Tag: What the Bible says about overcoming temptation

Bible Verse of The Day – 7-31-23

Psalm 119:11 (NKJV) 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

One of the things that I have learned over the years is that we (human beings) tend to overcomplicate things.

We do this in many facets of life.

This applies to our walk with God as well.

We look past what God tells us in His word and try to do things based on our intellect and our emotions. And when we reach our wit’s end, we throw our hands up and walk away, surrendering to whatever it is that we were trying to overcome.

We tend to approach sin in our lives the same way.

When we keep caving in to temptation, we begin to believe that we are just destined to fail, and we settle for that.

We mistakenly believe that sin comes by way of external forces; temptation offered to us through others.

And while it is true that others may try to tempt us and lure us in to sin, check out what these two verses say:

James 1:14-15 (NKJV) 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

It is because of the desires within us that we fall repeatedly.

So, how do we finally overcome temptation and destroy the sin pattern in our lives?

Look at what the Psalmist said in the verse above; Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

This takes the whole temptation and sin thing, wraps it in a tidy little package that totally destroys our thinking when it comes to our struggles with sin, and then gives us the solution:

Hide His word in our hearts and overcome the sin in our lives, once and for all. Yes, it is that simple.

Anything that we think makes it more complicated is based on our emotions and our failure to allow God to show us the truth.

You see, God’s word implanted in us defeats the enemy in our lives. His word in us is a constant reminder of His truth and His holiness.

And if we hide His word in our hearts, He is sure to bring it to mind when we are tempted, diverting our attention from the temptation, and placing it squarely on Him.

That is the best sin prevention we could ever ask for.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

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Bible Verse of The Day – 4-9-21

James 1:12 (NKJV) 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Temptation comes to us all. Not one of us is exempt.

What we are tempted by will vary from person to person.

We all have different weaknesses. It’s those weaknesses that cause us to be pulled in the direction of things that can destroy us or do great harm to us and those around us.

It’s up to us to take the necessary steps to disarm the devil in his war against us.

We do this in different ways, depending on who we are and what we wrestle with.

In the end, though, there is common ground between us all. And the steps we take to stay away from these sins is also similar.

1. Stay in God’s word. Feast on it. We can’t fight if we’re not strong. We can’t be strong if we’re under-nourished.

2. Learn to hate the sin that ensnares us. Until we hate the sin, we will continue to gravitate back to it, toying with it until we fall into that same sin again and again.

3. Don’t tempt God. We can’t expect to fight temptation and escape sin if we constantly flirt with it. The Holy Spirit will warn us, and He will help us turn from it. But if we constantly throw ourselves at the sin, it will eventually win and it will defeat us.

James 1:14 (NKJV) 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

4. We need to know and understand that when temptation comes (and it will come), God will always, always, always provide a way of escape. He will never leave us cornered and helpless. We just have to be willing to turn from it.

On that note, I want to mention one last thing; something very specific that we often overlook.

God’s way of escaping temptation will seldom be anything that we would view as being miraculous. In fact, it’s usually so simple and lackluster that we fail to recognize it.

It’s this; we simply turn and walk away from it.

God gives us the ability to do this. He provides the warning, the opening, and the strength to walk away. We just have to be willing to listen, understand and obey His leading and His promptings.

So, if we’re looking for lightning bolts or rumblings of thunder from the sky, it’s time that we get back to reality and recognize how God works on a daily basis.

Regardless of His methods, He is faithful.

And He gives us what it takes to do the same; be faithful.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 2-2-21

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

God is faithful!!

He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear. Even when temptation may approach us, He will help us escape it, If we are listening, watching and praying.

Temptation is the devil’s way of getting us. And he does know our weaknesses.

But our faith and trust in God to help us escape will be the key to not letting it overtake us.

God is our strength. Through Him we can turn away quickly, as we submit to Him.

When we resist satan and his schemes, God’s word tells us the devil will leave.

James 4:7 (NKJV) 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Those who are facing even the smallest temptation today, what are we waiting for?

Don’t play with it. Move on. It will not overtake us if we resist. He has made an escape out. Take it!!

We love you. God bless you. Enjoy your day.

Amen.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 2-20-20

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

With temptation there will also always come a way for us to escape it. As we walk through life there is temptation all around us.

Nowadays everything is so carefree.

People do what they want, dress the way they want, be who they want. It’s all about what we want to do and how we want to do it. Just about everything and anything goes.

It’s hard for Christians not be tempted. At times when we are tired and we have been busy, with a lot on our minds, it’s easy to get caught off guard. It’s going to happen to the best of us.

But remember, no matter what we are tempted with, God has made an escape. So, don’t fall for it. And don’t try using the excuse that we were caught off guard.

It’s up to us to be alert. It’s up to us to be watching, listening and sharp. Why? Because we have an enemy that roams about looking for those he can devour, including followers of Christ.

He wants to destroy every one of us. And tempting us is his way.

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Stay vigilant, alert, attentive and awake. If temptation tries to overtake us, God is always there with an escape plan.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 1-17-19

Psalm 119:11 (NKJV) 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

We all struggle with sin on varying levels. Each day we face different kinds of temptations that attempt to lead us from the path that God has set before us.

Do we stray, or do we stay steadfast on God’s path?

It’s safe to say that we all disappoint God and ourselves sometimes, as we make the wrong choice and fall to those temptations. It’s not what we want to do, but we do it anyway.

So, how do we fix this? How do we stop falling into the trap of sin?

God’s word. That’s how!

God’s word is the key to avoiding temptation and giving in to temptation. We need to “hide” God’s word in our hearts. Why? Because hiding it in our hearts keeps us closer to God.

As we store His word in our hearts, it gives us a “well” to draw from. And when we are in need of something, the Holy Spirit will remind us of the things we have read in God’s word. Those little reminders will help steer us away from sin.

But if we fail to “fill our well”, we will never have anything to quench our thirst when we need it! There will be no words there to be reminded of, and it will make it easier for us to fall into sin when we are tempted.

Hiding God’s word in our hearts also gives us heightened discernment. As God’s spirit prompts us about different things, we are more apt to hear Him and give heed to what He says. This will also help keep us from falling when temptation comes our way.

While this might seem oversimplified, it’s a basic truth that we can’t overlook. Doing so will be detrimental to our spiritual health and wellbeing, and will cost us dearly over our lifetime.

Hide His word in our hearts, that we might not sin against Him.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 1-5-19

Hebrews 2:18 (NKJV) 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Temptation comes in many forms. And we can be tempted in many different areas of our lives.

Most people tend to think only about sexual sins when it comes to being tempted. And although this may seem like one of the most prevalent types of sins, there are a host of others that we get barraged with each and every day.

Sometimes the sins that are the easiest to be lured into are the ones we consider to be “less bad” than others.

These might be things like using company property for personal tasks. Or maybe keeping the extra change that the cashier accidentally gives us at the store. It might be one of a million other things like these that don’t seem blatant enough to be noticed by others.

We also may be tempted in the area of pride and power. Jesus was tempted with these when the devil offered to give Him all that He could see, if He would just bow down and worship him. But Jesus flat our refused, and He rebuked the devil with God’s word.

The thing is, we all deal with these temptations every minute of the day no matter who we are or how close we are to God. The best part is that the closer we are to God, the easier they are for us to fend off.

Why? Because as we draw closer and closer to God, our heart is slowly transformed to become more and more conformed to His will. This helps us fight off temptation much more quickly and with more power.

God has told us in the scripture above that if we are tempted, He will help us fight that temptation. He has also given us this promise:

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Let’s be careful and pay attention to the things we’re tempted with. Even those things that are very subtle and seem less damaging than others can lead us astray if we’re not careful

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 12-18-18

James 1:14 (NKJV) 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

Most times when we are feeling temptation it is only because we hold within in us the desire to do whatever it may be that is tempting us at that moment.

In order to get rid of the temptation, we have to hit that desire that’s within us with the Word of God.

Studying the scriptures that strictly pertain to that subject will help us to overcome that temptation, if we listen and let the Holy Spirit guide us, giving us the strength to push down our own fleshly desire.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We have to remember we do not fight temptation on our own. We use the two-edged sword for that. God gives us the power we need through His Word, to win.

Many Christians struggle with some kind of temptation. Don’t just sit there and cry out to God for help. We need to get up and start helping ourselves by looking for the scriptures, the answers to our own questions. God didn’t give up on us. He made a way for us. Most times we have to go get it.

Dear God in Heaven,

We come to You today to ask for help in getting free from personal temptation. We know we need to take steps within ourselves to win this fight. Help us to kick out those wrong desires within us and get the right ones manifesting through the reading and studying of what You have to say about them.

We thank you Father, in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 5-10-18

Mark 14:38 (NKJV) 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Watch and pray. This is what Jesus instructed His disciples to do when He was heading off to pray by Himself. He was in a time of great duress and needed to get alone to spend time with the Father.

For many years I never really paid much attention to the truth behind that phrase, “watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation”. Until today.

As Pastor Ellie and I were out walking today, we were discussing some various Biblical topics and this verse came to mind. And God showed me that the words that Jesus spoke here are instrumental for all of us if we wish to understand the key to avoiding and overcoming temptation in our own lives.

It has been taught by so many, including us, that to be tempted is not a sin. And this is still true. Giving in to temptation is sinful, not the temptation itself.

But, there is a very important principle here that many of us miss. And if we can get a good grasp on it, it has the power and potential to change our lives drastically.

It’s this; understanding the secret to avoid being tempted!

Many times we become tempted because of choices we make, things we do. We tend to put ourselves in situations where temptation comes easily, and we find ourselves constantly fighting it off. This can be very tiring after a while.

So, why don’t we just learn how to avoid the temptations altogether, right?

How do we do that? What do we do in order to keep temptation away? Watch and pray.

As we learn to watch and pray, we will become acutely more aware of everything going on around us, especially in the spiritual realm. This will cause us to be far less likely to put ourselves in situations where we become tempted.

This is something that God has been teaching me to put into practice for several years now, but today He showed me how to put it into words so it can also help others.

We hope it will help you too.

Watch and pray!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 5-7-18

Matthew 6:22 (NKJV) 22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

We need to be discerning when it comes to what we get ourselves involved in. It can affect our whole being. It will determine our direction.

We can’t let those little things that aren’t good for us sneak in and have a hold on us. They will take us down. It’s those little foxes that spoil the vine.

Song of Solomon 2:15 (NKJV) 15 Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes.

There are foxes all around, and this world is not going to make it easy for us either. We must work hard and be on our toes in order to catch those things that sneak up, before they take root.

The good news is that God is right here with us. He gives us the strength, discipline and a way out if we ask for His help and we pay attention to His promptings.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

We have no excuse. He will make a way out. We just need to follow His leading. Amen.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 2-22-18

Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV) 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Many times we think that we are on our own when it comes to being tempted or tested, but that is simply not true.

Our High Priest, Jesus Christ, was tempted in every way and He can sympathize with us. But He also overcame the temptation He was faced with and He can help us overcome ours.

How?

We must reach out to Him and ask Him for help. We must follow the steps that He gives us to take.

A lot of times He will show us only one step at a time. Once we take the first step, the rest will follow. We cannot skip or miss steps when it comes to overcoming our weaknesses or temptation.

Every step must be followed through.

If you are being tempted and you can’t seem to beat it, this is not uncommon. Trying to beat something on our own that tempts us will cause us to fail. We need Jesus and the help He has for us.

He sent the Holy Spirit for us and we need to let Him do His job.

He will give us the strength we need to say no to temptation. He will give us the wisdom and the courage to get out and away from certain situations in advance, so we don’t get caught up in it again.

So remember, overcoming temptation and weakness takes us going to Jesus and asking for His help, and then following His steps, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit working in us.

John 14:16 (NKJV) 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever…

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 1-2-18

Psalm 109:26 (NKJV) 26 Help me, O Lord my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy…

Temptation comes in many different ways and sometimes dealing with it can be very difficult.

Let us be very real with you today. All of us struggle with different types of temptation. Being a believer doesn’t mean that we are exempt from it.

Some may seem like they are little, minuscule or tiny compared to other temptations. It doesn’t matter. We are still tempted and we need to know that if we can’t beat it, it will beat us.

How do we beat it?

We have to acknowledge that we are being tempted and admit that we have trouble with whatever it is that is tempting us.

The next step is to know that if something keeps tempting us, and we can’t overcome it, then we need to recognize that a part of us likes whatever it is, even though we know it’s wrong or not good for us. We have to fix that part of us.

How?

We have to starve or deprive ourselves of it. Whatever it may be, we cannot have anything to do with it or be around those people, places or things that are associated with it, at least until we are strong enough to stand against it. We have to make a big bold statement and stick to it!

When we do decide “No More”, we’d better be ready for the fight of our life, because things that we are addicted to don’t just go away. We opened a door to them and gave it a home in us. For that reason, we can’t expect it to simply go away now.

We need to throw out what we allowed in and then lock up that door tight.

When it comes to cleaning out or getting rid of addictions there is a spiritual deliverance that needs to take place in order for us to get completely free.

It doesn’t mean we have to thrash around on the floor and foam at the mouth. That’s not what we are saying, although sometimes that may happen. Deliverance is personal and different for each person. It’s between us and God.

When we are serious about getting free from addictions, God is faithful to deliver us.

Dear God in Heaven,

Today I am struggling with the temptation of ………….. Please help me to get free from this. I don’t want it anymore. I command it to go, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ! I know that the name and the blood of Jesus are more powerful than anything that tempts me.

I ask You to help me be bold and say NO when I am tempted. Please give me the wisdom to clean up the atmosphere around me, that I may remain free from this for the rest of my days.

Thank you, Lord. Amen.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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