How to Defeat the Strongman of Temptation

“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate” (Romans 7:15).

Temptation is that thing that keeps dogging your life, that you have tried to overcome but can’t. It’s that thing that you really don’t want to do, but you find yourself doing. Temptation often makes us feel like we’re wrestling a strong man, and we’re losing.

Temptation can make us feel trapped, like there is no way out. The guilt and shame of failure can make us feel like an inferior Christian. We might feel like throwing in the towel, but we simply can’t quit!

“Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house” (Matthew 12:29).

It’s not necessarily easy, but temptation is conquerable. It can and must be defeated.

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

There is a way out! You can overcome a chronic struggle and get victory over any area that’s been dogging your life. And when you do, there is a reward for it.

“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

When you learn how to say no to temptation, it is empowering. You know there is no habit controlling you, no vice running and ruining your life. That’s freeing. That’s empowering. And that leads to receiving a “crown of life.” In the Greek, it means “life itself.”

When you’re free, your life is full. You live with a clear conscience and an expectation of God’s goodness. You live with a focus on the things that matter most. You’re not distracted. Your mind is clear, and you are ready to hear God’s voice. You are experiencing “life itself.” That’s the reward of overcoming temptation.

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Temptation can be conquered. The question is how? How do we get the victory over those things that have consistently dogged us? How do we say no when our flesh wants to say yes?

James, being the practical apostle that he was, gives us the basic principles for defeating the strongman in our lives.

1. Be Realistic

“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted…” (James 1:12-13).

Don’t overlook that little phrase James used: “when you are tempted.” He didn’t say if you are tempted, he said when you are tempted.

That means be realistic: everyone will encounter temptations. They are just like trials; we all will face them. You, me – even the super-spiritual people get tempted.

You are never too young for it. You never outgrow it. And you don’t avoid temptation by simply getting more spiritual. In fact, it appears the more spiritual you are, the more temptation you will face. Remember, even Jesus was tempted (Luke 4:1-3).

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Temptation is not an indication that something is wrong with you. In fact, it is often an indication that something is right with you, that God is well-pleased. And because of that, the enemy is trying harder to cause you to stumble.

Stop thinking, how could I have such a thought? Is there is something wrong with me?!

There is nothing wrong with you. Being tempted is not a sin; acting on that temptation is. Temptation doesn’t indicate that there is something wrong with you. It simply proves you are human.

“No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it” (1 Cor. 10:13, The Message).

Many translations say, “there is no temptation that has taken you but that which is common to man.”

That means we are all in the same boat. We all struggle with the same kind of stuff. We should never be pious or shocked to discover someone who is struggling in a certain area of their lives. We all struggle in various areas. So instead of feeling like a failure and throwing in the towel, prepare yourself to overcome it.

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“And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else” (James 1:13).

When we struggle with something, we usually look around for someone or something to blame.

We blame society, we blame the government, we blame heredity, our parents, our spouse, the devil and sometimes even God Himself!

Well, if God didn’t want it to happen, He would have never allowed it!

Sound familiar? That’s blaming God.

But if we are going to defeat the strongman of temptation in our lives, we need to stop the blame game. We must understand and accept the fact that temptation comes out of our own desires.

What does that look like? It means it’s time to take personal responsibility. We must realize that we humans are often our own worst enemies, and own up to the fact that most of our struggles are things that we bring on ourselves. That’s a big step toward defeating the strongman – taking responsibility.

3. Be Ready

“When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13).

Throughout the Bible, God gives us a clarion call to be ready for inevitable, recurring temptation. And if you know it’s coming, it’s only wise to be ready.

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 ).

Peter says, be ready!

“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” (Matthew 26:41).

Jesus says, be ready!

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).

Paul says, be ready!

The time to get ready is now, not when the temptation has already come knocking. But how do you get ready?

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“…so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

It’s important to know how the enemy operates so we can defeat him. That’s why sports teams watch films and make scouting reports. They try to learn the ways of their opponent so that they can be ready! And being ready requires being informed.

Temptation begins as an inside job, and it starts with a desire.

Typically, desires aren’t bad, including the desire to eat, have fun, make money, have a “date night.” By themselves, those are not evil desires, they are God-given desires. As a matter of fact, the word “desire” in the Greek means “of the father.” But temptation is a God-given desire that goes horribly haywire; we seek to fulfill a legitimate desire in an illegitimate way.

A common ploy is when the enemy tailors a temptation specifically to our personal preferences and desires. It’s that emergency appointment with a tall, dark and handsome doctor; the new hire that is blonde, blue eyed, and beautiful, in face and form. If the temptation arrives just the way you like it, it’s not because God set it up that way. It’s because the enemy has customized the perfect bait to catch you.

For David, it was Bathsheba.

For Sampson, it was Delilah.

For Judas, it was 30 pieces of silver.

Friends, there is a hook under the worm! And that ain’t just cheese – it’s a mousetrap! Remember there are devastating consequences attached to that temptation that can wreck your life and your destiny. But if you know the ways of the enemy, you can avoid falling for it.

“Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird…” (Proverbs 1:17).

Knowing is half the battle; be informed.

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Notice that James first talks about temptation (James 1:12-15), and suddenly redirects our thoughts toward the goodness of God.

“So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow” (James 1:16-17).

Why? Because that’s precisely how you overcome temptation – you refocus. You turn your attention to something else and shift your thoughts to another matter. You may even change your location, plans or schedule entirely.

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8).

You can do that in several practical ways: 

- Remove yourself from the situation or source of the temptation

- Change the channel on the TV

- Walk out of the movie

- Get some different friends

- Leave the conversation

- Unsubscribe from that magazine

- Stop reading those novels

- Stop watching those soap operas

Whatever it takes, refocus your attention, because temptation is ultimately born from thoughts. As the axioms go, sow a thought reap an action, and what you flirt with, you will fall for. In other words, we can refocus our thoughts and think on things that will lead us away from the temptation instead of into it. And the greatest way to refocus our thoughts is to submerge ourselves in God’s word.

“…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).

When we let God have control and renew our minds with the Word, we build a natural defense to the enemy’s customized temptations. And although we can’t beat the strongman of temptation in our own strength, God will help us to recognize the trap and provide us a way of escape.

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