Temptation is the pressure to yield to influences that can lead a person away from God and into sin. It is also the means by which the loyalty, commitment and obedience of a child of God is tested and proved. Temptation is a part of life that no one can escape from, because nobody is protected or exempted from its influence. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself experienced temptation (Hebrews 4:15). The one who orchestrates temptations, also known as the tempter, is the devil (Mathew 4:3). He has perfected highly deceptive means of carrying out His evil enterprise, because he has been long at it. However, glory be to God because the Lord has developed a way of escape for every type of temptation the devil can come up with (1st Corinthians 10:13). If we refuse to use the means of escape provided by God, we will end up falling for the devil’s trick and disobeying God. This can have devastating repercussions, as seen in the fall of mankind through temptation and the judgment of God which followed (Genesis 3:1-24). It is therefore important for us to learn how to overcome temptation and also reduce our exposure to it by applying the antidote provided by the Lord.

In the last few hours before our Lord Jesus Christ was arrested, knowing what was about to happen shortly, He gave the disciples the antidote to temptation, saying in Mathew 24:26:
‘’Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.’’
In this verse of scripture, He named watchfulness and prayer as the antidotes of temptation. Watchfulness is the state of being alert and expectant while carefully observing a person or situation. The word of God lays particular emphasis on the need to keep watch for two important events: The second coming of our Lord and the devil’s temptation, which is our focus today. We are called to be alert to the dangers posed to our Christian life by false teachings, worldliness, love of money, inordinate ambition, sinful pleasure, sexual immorality, and all other forms of temptation. Your watchfulness should begin with the admonition of proverbs 4:23, which say:
‘’Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.’’
Romans 12:2 also speaks about renewing your mind, and this is best done by filling your heart with the undiluted word of God. Another aspect of watching is bridling our tongue in order not to sin with it (1st Peter 3:10, James 1:26). For your faith is not to suffer shipwreck due to temptation, you are called by God to soberly watch and be prayerful (1st Peter 4:7). Are you keeping watch?
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.