Spiritual Warfare/Temptation
11-06-2014
It's been quite some time since I've posted a word of encouragement; it's rather lengthy. So, much of what I read and see of God's children living beneath their privileges simply because of yielding to temptations have prompted this post. I pray that you read it, think on it, and practice it. I believe The Lord will do something awesome in your lives as a result. Love and Blessings!
"Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. (James 1:13-14 NKJV)
James reveals two major keys in overcoming temptation. He teaches us what temptation is and who it is that can be tempted.
First, God never tempts us to sin and neither can He Himself be tempted to sin. (Nothing in His nature desires sin and therefore there is no "attraction" to sin for God.)
Secondly, James explains what temptation is; "each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed."
"Each" of us have to take ownership for our "own" sins and not blame anyone else....not even the devil. It is our "own" desires that makes sin attractive to us. It is that attraction that the enemy is aware of so he exploits it by specifically tailoring a temptation to fit that desire. To be "drawn away" is to be literally "lured away" as a fish that is attracted to an artificial lure specifically designed by the knowledgeable and
experienced fisherman to attract the type of fish he seeks to catch.
(Satan is an experienced and shrewd fisherman who's studied mankind's behavior since the beginning of time.....he knows exactly what we like!)
Now, the key to overcoming temptation is to do what Jesus did. "He was tempted in every way we are yet He did not sin." (Heb 4:15)
#1. Make God's desires your desires. (Seek always to please Him)
Jesus said, "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”(John 8:29 NKJV)
Since God cannot be tempted to sin, when we replace our "own" desires with His, the enemy can no longer attract us with what he offers.
Psalm 37:4...."Delight yourself also in The Lord (seek to please Him) and He will give you the desires of your heart (not just what "you" want but what "to" want)
When God's desires become our desires, we lose our attraction to temptation.
#2. Jesus always (immediately) confronted temptation with the spoken Word of God.
Luke 4 shares the story of Jesus being tempted by Satan. Notice how the very thought of sinning was confronted by God's Word....spoken.
Temptation always begins with our thoughts. Therefore, when the thought of sinning enters our minds, we must confront it immediately with the "weapons of our warfare which are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ....(2 Corinthians 10:4c-5 NKJV).
If we don't immediately confront the thought of sinning with The Word, "a thought will lead to an action; an action will lead to a habit; a habit will lead to a character; a character will lead to a destiny."
Use what Jesus used!..... Make God's your desires. Confront the very thought of sinning with The Word. God bless you!
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