How does a Christian handle temptation?
Well, there are several ways to do it. First, how receptive are you to discipline? If you don't like it, then the best way is to consider the consequences on both the spiritual and physical planes. God doesn't want you to fall into sin through temptation, so He will always "urge" you to resist. If you don't, then the "urgings" and conviction of having done something wrong will increase. Then, there is the physical consequence, which depends entirely on what you did wrong. Either way, there
are consequences to be dealt with. As to how best to resist, Scripture tells us "resist the devil and he will flee from you." To help with this, God has given us His Holy Spirit to remind us of what is right and wrong, and to strengthen us to resist. There is also the "armor" of God, as Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:13, which is so that we might "...be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Sins to flee from:
1 Corinthians 6:18, Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
1 Corinthians 10:14, Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
1 Timothy 6:10-11, For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
2 Timothy 2:22, Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (Youthful lusts can encompass more than sexuality. For example, more than one movie has portrayed a young Midwest teenager stepping onto a Hollywood bus platform, looking for stardom. Often, those young people are gobbled up and spit out – even if they do “make it big”. Youthful lust blurs the vision of the inevitable. The examples go on and on.)
Temptation and the remedy:
James 1:14, But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
1 Corinthians 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it.
Hebrews 4:15–16, For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
