Lesson 5. How to Resist the Devil and Temptations. The Christian’s First Steps school is designed for new believers. Prepared by Pastor Dmitriy Leo for Father’s Blessing Church, 2022.
We must all use the weapons against the devil and demons that the Lord Jesus left for us. From the Word of God, we will learn how to resist sinful habits, desires, and temptations so that we may become victorious.
Our Strength Is in the Word of God
After being baptized in water, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, where the devil tempted Him.
Luke 4:1–2 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where He was tempted by the devil for forty days and ate nothing during those days. When they had ended, He was hungry.
Everyone will face temptations sooner or later, so God gave us His Word—the Bible—which we must use to resist the enemy’s power. Our own strength and wisdom cannot always help us, but the Word of God is stronger than all the devil’s temptations.
Our responsibility is to resist temptation quickly and effectively by applying the biblical word appropriate to the situation. If we do our part, God will not delay in doing His.
Matthew 4:10: Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written: You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”
With the help of the Word of God, Jesus was able to successfully resist all the devil’s temptations.
Luke 4:13–14: And when the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee; and news about Him spread throughout the surrounding country.
Below, we will examine several examples of how to resist the devil’s temptations using verses from the Bible.
The Bible already provides an answer to every temptation we face—we simply need to find it. It is best to memorize key passages of Scripture so that, at any time, we can easily resist Satan and overcome him.
1. Temptations Concerning God
Temptation: God has abandoned you!
Response:
Isaiah 49:15: Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.
Psalm 91:1: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…
2 Corinthians 6:16: …For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Temptation: God does not love you anymore!
Response:
John 16:27: For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Temptation: God will not forgive you!
Response:
Psalm 103:3: He forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases…
1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Temptation: God will not answer you!
Response:
Jer. 33:3 Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and inaccessible things that you do not know.
2 Chronicles 7:14 if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land.
2. Temptation concerning the Church
Temptation: It is not necessary to attend church.
Response:
Heb. 10:25 Let us not forsake our assembling together, as is the manner of some, but exhort one another, especially as you see the Day approaching.
Ps. 133:1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down Aaron’s beard, down the collar of his robe…
3. Temptation concerning those around you
Temptation: Everyone is bad, but you are good!
Response:
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brothers; whoever does not love his brother remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer…
Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven…
Eph. 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Mark 9:35 If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last and servant of all.
Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, you who are younger, submit to the elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
4. Temptation concerning relatives
Temptation: Your relatives will not be saved
Response:
Acts 16:31 Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved—you and your household.
Josh. 24:15 As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Luke 19:9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house…”
5. Temptation during illness
Temptation: You will die from this illness.
Response:
Ps. 118:17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.
1 Pet. 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.
1 Thess. 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
6. Temptation in the Area of Finances
Temptation: You will not have any money.
Response:
Matt. 6:33 But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matt. 6:19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal…
1 Tim. 6:6–9 Now godliness with contentment is great gain… And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown people in destruction and perdition…
Phil. 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God…
Phil. 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
7. Temptations Concerning Serving God
Temptation: You will not be able to serve God!
Response:
2 Cor. 3:6 He has made us sufficient as ministers of the New Covenant…
1 Pet. 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Conclusion
These are only some of the passages from Scripture that we have included here as examples. As you study the Bible independently and memorize verses from Scripture, your store will continually grow.
