One might have thought King David was most vulnerable to sin while he was running from King Saul. Exiled, living in caves, and waiting for years on God to fulfill His promises. Yet, during these times, King David turned every moment for guidance. The few times, he was at risk of sinning against God, the hand of God hedged him in. King David learned to flee absolutely every temptation, hold fast to the promises of God. Therefore, as he awaited the Messiah, filled by the Holy Spirit, he was successful in the Power of Jesus. His faith was in the Redeemer to come.
The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
2 The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.
Rule in the midst of Your enemies!3 Your people shall be volunteers
In the day of Your power;
In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning,
You have the dew of Your youth.
4 The Lord has sworn
And will not relent,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.” Psalm 110 (NKJV)
Clearly, this is a foretelling of end of the Millennial reign of Jesus when God the Father commands, “Now is the day” to His Son. What a glorious day, when Jesus rides forth from heaven with His purified bride riding behind Him.
Yet, blessed with such grace and love, King David did fall to temptation which brought with it consequences greater than he could have anticipated before he allowed desire to overtake him. Let us study this with our eyes wide open as we too are so easily overtaken by temptation.
Flee Absolutely Every Temptation –Recognize Its Source
As James tells us clearly, God is not the source of our temptation. He has no evil within Him and cannot tempt us. Then why are we taught to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” Can He allow trials to test us, strengthen us, and prove us. Certainly. and sometimes during the testing, we are left vulnerable to Satan testing us, as was the case in Job and Peter. Even Jesus gave us an example of how to face and flee absolutely every temptation.
4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. Matthew 4 (NKJV)
Knowing my own weaknesses, yes, I pray not to lead me into areas where I could fail Him. But I must remember who has the power to overcome.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6: (NKJV)
John McArthur explains this further:
6:13 do not lead us into temptation. Cf. Luke 22:40. God does not tempt men (James 1:13), but He will subject them to trials that may expose them to Satan’s assaults, as in the case of Job and Peter (Luke 22:31, 32). This petition reflects the believing one’s desire to avoid the dangers of sin altogether. God knows what one’s need is before one asks (v. 8), and He promises that no one will be subjected to testing beyond what can be endured. He also promises a way of escape—often through endurance (1 Cor. 10:13). But still, the proper attitude for the believer is the one expressed in this petition.
Copyright © 1997, 2006, 2019 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Understanding the anatomy of Temptation
Before we can know how to flee absolutely every temptation, we must understand the anatomy of sin itself and its effects. For that reason, we will look at the verse from James. In doing so we will show its example in King David’s life.
Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they brought destruction on the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11 (NASB)
Notice that David stayed in Jerusalem. Was he finally too comfortable? The struggles had ended as now he was King. Or so it seemed, life had shifted.
2 Now at evening time David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. 2 Samuel 11 (NASB).
So it begins with desire. Now desire in and of itself is natural. Just as Jesus was hungry after fasting. Sexual desire is not wrong either But the problem is desires must be held under the order ship of God. Hunger is not wrong, but stealing is. Sexual desire is made for fulfillment in marriage, but not to commit fornication. At this point, King David could have gone back to his room to pray and study God’s word. He could have quickly looked away. Or like Joseph, he could have run. But He chose to move to step 2.
Step 2 to Not Fleeing Absolutely Every Temptation: Deception
James said we are lured and enticed by our desire. These are terms used by fishermen and hunters. Bait and food entice the fish and animals to go for the bait thinking it will fulfill their hunger, but instead leads to their death.
3 So David sent servants and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 2 Samuel 11 (NASB)
By exploring and inquiring about her, he may have thought she could be someone with whom he could just marry. After all he is King and God had so blessed him. But even after knowing she was the wife of Uriah and the daughter of Eliam, he still moved on to step 3.
Step 3 and 4 to Not Fleeing Absolutely Every Temptation: Decision and Delivery
As James said, “Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin.” Even after making the decision, one can flee and determine not to deliver on the decision. However, that becomes less and less likely as the thought consumed by desire overtakes the mind. The desire grows every second it lingers. Partly why it is necessary for us to take captive every thought with the word of God.
4 Then David sent messengers and had her brought, and when she came to him, he slept with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house 2 Samuel 11 (NASB)
But it never stays there. It grows into Step 5
Step 5 to Not Fleeing Absolutely Every Temptation: Development
Sin does not stay there; it grows in its magnitude. Bathsheba became pregnant so David schemes a plan to cover up the sin. When Uriah proves to be more noble than the king. David plotted his murder by having him sent to the frontlines to die. These same steps occur with all sins—pride, greed, gossip, and even the ultimate sin of never turning to Jesus Christ.
Ah, but what then?
Step 6 to Not Fleeing Absolutely Every Temptation: Death
James said, “when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.” David did repent and turned back to God, but the damage of sin had set forth a cascade of events that God allowed. Not as a lack of grace; but that we too might understand the depths of evil present in sin.
7 Nathan then said to David, “You yourself are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘It is I who anointed you as king over Israel, and it is I who rescued you from the hand of Saul. 8 I also gave you your master’s house and put your master’s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, by doing evil in His sight? You have struck and killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, you have taken his wife as your wife, and you have slaughtered him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. 10 Now then, the sword shall never leave your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’
11 This is what the Lord says: ‘Behold, I am going to raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. 12 Indeed, you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and in open daylight.’” 13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has allowed your sin to pass; you shall not die. 14 However, since by this deed you have shown utter disrespect for the [j]Lord, the child himself who is born to you shall certainly die.” 15 Then Nathan went to his house. 2 Samuel 12.
Cascading Consequences to Not Fleeing Absolutely Every Temptation
For King David, he turned and remained the one from whom the line of Jesus would come. This was grace. Yet, his sin began a cascade of events. The baby died. Yet God’s grace promised that Solomon (Bathsheba’s next son) was the one who would carry on the line to Jesus Christ. What amazing grace that is!
Still David’s son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar with a description of lustful desire much like David’s. David did nothing to punish him. Did David remember his own sin, hence did not punish his son? Since his father did nothing to avenge for Tamar, Absalom then killed Amnon. Absalom then fled away for a time, but David again did not punish this his son for killing his brother. Instead at one point he brought back Absolom who then plotted to take over his father’s kingdom. He then died while pursuing to kill his father and David mourned for his son. King David recognized the depths of cascading consequences to his sin.
So, what are we to do to Flee Absolutely Every Temptation.
Well, we must look to Jesus, only he has the power to overcome every temptation.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need. Hebrews 4 (NASB)
As we saw in the beginning of this lesson, Jesus showed us the importance of knowing the scripture to answer the whispers of Satan and our own evil hearts. Furthermore, there are many lessons from Jesus on how to pray to know how to flee absolutely every temptation. For temptations come from many directions. So let us now look at His prayer life to guide ours.
Jesus Christ, our supreme Power to Flee absolutely every temptation
When Christ came to earth in human form, He stepped outside of His immediate presence with His Father and the Holy Spirit. Though He was eternally a part of God-the perfect echoing of God’s essence; He was in human flesh tempted as we are.
In His human form, it was not that Christ was incapable of sin, He chose to remain sinless so that He would be able to redeem you and me. Had He ever chosen to disobey the Father’s commands, He could not pay the price for our sin. The burden of obedience lay very heavily upon His heart. Yet, the human body that He lived in had desires, temptations, hungers, and trials like you and I face. It was in this human state that the perfect righteous of Christ was proven. It was during Christ’s earthly journey that His obedience to the Father’s will was tested and fully manifested as perfect obedience. Because of His perfect obedience, He was able to pay the penalty for mankind’s sin.
“14 For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10) (KJV)
If Christ, God’s only begotten son needed to pray; how much more we the adopted children? We need to look both at the times that Christ prayed and the types of prayers so that we might gain insight into our own prayer lives.
PRAYING WHEN TEMPTATION IS LURKING
Christ always withdrew into deep earnest prayer when temptation would be at its greatest intensity. Those three times most noted in the Scripture were.
Flee absolutely every Temptation from Need
When in need. This is best shown when Christ went away into the desert before He began His ministry. He fasted and prayed for 40 days, then when He was hungry—Satan came. Christ knew that throughout His ministry, there would be times of hunger, fatigue, human desires, frustrations, and trials. He prepared Himself through prayer and then He faced at the onset those greatest temptations there in the desert.
Satan offered Christ food when He was at His most famished, an easy way out to power (instead of the cross), and a way to quick-easy fortune and fame. Even though what Satan offered was not bad; yet it was crucial because it was not the Father’s plan. Therefore, to accept any one of Satan’s offers would have been sin. We sometimes look for the quick and easy way out. Prayer allows us in a time of need to seek God’s plan and God’s will for our life. (Matthew 4, Luke 4)
Flee absolutely every temptation related to Victory
We must pray immediately after a victory. After feeding the five thousand, Jesus “departed (alone) into the mountain to pray” (Mark 6: 46). Why after a miracle? Ah, because when we are on the highest peaks of success and victory; it is too easy to stray. We need to pray so that our own pride or gloating does not get in the way of our praying. We tend to get too busy to pray when everything is going well—so we must pray ever more earnestly that we remain focused on God.
Flee Absolutely Every Temptation While Enduring Pain
Sometimes following God’s will involves enduring pain. This is shown in the agonizing prayer of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane as shown in (Mark 14, Luke 22). There are times during our journey that we may wish that God’s plan were different; yet, through prayer we are reminded of His Sovereignty. He has the best plan for our ultimate joy; even if it is a cross that carries us there.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12 KJV)
PRAYING JUST TO BE IN HIS PRESENCE AND FEEL GOD’S LOVE
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35).
Christ regularly would arise early just to be in the presence of His Father. He loved to just talk with His Father, feel His presence and be wrapped in His Love. The more we are in the presence, alone with God: the more we see the magnificent beauty of His love, joy, and Glory. Just to sit with Him a little while. Also, we see in Luke 9 when Christ took Peter, James, and John up with Him on the mountain into the presence of Glory.
PRAYING WHEN BIG DECISIONS ARE BEFORE US
Right before choosing the 12 apostles, Christ spent the night in prayer.
“He went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God.13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles” (Luke 6).
If it was important for Christ to spend the night in prayer before choosing the apostles; how much more important we dedicate time to pray before making any choices in life.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER
Christ prayed for others over and over in His ministry. He came to seek and to save those who were lost. Perhaps the greatest intercessory prayer was that recorded in John 17. He prayed for all who would ever believe in Him to have a hedge of protection while on this earth. He prayed for our joy to be fulfilled in Him and for us to be filled with the knowledge of His love for us. Finally He prayed that we would be covered with His Glory.
Concluding Thoughts
3 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. I Corinthians 10 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He [a]made us accepted in the Beloved.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1 NKJV
Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom- pray for yourself and others.
God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
The Power of Jesus Christ indwells us; therefore, He gives us the power to flee absolutely every temptation. Focus on Him, pray unceasingly, and trust His power within us. And know we are sealed with Him throughout eternity by the Holy Spirit.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024
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