The Test of Temptation


In the book of James chapter 1 verse 12-15 it states:
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life; which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempeth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

In this scripture we can conclude that we’ll be speaking on the act of temptation. So, lets first start off with the definition of temptation:
Definition of temptation: the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise, a thing or course of action that attracts or tempts someone.

In the book of James temptation, is looked upon as a process that involves 4 stages not a single event that just happened. This process in chronological order is:

Enticement- something used to attract or tempt someone, to lure in
Example, the enemy presenting you with your sinful desire
Entrapment- the state of being caught in or as in a trap to someone or something
Example, the enemy placing it in your mind for you to act on it stop rebuke turn away
Endorsement- an act of giving one’s public approval, engaging in the act
Example, giving the enemy approval by engaging in the temptation
Enslavement – the action of making someone a slave
Example, you are now enslaved to this sinful desire to keep giving into the temptation of it. That is when it becomes a stronghold.

The fact of the matter is that temptation is not a sin but yielding to it is where the sin comes in to play. Temptation is inevitable, no one not even Christ has escaped it.
Satan tried to tempt Jesus three different times in the wilderness in the areas of lust of the flesh, pride of life, and lust of the eye.

When in the Book of Matthew chapter 4 verse 3-11

First one, is the lust of the flesh- the tempter came to Him, he said, “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.”
But He answered and said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Second one, the pride of life: “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down. For it is written: He shall give His angels concerning thee: and In their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Third one, lust of the eye:
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, all these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

So, if Jesus was tested than we are and will all be tested. God is never to blame for sin, because it clearly states in James 1:13, Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempeth he any man. Temptation is the sign of the ENEMY. However, God may ALLOW temptation to strengthen the faith of believers as stated in Matthew 4:1, Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

So with the stage that Jesus was in after FASTING FOR 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS OF being weary and lacking in areas of what the flesh feeds on physically which is food and water, shows that every MAN WILL BE TRIED. Other examples of who were tried in the wilderness is: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Elijah, and Paul.
And although God may allow the temptation by the tempter, it is up to us to deny the flesh, or else we are to blame.

Example, as a child in grade school, I say grade school because it seemed like the older, I got, the more I cared less about passing a test in school. I mean I wanted to pass it, but studying was not anywhere in my schedule in my high school years. How many can relate?

As a child in grade school, you look forward to passing that test, because not only will you get a passing grade but that also means you just avoided a whooping and being on punishment and may even receive a reward. Needless to say, at this age, I never took a test to intentionally fail. I studied for that spelling test, went over my words time and time again. And when it came down to taking that test, I was well prepared for a passing grade if not a 100. And your grade will help you determine what you’ve learned (OVER CAME), where is room for progression (WHERE YOU LACK), what you need to do different (IF YOU FAILED), and if you made a 100, then you’ll go on to the next test without question. The only difference between God’s test, and man’s test is either you pass and move to the next test, or you fail and have to go through another test. There is no in-between, but through the first test you’ll learn what you over came, where you lack, and what you need to do different for the next test.

So, without the test, then there is no growth. Satan does not change his tactics. He uses your same routine desires that has kept you in bondage or keeps you in bondage to continue to lure you in. Which constitutes enslavement to that sin. This is why you must be careful because you can be deceived no matter your stance in the Lord, because Satan knows about those sinful desires that move you to want to sin. He knows that by enticing you with the lust of the eye, can lure you into being enslaved to the pride of life. Temptation goes hand in hand, if Satan can get you to fall for one than he can 9 out 10 get you to fall for all three acts of temptation. That is why it is crucial to pinpoint where in your life temptation exist the most and tackle that in the spiritual realm to break the bonds of Satan daily. We are to crucify our flesh daily, and to put on the whole armor of God in the day of battle because everyday is a battle against darkness. My challenge to everyone is to write down in what area do you find that temptation tries to get the best of you in: and although the enemy will try any area, the enemy will always take the easy route of where you have given into temptation before first.

All in all, we are to be mindful that when people hold temptation in their hearts and fantasize about it in their minds; sin is conceived and once sin is born, it brings forth death. Death to your spirit man, then death to your physical body.