SATAN’S LIMITED POWER OVER BELIEVERS

Temptation: peirasmos= trial, proof;  peirazo= to try, to prove

1.   Satan tempts believers to sin! (Matthew 6:13) “And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 26:41) “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (I Thessalonians 3:5) “For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labor be in vain.” (Acts 20:19) “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:”

2.   Satan tempts believers to commit sexually immoral acts! (I Corinthians 7:5) “Deprive ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your lack of self control.” (I Peter 1:6) “Wherein ye greatly rejoice though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:”

3.   Satan wages war against believers! (Ephesians 6:12) “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

4.   Satan tempts all believers alike! (I Corinthians 10:13) “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man.”

5.   Satan tempts the believer’s flesh! (Galatians 4:14) “My temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of god, even as Christ Jesus.”

6.   Satan tempts rich believers uniquely! (I Timothy 6:9-10) “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

7.   God knows how to deliver believers out of temptation! (II Peter 2:9) “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations.”

8.   God is faithful to deliver believers from temptation! (II Corinthians 10:13) “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.”

9.   God provides armor for the believer! (Ephesians 6:11, 13-18) “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints:”

10. God provides spiritual ones to help the weaker believer! (Galatians 6:1) “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

11. God gives the believer joy in temptation! (James 1:2) “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”

12. God does not tempt the believer! (James 1:13-15) “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

13. God uses temptation to mature the believer! (James 1:3-4) “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (Romans 5:3-4) “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

14. God will keep the believer out of the hour of temptation! (Revelation 3:10) “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

15. God will bless the believer who endures temptation! (James 1:12) “Blessed is the man that edureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”