_edited_edited.jpg)
Temptation can be very tricky. What might entice one person may have no impact on another. Think about it. One Christian may be drawn to fornicate. Another may be pulled into anger, forgetting that Jesus warned that anger leads to judgment. That said, what all temptation has in common is that they are stepping stones toward sin.
This is why Jesus taught the disciples the following in Luke 22:40 - There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation” (NLT). He knew that as human beings, avoiding temptation would be a tough task. He therefore gave us the solution. After all, when we ask God for His help, we invite Him into the situation. We also receive strategy and wisdom to circumvent what would cause temptation.
The Lord's Prayer states in Matthew 6:13 - And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one (NLT). Thus, when we say this prayer, we obey the Savior's instruction. And as we do this, we become those who Jesus said truly loved Him because they obey His teachings. Plus, since we know that when we pray, God answers us, there is little reason not to say the Lord's Prayer regularly and receive help in this area (1 John 5:15).
As Christ's disciples, God is teaching and pruning us for His glory. Hence, let us never forget the importance of praying against temptation's lure. Let us not allow pride to blind us into thinking, 'It could never be me,' but instead obey Jesus. James 1:14-15 illustrates the progression of temptation and the consequence. It states, but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. /Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Temptation drags people to eternal death.
Praying, while essential, is not the only factor needed to avoid temptation. Our choices speak volumes. We, therefore, must be intentional to live righteously in the fear of the Lord. Because we prayed, God will surely help us in this area as well. This is also one of the roles the Holy Spirit plays in the lives of God's children. The question becomes, will we submit and obey God when told not to do something that our flesh is screaming for? Or will we yield to the sin our flesh craves?
Will we listen and avoid those people and things whose role is to lead us into temptation, sin, and death? King David taught in Proverbs 1:10 - My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. Likewise, we must actively resist temptation and those who peddle it or encourage the sin that will result. That could be a friend or even a celebrity whose lifestyle and words encourage sin. It could also be an organization or business that specializes in the very things that tempt people to sin. God will help us so we are not foolish and avoid danger, as addressed in Proverbs 22:3 - The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
God has armed us with everything we need to overcome the enemy with godly living. We just have to believe and have faith. The Bible, His Son, and His Holy Spirit are all part of our arsenal to stay far from temptation. When we use these weapons, He will steer us away from the places and people that could influence us to please our flesh instead of Him. As we submit, God will alert us to satan's plans to drive us into sin. He does this so we choose to be where we should be - dwelling in His safety. And this last part is key, we have to decide to do what He wants, or we will surely fall into temptation and not enjoy His best.
Let us make a habit of praying for God's grace not to give in to temptation. Let us also allow the Lord to remove what needs to go so that we actively prioritize His concerns over satan's desires. The Lord Almighty will continue to strengthen us so that we will and do what is pleasing to Him (Philippians 2:13). By His grace, we will walk in the light and remain in fellowship with His people so that we are continuously purified by Christ's blood (1 John 1:7). And the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will rest and abide with us forever, IJMN Amen.
As you wait for fellowship at 12 Noon EST, consider reading the following previous P&P messages:
