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The Scriptures tell us that we all face temptations. First Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man." Perhaps this provides a little encouragement as we...
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Look to Jesus. The answer is in Him. He was tempted like us "in all points" but He overcame (Heb 4:15). "He is able to aid those who are tempted" (Heb 2:18). On our part we are to first surrender the organs of our body as a living sacrifice on God's altar (Rom 12:1). We are no more ours. We are bought with a price. We belong to God. Make a covenant with your eyes that you will no more look at someone lustfully (Job 31:1). Present your hands to God so it may not touch the forbidden. And your legs not to go where Christ Himself would not go. And so on (Rom 6:13). Remind yourself of this commitment each morning. The power to say no to sin is yours by the indwelling Christ. You are dead, buried, raised and seated with Christ (Rom 6:3,4; Eph 2:4-6). Meditate on this fact of identification with Christ as often as possible. To receive a fresh supply of strength to resist temptation Christ has taught us to pray. Our body of flesh and blood is weak. Our desire to overcome temptation becomes effective only when we "watch and pray" (Mt 26:41). When Christ was tempted He wielded the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, against Satan (Mt 4:4,7,10; Eph 6:17). Be regular in Bible meditation. David hid God's Word in his heart that he might not sin against Him (Psa 119:11). Saturate yourself with the Scriptures. Memorize as many verses as you can. At the hour of temptation the Holy Spirit will bring to your remembrance the right text (Jn 6:14-26). Don't be a loner. You need the fellowship of God's children. "If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble" (Eccl 4:9-12). Everytime you overcome temptation the battle will only be intensified. The "roaring lion" will be after you (1 Pet 5:8). But "He who is in you is greater that he who is in the world" (1 Jn 4:4). Take refuge under the blood of Jesus. Depend on His grace. "Sin shall not have dominion over you!" (Rom 6:14).
I'm compelled to share my testimony Rev. 12:11 "by the word". I started an habitual sin when I was about 8 or 9, I did not come to The Lord until I was in my early twenties. After much prayer, The Lord walked me through Ehud's story in Judges 3. Ehud was left handed, meaning he had no power of his own to fight his enemy. He made a two sided weapon as long as his forearm, that he kept on him at all times. To use against his enemy. After explaining the symbolism to me. I first realized that I was weak to do anything on my own. So with his story in mind I used my Strong's exhaustive concordance and looked up every scripture remotely close to my battle. From this list I found a core list that seemed to flow smoothly "my two sided weapon". I confessed my issue to the congregation and asked for prayer and support James 5:16. Now I'm not saying it's easy overcoming temptation but God has given us many weapons.
Man is made up of three parts viz., body, soul and spirit. The soul consists of three parts viz., mind,will and emotions. God has given us a free will to choose right or wrong, good or evil. It is our will power to decide what is wrong or what is right. The sin originated with Satan. The temptation enters as thoughts through our flesh to our mind. If the flesh is weak, there is every possibility that evil thoughts will creep into your mind. If the flesh is further weak, there is a tendency to put evil thoughts into action thereby we commit sin. How do we to overcome this situation? Many Christians do not know they have been redeemed and set free from the curse of the law(Gal 3:13). Satan knows they are ignorant and he continues to visit them. Resist the enemy and he will flee from you. Drive him out of your lives. Take control of your body and your thoughts. You are in a warfare. Remember, You are under grace and sin has no dominion over you. One of the most crucial passages concerning temptation is I Cor 10:13): “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able; but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.” This is the guarantee that God has given us to overcome temptation.
As a believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we live in a spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-20), so temptations are the daily battlefield of our mind (1Peter 5: 6-11). Temtations attack us through our weakness points, those are our flesh desires (Genesis 3:6; Luke 4:1-13; Mathew 4:1-11; 5:29-30; 26:41; Galatians 5:19-21). By praying we keep in touch with the Holy Spirit for gaining the power (Mathew 6: 13; 28:18); by fasting we have crucified our flesh desires, in order to close the entry door for any temptation that may attack us. In conclusion, we have to follow what Jesus said:"It is written, Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Mathew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3-5).so we may win the war, not just a battle.(Revelation 3:20-22).
I have learned to overcome temptation by following the voice of the Holy Spirit who dwells in my heart! Every time that have a temptation for something that I'm not sure of, I ask Jesus to direct me to the right direction and as I continue following my own thoughts, my hearts starts in a way that I can't ignore it. It feels like a drum so hard that I get very scare and I stop everything or every thought that I had in that moment. I learned to walk a way, perhaps with sadness or with joy, and when I think about it, I thank God for intervening on my behalf!
That is a hard question. A great question but an easier answer. Everyone gets tempted. It is in our nature. I don't care who it is. Ask Eve. But also knowing the cost should stop you from it. Resist what we can not have, it is not for us to have. But maybe in good time. Keep close to God. He will give you what is best for you.
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