Sin/Temptation
We are all citizens of a country. Whether we are natural-born citizens or become citizens by other means, we each maintain citizenship with a nation. Each country is identified by the attributes of the country, its landscape and people. However, within this post, we’re addressing those that are citizens of a different type of country – the country of Roam.
Roam is a ‘place’ where its citizens are identified by the improper use of their eyes, ears, mouth, hands, and feet. They use their eyes to roam up and down people for sexual pleasure (Matthew 5:27-28); ears to listen to all types of gossip and evil (Proverbs 16:28, 18:8); hands to touch unclean things (and people) unworthily (2 Corinthians 6:17-18); and feet to travel to places they ought not go (Proverbs 1:10-19).
Luke 11:33-35 – No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
1. Your eyes are never satisfied.
Proverbs 27:20 – Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. Your eyes will never get to a point where they don’t want to see things. You hear a noise; you want to see what it is. You may find yourself constantly glancing around wherever you travel and watching everything in your surroundings. You like to see stuff.
In 2004 we wrote Living Out of Lust, a beautiful book that engaged the very issue of sexual addictions, its devastating effects, and how we can live without the stains of sexual sins. Over the years, we’ve learned that there is a larger encompassing scope beyond the principles of Living Out of Lust.
The key message for us that struggle with sexual sin (or any sin for that matter) is the closer we draw to the Lord, the further we draw from sin and the world.
When fighting the good fight of faith, you’ll experience adversaries such as the flesh, Satan, and your lust. It seems that no matter how many times you resist their tempting calls, they continue to attack. Like a boomerang, they return with tempting thoughts, gestures, or situations again and again. Now, if you’re not careful, you’ll fall for their subtle calls to give in. However, in Christ Jesus, there is victory because HE is the great overcomer (Hebrews 12:1-4).
1. Being tempted does not mean you sinned. Your response to temptation determines whether you will give birth to sin or to continue living righteously before God. Jesus lived without sin and was tempted by Satan (see Matthew 4:1-11). He overcame using the Word of God.
Am I enough?
When you consider the grandeur, majesty, grace, and love of God, this question should rest upon your thoughts and heart. When you think about the many things that stand in the way of you and the Lord, is He enough? In the midst of temptation, is He enough? Is He worth more than money and status? Is the Lord enough for you to turn from sin and live for Him. That’s it. It’s just that simple.
Am I enough?
In our lives exists a shadow. This shadow can be compared to our own shadow, but it has different intentions. The shadows from the sun reflect our image unto another object. However, the shadow of sin seeks to reflect its own image within our own lives.
The intention of the shadow of sin is to control the object in which it follows. It wants nothing more than to control the life that it tracks. It wants to be in control and will wait for its moment. It often seems like at every moment, turn, and direction of our day, temptation and sin are waiting. So what must we do? Are we forever doomed to live under the shadow of sin and darkness?! NO!
Failing is never easy. We want to live a righteous and holy life for God, then we do something that bring us into sin. We feel horrible, unworthy, and far from the love of our Father in Heaven. It seems that we’ll never be able to make it back to where we need to be, let alone where we were before we fell.
Proverbs 24:16 – For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Solomon wrote to his son about the difference of a just man and the wicked. The difference is where they will end up. A just man may fall several times, but in each instance he rises again to his ‘position’ of being just. The wicked may have been standing, but will fall (go into) mischief. The just man will return to his position of being just. The wicked will go into mischief and remain.
The Lord will help you live for Him. Keep walking toward Him…
Photo courtesy of Flickr.com/113942472@N04. Image covered under Creative Commons License.
After repentance, you often go through a season of strength and dedication. It’s a time when you must engage in proper ‘exercise:’
1 Timothy 4:7 – Exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
Exercising yourself unto godliness brings you closer to God’s character and less like the world’s (or your own sinful nature). If you see professional bodybuilders in the gym, you would realize that they did not grow large muscles overnight. It came with practice, concentration, dedication, commitment, and discipline. In the same manner, it will take the discipline our minds, words, and deeds in order to keep maintain a godly state.
Through the power and grace of God, you can live beyond the revolving sin that seeks to return to your life. You can be free. Trust in the Lord…pray…and commit your ways unto Him.
Photo courtesy of freeimages.com/Nathaniel Dodson
One of the reasons we’re unsuccessful against temptation and sin is we don’t take an active stance against it.
1 Peter 5:8-10 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
If you’ve ever watched a nature show with lions, you would witness how they select their prey. The female lions wait in a distance to select the weakest, youngest, animal that has strayed from the pack. They do not select the strongest, fastest, or one among the group. They choose the one they would have the most success in overtaking. Our adversary is the same.
He will wait for moments of weakness in our heart, mind, or lives to attack us and tempt us into sin. Honestly, you may notice that he uses the same tactics/things to get you over and over…and over again. Therefore, it is important that we understand what we must do to combat the attacks of the enemy.
Job issues. Money problems. Bad situations with family and friends. Kids. Car Problems. Home at risk.
There’s so many things going on in our lives each day that seem to pull us in several directions at once. At times we just want a little peace and quiet to get away from the day, but we’re welcomed with another issue. Then, on top of all this, we have to live right before God…then temptation shows up. Many times temptation seems like the straw that breaks our back and we want to give up and give in. It may seem that giving into our desires and temptations is an easy road out and will give us temporary relief from our problems (a bit of a distraction) – one less thing to fight off. But giving in and giving up never solves our problems, it only make things worse:
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