Handling temptations
In our everyday lives, we need to come to the realization that things don’t just happen, they are made to happen. Man, God and Angels are the three personalities on which human experiences are hinged. All three personalities have a certain sphere of influence on things happening. For example, when men are tempted, they say it is God tempting them to see if they would fall, but this is not true. If God is the ever-knowing God, he would not have to tempt you to know if you truly love him.
I Corinthians 10:13 – There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Paul used the phrase ‘common to man’ which means something traceable to man, man-bound, peculiar to man, this means temptations are traceable to man. He goes further to tell us that ‘God is faithful’ – ‘faithful’ means to be one-faced, that is, God does one thing, he is predictable. God cannot cause sickness and bring healing. Paul shows us God’s faithfulness in making a way of escape when man is tempted.
Read James 1:13-18;
James in verse 13 already tells us, that God is not the one who tempts. Verse 14 helps us to see the genesis of temptation – man’s desire. Temptation starts with a man being drawn away of his own desire, he gets enticed – the man’s desires are pounced upon by the enticer (by being enticed, it shows that there’s another person involved). The scheme of temptation is that it starts with a desire, and then it moves to sin. The desires are sinless on their own, but when it is pounced upon by the enticer, it leads to sin and death.
Thus, in handling temptations, the believer must watch his desires. God’s word should form the boundary of our desire. If a believer would be very conscious of what comes into his m mind, he would live a more victorious Christian life. So, be careful what you expose yourself to. Many people have derailed their Christian journey simply be exposing themselves to the wrong things. Remember, anything that stays around for too long will eventually get into you.
Paul, therefore, give a very vital instruction in Rom. 12:1-2;
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
In a modern world filled with many distractions, do not conform! How? By renewing your mind daily with God’s word. That old-time instruction is still the same tool for victorious living in Christ – Renew your mind. The renewed mind will have renewed desires and wants. Don’t give the devil a foothold in your life by sticking to the same old thoughts of the old man. You’re a new man in Christ, now think the right thoughts.
Col. 3:1-2;
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Set your affection on things above. By doing this, you live above the dictates of the flesh. Remember, your thought is the starting point.
Daily Bible Reading Plan:
Bible Reading – Acts 14-16
TEACHING OF THE DAY
Salvation Through Faith in Christ (Series 3b) (4)