GOD’S MEANS TO HELP IN TIME OF TEMPTATION ;
Temptation is not uncommon to any of us as 1 Cor 10:13 teaches. Though they may differ in type and length, we all know of them personally. The goal of temptation never changes, to tempt us to yield and sin against God. Temptation is not sin, it is the “bait” that is dangled in front of us, like a “bait” on the end of a fishing line, seeking to entice a fish to its destruction. The goal of temptation is to sin against God! But is there any hope or are we just like wooden corks floating, thrown up and down on a raging sea without any hope? “In Christ” God has provided us with hope, to recognize and overcome temptation!
Below are some of God’s Means to help us in such times. I pray they may encourage you and be used by you to encourage others… Let’s consider some of …
TEMPTATION DEFEATED; GOD’S MEANS…
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– THE WORD OF GOD –
In Matthew 4 Jesus shows us how to defeat temptation. The evil one came and three times tempted Him to act independent of God and sin against God by choosing to lean to His own understanding and act independent of God. Jesus responded when tempted. “It is written,…it is written…it is written…” He used the Word of God. When the evil one quoted the Word wrongly, Jesus responded with the appropriate verse in context. We must choose to know His Word and when tempted apply His Word to our THINKING and to the circumstance.
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– PRAYER-
We are told to “Prayer lest you enter into temptation.”– {See Mark 14:38}. Prayer is a powerful and expensive privilege you have been gifted. Powerful because you have access to God through the Lord Jesus. Expensive because it cost God His Son to make it possible for you to come to Him and be accepted because of the work of the Lord Jesus!
Prayer is an issue of faith. It turns us to God, acknowledging our need of Him, for in and of ourselves we are weak and we cry out to Him, that we need Him, to undertake for us- both in us and through us! Jesus says we are to persevere in prayer and uses these words,“Keep on praying and do not lose heart.” {See Luke 18:1}In our trials we can often grow weary but we must persevere or else we will lose heart, spiritually “faint.” We are to “Devote ourselves to prayer keeping alert with an attitude of thanksgiving.” {See Co 4:2} We are told to “pray without ceasing” { See 1 Thess 5 }-The phrase “without ceasing,” was a term that spoke of “a hacking cough,” It spoke of regular interruptions. We are told to “…pray about everything” {See Phil 4:6}. God is interested in you. God is interested in you speaking to Him on behalf of others. God is “…attentive to your prayers.”- {See 1 Peter 3:12}. We have reason to pray because we have great needs that only God can meet!
We pray in our troubles, as God has gifted us the privilege and access to speak to Him. Troubles can be used and should be used to draw our hearts out to Him in prayer!
“Trials must and will befall;
But with humble faith to see
Love inscribed upon them all—
This is happiness to me.
“Trials make the promise sweet,
Trials give new life to prayer;
Bring me to my Saviour’s feet,
Lay me low, and keep me there.”
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-THE HOLY SPIRIT–
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness… The Spirit intercedes for us…” {See Romans 8:26}. The Holy Spirit helps us and…Prays for us! Amazing the Spirit of God is praying for you! Jesus said, The Holy Spirit would, “…GLORIFY ME.”{See John 16:14}. The Spirit of God desires and intercedes for us in our circumstances and indeed times of temptations that we would glorify Jesus Christ. He helps us in our weakness and temptations as well. The Spirit of He is the comforter, He comes alongside to aid us, to help us, to empower us to choose to do the right thing. He uses His Word, something we have Heard and reminds us, He at times brings someone across our path to help. When we look back we can see He had warned us, He had reminded us, He at times had sent someone our way to show us His way. He is intimately involved in our lives and in our temptations we are never alone. We do not lack!
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– HOPE– THERE IS HOPE IN TIMES OF TEMPTATIONS;
You have the Power and Promises of God to resist temptation {See 2 Peter 1:3-4}. But what if you or I have chosen to yield to the temptation? There is Blood, precious and costly blood shed for you and me to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:7,9
It does not mean we take sin lightly but in realizing the grace of God in Christ and the cost to save and forgive and cleanse me it brings about a humbling before this Wonderful Savior and now my Great High Priest who ever lives to intercede. So we must arise from our sin and shame and look away to Jesus our GREAT High Priest who loves us, forgives us, grants us access to God and cleanses us continuously with His powerful blood- We come to the throne of Grace- a throne not of judgment for He bore our punishment but note- A Throne of Favor and Kindness that we may “Receive” grace, mercy and help in our time of need. Surely, it should cause our hearts to love Him more when we contemplate Jesus, the cost of the cross, the shedding of the blood, the abandonment by the Father for me, for you and when we sin and fail, we find He still loves us, cares about and us, is desirous for us to not run and hide but, “Come…” “Come to Me…I will give you rest…. Come to the THRONE OF GRACE TO RECEIVE…” {See Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:14-16} “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”-{2Timothy 2:22- NLT}
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GODLY FRIENDS –
“BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS and so fulfill the Law of Christ.”{See Galatians 6:2}. Note it says,”Bear” one another NOT “Bury one another.” So often it can happen we bury the wounded and weak rather than helping them Paul wrote,”…Encourage the disheartened, Help the weak. Be patient with all men.” { See 1 Thess 5:14} In verse 12 he writes, “encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing.”– v 11. We must CHOOSE to help those who are “weak” be it physically or spiritually, we must not be unloving by being harsh or legalistic with them but encourage them, help them. For WE ALL have times of temptations, some of us have no problems perhaps in one area in our lives while others do, and vice versa.
We must deal tenderly with one another and HELP NOT HURT when dealing with another brother or sister. The goal is the as we LOVE GOD and LOVE others and see temptations are the evil one’s enticements to trip us up and sin against God. Be being Kind to one another!
“Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”-{2Timothy 2:22- NLT}
Looking Away to Jesus- in times of heart break and temptations to see God has provided us all we need though
- His Word is our powerful weapon;
- Prayer; Access to God Himself
- The Holy Spirit; To strengthen us
- Hope; Power and Promises
- Godly Friends; To Help
- These five “Means” are gifted to us, that we need not be mastered or succumb to temptations and sin against God. But, if we have, we can get up begin again, because of His Blood and CHOOSE to start afresh and honor Him in times of temptations!
- REMEMBER- KEEP LOOKING AWAY TO JESUS!
He has risen, ascended and He empathizes with you in your struggles, weakness, temptations. God is “near the broken hearted” God, “heals the broken hearted.” Look away to Jesus when you feel your heart is breaking, when temptation’s would seek to tempt you to succumb and sin against God…Look away to Jesus knowing He is your Great High Priest who empathizes with you and bids you to “Come to the Throne of Grace to receive, grace, mercy and help in time of need.”– {See Hebrews 4:14-16}
Jesus is Conqueror and you through Him are also- and that includes temptations!
The words of an old hymn come to mind…
“I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a Friend!
So kind, and true, and tender,
So wise a Counselor and Guide,
So mighty a Defender!
From Him who loves me now so well,
What power my soul can sever?
Shall life or death, or earth or hell?
No? I am His forever” –
Look away and keep Looking Away to Jesus in your times of temptations and avail of Him and the means He has given you for such a time!
Victory is in Jesus!
God Bless,
Aidan.