Overcoming Temptationਨਮੂਨਾ

HOW TO BEAT A LIE

As we look at Satan’s schemes and weapons, we see that he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). His first attack in the Old Testament was tempting Eve in Genesis 3. He challenged God’s Word and her identity. Genesis 1:27 tells us that God made man and woman in His image. Satan offers her to become like God if she disobeys God. Satan challenged God’s Word regarding her identity and the tree to tempt her. Like a game show, she could keep what she had or trade it for what was behind door #1. She fell for the trap.

When Satan came to Jesus, it was the same. He challenged what God had said and who Jesus was. “If you are the son of God” (Matthew 3:17 & Matthew 4:3). Jesus' weapon in response was, “It is written”. Jesus clung to the truth of God’s Word to defeat what Satan brought.

The way to beat a lie is with the truth. In areas where we are ignorant, we are easy to lie to. As a kid, my friend and I convinced his cousin that the reason he couldn’t find his socks was because we had placed them on the moon while he was in the bathroom changing. We had answers, even if they were unrealistic for his questions, so he believed us and was upset that his socks were now lost there.

It seems silly with socks, but he didn’t have enough truth to recognize the obvious lies. The same thing happens in our lives. Satan tells us that lying or cheating will get us what we want. He says that unforgiveness is our right, and he tells us the Bible’s rules for sexuality are out of date. His lies are abundant, and we have to know the truth to recognize them. We need to hide God’s Word in our hearts so we can combat his lies.

I have talked with people from church who got caught up in sinful behavior because they didn’t have the answers from the Word to give to those pressuring them to sin.

Many people don’t know the difference between what is Bible and what is culture. An example is a commonly used phrase, “Follow your heart.” While many of us have heard it enough that people use their hearts and feelings as a compass on what is acceptable, but the Bible warns us: “whoever trusts his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered” (Proverbs 28:26). Jeremiah 23:17 speaks of those who stubbornly follow their own heart in opposition to God.

God’s Word is described as the sword of the Spirit. We need to hide God’s word in our hearts so we are prepared to overcome the lies and temptations of the enemy.