Overcoming Temptation

Greetings to you all in Jesus name.

Dear People in Christ,

Dealing with temptations is not something that you can overcome in a day. And it’s not something that you can do it on our own. 

James 1:15 says; Then our evil desires conceive and give birth to sin.

Yes your tempting thoughts when given a space to rule over you it leads to sin. And Sin is something that God hates.Satan uses the trap called as TEMPTATION to make you fall into sin.

Go back to the story of Adam and Eve. When you read the scripture it says; In Genesis chapter 3 the heading itself says- The Temptation and the fall of Man.Satan comes to Eve and gives the desire to taste the fruit – A temptation to have the fruit, made Eve to taste it all the more for the pleasing words of the Satan- He says if you eat the fruit you will not die.  That made Eve to tempt more for the fruit that was forbidden to eat.We know what happened later. They fell into SIN. And lost their daily communion with God. They missed talking to Him every day.

So it stated all with Temptation.

Today the devil is ruling the world with Temptation.

•    Eyes that see lustful things
•  Heart that devise evil plans against each other
•  Pornography
•   Sexual thoughts
•  Desire for money and materialistic things.
•   Desire for Gold and other ornaments.
•    Jealousy for the growth of others
•     Proud heart
•     A lying tongue

1 John 2:16 says; For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Today if you’re going through these any of the temptations that you feel guilty about? Do what Jesus did.When Jesus was tempted He did not give place to SIN. He overcame it.Jesus did not overcome through His power that He had within. He overcame by the word. Jesus knew that He was able to defeat the Satan through the word.

I myself faced temptations in my life that was hard to overcome. I struggled each day. I used to cry- Jesus help me overcome it. I really don’t want to go back to the world which is taking me away from you. I try but I cannot do it God?  After prayer I can go without getting tempted for a few days. But later I fell again into Sin.I said I cannot take it anymore- Please help. I kept repeating my sins by giving space to temptation. Many days I would not pray thinking – I know God would not like me anymore. He is upset with my repeated sins. How many times I would ask Jesus to forgive me?I really used to go through a lot of pain within myself.  But at the end – Even when I get away from Him for my Sins, I have to go back to Him for my peace. He was my destiny for anything that I faced.

I prayed so hard- God spoke to me through;

 I Thessalonians 4: 3-8

4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

He also spoke to me through

Colossians 3:5-11

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ On account of these the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸ But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. ¹¹ Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

I then realized I have to keep my vessel i.e.  My body in Holiness and Honor. For our body is the temple of God and how can I defile myself that which belongs to God? For God is Holy.I confessed all my sins to Jesus. I opened up everything that I was going through. Not even a single sin untold. Because I knew it is He who is going to save me my life my destruction. I then realized in am in need of His Grace and Mercy. I kept asking God show me your love. I need to experience it.God is so good. It would really bring me tears as I quote the below verse. He really did know my desire for Him. How I longed that I do not want to go back to the world and was in need of my savior more!!

Hebrews 4: 15-16

¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I really wept over and over reading this verse. I needed Jesus who went through temptation but did not give space to it and was sinless. Jesus did not sympathize for me but empathized. You know what I mean by empathize right?He loved me so much despite my repetitive sins. How loving God He must be?When I realized I was repeating my sins instead of overcoming it. I heard a preacher talk. REPENT YOUR SINS. This gave me a new Hope to experience the love of Jesus all the more. I repented my temptations that lead me to sin; I experienced Jesus and His Grace according to Heb 4. For me to overcome I needed His word, Grace and Mercy.

You Fall into sin by your own desires. For God cannot tempt evil things

James 1:13-16

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

Don’t let your desires make you fall into temptation like the way EVE did, by falling into temptation they invited SIN into the world.But our God is a loving God. He is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and great in love. God hates sin but loves sinners. When you Sin you have take a back from God, But when you confess and return back to God. You get to experience His Love all the more than the beginning

Dear people- anything that you’re facing today; remember you need to get back to Jesus. Do not give space to the evil thought. Confess, Overcome and Repent.Refer Ephesians 6:10-18 ; you need all those elements to face any temptation and to overcome it.Eph 6: 17b -The sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.Your weapon is the word... The Bible is your entire source to overcome it.  

Finally :James 4:7-10 -Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

I know it is quite long, but I believe it is God who spoke. Please refer all the scripture verses.

Hope this was a Blessing

God bless

 

With Love

Esther❤