"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7
It is well known that the Adversary means us no good. We are encouraged in Paul's letter to the Ephesians to "put on the full armor of God" in order that we might resist the fiery arrows with which he is actively attacking us. Despite this metaphor, he is not nearly so overt. The attacks of Satan come quietly and often times attractively.. He appeals to things that are already desirous to us be it because of how it looks, how it can bring us physical pleasure or feed our ego. Once we give in, the attack has been successful. And once he has been successful, the target that we are becomes easier and easier to hit.
Beloved, there is no reason that we should make it easy for Satan to destroy us, particularly since there is a refuge available in God. Not only does God equip us with armor but He also limits the attack and provides a retreat if we need it. Scripture reveals, "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, so that you will be able to endure it" 1 Cor 10:13.
The greatest threat then, is not Satan, nor is it his powerful ability to tempt. The greatest threats are the choices we make. We have to choose to put on the armor. We have to choose to take the escape. We have to choose to not give in to that which looks, tastes and feels good to us when it stands in opposition to godliness. And just as the Adversary is embolden by the success of getting us to submit to his attack, the word of God tells us that he is discouraged when he is unsuccessful. Would you like to deal with less temptation in your life? When it comes, just say "no" to it and you will find that it will pop up less and less until it stops all together. When the armor is on and the darts do not work, he will look for an easier target.
Committed,
Lee
Showing posts with label Temptation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Temptation. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Thursday, May 10, 2012
When Satan is Not the Problem-5/10/2012
"But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust." James 1:11
As human beings, we tend to play the blame game when we find ourselves in a disadvantageous situation. Rare are the times when we take complete responsibility. Case in point, when humanity fell in the Garden, Eve blamed the serpent, then Adam blamed Eve and God. Though Satan has the power and desire to tempt, he does not have the power to decide for us nor force us to do anything.
Beloved we must always be aware of our weak areas. Each of us knows where we are vulnerable and subject to slip out of God's will. It is important to do all that can be done to overcome and remove unrighteous desires (whatever they may be) in order that they not be used against us. In an effort to make a point (rather than being literal), Jesus once said, "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." Matt 5:29.
In the end, it is we who make the decisions and commit the actions that are righteous or unrighteous. In the end, they cannot be blamed on Satan or God. We were created with free will and are responsible for the choices that we make. To be sure, Satan is a problem but he is not THE problem.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
As human beings, we tend to play the blame game when we find ourselves in a disadvantageous situation. Rare are the times when we take complete responsibility. Case in point, when humanity fell in the Garden, Eve blamed the serpent, then Adam blamed Eve and God. Though Satan has the power and desire to tempt, he does not have the power to decide for us nor force us to do anything.
Beloved we must always be aware of our weak areas. Each of us knows where we are vulnerable and subject to slip out of God's will. It is important to do all that can be done to overcome and remove unrighteous desires (whatever they may be) in order that they not be used against us. In an effort to make a point (rather than being literal), Jesus once said, "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." Matt 5:29.
In the end, it is we who make the decisions and commit the actions that are righteous or unrighteous. In the end, they cannot be blamed on Satan or God. We were created with free will and are responsible for the choices that we make. To be sure, Satan is a problem but he is not THE problem.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Targeted By Satan-5/9/2012
"And behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ' This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.' Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." Matt 3:17-4:1
Jesus was approximately 30 years old when he was baptized by John the Baptizer. This was not an unusual age for a young rabbi to leave the tutelage of his master and to begin taking on disciples of his own. Jesus, however, was no ordinary young rabbi. At his baptism, we are told that the Holy Spirit came upon him like a dove and the voice of God from heaven identified him as His son. One would think that this was a moment of triumph to be followed immediately by a whirlwind tour of the known world to announce that salvation had come to all of humanity. Instead, Jesus was put into a confrontation with the enemy.
Beloved, there are many who feel that hearing, believing, repenting, confessing (Christ as Lord) and being baptized (for remission of sin and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit) is the goal and destination of Christianity and that the Lord will handle everything else after that. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, it is upon becoming a child of God that one truly shows up on Satan's radar. By virtue of declaring allegiance to the Father of righteousness, a target is applied and the battle is engaged. For this reason, we must be hyper aware and hyper vigilant.
No one need fall to the fiery darts of the devil. Jesus is our example. Three times in the famous temptation narrative, Satan makes offers that appeal to the human lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and the pride of life and three times Jesus answers him with the word of God. He resisted Satan and Satan left him alone...for a while. When he tried again through Peter, he was again rebuffed until he was ultimately defeated on the cross of Calvary. To be sure, he lost that day, but he is still active and he is still targeting you. Misery loves company.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Jesus was approximately 30 years old when he was baptized by John the Baptizer. This was not an unusual age for a young rabbi to leave the tutelage of his master and to begin taking on disciples of his own. Jesus, however, was no ordinary young rabbi. At his baptism, we are told that the Holy Spirit came upon him like a dove and the voice of God from heaven identified him as His son. One would think that this was a moment of triumph to be followed immediately by a whirlwind tour of the known world to announce that salvation had come to all of humanity. Instead, Jesus was put into a confrontation with the enemy.
Beloved, there are many who feel that hearing, believing, repenting, confessing (Christ as Lord) and being baptized (for remission of sin and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit) is the goal and destination of Christianity and that the Lord will handle everything else after that. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, it is upon becoming a child of God that one truly shows up on Satan's radar. By virtue of declaring allegiance to the Father of righteousness, a target is applied and the battle is engaged. For this reason, we must be hyper aware and hyper vigilant.
No one need fall to the fiery darts of the devil. Jesus is our example. Three times in the famous temptation narrative, Satan makes offers that appeal to the human lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and the pride of life and three times Jesus answers him with the word of God. He resisted Satan and Satan left him alone...for a while. When he tried again through Peter, he was again rebuffed until he was ultimately defeated on the cross of Calvary. To be sure, he lost that day, but he is still active and he is still targeting you. Misery loves company.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Friday, March 2, 2012
The Source of True Nourishment-3/2/12
“It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’” Matt 4:4
Contextually, Satan is appealing to Jesus' human need for food after a 40 day fast in the wilderness. His effort was an attempt to get Jesus to sin. One of the three main ways we are tempted is the lust of the flesh (the other two are the lust of the eye and the pride of life according to 1 John 3:16). How many of us submit ourselves to sin because of the things that our flesh craves?
Jesus lifts the conversation by indicating that there are more important things in life than the satisfying of what the body needs. We are not just physical beings but spiritual beings also. Long after our current bodies have gone the way of decay, our spirits (which will be housed in glorified bodies) will continue on into eternity. The best way to determine how that eternity will be spent (and whether we get the glorified body) is found in our attendance to the word of God.
Beloved, so often we allow our attention to be distracted by things that have questionable benefit. We suffer from a type of spiritual ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). We need not be concerned about the needs of the body. The Lord has said, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you" Matt 6:33. The psalmist likewise said, "I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread" Psa 37:25. God knows exactly what we need and He does provide. Ours is to focus on His word wherein true nourishment is derived.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Contextually, Satan is appealing to Jesus' human need for food after a 40 day fast in the wilderness. His effort was an attempt to get Jesus to sin. One of the three main ways we are tempted is the lust of the flesh (the other two are the lust of the eye and the pride of life according to 1 John 3:16). How many of us submit ourselves to sin because of the things that our flesh craves?
Jesus lifts the conversation by indicating that there are more important things in life than the satisfying of what the body needs. We are not just physical beings but spiritual beings also. Long after our current bodies have gone the way of decay, our spirits (which will be housed in glorified bodies) will continue on into eternity. The best way to determine how that eternity will be spent (and whether we get the glorified body) is found in our attendance to the word of God.
Beloved, so often we allow our attention to be distracted by things that have questionable benefit. We suffer from a type of spiritual ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). We need not be concerned about the needs of the body. The Lord has said, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you" Matt 6:33. The psalmist likewise said, "I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread" Psa 37:25. God knows exactly what we need and He does provide. Ours is to focus on His word wherein true nourishment is derived.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Friday, February 25, 2011
Keep to the Path-DD 2/25/2011
"Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on." Prov 4:14-15
Sometimes, we as human beings just want to see. We like to try things for ourselves. I remember a specific time in high school where a group of kids had gotten together in a hallway and were intently looking up at the ceiling. Every time someone walked by and looked up, they started laughing and added to the count of those they influenced to do what they were doing.
Beloved, falling to sin can be just like this. Once we have been saved from the darkness, it always beckons to us to come back. Often, the agent of this call are (perhaps former) friends who attempt to seduce us with words like, "Oh come on, just once isn't going to hurt anything," or "This isn't a sin, we're just having fun." We are counseled by God to give such enticements a wide berth. Any contact with the object of our temptation at all can represent a fast and slippery slide.
Beware of such enticement. Remember, "to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17. We were called by the Greater. Let us not fall to the lesser.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Sometimes, we as human beings just want to see. We like to try things for ourselves. I remember a specific time in high school where a group of kids had gotten together in a hallway and were intently looking up at the ceiling. Every time someone walked by and looked up, they started laughing and added to the count of those they influenced to do what they were doing.
Beloved, falling to sin can be just like this. Once we have been saved from the darkness, it always beckons to us to come back. Often, the agent of this call are (perhaps former) friends who attempt to seduce us with words like, "Oh come on, just once isn't going to hurt anything," or "This isn't a sin, we're just having fun." We are counseled by God to give such enticements a wide berth. Any contact with the object of our temptation at all can represent a fast and slippery slide.
Beware of such enticement. Remember, "to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17. We were called by the Greater. Let us not fall to the lesser.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
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