First of all, recognize temptation. The Bible uses the word, temptation, to convey two different meanings. One meaning is a testing or trial. The other meaning is an enticement to evil. Temptation is defined as an inducement to do wrong with promise of pleasure or profit.

In the first temptation recorded in the Bible, Eve, the first woman, saw the fruit that God prohibited to eat as something desirable. So she ate. The temptation took her by surprise. The serpent was subtle. He did not send a warning to Adam and Eve saying, “Tomorrow, I am going to attack.” He used the element of surprise. Then he used doubt and denial, while he offered wisdom and reward. Recognize the “author” of temptation and recognize the “avenue” through which he approaches.

The author of temptation is identified throughout the Scriptures as “that old serpent, called the devil and Satan, which deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). Peter himself warned, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

In the Old Testament Scriptures during a battle with Ai, God warned Joshua and the Israelites not to keep any of the spoils when battling the enemy. But Achan saw only a wedge of gold, some silver and a beautiful Babylonian garment. He didn’t picture the nation defeated and his family destroyed, for he didn’t recognize Satan’s attack (Judges 7:1-26).

In another Old Testament story, Naaman, captain of the army of the Arameans, was healed by listening to the prophet Elisha. He wanted to offer gifts, but Elisha refused. God alone must receive the glory. But Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, saw only the gifts of silver and the articles of clothing; he never imagined that the result of his sin would be the disease of leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-27). This was Satan’s deception. Recognize the author of temptation, your adversary the devil.

What is the avenue of Satan’s approach? “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed” (James 1:13). Lust simply means strong desire. The devil approaches through desire.

All of us have God-given desires. Now that sin has entered the world, those desires can become lustful. For example, hunger is a normal desire, but eating can become gluttony. Thirst is a normal desire, but over indulgence in alcohol becomes drunkenness. Marriage is honorable in God’s sight, but sexual relations before marriage is fornication. Satan tempts us to satisfy our desires outside the will of God.

Temptation itself is not sin. Christ was tempted, and he never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). The anatomy of temptation has a process. First, all have a sinful nature. Within our natures are desires which have a propensity to turn into lusts (Romans 7:18). Desire is dormant. When a stimulus arouses the desire, an impulse arises within the conscience

Up to this moment, sin has not been experienced. A decision must be made. The “will” operates in every temptation. The will says “yes or no” to the temptation. If one yields under the influence of the devil and goes along with the idea, the mind begins to think of gratification and gain. That person is “drawn away” and “enticed” (James 1:14).