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).
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).