The Power to Overcome TemptationSample

You’ve Got the Power of Christ

“He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Colossians 1:13 (GNT)

On the cross, Jesus destroyed Satan’s power to control your mind, your life, and your destiny. When Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30 NIV), Satan should have said, “I’m finished.” His days are numbered!

Jesus has won the victory over death and Satan. But if you don’t have the power of Christ in your life, then you are defenseless against the devil. Satan can manipulate your emotions, mess with your mind, and get you addicted to all kinds of stuff. You are powerless without Christ!

Satan has two favorite tools: temptation and condemnation.

With temptation, he minimizes sin: It’s no big deal! Everybody does it! You know what will make you happy more than God does! Satan doesn’t have to speak out loud. He just puts ideas in your mind.

Then, the moment you do that particular sin, Satan reverses strategy with condemnation. Instead of minimizing the sin, he maximizes it: You did that! Are you kidding me? God will never love you again. It’s over. God can never use you. That is so big that you could never ever be forgiven for it.

First, Satan tempts you. Then, he condemns you. See his strategy? He minimizes sin before you do it and maximizes it afterward.

On the cross, when Jesus said, “It is finished,” he defeated temptation and condemnation. Jesus destroyed temptation’s power, giving you the power to resist it: “He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13 GNT).

Jesus’ death and resurrection were a fatal blow to Satan.

If you have Jesus Christ in your life, then Satan has zero power over you except in the areas that you choose to give him. When you give in to Satan’s temptation, you give him a foothold in your life.

But with God’s power in your life, Satan can’t harm you. You are “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3 GNT), and you are protected. You don’t have to listen to Satan. You have the power to say no.

Don’t wait until you’re faced with a morally questionable deal to decide that your business will be above reproach. Build accountability into your business plan to help prevent you from being tempted in the moment.

Take time today to develop preventative strategies for temptation. And when those don’t work out, have your emergency plan: Don’t resist temptation—run from it. That’s the simplest and surest way out.

This devotional © 2024 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Get more biblical teaching in Pastor Rick Warren's new book Daily Hope Devotional: 365 Days of Purpose, Peace, and Promise at DailyHope365.com .