Temptation is a part of a believer's life

Temptation is a part of a believer's life. God cannot tempt us, but Satan can. Evidence of this is writen in James 1:12-15, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." While temptation does happen, it does not mean that a person will automatically sin just because he or she is tempted.

Take Jesus for example. He was tempted of the devil in Matthew 4 and Luke 4, "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' "Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'[d]" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him."

In times of temptation, we must stand strong against the enemy. The Book of James say that we should only submit to God, to resist the devil and he will flee. 1 Pet 5 writes that the devil is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. We are living in a time of spiritual warfare and the devil is very busy. I cannot stress that we must stand strong against the devil. We ask God not to "lead us into temptation." Matthew 6:13 because the enemy is a cunning liar and will use the past to tempt us back into our lives of sin. He will do anything to thwart God's plan. But the devil is a defeated foe. 1 John 4 says, "Greater is he who is in me than he who is in the world." We can resist temptation, but the enemy is a determine foe. Stand strong in the Lord. Ephesians 6 talks about the weapons of warfare that we can use against the enemy as well as Matthew 4 and Luke 4. Temptations are everywhere, but you and I can overcome them.