Overcoming temptation to sin is at the heart of all Jesus died and rose again for! Your blood bought salvation involves not only freedom from the penalty of sin but also the power of sin. I don't feel I can stress this point enough! Sin destroys people's lives and Jesus came to remove that destruction. 1Jn 3:8,9 - But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God. The devil's work is sin! He aggressively and continually temps people, God's people to disobey the Word of God.
As a "Born Again" Believer you do not need to be afraid of the devil or his power. Jesus has defeated him and as God's child you are privileged to experience and enjoy this victory in your own life. Jas 4:7 - So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Clearly we need not fear the powers of darkness. They have no dominion over us at all, none! Why is it then that so many of God's people are being defeated by sin? They are allowing the devil to control them. They are choosing their fate! They are not resisting the devil. They are not submitting themselves to God and resisting the temptation to sin. Some of this spiritual neglect may very well be the result of failing to understand the great price Jesus paid to set them free from sin or a failure in understanding and fully embracing God's hatred of sin. Sin in a Believer's life not only brings personal spiritual defeat but it slaps Jesus in the face. It says, "we're not grateful for your shed blood, you died in vain on our behalf". Don't let this happen to you. It doesn't have too and it won't as long as you choose God's way.
Our God has such an awesome heart of love and compassion for His precious people. One critical area were this is clearly evident lays it the fact that he has put restrictions on the devil's power of temptation. 1Cor. 10:13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. God is faithful! This faithfulness in manifest in the truth that He will never permit you to be tempted beyond what he knows your capable of handling through His strength. If you haven't already, you need to commit this Scripture and these truths to memory. Ask the Lord to print this in bold letters in your heart and mind.
To be tempted to sin is not sin! Jesus was tempted but never sinned! How does a "Born Again" Believer master temptation? We are given clear instruction! It's quite basic and very simple but make no mistake it's not always easy because we often find ourselves wrestling with things that are contrary to God's will but things we have enjoyed in the past or have been bound with in the past. Some things are harder to give up than others it seems, but they come to the cross of Christ and be crucified there. They cannot be allowed to control us. The choice is up to you though! God's wants to see you blessed and has made every provision for it but He has refused to control you against your will. If you welcome Him, if you give Him invitation, then He be there for.
Heb 2:18 - For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered,
He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. (NASB)
Heb 4:15,16 - This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He
all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly
to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and
we will find grace to help us when we need it most..
How do we actually walk through temptations? Let's stat by looking at how sin
enters peoples lives Jas 1:12-15 God blesses those who patiently endure testing
and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised
to those who love Him.13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say,
"God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts
anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag
us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to
grow, it gives birth to death. This is the chain of events leading to sin. This must be
intercepted and the key to this is prayer. Jesus said in Mark 14:38 Keep watch
and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the
body is weak." As soon as we become suspicious or aware that we are being
tempted to sin we MUST turn to the Lord in prayer. We MUST reach out to Him for
help. We MUST call upon Him, inviting Him into the situation. We need to express
to the Lord our deep hearts desire to not give into to the temptation. It's at these
times the truth of what's really in our heart surfaces. Do we really want to be freed
from this sin or is there a secret desire to hold on to it. The intensity and sincerity
of our desire to be live free from sinning will be revealed in the degree of intensity of
our seeking of God's help. He has told he will help and that he will not allow us to
be tempted beyond what we are capable of withstanding (through His help).
Jesus was tempted in the Garden of Gethsemane to avoid going to the cross. He
overcame that temptation through prayer. He prayed through. In other words He
kept on praying until He knew He had gained the victory over it. We must do the
same. You MUST do the same. Victory is there for all who really want it. It really
boils down to who and what we love more. If we really love the Lord the way we
should then we'll call upon Him until we're freed from the temptation. We show our
love and gratitude to Him by living free from sinning.
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