Victory Over the First Source of Temptations
By: Bruce Wilkinson
Introduction
A temptation is an attack against you and had one goal, to bring defeat to you through enticing you to disobey
God by sinning. The first secret of becoming an "overcomer" is to become more and more sensitive to those
times you are being tempted. Initially you will quickly change through discern temptation except in the most frontal
attacks, but that will quickly change through practice and determination.
Why not pray and ask the Lord to open your eyes and sharpen your discernment. Soon you will become shocked at how
many times in a day you have been experiencing temptations and didn't even know it! In fact, one of the more surprising
things about growing in your Christian life is that you become more and more aware of temptations, it's that you
become more sensitive to the temptations and your sins that have been there all along.
What the Bible teaches
The Bible calls the first source of temptations "the world." The "world" in this sense
is a translation of the Greek word kosmos which is an organized system led by satan on this earth. Satan rules
this kosmos and it's his values, strategies, personnel, and purposes which substantially control the systems of
the world including education, media, finance, business, etc. This does not mean that all people are a part of
satan's kingdom but rather that we all dwell in the world where he currently rules as the "prince."
"And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness." 1 John 5:19
When we reach out to Jesus Christ through faith and receive Him as our Savior, Jesus moves us from satan's darkness
to His glorious light as revealed in the "Great Transferal:"
"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear
Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:" Colossians 1:13-14
It's Up To You
Now you have enough Biblical truth about the kosmos to understand how God feels about the kosmos and the Christian.
How would you think God would feel about the believer who would desire to go back to the world which is ruled by
His enemy? The Bible leaves no room for confusion:
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of
the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but
he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." 1 John 2:15-17
Starkly stated isn't it? If a believer loves the "world-system" then the love of the Father is not
in him. Therefore, the first source of temptations is everything connected to the world-system. Not the created
world, but the system of satan through which he rules the world and seeks to discredit and destroy all who belong
and are committed to Christ.
Take your pulse on your love of the world. How preoccupied are you with what is going to pass away? How focused
are you on choosing the Lord and not the world? Remember, the Apostle John says that we are not to love "all
that is in the world." He goes further and helps us to know the level of our temptations and related sins
by three practical handles of "the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life."
The "lust of the flesh" includes sexual desires and the general desire to be entertained by sexual things.
Guard the movies and videos you rent. Take your pulse on how much and what kind of television you watch this week.
Ask yourself, "if television wasn't sensuous including what you saw, what you heard, and what you felt--would
you still watch it? "Watch the books and magazines you are tempted to read. Don't allow yourself to take that
"second look" at another woman besides your wife.
The "lust of the eyes" includes coveting after what you see--watch your attitudes and visits to the shopping
mall and how often you find yourself "just having to buy something" that appeals to you. Look through
your house, including the closets, and see how often you have fallen to that thing in the world that you just "had"
to buy. You may have wasted your money and God's, and sinned with covetousness. Just take a quick look at your
credit cards--if you are in debt up to your ears, you may have a bad case of coveting more than the Lord has provided
for you.
The "pride of life" means to have self-satisfied arrogance or vainglory relating to one's external circumstances
including wealth, position, or power. Watch carefully how you make decisions about the "right clothing,"
or the "right neighborhood," or the "right church" or the "right car" on the basis
of what kind of "impression" it will give to the rest of the world.
Morning Bible reading:
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of
the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:
but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever
therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The
spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Morning Prayer
Dear God,
I awaken with You on my mind, oh my Savior and Lord. How wonderful are Your affections to me and how magnificent
are Your gifts for me. The gift of my salvation will be continuously unwrapped for all eternity--how can I ever
express my gratitude and love? Then I remember that you made this world as man's dwelling place--everywhere I look,
I see Your creativity and flair for intricate beauty.
Lord, I desire to love You and not the world or the things of the world. I covet you--and You who dwell in me
are earnestly jealous for me. How can these things be except by your grace and mercy! I therefore deny the things
of the world system especially the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life which are not
from You. Lord, I want to make myself more and more of Your friend. Lead me in the way.
Afternoon Bible reading
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit
the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Galatans 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 22 But the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against
such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Afternoon Prayer
Dear Lord,
How often have I lived my life in the flesh! In fact, I so seldom "set my mind on things of the Spirit"--no
wonder that my life shows so little fruit of the Spirit like "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." How I long for the character of Christ rather than the fruit
of my flesh!
I confess the sin of living in my flesh rather than in the Spirit. I admit I have tried to improve my "flesh"
rather than crucify it! I have sought to pamper my flesh rather than "put it off" and "put on"
the new man in Christ. Lord, the ways of the flesh don't bring life nor joy but selfishness and distress. I repent
and confess my sin. I choose to walk in the Spirit so that I will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Thank You
for Victory through Your Holy Spirit.
Evening Bible Reading
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will
draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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.
Evening Prayer
Dear Great Warrior who Defeated all Enemies,
I bow in humility before You. I kneel, no I fall prostrate before You. None is like You in all the universe.
You have defeated Your enemies. You have defeated my enemies. None can stand before Your Victory. I submit to you
in all things and resist the enemy.
I am committed to personal holiness in times of temptation and therefore seek to "be strong in the Lord
and the power of His might" to "be able to stand against the whiles of the devil." Lord, I confess
my enemy has overrun me so many times because I have not heeded Your warnings nor put on Your armor and put it
on piece by piece. I am strong in the power of Your Might!
Yes, Lord!
