logo
episode-header-image
May 8
1h 2m

Ep. 337 - How to Guard Against the Tempt...

LIVING WATERS
About this episode

Temptation is as constant and real as gravity—a daily battle that every believer faces. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar remind Christians that they are never alone in this struggle, and the enemy wants them to believe otherwise. Isolation is one of Satan’s strongest tools, but God calls believers to live in the light and walk in community. When one believer confesses a struggle, another can offer encouragement, reminding them that being tempted is part of the Christian journey. A fear of the Lord becomes a shield against compromise. Every time Jesus was tempted, He responded with Scripture. In the same way, when believers store the Word in their hearts, the Holy Spirit brings it to mind at crucial moments, arming them with truth that weakens the power of temptation.

Prayer is to be ongoing. Even Elijah, who shared the same human nature, prayed earnestly and witnessed the power of God. The model of praying to be delivered from temptation and evil is not optional—it is essential. Spiritual discipline plays a critical role in a believer’s strength. Fasting, once a common practice in the early church, has been overlooked by many today. In avoiding legalism, many have also rejected discipline, but Scripture teaches that while salvation is a gift of grace, Christians are created for good works. Discipline, when motivated by love for God, helps conform believers to the image of Christ.

Resisting temptation is not about earning favor, but about growing in Christlikeness. God has predestined His people to be conformed to His Son, and resistance is a part of that transformation. Humility is key—recognizing that apart from God, nothing is deserved but judgment. Gratitude flows from this awareness. The best way to flee temptation is to have somewhere better to run. Redirecting desires toward Christ changes the battle entirely. Believers are the reward of Jesus’s obedience, and understanding His love is stronger than any willpower.

Standing strong also means running with the right people. Christians grow when they walk with others who are running the race well. Community, scripture, prayer, evangelism, and fellowship all strengthen the soul. Ephesians teaches that the real battle is spiritual and that the armor of God is essential. Believers must be aware of their weaknesses, seek counsel, pursue repentance, and embrace accountability. Like Joseph before Potiphar’s wife, believers must refuse, reason, resist—and then run. Those who believe they cannot fall are often the first to do so. Temptation is real, but so is the strength found in Christ.

Send us a text

Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating!

Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!
You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.
Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.

You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!
Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.
Ray Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro

Up next
Yesterday
The Hope of Repentance in Following Christ – Highlight Episode 352
Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar unpack Christ’s sobering message to the church in Laodicea, highlighting the real danger of lukewarm faith and spiritual self-reliance. Drawing from Revelation, they explain how the church had lost its dependence on God, becoming ineffective—much like t ... Show More
11m 37s
Aug 14
Ep. 351 - Was Peter the First Pope?
Sharing the gospel with Catholics is an act of love because God loves them deeply. In this episode, Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar delve into the implications of Catholic teachings on the role of the Pope and its significance for the Gospel. The Pope is the head of the Catholic Churc ... Show More
1h 3m
Aug 12
How Roman Catholicism Altered Church History & Scripture’s Intent – Highlight Episode 351
This episode addresses the crucial question: Was Peter truly the first pope? The conversation centers on how Catholic claims about papal authority compare to both scripture and early church history. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar walk through the biblical foundation for church leader ... Show More
10m 19s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
Christianity as a Strange Religion? (with Nijay Gupta)
What made the first Christians so different from their surrounding culture?  How did their worship differ from the way the average Roman citizen viewed the gods?  Why did the early church view themselves as a family and why is that so significant?  We’ll discuss these questions a ... Show More
29m 55s
Dec 2022
Stealing Standards from God
It's that time of year again! You're sitting around with family at the Christmas dinner table, and Uncle Joe insists on picking apart your Christian faith. What's the best way to respond? Ignore him while you play with your mashed potatoes? Or do you try to refute his objections? ... Show More
48m 26s
Dec 2024
Praying the Gospel
Psalm 103 is about how to handle life in general. It, in a sense, gives you the key approach to handle all of life’s circumstances, all of life’s situations, no matter what they are. And at first, this key feels anticlimactic.  What does it say the whole problem of our hearts is? ... Show More
41m 28s
Mar 2025
Love, Patience and Suffering
When the Greeks and Romans met the early Christians, one of the first things that surprised them was how Christians handled suffering.  Christianity brought into the world a view and a way of handling suffering that the world had never seen. It was one of the evidences of a super ... Show More
43m 32s
Jan 2025
How to Share Your Faith Without Compromise | Christian Conviction in a Culture of Tolerance
Discover how to stand firm in your Christian faith while engaging with others lovingly and authentically. This powerful conversation explores the balance between biblical truth and genuine kindness, addressing how to avoid watering down the gospel while building meaningful relati ... Show More
16m 11s
Jan 2025
A Better Resurrection (Easter)
The book of Hebrews is written to people who are so beaten down with troubles that they’re ready to give up.  The writer is trying to give the readers what they need to handle the brutal realities of life in this world. In Hebrews 11, he gives us something that helps us handle an ... Show More
33m 20s
Jun 2024
#223 Pastoral questions on porn, personal tragedy and coming back to faith (Classic)
Tom answers listener’s pastoral questions including a person racked by guilt over whether his wife’s miscarriages were a judgment on his porn addiction, a family wrestling with the death of a family member, and someone on a journey back to faith but unsure where to begin. • Subsc ... Show More
29m 42s
Dec 2020
Agnostic Pastor Drives Christian Pop Singer to Find Truth
Alisa Childers was a member of the Christian pop group ZOEgirl. When the group broke up and Alisa joined a Nashville church, she discovered her pastor was a self-described “hopeful agnostic.” Under his Bible study teaching, Alisa’s faith was “getting wrecked.” Determined to find ... Show More
21 m
May 10
Hannah’s Prayer for Family
Hannah is a woman in enormous pain. At the beginning of 1 Samuel, she is roaring with pain, roaring with grief. And yet, in Hannah, we have a case study of a woman at prayer, a woman who has a spiritual encounter with God. Hannah eventually becomes the mother of the prophet Samue ... Show More
39m 26s
Jun 2024
#222 What if I’m not really saved? (Classic)
Can We Lose Our Salvation? Join us this week as Tom addresses common doubts that crop up time and again from our listener's questions. Do you ever question if you can lose your salvation? Feel unworthy to be a disciple of Jesus? Wonder if you might think you're saved, but actuall ... Show More
41m 1s