James 1:12 (NKJV) 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Temptation comes to us all. Not one of us is exempt.
What we are tempted by will vary from person to person.
We all have different weaknesses. It’s those weaknesses that cause us to be pulled in the direction of things that can destroy us or do great harm to us and those around us.
It’s up to us to take the necessary steps to disarm the devil in his war against us.
We do this in different ways, depending on who we are and what we wrestle with.
In the end, though, there is common ground between us all. And the steps we take to stay away from these sins is also similar.
1. Stay in God’s word. Feast on it. We can’t fight if we’re not strong. We can’t be strong if we’re under-nourished.
2. Learn to hate the sin that ensnares us. Until we hate the sin, we will continue to gravitate back to it, toying with it until we fall into that same sin again and again.
3. Don’t tempt God. We can’t expect to fight temptation and escape sin if we constantly flirt with it. The Holy Spirit will warn us, and He will help us turn from it. But if we constantly throw ourselves at the sin, it will eventually win and it will defeat us.
James 1:14 (NKJV) 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
4. We need to know and understand that when temptation comes (and it will come), God will always, always, always provide a way of escape. He will never leave us cornered and helpless. We just have to be willing to turn from it.
On that note, I want to mention one last thing; something very specific that we often overlook.
God’s way of escaping temptation will seldom be anything that we would view as being miraculous. In fact, it’s usually so simple and lackluster that we fail to recognize it.
It’s this; we simply turn and walk away from it.
God gives us the ability to do this. He provides the warning, the opening, and the strength to walk away. We just have to be willing to listen, understand and obey His leading and His promptings.
So, if we’re looking for lightning bolts or rumblings of thunder from the sky, it’s time that we get back to reality and recognize how God works on a daily basis.
Regardless of His methods, He is faithful.
And He gives us what it takes to do the same; be faithful.
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808
401-315-0902
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