Remember the story about my son drawing a racetrack on the floor? And then saying he didn’t know who had done it. Here’s another one for you.
Who ate the cotton candy? Crystal’s (wife/love of my life) suspicion was one child, but she denied it. The truth eventually came out that she wasn’t lying, but she knew who did it. And it was the OTHER child that we didn’t suspect! You see, sometimes there are lies, and other times there are misleading fallacies in a story. No doubt you’re familiar with these two, either by the people you parent or you practiced these with the people who parented you . . . likely both.
Satan’s second temptation contains a fallacy, a misleading notion. He quotes Psalms and uses it to seemingly strengthen his argument. Jesus responds (again) with Scripture which is more applicable to the current situation.
He found the fallacy.
In addition to zooming out to see the larger context of a temptation, find the misleading notion (the fallacy).
There are several with pornography & lust:
it’s only a moment . . .
it’s better relaxation than drinking . . .
I’m not cheating . . .
it’s not hurting anyone (most common).
Each of these, and any others justifying the temptation, fall somewhere on the spectrum of lie or misleading fallacy. They are either lies we convince ourselves of, or they are misconceptions which lead us off course. Either way, they are always embedded in temptations we face and it’s our job (along with the help & guidance of the Holy Spirit) to find them.
Let’s drill down more closely.
Often, pornography viewing accompanies masturbation and orgasm, which feels good. But the incredible thing is, God designed a means by which you can experience that sensation, only more so, through marriage. Sex is an incredible thing and an integral part of the marriage covenant between two Christians.
Now, there is a lot of conversation to be had on the topic of sex in a marriage, but that’s not the purpose of our time together here. My point is, when we view pornography and masturbate, we are essentially telling God that:
we know better than Him,
we don’t trust the system He designed for us, and
we would rather lean on our own selves for sexual sustenance than Him.
To be clear, resisting temptation is an exercise of FAITH AND TRUST in God.
Last, as we conclude this three-day examination of the temptation of Jesus, note most importantly how Jesus responded with Scripture each time He was tempted. It is imperative that we are digesting Scripture regularly.
Consume Scripture daily (and then some).
Memorize Scripture.
Study the Bible.
Listen to it being preached and spoken of.
1. Consume Scripture regularly and often, in
devotional, memorization, and study format.
2. Zoom out and look at the larger context.
3. Find the fallacy in the temptation (What is a
flat out lie & what is the truth twisted?).
4. Trust God’s plan for your life . . . every part
of your life.
You’re not always going to be successful, and that’s okay. But each day is new.
Each moment is new.
And each temptation is an opportunity to exercise your faith.
Thoughts to Journal:
- What are some of the fallacies embedded in the temptations you’ve faced recently?
- What has been your thought and emotion pattern when you see those fallacies?
- Of the steps (listed in the last paragraph) to resist temptation, which one do you need to strengthen most?
Reading: