Top 10 biblical truths to combat temptation’s lies

The best way to defend against the tempter’s lie is to know God’s truth.  Jesus answered Satan’s temptations with specific scripture. Here are the top ten lies we experience when we’re tempted, and the corresponding biblical truth. The Psalmist said, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11 NLT)

Lie 1: No one will ever know what you are about to do. Go ahead. No one is watching.

Truth: And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13).

Lie 2: This temptation is too difficult. Go ahead give in…

Truth: No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Lie 3: You keep failing. You’ll never have victory over this sin.

Truth: And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6).

I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13).

Lie 4: Your past is too bad. You can’t overcome it.

Truth: 
 one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).

Lie 5: You can’t change. That’s just the way you are.

Truth: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17).

Lie 6:  God is keeping something good from you…

Truth: 10For a day in your courts is better than a thousand else-where. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! (Psalm 84:10-12)

Lie 7: You can avoid the consequences. Your situation is unique.

Truth:  For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. 12 It is a fire that burns all the way to hell. It would wipe out everything I own (Job 31:11-12 NLT)

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up (Galatians 6:7-9)

Lie 8: The temptation is so strong God must want you to sin.

Truth:   Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own de-sire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death (James 1:13-15).

Lie 9: You can overcome this sin alone. Don’t tell anybody.

Truth: Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working (James 5:16).

3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin (Psalm 32:3-5)

Lie 10: If it feels right it must be right.

Truth: … put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Remembering

This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day. For many that day will be filled with picnics, family, and friends. But for a few who lost a loved-one in the recent war Memorial Day now takes on a different meaning.

I trust as an American, somewhere during the memory-building of your weekend you pause to remember those who gave so much for freedom. Certainly to have had the privilege of giving your life for your country is a great honor.

Jesus spoke of giving up one’s life, but with another motivation.

He said “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:13).

Jesus said, it wasn’t for a country that he gave His life, it was for friends. And He wasn’t motivated out of duty; He was motivated out of love.

Isn’t that an incredible thought? The God who created the entire universe, and holds it together (Col. 1:16), is the very one who gave His life for us. Why did He need to die? 

Because the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), and someone who had never sinned was needed to pay the penalty of the sin for those who had.

This Memorial day, as we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, we would do well to remember the Lord’s great sacrifice for those of us who needed a Savior.

Then here’s a question worth considering: For whom are you sacrificing presently? When was the last time you gave up something you really wanted to do for the sake of someone else. Not because they expected it, demanded it, or required it, but just because you loved them more than you loved yourself. That’s one of the lessons we learn from Jesus. No one ever loved more. No one ever gave more. And no one could sacrifice more. He left the glories of heaven to give His life for you and for me.

The secret of Jesus’ spirit of submission

Imagine, the perfect man submitting to imperfect authorities. Jesus purposed to do this because of his strong confidence in the sovereignty of his Father. This confidence is best revealed in the most preposterous of all trials. On the eve of his crucifixion Jesus will undergo six trials—three of them Jewish, and three of them Roman. As he stood before Pontius Pilate, the appointed governor in Jerusalem, Jesus kept silent in the face of the accusations that were brought against him. Into that context Pilate asks Jesus a question.

So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”  From then on Pilate sought to release him. . . (John 19:10-12).

This is a remarkable look into the mind of our Lord. He specifically states that Pilate’s authority is God derived. To the appointed governor who assumed his power was received from the Roman government this must have been an unnerving reminder. It should not come as a surprise that from that point on Pilate does all he can do to release Jesus.

When Pilate’s temporary resolve to do the right thing buckles under the Sanhedrin’s pressure, Jesus’ confidence in his Father’s will does not. This is a good reminder of the importance of submitting to our imperfect human authorities even when their interests are so self-serving.

In God’s plan he uses Pilate’s weakness and the religious leader’s jealousy to declare Jesus innocence while still insisting upon his crucifixion. Both of these elements were necessary in the plan of God in order that everyone might know that an innocent man had died in the place of the guilty (2 Cor. 5:21). Nine times in the gospel record Pilate will declare Jesus without guilt prior to his pronouncement of the death sentence (Matthew 27:24; Mark 15:14; Luke 23:4, 14, 15, 22; John 19:4, 6, 12).

Pilate’s weak leadership, without him even being aware of it, is actually used by God to accomplish God’s sovereign will in the life of Jesus. While the outcome of the trials is preposterous—how could one declare a man’s innocence nine times and then call for his execution? The function of the trials is not—they declare a man innocent of his own crimes in order that his punishment may be put to a guilty party’s account. This is exactly what Isaiah prophesied 700 years prior to Jesus crucifixion,

But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).

As Jesus submitted to his imperfect human authorities he developed a deeper confidence in his Father’s sovereign will. Therefore, he comes to the most pivotal moment of choice in the Garden of Gethsemane and submits to his Father’s will with joy (Heb. 12:2).

Note the progression: (1) as a young boy, Jesus submitted to his parents, who, while imperfect had his best interest in view, (2) as a grown man Jesus submitted to the governing authorities, who were indifferent to his plight or condition, finally (3) Jesus submitted to those leaders who were opposed to his ministry and would be responsible for taking his life even though their intentions were self-serving and fueled by jealousy (John 11:47-50; 19:11).

Jesus grew in his ability to submit to imperfect human authorities by taking his eyes off of their imperfections, and placing them on his heavenly Father’s perfections. It was His Father’s will Jesus wanted to do whatever the cost.  You and I will only go so far in our understanding of submission unless we grasp the truth that Jesus did: there is a hand we cannot see guiding the hands of those we can.

Because Jesus spent a life time practicing this truth he was prepared to answer Pilot’s weak but abusive authority on the day of his crucifixion (John 19:10-11).

Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above… (John 19:11).

 Jesus got it. In his humility, he understood that God was able to use imperfect authorities to accomplish his will in one’s life. He not only submitted, but he did so with a humble spirit and a right attitude (Phil. 2:5, NASV).

Think about the authorities God has placed over you. How are you responding to them? When others around you complain about their leaders, what do you say? Do you join in or show a sweet spirit of submission. Is your attitude one of respect even when those in authority might be disrespectful? Finally, and perhaps most importantly, do you submit even when you disagree?

Having the right motives matters to God

Although we are encouraged to not judge another’s motives (1 Cor. 4:5), the Bible makes it clear that God does and will evaluate our motives.

Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God (1 Cor. 4:5, NASB).

Paul reminds us that the day is coming when our motives will be considered. That is because why we do what we do matters to God. Speaking to the multitude, with the Pharisees in attendance, Jesus made that clear. On three separate occasions he pointed this out in his Sermon on the Mount. Proper motives were an essential part of: giving (Matt. 6:1-2), praying (Matt. 6:5-6), and fasting (Matt. 6:16-17).

Notice Jesus’ words,

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Matt. 6:1-4)

Doing the right thing for the wrong reason reveals a self-centered heart. We want our attention now, and if we don’t get it our response reveals our self-centeredness. Do you feel a sense of disappointment that you aren’t recognized, thanked or appreciated? The discontentment brewing within you is a warning that you really were not serving with the purest of motives.

A friend of mine often said, “The hardest part about being a servant is being treated like one!” The servant’s work often goes unnoticed, and the lack of public acknowledgment serves as a great motive-purifier.

John the Baptist shows us the way we should respond. His ministry was flourishing until Jesus appeared. Immediately some of John’s disciples became disciples of Jesus (John 1:35-42). As Jesus’ ministry gains notoriety, John’s ministry appears to wane. When John is questioned by his remaining disciples, his response is spot on.

You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:28-30).

Simply put: the right reason is always the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31), the wrong reason is most often revealed as the glory of self. Which glory is your desire?

Having the right thoughts matters to God

It’s hard to describe what goes on in the thinking process. It often feels like we’re not in control of it: like a thought is suddenly there.  Often our senses trigger these thoughts. The smell of a lake always takes me back to my teenage fishing experiences. The taste of a cider donut sends my mind in rewind to the country fair in my childhood hometown of Grabill, Indiana. Music can do the same for me. When James Taylor comes on the radio, I’m back in college. When I hear a song from our wedding I’m a newly wed even though I’ve been married 25 years. That’s the power of our mind to tap powerful memories.

Yet the Bible gives us commands to control our thinking (Phil 4:8; 2 Cor. 10:5).  More so the Bible reminds us that we will give an account for our thoughts and our words (Matt. 12:33, 36).

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus communicates that our thoughts matter to God. On two occasions he explains that God is aware of and holding us accountable for what we’re choosing to think upon.

The first has to do with anger, and the second has to do with immoral sexual thoughts.

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire (Matt. 5:22).

Because the Bible teaches that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouths speaks.” We can be certain, that when we’re angry, what we say was first a seed thought in our mind before it found its way onto our lips. God reminds us that we will be held accountable for our angry words that were first carefully developed as angry thoughts.

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matt. 5:27-28).

Jesus is saying: Pursuing wrong thoughts brings disastrous consequences

Remember, how the mind and your senses our connected? In this case, as the man takes that second look, his mind is memorizing the image for recall at another point in time. He is looking on purpose. God holds him accountable for those thoughts. Jesus says, “Listen, your thoughts matter to God, and he knows them as you think them.” Such a proposition clears up my fuzzy thinking about what I’m thinking. I always want to remember: My thoughts matter to God.

Having the right attitude matters to God

A quick summary of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount will reveal that he contrasted the internal with the external. In essence his message was, “Just because everything appears right on the outside, is no assurance everything is right on the inside.”

Jesus points out this truth by looking at three elements that are initially hidden to even your closest of friends: your attitude, thoughts, and actions. In so doing, Jesus communicates that each of these matters to God.

Having a right attitude in the worst of circumstances glorifies God (Matt. 5:3-10).

Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with what we have traditionally known as the beatitudes.

The Latin word beatus means to be blessed or happy. It is the basis for the word beatitude. Nine times Jesus uses this word in his introduction to his sermon on the mount (Matt. 5-7). I’ve taken the liberty to replace blessed with happy in the text. This is God’s definition of a right attitude.

 And Jesus said,

3 “Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Happy are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Happy are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Happy are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Happy are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Happy are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  (Matt. 5:1-11)

This is a passage that starts hard and only gets harder. You may be crying in verse 4, but you’re being reviled and persecuted in verses 11 and 12. Either way your attitude is to be one of rejoicing. That seems impossible, and that is precisely the point.

If the focus of your happiness is only your circumstances, then you will always be trying to change or alter your circumstances before you change your attitude – such happiness will always be elusive. But if the focus of your attention is hungering and thirsting after God (5:6), then your attitude is untouched by your circumstances. Each circumstance (whether easy of difficult) becomes an additional opportunity to grow in our trust in the Lord and an opportunity to rejoice in whatever circumstances have become your lot.

This is why our attitude matters to God. We can choose to have a joyful attitude even when it requires the submission of our personal desires. That’s why the writer of Hebrews told us that “Jesus, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross
” (Heb. 12:2). Jesus understood that having a right attitude in the worst of circumstances glorifies God.

The other two internal issues that Jesus addresses we will follow-up on later this week.

  • Your thoughts: Pursuing wrong thoughts brings disastrous consequences (5:22, 28).
  • Your motives: Doing the right thing for the wrong reason reveals a self-centered heart (6:2, 5, 16).

What you have in common with a fish…

A friend of mine just returned from fly fishing in Arkansas. As I was reviewing some of the basics with him before his departure it reminded me of this passage in James, and how when it comes to sinful temptation we see what we want to see.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death (James 1:13-15).

With the words, lured and enticed, James uses fishing terminology, and his picture is perfect.

I love to fly fish. In fly-fishing, the presentation of the fly on the water’s surface matters. The finicky trout will not be drawn to a clump of feathers and fur that looks like feathers and fur. That presentation does not awaken his desire to strike. But a clump of feathers and fur that looks like a freshly hatched mayfly resting on the surface of the water will awaken the fish’s desire. If the imitation is good enough, the fish will see what he wants to see. He will strike. Unbeknownst to him, there’s a hook in the imitation, and a hungry fisherman on the other end of the line. Perhaps this is the reason why we speak of those who have given in to addictive sinful behaviors as those who are “hooked.”

True happiness will never be found in desiring the things God has placed off-limits, even though they promise to satisfy. We would do well to remember we are seeing what we want to see. Our desire has morphed the picture. Because our desire is so strong, we believe the thing forbidden is actually the thing that is best for us. We are lured and enticed. And just like the fish we invite death and disaster when we succumb to this temptation.

Learning to apply the work of the Spirit

One of the most helpful analogies I ever heard regarding the fruit of the Spirit was to think of the fruit of the Spirit as toolbox. Inside were tools for every situation. You wouldn’t send a hammer to do the job of screwdriver, nor would you attempt to saw a board with a wrench. Likewise, when you enter into challenging relationships you should choose the part of the fruit that is most effective for that difficulty. To do so you will need to learn the fruit, and practice it. Only then will you become proficient in its application. I have included my working definitions of each part of the fruit of the Spirit. You can use these or develop your own through reflection and Bible study.

The point is this: until you know them, you will not be able to apply them. Certainly we can depend upon the Holy Spirit to do his part. How are we applying the work he has done on our behalf?

  • Love is a sacrificial choice (1 Jn. 3:16), of words accompanied by actions (1 Jn. 3:18), regardless of attraction or response (Rom. 5:8), generated by God not by oneself (Jn. 21:15-18)
  • Joy is a pre-determined attitude (Phil. 4:4), of praise for God’s goodness (Psa. 5:11), by maintaining an eternal focus (Psa. 16:11), in the midst of difficulty (Heb. 12:2). 
  • Peace is a settled confidence of mind (Phil. 4:7), from a right relationship with God (Phil. 4:9), unaffected by circumstantial change (4:11). 
  • Patience is a learned attitude (Col. 1:11), revealed through a joyful willingness (Jam. 1:2), to remain under difficulty (Jam. 1:3-4), in order to learn God’s lessons (Jam. 5:11).
  • Kindness is a tender spirit purposefully expressed (Rom 2:4), sacrificially given (Eph 2:7), especially to the undeserving (Titus 3:4). 
  • Goodness is focused resolve (2 Thes. 1:11), that drives us to become actively involved, in the life of another (2 Chron. 24:16), consistently expressed through generosity (Neh. 9:25).
  • Faithfulness is a promise (Rom. 3:3; Lam. 3:23), to keep one’s word, and do one’s best (1 Th. 1:3), with a servant–attitude focused on the Master’s approval (Matt 25:21).  
  • Gentleness is an attitude of humility (Jam. 1:21), stirred by grateful spirit (Num. 12:3; Ps. 90:15), revealed in a tenderness to others (Eph. 4:2), sustained by a growing trust in God (Matt. 5:5). 
  • Self-control is the growing realization that one’s desire to please self was crucified with Christ, and replaced with a desire to glorify God (Gal. 2:20).

Working with the given definitions, make a list of the various relationships you encounter and prayerfully consider which tool best suits the challenge in that relationship. For example, perhaps you need patience with your kids, mercy with your spouse, and love with your fellow employee. Keep those ideas in the forefront of your mind as you engage in that particular relational challenge. If your children are disrespectful, ask yourself, “How can I best demonstrate patience in this context?” Now depend upon the Holy Spirit’s leading to enable you to do so.

13 Ways to Submit to Imperfect Authorities

Each of us has authority figures we struggle with. If you don’t have one now, you will sooner or later. What do we do in those situations? We know its easy to complain, or resist, but is that what’s best? 

I first met Dr. Robert Smith when I was having my own struggle with authority. I had been told how he had sweetly submitted his preferences to his spiritual leaders in a situation he would not have chosen for himself. That’s why I wanted to meet him. I desperately wanted to know how he did it.

Ultimately, God arranged our meeting. While attending a conference of several thousand people we broke from the plenary session to our seminar locations. As the seminar started an older gentleman slipped in and sat next to me. As I looked up to greet him I realized I was looking into the eyes of Dr. Smith. I could hardly wait for the seminar to finish so that I could start-up a conversation with him.

I recounted my struggle with authority, and what I had heard of his spirit of submission in a similar challenge. Then I asked him how he did it. He recounted that years earlier he had written a biblical paper on how you submit when you’re frustrated by your authority. He smiled, shrugged his shoulders and said, “I could either submit, or go back and overturn everything that I’d taught and believed. I chose to submit.”

Dr. Smith’s paper was later published as the booklet: Authority Issues: When it’s Hard Being Told What to Do. I have given away hundreds of his booklets. Here are a few of the highlights:

Those in authority often make life very difficult. What should you do when it seems that wrong or unjust decisions are being made? What can you do instead of resisting, complaining, or becoming bitter and angry?

  • Go to God with your struggles and questions (Hab. 1:1-5).
  • Remember that God is in control (Prov. 21:1).
  • Recognize that God can use the leader’s failures for your good and his glory (Rom 8:28-29; Gen. 50:20)
  • Recognize that the difficulty will not be too much (1 Cor. 10:13).
  • Thank God for everything, including the leadership over you (Eph.  5:20).
  • Place your trust in God, not the authority (Hab. 3:17-19).
  • Depend on God’s grace to help (2 Cor. 9:8).
  • Be an example of a godly response (Phil. 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:21; 1 John 2:6).
  • Pray for those in authority over you (1 Tim. 2:1-2)
  • Honor those in authority because of their position (1 Pet. 2:17; 1 Tim. 6:1-2).
  • Concentrate on your responsibility (Matt. 7:3-5; Rom. 2:1).
  • Respond as Christ did (1 Pet. 2:21-23).
  • Return good for evil (Rom. 12:21).

 You may acquire Robert Smith’s booklet through www.NewGrowthPress.com

Getting the most from the Word

In his excellent book Unlocking the Scriptures, Hans Finszel explains that there are three essential questions we should be asking each time we open the Word of God and study it for ourselves.  Finzel’s questions are built around three key words: observation, interpretation, and application. His three questions are: What do I see? What does it mean?  How should I respond? I include his thoughts in today’s blog.

Observation asks, “What do I see?”Observation is simply the gathering of all the facts of who, what, where, and when. Careful examination of the facts is the foundation upon which we build accurate interpretation and application of the Scripture. The more time spent looking at the text itself, reading and rereading it, the more fruitful our study will be


Interpretation asks, “What does it mean?”  Drawing conclusions based on your study of the facts is the process of interpretation. During this stage we seek to understand the meaning that the author had in mind when he wrote the text


Application asks, “How should I respond?”Application is the goal of Bible Study. It is not enough for us to understand (interpret) Scripture; God wants us to be changed by it. The Scriptures were given “for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17, NRSV). In this final step of the inductive process, we move from the original context to our contemporary one, seeking to know how our interpretation can affect our attitudes and behavior.