Strategies for Withstanding the Devils Temptations

Lessons from John Flavel
If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you will acknowledge something about your heart and cry out with the hymn writer “prone to wonder Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I Love.” This is the reality we face time and again, “fighting and fears within and without.” For some Christians this struggle result in great distress and causes them to conclude that perhaps- “I AM NOT A CHRISTIAN!” Others come to that sad realization that their heart, yes, that Christian heart, is capable of yielding to temptation and sin against their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ whom they love so much. At times this comes so late after you have compromised your faith already. We are in the battle field and temptation is this warfare is the greatest weapon of attack that the devil uses and Christian are often tempted and tried this side of heaven. There are many solutions that have been offered on how to deal with temptation including– “binding and loosening” praying with “dangerous prayers!” In this struggle many reach that point where the apostle Paul cried out- “O wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death??????” How can we remain faithful to our calling amidst overwhelming floods of temptation? How can we keep our faith during these times of trial?
The puritan John Flavel in his treatise Keeping the Heart or Saint Indeed- The Great Work of a Christian answers this question of how you can keep your heart from not yielding to temptation.

John Flavel (1628-1691)

Flavel brings out some of the common arguments or schemes the devil will use in tempting you. When I first read this, I was so shocked and thought Flavel had been listening to the devil tempt me! Flavel exposes these tricks and then provides some very compelling strategic responses that are helpful in the hour of need. When tempted most times I hear Flavel saying to me, “my friend before you yield, ask yourself these questions.” These are good arsenals to have in your armory as you battle it out in the good fight of faith. Below are the arguments and their responses (paraphrased):
1. Argument one- The pleasures of sin: "here is a chance for you to enjoy these pleasures". Temptation will come with an attractive appearance and a charming voice. "Are you so dull as to see these pleasures being offered? Who can’t take advantage of such pleasures?"
Rebuttal: sin is pleasant but what about the scourges of the conscience after I sin? Is it pleasant also to feel the wounds of the conscience? If sin is enjoyable, why then did Peter weep so bitterly? Why did David cry out of broken bones? What about the terrible effects it had on David? The truth is that if I yield to sin I must feel the pangs of the conscience or the flames of hell. Will you prefer the gratification of some unhallowed passion, with the deadly poison which it leaves behind to the sacred pleasure which arises from fearing and obeying God, complying with the dictates of conscience, and maintain inward peace?
2. Argument two: The secrecy of the Sin: this sin won’t disgrace you. No one will know about it
Rebuttal:: is there a place without God’s presence? Isn’t His presence everywhere? Doesn’t God see you? If you manage to hide from the eyes of the world, are you able to hide from God? What is done in secret shall be proclaimed on the rooftop. Don’t you have reverence for yourself? Is not your conscience more than a thousand witnesses? When I sin won’t my conscience record everything even my most secret actions?

3. Argument three: benefits and gains: Look at the advantage and benefits you will get. Now is your time to benefit also
Rebuttal:: And what would it profit you, if you should gain the whole world and lose your own soul? What can a man give in exchange for his soul? Shall I endanger my soul for the sake of something nice in this world, the soul that Jesus Christ shed his precious and invaluable blood? What can be compared with the value of your spiritual interests?
4. Argument four: It’s a small matter: It’s not a big deal. This sin is so small, petty and trivial
Rebuttal: Who has given the commandments however small they might be? Is God small as well? If you commit this sin you will offend the great God. Is there a small hell for minor sinners? No; the least sinners in hell are full of misery. There is great wrath kept up for those whom the world regards as small sinners. Will you provoke God on account of minor sins? Why should you destroy your peace, wound your conscience, and grieve the Spirit, all for small sins?
5. Argument five: The mercy of God and the hope of pardon —God is merciful, he will pass by this as an infirmity, he will not be severe as to not forgive

Rebuttal: Where do you find a promise of mercy for deliberate sinners? Of course if you sin unintentionally and genuinely repents, there is pardon but where is the promise to a daring sinner that sins with the presumption that God will pardon him? If God is so merciful, how can I abuse such a good God? How can I make so glorious an attribute as the divine mercy an occasion of sin? Will I wrong him because he is good? Rather let his goodness lead me to repentance, and keep me from sin. There is forgiveness with you that you may be feared (Psalm130:4).
6. Argument six: The Sin of other Christians: Bad examples of good and holy men- that one and that one sinned, and were restored; therefore you may commit this sin and you will still enter heaven and be saved.

six part volume published by banner of truth

Rebuttal: If good men have committed sins similar to that with which you want to commit, did any of them ever sin because of such reasons and encouragement? Did God make their examples to be recorded for you to imitate, or for your warning? Are they not set up as warning signs that you may avoid the danger? Are you willing to feel what they felt for their sin? Are you able to follow them in sin, and plunge yourself into such distress and danger that they went through?—
This is how you keep your heart in the hour of temptation.
7. Lastly, (not from Flavel), the devil present an argument that repentance is hard- God wont forgive you for such a wicked thing.
Rebuttal: If you have been reading this and thinking that its too late “damage has already been done” then you are probably in the midst of the fight. You need to ask yourself these questions: Why should I keep running away from God as though running away will drive the sin away? Will he cast me away when he has promised that he will nowise drive away any who goes to the Lord Jesus Christ? Isn’t he faithful and just to forgive sin, if we confess? Doesn’t the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ avail for all our sins? Why should I not try to make things right with my Saviour?
What other arguments does the devil use and what are the counter arguments to respond to such?