer, reminding us that when we are weak, He is strong.

Encourage young people and those you lead to develop a daily habit of prayer and scripture reading. As we equip ourselves with these spiritual disciplines, we not only guard our hearts but also teach others to do the same.

Stay tuned for Part 4, where we’ll discuss how to build a strong, supportive community that stands firm against temptation.