We’ve all been tempted and we all have our weak moments. But one thing is for sure, when we are tempted, we have some choices to make and usually we make them pretty fast. Many times temptations come at times when we least expect it, and if we are not careful, we can get ourselves in a whole mess of trouble in just a short moment.
A life time of character can be destroyed at a moment’s weakness.
“Fight the good fight of the faith…” 1 Timothy 6:12
Yes, God is a God of peace, but when it comes to temptation you will have to #FIGHT! If you choose not to, you will lose every time. So put on the gloves, cue the intro music, here is how to get your Ronda Rousey on! (figuratively speaking)
How To FIGHT When You Are Tempted
1. Train Incessantly –
The best way to be ready for the fight is train for the fight. That means you gotta train, daily. Constantly! Be rigorous about your spiritual routine and unrelenting in your discipline. If it is true that your enemy “prowls around like a lion ready to devour you”(1 Peter 5:8), then you better be ready to FIGHT when the temptation comes. Be ready.
2. RUN (Flee) –
Sometimes the best way to fight is to leave the situation. Stop the conversation, turn off the computer, run from the situation, get outta that mall! Flee, run, Get the HECK OUTTA THERE! You gotta get outta there! Your future depends on it. (1 Timothy 6:11)
3. Depend On Jesus –
What is it about us that makes us depend on our own strength when there is the power of Jesus at work within us? He gives us everything we need to live a life of victory. “We are more than conquerors, we are overcomers!” (Romans 8:37) Part of the reason we give in is because we haven’t given it up! Your dependance that is.
4. Speak Against It –
Open your mouth, “Not on My WATCH!” Look, you’ve worked too hard and it’s taken blood, sweat, and tears to get to where you are. So speak up, literally! Many temptations comes when we are alone when no one else is watching. We make foolish decisions based on pleasure, pride and possessions. Just simply open your mouth, and speak out loud against the enemy who is trying to work in you. Jesus spoke against the demonic forces, so should we.
5. Think Ahead –
Many times we put ourselves in compromising situations because we have thought, “that would never happen to me.” What you are capable of is incomprehensible, so BE CAREFUL. Don’t underestimate the cunningness of the enemy or the evil brewing in your own heart. Don’t be naive, protect yourself from compromising situations and you may have already won the fight.
You’ve got this – train, run, depend, speak and think!
Josh
This Sunday at 217church our New Series – Extraordinary Faith “Faith & Temptation.” (The book of James 1:13-18)
Join us at 217church, a multi-site, contemporary church in Mercer County NJ. 217church is a family with small groups in New Jersey and Pennsylvania that meets Sundays in the Hamilton AMC24 Theater 10:00am and Sharon Elementary school in Robbinsville, NJ at 11:00. Our new Robbinsville/East Windsor Campus meets every Sunday. If you are looking for a church in East Windsor NJ, Lawrenceville NJ, Ewing NJ, Robbinsville NJ, Hightstown NJ, Hamilton NJ, Mercer County, Middlesex County or Bucks County, PA, we would love to have you join us. Don’t miss our weekend services. Visit www.217church.com for more information. or watch a weekend message here
Well said and very thought provoking
Every Knee Will Bow
“It is not a sin to be tempted. People face temptations all day every day to do all kinds of things that God’s Word says are wrong. Some are tempted to lie, steal, commit adultery, covet, gossip, to commit acts of violence and so on.” ~ Mark Alan Williams
25+ years ago, one of my seminary professors shared the following…
Romans 14:11-13 says, “It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.”
The professor than gave the following illustration…
Scripture says. “each of us will give an account of ourselves to God”. Psychiatrists tell us that everything that passes our five senses (taste, smell, touch, hearing, sight) is permanently recorded within our brain. Doctors have proven they can touch a probe to different parts of the human brain causing recall of the things recorded such as a memory of standing in front of, and even the smell of, a bakery in our childhood.
We humans, with finite abilities, can put a VHS cartridge in a machine, record a movie and watch it again, in it’s entirety, years after it was recorded. What if our brain is a VHS cartridge doing the recording? And, what if, as we stand before Jesus Christ, He inserts our VHS brain into His machine? How can I deny the things I recorded?
This illustration has served as a great reminder for me to not give in to those temptations and to flee from the things God’s Word clearly says are wrong.
Sharing the Journey,
Rick Diefenderfer