Temptation

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Sin will always take you farther than you are wanting to go.
Keep you longer than you are wanting to stay.
And cost you more than you are willing to pay.

.....Today I wish to speak truth into your life about Temptation. We all face temptations everyday in our own lives, sometimes causing us to sin, or miss the mark of the upward calling that God has and desires in our lives. I shall also try to convey how temptation works, and also the 7 stages of temptation.

.....Let's start with 1Corinthians 10: 12- 13 which says, "Therefore let him who think he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

Some things to note from this are:

1. We are in dangerous territory when we think we can't fall.
2. Your temptations will always seek to overtake you.
3. Your temptations are not unique to you, but are common to all of us.
4. God never abandons you in temptations due to his faithfulness.
5. God never permits any temptation to go beyond what you are able to bear.
6. God always makes the way of escape in every temptation.
7. God always limits every temptation so that you will be able to endure it.

.....James 1: 13-17 says, "Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

Let's note a few things from this scripture also:

1. God is never the ultimate source of any evil temptation.
2. God is always the ultimate source of every good gift.
3. Every temptation purposefully seeks to deceive
4. Every temptation becomes a temptation when you are drawn away from God's plan for your life.
5. Every temptation can only temp you because of your own desires.
6. Every temptation attempts to cunningly entice you, into making the wrong choice.
7. Every temptation has only one ultimate goal, which is to make you sin.

Remember, There is always free cheese in a mouse trap.

Let me show you the 7 stages of temptation from the above scriptures so that you have an awareness from now on:

• He is drawn away ..........The Look
• By his own desires ..........Your Lust
  
• And enticed .........The Lure
• Desire has conceived .........The Conception
• It gives birth to sin ..........The Birth
• And sin when full grown ..........The Growth (Maturing)
  
• Brings forth death ..........The Death (Separation From God)

.....There is a way to deal with temptation in our lives today. I call it the Quick Signal Principle. Anytime we are tempted, that is our signal that we need to turn to God, for the way of escape. God has already given us the way of escape. Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth, and The Light, (John 14: 6). We have The Way through His Son's Finished Work, who has already defeated the enemy. The Truth, in His Word, which is our standard to compare everything to. And The Light, to lead us out of the darkness, lighting our path so that we may not stumble. Setting us Free to serve Him, fulfilling our calling in life.
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Looking Back

.....Who we are today is a direct result of our past. Our heritage, experiences, family that raised us, people who we have come in contact with, our education, and even our environment. All of which had a direct influence on us, making us who we are and our beliefs today. We all have scars and wounds from the words and actions of others and from our own failures and mistakes. But for those of us in Christ, this is not the end of the story.

.....As the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to renew our minds to what has already taken place in us as new creations. These scars from the past become stepping stones to spiritual maturity. We must embrace these top ten principles from God's Word and allow Him to rebuild our battered self-esteem:

1. I am created
For we are God's workmanship. Ephesians 2:10

2. I am chosen
For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you...1 Timothy 1:4

3. I am protected
Protect me as You would the pupil of your eye. Psalm 17:8

4. I am complete
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3

5. I am victorious
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

6. I am called
(God) has saved us and called us to a Holy life--not because of anything we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace...2 Timothy 1:9

7. I am forgiven
There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

8. I am free
Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

9. I am loved
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3

10. I am accepted!

.....So today, when you look back in your past, look back far enough to see Christ, who you are in Him, and what He has done for you. See His wounds and scares, which are really your wounds and scares, taken for you and as you, and thank Him. This is where real spiritual maturity begins.

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