Temptation - part 3

Okay, so my response to the confession tip was, I am not doing that. Are you kidding me? What would I say? What would they think? Who would I even tell anyway? Then God dropped me a name of who I could confide in. I realized confession is the key to breaking the power of sin. It's power is broken when exposed to the light. If I have the means to break the power of the temptation the keeps seizing me why wouldn't I take it. I had to look at the bigger picture. This is not for me but for God and His glory. God will get the glory by another one of His believers getting victory and passing that on to another struggling brother or sister. They overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Revelation 12:11

Does doing these things mean we will defeat temptation once and for all? Never to face any temptation again. Unfortunately no. As long as we are living on this Earth we will have temptations in some form or another. With these tools we can learn how to keep them from controlling us. The closer we walk with Christ the less enticing these things will be. Some of these you will get complete victory over. Others will teach you how to continuously lean on the Lord and remind you that you need God.

So why do these temptations come to us? We could have put ourselves in that situation. It's also possible we're being sifted.(as Simon was in Luke)

At the Last Supper Jesus told Simon, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.” Luke 22:31-32

Jesus is for us! The next thing Jesus tells Simon is when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. We are more effective in ministering to others when we can relate to what they are going through. Going through temptations and trials can help you assist others who go through the same things. Because He (Jesus) himself suffered when he was tempted , he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18 Sometimes we have a tendency to try to hide or cover up the hard or painful things we go through for fear of others judging us. Instead we need to speak up, help and encourage others.

On the flip side if your the person someone confides in don't judge them. We are all in this together. We are all vulnerable to something. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 We need to take the opportunities to bring our brothers and sisters in Christ closer to him and bringing those who don't know Jesus to His saving grace.

So instead of worrying about what others will think we should switch our thinking to breaking the power of sin in our life and to strengthening our brothers and sisters. If your story will save a soul or someone from straying...what is better then that. Remember this: whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:20 One thing we can do on Earth that we can't do in heaven is tell others about the gospel. Take every opportunity to do so.

To wrap this up I'd like to share with you a human video that was going aroung the internet about 4 yrs ago.  It's a great picture of what I've been talking about.

 

Temptation - part 2

Here's the good news. In Romans 6,7, and 8 the bible tells us that we are free from sin if we have the Spirit of God living in us. It describes that battle in a person between the flesh and living according to the spirit and ends by reassuring us that we are more then conquerors in Christ Jesus. We don't have to let temptation and the fear of sin rule over us. If you're like me your sitting there saying that's great to know but it doesn't help me right now as I'm struggling with temptation. How do I defeat it? Good question. I promise you I'm getting to that. (That's actually the point of me writing this)

…God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. I Corinthians 10:13b

God has certainly been faithful in leading me through this. Make no mistake about it, God IS NOT the one who tempts. (James 1:13) Temptations come from fleshly desires within us and from Satan. However, God is rooting for us to get thru our temptations and trials sinlessly. As I said God has been faithful in leading me through the particular temptation that keeps coming against me. It doesn't effect me all the time. I can go months without it bothering me but I've noticed even during those times the Lord gives me verses or someone brings up the topic in a talk or sermon or on the radio. It's like God is giving me tips on how to get through this. Providing me with more weapons to fight my battles. Here's some of the things I found out.

~Guard your heart. I mentioned it earlier but it's worth mentioning it again. The things that come in through your ears, eyes and emotions are going to effect your heart. What is in your heart effects how you live, think, and act. You should know yourself well enough to know what areas you are weaker in. Be sure to keep your highest guards on those areas.

~Put on the full armor of God. I've mentioned this one in another of my posts but I'm telling you it's not called the armor of God for nothing. We are in a battle. Aren't you glad it's called the armor of God. Not the armor of Hilary or the armor of George or Sam but the armor of GOD. There's no better armor then that!!! So put it on. Continuously. Day after day.

~Stand firm! Keep standing for what is right.

~Prayer and worship. Those are big ones. Pray for protection on your mind, on your family, on the area that's under fire. Don't forget to praise Him. Praise Him just because...He's awesome. Sing joyfully, with songs of thanksgiving. Prayer and worship help keep the right perspective on things.

~Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7 If your thinking you should go one way and you know it's not God's voice because it's not what God would want for you and it doesn't line up with Scripture, turn around and run the other way. Straight into God's will.

~The last tip is confession. Talk to a friend, someone you trust and let them know of your struggle. Someone you know will love you but can tell you what you need to hear and ask you the questions you need to think of. I call that slapping you upside the head if you need it. Someone you can have accountability with and who'll encourage you to go the right way. Pray about who this person should be. God's answer may not be the one you picked but trust Him.

More tomorrow...

Temptation - part 1

I have something I want to share but when I started to type it out it got REALLY long so I'm going to break it down into smaller sections.  Here is part 1.

Temptation

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.

I Corinthians 10:13

Temptation, what a scary word. As a Christian I know temptation that is given into produces sin. Some with more serious consequences then others but make no mistake, sin is sin. The same blood of Jesus Christ was shed for both the serious sins and the "little ones". (In the spectrum of things, no sin is little. Take a look at it from heaven's view and you'll see that's true.)

In this journey I take in my walk with Christ I see the Lord healing me of hurts, lighting my path and ultimately setting me apart for His purposes. In this process of being set apart sometimes I see how far I've come and think I'm strong. I'm doing well. That can be a dangerous way of thinking. Yes, I have come a long way but only by clinging to the Lord for strength and direction. Without Him I'm nothing. King David, a man after God's heart, fell into sin with Bathsheba. This is a good reminder that God's people can fall. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall. I Corinthians 10:12

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23

I've been down a series of humbling circumstances where the Lord has shone His light in my heart and revealed a couple of very ugly spots. Dark spots. I didn't even realize these things were there to this degree. It's like picking an apple and seeing a soft spot but when you cut it open you find the apple is rotten. Thankfully God can make us whole again.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. I Cor. 10:13 In this last struggle this verse kept going through my mind and became a comfort to me. For some reason I thought to be tempted was wrong but that's not true because Jesus was tempted and He lead a sinless life.

Next I'm comforted to know that my temptation is common. I'm not the only person on the planet feeling the way I do. Funny how we often think that but it's rarely true. There are about as many temptations as there are people. The temptation of food, vanity, gossiping, sexual immorality, drugs, coveting and being envious of what others have and do, greed, stealing, cheating, lying. 

Last thing I noticed about this verse is the word seized. Webster's dictionary defines seize as to affect suddenly; overwhelm. Oh boy, isn't that the truth! This particular temptation I've struggled with often comes out of the blue. Wham!!! Things start running through my head … Where did that come from? Now I've done bible studies on watching what you think and watching what you say. I try to keep a good filter on both my mind and my mouth but this one thing…has been a thorn in my side. So I dove in and started studying about temptation. The bible actually has quiet a bit to say about it and it's not all doom and despair. Actually, because of Jesus we have victory. That doesn't mean the path is easy. You must fight the good fight but that's one thing Paul refers to in sharing in Christ's sufferings. This week I've certainly learned the lesson that when someone so in love with Jesus comes across temptation, AGAIN- for the 42nd time (or something like that) a fierce battle is fought in your mind and it truly is suffering. I would've thought this statement was weird if I hadn't experienced it for myself. I get so tired of fighting that I just want to get rid of the part of the part of my brain that thinks these things. I now understand when Jesus said, "If your hand causes you to sin cut it off. It is better to enter life maimed then with two hands to go into hell." Mark 9:43

I'm excited to share with you what I've learned.  More on this tomorrow.

Bloom where you're planted

Lately I've been hearing the same phrase from the Lord, "Bloom where you are planted."  You see, I've been wanting to be in a different season of life other then what I'm in.  Three of my four children are little and I haven't been enjoying and embracing this season like I should.  I kept looking where other people are and wanting to be there instead.  It's like a plant wanting to be planted in the field across the street but everytime I try to go over there I get run over and become unproductive.  I don't know if you've ever seen the movie Secondhand Lions but there's a scene where the men have planted a vegetable garden from seeds a door-to-door salesman sold them.  They have each row labeled according to what vegetable they are.  Pretty soon the plants start growing and they realize they have a whole garden full of corn.  Just like the men who thought they knew what kind of plants they had, I feel like I've been trying to tell the Lord what kind of plant I am and He's just smiled knowing full well what kind of plant I am.   He knows the purpose for me and where and when He's planted me.  The harder I yell and scream at Him saying what I think I should be the more pain and heartache I inflict on myself.  Instead of running from where (and who) I am I need to embrace it and enjoy it.  I also see it like the story of the ugly duckling.  No matter how hard I try to quack or waddle like the other ducks, those people I think I should be like, I'll never quack or waddle like that because I'm not a duck!  I'm a swan.  There is beauty in gentleness and quietness of my spirit.  Actually when I try to be what I'm not I'm ugly because that's not what God created me for.  It's one thing to change the things sin has twisted in our personalities but it's another to try and change your personality.  God can reveal to you what He designed you for when you ask.  I realize now I DO want to be where I am.  I'm going to enjoy this time with my children knowing full well it is a season and won't last forever.    

Fulfillment

     Where is your fulfillment?  God wants us to enjoy the blessings He's given us like family, friends, children, and material possesions.  But true fulfillment, satisfaction that reaches deep into the depths of us and satifies our soul; fills the void in our hearts, that fulfillment only comes from God. 
  
     I have to be honest, lately I've been looking to much to people/friends to give me that fulfillment.  We certainly need friends.  It's dangerous and unhealthy to be secluded and not have good Godly friends.  Two are better then one, because they have a good return on their work: If one falls down his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 
Ecclesiates 4:9-10  But I've found myself lately having to do a check my heart and make sure I have the proper perspective.  Friends/people can not take the place of God's true fulfillment.  Be fulfilled by the Lord first, then go enjoy those blessings God has given you. 

     Whom have I in heaven but you?  And Earth has nothing I desire besides you.  My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:25-26

     I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. 
     Jeremiah 31:25

Only by God's Holy Spirit will my soul be satisfied.