Sermon in the Year 2025
Temptation and Sinning in the Mind
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All New Testament verses quoted in this article are from the English Majority Text Version, and Old Testament verses are from the King James Version, unless otherwise noted.
The word “πειρασμός” (peirasmos) /pi-ras-mos’/ (G3986) in the original Greek of the Holy Scriptures can be translated as “temptation” or “trial.” It refers to temptation when it entices, incites, or pressures a person to sin. It refers to a trial when it creates an opportunity for a person to demonstrate whether they have faith and loyalty to God.
In the story of Job, Satan created adversities to tempt Job to sin. The Lord allowed Satan to tempt Job to give Job the opportunity to demonstrate his faith and loyalty to the Lord. The Lord’s permission itself was His trial for Job. The Lord did not need to test Job to know his faith and loyalty, for He is the all-knowing God. From eternity past, He had already known everything about Job. The trial required Job to show his devotion to God to Satan, angels, and humans.
There are cases where the God directly tests mankind, unrelated to temptation by humans or by the devil, such as when He tested Abraham by commanding him to offer Isaac, his son, as a burnt offering. Every temptation, whether from humans or from the devil, is always a trial because it is permitted by the God.
Temptation can come from external circumstances or from unrighteous thoughts in the mind. In this study, we will explore temptation and sinning in the mind together.
“But each one is tempted by his own lusts, being drawn away and being seduced by them. Then lust, when it conceives, gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15).
Temptation happens to everyone; no one is exempt from it. The God allows temptation to occur so that mankind may exercise their free will and demonstrate their reverence and obedience to God—or reveal their rebellion against God. Even the Lord Jesus Himself went through temptations and trials. Immediately after being baptized into His ministry as the Christ, the Lord Jesus faced temptation from Satan. However, the Lord Jesus is the only one who has never sinned.
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but having been tempted in all respects in quite the same way as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15).
Temptation can come from outside or from within. Temptation from the outside comes through the senses of the flesh. It is through what is heard, seen, smelled, tasted, or touched. Temptation from within comes through unrighteous thoughts in the mind. External temptation leads to internal temptation, but often internal temptation still occurs even when there is no external temptation.
All temptation, whether from the outside or from within, stirs up desire in the mind of the one being tempted. Desire is a natural feeling given by the God to mankind, but when desire arises in an unjust way, it becomes temptation—that is, an invitation, incitement, or pressure to sin.
The desire for food and clothing is rightful, as it is a need for survival; however, the desire to become wealthy is not rightful, for one does not need to be wealthy to live peacefully and happily. The desire to become wealthy leads people into temptations that cause them to sin. The Word of God teaches:
“But having food and clothing, with these things we shall be content. But those desiring to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many senseless and harmful lusts which sink men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all evils, of which some by aspiring have strayed away from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:8-10).
The desire for sexual pleasure between a husband and wife is rightful, but the desire to satisfy sexual pleasure through fornication is not rightful. Fornication is the satisfaction of sexual pleasure outside the marital relationship, contrary to the commandments of God:
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14).
“…that you abstain from meat offered to idols, and from blood, and from anything strangled, and from fornication…” (Acts 15:29a).
“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits fornication sins against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18).
The desire to boast about the things the Lord has given to us, about the things the Lord has done through us, is rightful. This is boasting in the Lord, expressing gratitude, and bringing glory to the name of the Lord (2 Corinthians 10:17). However, boasting to prove that one is more capable than others, seeking admiration and praise for oneself, is not rightful; it is prideful.
“Because everything that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” (1 John 2:16).
“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”” (James 4:6).
When temptation stirs up desire in the mind, it can invite, incite, or pressure us to act against the Word of God in order to satisfy that desire. Desire becomes covetousness when we decide to sin in order to satisfy that desire. Covetousness is wanting what does not belong to us or wanting to fulfill needs through sin.
The invitation is gentle and subtle. This often occurs with temptation to commit fornication in thoughts. When memories of past pleasures in fornication appear in the mind, they invite the one being tempted to recall those pleasurable feelings. If the one being tempted does not immediately, in the name of the Lord, cast those impure thoughts out of their mind, they will continue to think about fornication and fall into fornication in their thoughts.
The temptation of pornographic images or texts also has an inviting nature. The one being tempted needs to immediately leave the tempting environment and, in the name of the Lord, cast those impure images and thoughts out of their mind.
Temptation from thoughts of wanting to get rich also has an inviting nature. These are often masked with arguments such as: this is a good opportunity; everyone does it; I can use the money gained to do many good things… The one being tempted needs to immediately, in the name of the Lord, cast those wrong emotions and thoughts out of their mind.
Incitement has a stronger and more persistent nature. This often occurs with the temptation to boast, compete, or seek revenge.
The case of incitement by temptation to commit fornication or any other temptation to sin will also occur if the one being tempted does not quickly escape from its invitation.
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Regarding boasting: Incitement often persistently drives us to affirm ourselves. It continually reminds us of our achievements and abilities, creating a feeling of “loss” if we don’t let others know the “good” things about ourselves. The Word of God teaches: “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.” (Proverbs 27:2).
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Regarding competition: It urges us to compare ourselves with others. It creates pressure to “outdo others” in everything, stirring up envy and jealousy. The Word of God teaches: “…doing nothing according to selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility, regarding one another as being better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3).
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Regarding revenge: Thoughts of retaliation keep recurring. We look for ways to justify acts of vengeance. It’s hard to let go of the feeling of being wronged. The Word of God teaches: “Repay no one evil for evil; providing that which is good before all men. If possible, as much as depends on you, keeping peace with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.” (Romans 12:17-19).
The one being tempted needs to immediately, in the name of the Lord, cast out any emotions and thoughts that are contrary to the Word of God from their mind.
Coercion has a very strong nature, creating significant pressure. This often occurs with the temptation to protect oneself or protect loved ones. Self-defense, or the protection of loved ones, is tied to survival instincts and the protection of what belongs to us, leading to a feeling of urgency to act immediately, fearing that if action is not taken right away, the opportunity will be lost. The temptation from thoughts of doing something unjust that benefits oneself or loved ones also has a coercive nature. The one being tempted needs to immediately, in the name of the Lord, cast out any emotions and thoughts that are contrary to the Word of God from their mind.
In the case of coercion by the temptation to commit adultery or addiction to anything, this will occur if a person has surrendered themselves to adultery or addiction. That person will commit adultery and indulge in addiction daily, from the mind to the actions.
When faced with temptation in the mind, if the person being tempted does not immediately, in the name of the Lord, cast out the emotions and thoughts that are contrary to the Word of God from their mind, or does not immediately leave the environment of temptation, that person will quickly fall into the temptation. Once they fall into the temptation, the person will continue to think about sinful actions to satisfy their desires. From there, the desire will continue to increase until it is manifested outwardly in action. The term “conceive” is used to describe the formation of a fetus in the womb. When desire has turned into sinful action, the sinner will receive the sentence of death. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a).
Before sin is manifested in action, it has already been formed in the mind when a person succumbs to the temptation in their mind. This is the sin in thought.
The distance from temptation to sin in thought, if measured in time, is very short, just a moment. Therefore, God’s people need to stay alert to recognize the temptation in their minds in time and immediately, in the name of the Lord, cast it out.
The devil can sow tempting thoughts in the minds of people depending on the circumstances of life. But each person can also tempt themselves when thinking about sinful pleasures.
The Actions Needed to Overcome Temptation and Sin in the Mind
1. Recognize and be alert to temptations. Anything or anyone that leads you toward sin is a temptation.
2. Recognize your own weaknesses. Each person should be aware of which areas they are prone to sin, such as pride, lust, greed, lying, or excessive shopping.
3. Be cautious of situations that easily lead to temptation. Each person should recognize in what circumstances they are more likely to sin and avoid environments that provoke temptation.
4. Resist with the Word of God and the name of the Lord. When facing any temptation, immediately resist with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and invoke the name of the Lord to drive away the temptation.
5. Remember and apply the Word of God in daily life. Each person should read and meditate on the Word of God day and night so they can remember and use it to resist all temptations.
6. Pray and rely on the Lord. Always ask the Lord to sanctify you. When you feel about to fall into sin, immediately call on the Lord Jesus Christ, asking Him to save you.
7. Ask for strength and wisdom from the Lord. Always ask the Lord to give you strength and wisdom daily so you can overcome all temptations and live to please Him.
As long as we live in our current fleshly bodies, we will still face temptations and trials. But the God, our loving and faithful Father, will keep us from being tempted or tested beyond our ability to endure. He always provides a way out for us, as long as we do not tempt ourselves by desiring sinful pleasures.
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation, He will also make the way out, so as for you to be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Human beings easily sin because their hearts are filled with sin. As soon as the opportunity arises, they will sin.
“For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” (Matthew 15:19).
But God’s people have been cleansed from the sinful nature by the Lord Jesus Christ. In them, there are no evil thoughts, no desire to commit sin. The Holy Spirit gives them the power of God so that they can use His almighty strength to overcome every temptation, every sinful desire of the flesh.
Each of us needs to guard our hearts and not allow any evil thoughts to remain in our minds.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23).
The question that each person needs to answer for themselves is: How can I guard my heart? How can the streams of life flow from my heart?
May the Word of God sanctify us and strengthen us. May we all stand firm in faith and remain faithful to the Lord until the day Christ returns. May the love, grace, and fellowship of the Triune God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, cover all of you. Amen!
Timothy Christian Huynh
01/31/2025
Note:
About Using “*God” or “the God” and “holy spirit”
Wherever the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts of the Bible uses a definite article with a noun to denote GOD, we translate it into English as “*God” or “the God” to refer to God the Father. We understand that “God,” without a definite article, was used as a collective noun for all and any of the three Persons of the Godhead. And “God,” with a definite article, was used to refer to God the Father.
In the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, the term “holy spirit” (πνευματι αγιω) without the definite article “the” (το) is used to denote the power of God, which is given by God the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit” (το πνευματι το αγιω) is God, and “holy spirit” (πνευματι αγιω) is the power that comes from God.