Overcome Your TemptationsНамуна

Stage #3: Temptations increase their persuasive power by adding enticement.

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  

The moment we experience a desire for that which we have been drawn away to, often our desire is initially small and even minimal, just a slight pull.  That’s why the Bible adds the word, “and.” Temptations cannot succeed with just a small desire in the person.  Temptations need to raise that little desire into a compelling desire. Temptations build our desire with the third stage, by “enticing” us.

What is the purpose of enticement? To fan the flame of your desire so hot that it influences your thoughts and choices.  As your desire grows stronger, you become less and less aware of anything else and become incredibly focused on the one thing you desire at that moment more than anything else. 

But the truth is only a few moments ago, you weren’t thinking about anything like that, were you? 

The verb “entice” comes from deleazo which means to catch by a bait, to trick by alluring and enticements through deception.  At this point, many of us fall prey to another major misconception because we think we are doing the enticement.  But, once again, the verb entice is in the present passive form which proves that you are receiving the action of another (temptation) and not actively doing the enticing.  This fact is very important as the temptation is the active worker in this Biblical revelation and not yourself.  

So, guess what our experienced fisherman does?  He knows that unless the fish’s desire for that bait becomes stronger, the fish will probably never act and pursue the it.  The fly fisherman expertly hits that same exact spot in the river with the fly time after time—each time letting that fly sit on the water just a little a spit second longer, increasing likelihood that the fish will find the fly so desirous that he will break free from his inactivity and lunge for the bait.

Who is doing the act of enticing, the fish or the fisherman?  The fisherman purposefully seeks to fan the desire of the fish over and over again.  Never forget that you aren’t fanning the flame of your desire, the temptation is! You may feel like you are growing your desire, but the passive participle proves that this is being done to you.  

The fisherman seeks to trick the fish by deceiving them. The fisherman hid the hook very carefully inside the fly so that the fish would never think that they are being pursued by their hidden killer.  

Who would ever chase a dead piece of colorful string with a barbed hook hidden in it? Only a person who has been subtly deceived, convinced that this “fly” is not only real, but he must have it!

The temptation keeps the attention on how good that bait looks so the fish never has time to think about the potential dangers.  

Enticing is cunning and artfully arouses hope of pleasure with no hint of any kind of danger. 

Perhaps the clearest illustration of enticement in the Bible is found in Proverbs 7:10: 

And there a woman met him, with the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. She was loud and rebellious,her feet would not stay at home. At times she was outside, at times in the open square, lurking at every corner. ... With her enticing speech she caused him to yield ,with her flattering lips she seduced him.  Proverbs 7:10-12, 21

Temptations seduce us. Just like the harlot. Temptations dress up like an irresistable juicy morsel for the fish. Temptations are crafty and lurk along our pathway.  Temptations flatter. Temptations seduce.  Temptations keep on enticing until they cause us to yield. 

“We are no more responsible for the evil thoughts that pass through our minds than a scarecrow for the birds which fly over the seed-plot he has to guard. The sole responsibility in each case is to prevent them from settling.”  John C. Collins

The next time your desires are increasing, stop and realize: “The Harlot Temptation is seducing me! If I don’t flee, I will likely be caused to yield and bite the hook!”

So what happens next? But, is being drawn away a sin? No. Is desiring something that’s clearly off-limits a sin? Never.  Is strong desire for something off-limits a sin? Nope. Is the temptation successful yet? No, the fish is only feeling strong desire for the bait, but hasn’t decided to go for the bait. 

We hope this Plan encouraged you. Connect with Bruce Wilkinson in his helpful book "Overcoming Temptation" by clicking this link.