How To Overcome Temptation (100 Days Of Discipleship — Day 85) by Apostle Emmanuel Iren: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Fight Conception, Not Just Sin

A married man came three months into his marriage, shocked that his wife was pregnant. When asked if they had unprotected sex — yes. So how was he not planning for this? It is exactly how many believers approach temptation: focusing on stopping the fruit while still planting the seeds.

James 1:13-15: "Every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. And when lust is conceived, it brings forth sin." The Greek word for "conceived" is literally impregnation. You can be planting seeds and be surprised when they germinate.

Many people are fighting sin instead of fighting conception. Nip it at the bud — don't even allow yourself close to the environment.

Control Your Exposure

The best, most time-tested instruction still stands: "Flee youthful lust" (2 Timothy 2:22). When you can run, run away. The wisdom of God should be superior to your self-assessment. Don't overestimate your strength.

There is a temptation to be overconfident, especially for those from a decent background. But leave your jacket and run. Don't stay there being strong when God's word says run. Some people expose themselves so poorly that even the strongest believer would scarcely stand in their shoes.

Create a Structure

You don't rise to the level of your discipline — you fall to the level of your structure. Create a system consistent with the outcomes you want:

• When you see outcomes inconsistent with who you are, reorganise the system
• Put new checks and balances in place
• Remember the boundaries you had when you first came to the Lord — and return to them

2 Peter 2:6-8: God delivered Lot who was "vexed by the filthy conversation of the wicked" — because of where he lived. There are cities you shouldn't raise children in. Movies you shouldn't watch. Places you shouldn't go. Don't be strong when the Bible says flee.

Ask God to Restore Your Early Innocence

When you first came to the Lord, there were things you would not watch, things you would not entertain. Then comfort came and you thought, "I can handle it" — and that is when the problems began.

Ask God to restore sensitivity to sin. And ask God to help you build structures that outlast willpower. You don't deliver yourself from temptation by being spiritual in the moment — you deliver yourself by burning the source: removing access, fasting from something, changing the environment.

Deliverance from temptation often comes not through one great moment of victory, but through the daily discipline of reducing exposure and rebuilding structure.