HANDLING TEMPTATIONS!

It is God’s grace that I write this blog regarding temptations. There is none that escape temptations as everyone goes through it for God allows it in our lives that we may come through victorious in all of them. God is omniscient and there is no event that takes place in our lives without God knowing about it. He allows temptations in our lives that we may endure and escape it, for there is greater glory that awaits us when we overcome temptations. Indeed Jesus suffered through temptations as we read in the Gospels and the author of Hebrews notes it,

        ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we 
          have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 
          Hebrews 4:15.

If Jesus went through temptations, as His followers, we too would go through it. If He overcame it, we too will overcome it. Jesus was tempted in every way as we are and He overcame every temptation. It is also true that we go through temptations every day. Bottom line. Everyone goes through temptations every day.

As we sojourn in this land pressing forward towards our eternal home, there are several sins that Satan tempts us into, so that we may lose the eternal rewards in God’s kingdom. It is important to understand that Satan is a celestial being and has been present at least since the fall of man and is very deceptive in deceiving God’s children.He plots schemes against God’s children to make them fall and tempts us that we might sin. It is important to understand that there are diverse kinds of sins and therefore, there are diverse kinds of temptations. The list of sins that we may fall into is not exhaustive. In this struggle of overcoming temptations, we overcome one and we see another temptation coming our way and this goes on.

Cause of temptations:

In this discourse, as we discuss about temptations, it is appropriate for us to wonder what causes these temptations. The Bible says:

        ¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor 
           does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own 
           evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is 
         full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15.

God never tempts anyone, neither is He tempted by anyone. However, God allows temptations in our lives so that we may persevere under it to receive the crown of life. The cause of temptations is our own evil desire as James writes it. The Bible says “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. (Romans 3:23). The sinful nature is present inside all of us as we have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The psalmist says that we are conceived in sin. Now as sin has entered mankind, the sinful nature exists inside all of us. This sinful nature that is present in us gives birth to the evil desire to do evil and to commit sin. This desire, when it is conceived and grown, it gives birth to sin. How does this happen?

All of us face choices, every single day. Indeed, life is full of choices, from the clothes we wear, to the priorities we set, to almost every single thing we do, we make choices. There is no choice that is made without a desire inclined towards it. At times, we may say that certain choices are made as there is no other option. But, if we break down the situation and look at it, we’ll find that we made a choice desiring the best in a situation. No one can have two desires at equality and yet make a choice. The choice is ultimately made as one desire overtakes the other.

Now, the evil desire present in us motivates us to make the choice, and the choice we make to sin gives birth to sin and when sin fully grows, it causes sickness and brings about death. Death, not of a natural kind, but spiritual.

The Bible says,

        ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And 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 endure it.1 Corinthians 10:13.

Temptations come our way and all of them are common to mankind. There are no special temptations that we face, differing greatly from what our fellow brothers and sisters face each day. The temptations we face are common to all mankind. Isn’t it comforting to know that we’re not alone in facing these temptations but have one another going through the same temptations? This helps us in being accountable with one another by sharing, bearing up one another in their weaknesses and showing the love of Christ to our fellow brothers and sisters. Indeed, Jesus went through these temptations being born in the human form. And through it all, God is faithful. The temptations we face are those that we can bear and God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. This also bears witness of the sovereignty of God over us. Whatever temptations they be, those that we overcame or struggling to overcome, they are not beyond what we can bear and can be overcome through Him who overcame it all. The Bible tells us that God provides us a way out of these temptations so that we may endure them. And it is true in all our temptations, there is always a way out to overcome and not give in.

Now, having understood that, temptations are common to everyone and we can overcome them, let us look deeper into God’s Word to see the directions that God has given us to overcome these common temptations.

Overcoming Temptations:

Every single child of God can overcome temptations, whatever it may be. For God has given His children, His Holy Spirit through whom we overcome these temptations.

Call upon Jesus’ name:

This is a simple thing to do but the multitude of victories that follow are great!

The Bible says,

        ¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are 

          being tempted.Hebrews 2:18.

Jesus suffered temptations and He is able to help those who are being tempted. It is Jesus who can help us during temptations. Many a time while tempted, we forget to call upon the most awesome name, the name of Jesus. Call upon the name of Jesus. I cannot quantify it but there is so much power in the name of Jesus. When we call upon Him, oh, what a sweet release is there from the impoverishing thoughts of temptations. The Bible says,

        ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above 

       every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth 

       and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the 

       glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11.

The Lord speaks through Prophet Joel and He says “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Joel 2:32.

I urge you then call upon Him when you are tempted, call upon Jesus with faith, there is sure relief. For there is salvation in His Name! I cannot explain you enough of the amazing power that is in the name of Jesus. Call upon Him. In many ways when we are tempted, Satan sows thoughts of worldly pleasure and sin and here I urge you brother, when such thoughts arise, shun it and call upon the name of Jesus. Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘You cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair’. This certainly reflects some truth of what we are discussing. Satan may throw thoughts at us, but it is left to us whether we let them grow or disannul them. When such thoughts occur, call upon Jesus’ Name.

His grace is enough:

There is abundance of grace that God has given us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Let us not be ignorant of God’s amazing grace that has saved and is also available to enable us to walk victoriously. The Bible says,

        ¹ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through 

        our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in 

        which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

        ¹⁷ For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much 

          more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of 

          righteousness reign in life through one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1-2, 17.

It is important for us to grasp the context of the above verses. To aide that, I encourage you to read through the book of Romans, chapters 3 - 8. In these chapters, Paul writes about the depravity of man, his salvation by faith and through grace, the nature and the works that follow salvation.

The Word of God says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. (Romans 3:23). We all were sinners before we came to Jesus Christ. The sinful nature is present within us. But when we accepted the Gospel and believed in His name and repented of our sins, we were saved, i.e. we were declared righteous, justified of all our sins because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. This salvation that we have received is simply because of the grace of God and by our faith upon Him. This was not gained or earned by our works, lest we boast.

Now by this God-given faith, we stand justified before God and have peace with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, through Jesus Christ, we have access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. I presume that many of us are ignorant of this access we have through Jesus Christ into God’s grace. It is not mere salvation but also abundant grace that God has made available for us.

The Bible makes a comparative statement regarding death and life. Death came through one man’s sin, Adam. And this death has reigned through ages upon everyone. Akin to this, now, we who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness, how much more certain it is that we will reign in life through one man, Jesus Christ. Simply by receiving, God’s abundant provision of grace, we will reign in life and overcome everything pertaining to death – temptations.

        ⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might

       be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – ⁷ because anyone who has 

       died has been set free from sin. ⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also 

       live with him. ⁹ For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again;

      death no longer has mastery over him. ¹⁰ The death he died, he died to sin once for all; 

      but the life he lives, he lives to God.

        ¹¹In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 
       ¹²Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 
      ¹³Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather 
       offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer 
       every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. ¹⁴For sin shall no longer 
       be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:6-14.

This is what happens when we believe and accept Jesus after repenting from our sins: the old man i.e. the old sinful nature is crucified with Jesus and everything of old is done away with and we are set free from sin. When we were baptized, we were baptized into His death and just as Christ was raised from the dead through God’s glory, we too will live a new life. Therefore, we are no longer slaves to sin but we walk in freedom from sin. We have been set free.

Now, God tells us that, in the same way, we ought to count ourselves i.e. consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. I believe this consideration of ourselves as dead must happen every day. It is needed that we remind ourselves each day that we are dead to sin and we are alive to God. How is it that, if we are dead to sin, we find ourselves struggling with sin through temptations? It is because, we are still in our lowly bodies as mortal beings and the sinful nature exists in us but it shall not have dominion over our life as it had dominion in our former way of life.

Therefore, Paul urges us to not let sin reign in our mortal bodies so that we obey its evil desire but must let Christ reign through His Spirit in us. Indeed, Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives. When we believed in Jesus, we have become His. He has bought us with His precious blood that was shed on the cross and we do not belong to ourselves but to Him. Herein, God has made us stewards of His possession. Therefore, we are not to offer any part of ourselves to sin as an instrument of wickedness but offer every part of ourselves as instruments of righteousness. Although the sinful nature exists, it has no mastery over us, because we are under the grace of God.

Therefore, by His grace and through faith upon Him, we are saved. If we are saved, we have God’s abundant provision of grace. If we have God’s abundant provision of grace, then, we must grow in His grace each day (2 Peter 3:18). If we grow in His grace each day, then sin has no mastery over us. Now, if sin has no mastery over us, we offer ourselves as instruments of righteousness and overcome every temptation. Hallelujah! Let us sit at the feet of Jesus and receive His grace each day.

        ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the 

         benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ²³ For the wages of 

         sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

         Romans 6:22-23.

Kill sin through His Spirit:

John Owen said, ‘Be killing sin or it will be killing you.’I believe this is true and God through His word demands the same so that we will live.

        ⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but 

        those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit 

        desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life 

        and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s 

        law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

        ⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if 

       indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they 

      do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to 

      death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him 

      who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also 

       give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you.

        ¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation–but it is not to the flesh, 
       to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if 
       by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:5-13.

God wants us to live in accordance with the Spirit having our minds set on what the Spirit desires and the fruit of it is life and peace. God reminds us that we are spiritual beings living in the realm of the Spirit and not in the realm of the flesh. We are new creatures in Christ who have the Spirit of God dwelling in us. This Spirit of God gives life in our mortal bodies. Now, there is an obligation, a duty assigned to us. It is an obligation not to the flesh but to the Spirit. The obligation is to put to death the misdeeds of the body by the Spirit so that we will live. As God’s sons, we must fulfill this obligation every day. It is a duty and if we forsake to do it, we will find ourselves succumbing to do the misdeeds of the flesh.

To put to death is to kill every hint of fleshly desire by the power of the Spirit. Although it is mentioned as misdeeds of the body, the misdeeds of the body is the result of yielding our bodies to the fleshly desires. In putting to death, the desires of the flesh by the Spirit, we put to death the misdeeds of the flesh. I believe this happens in the time that we spend alone with God in prayer as we call upon the Spirit of God to fill, strengthen and renew us. We must be filled with the Spirit each day so much so that every carnal desire is burned down in our hearts and minds. We must ask of Him to kill the sinful nature that is at war with God. Paul says “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) Unto this end we must yield ourselves to the Spirit so that our flesh is crucified with no power to live and have dominion. Let Christ live in and through us.

As there are various sins we may fall into, our fleshly man, if he is allowed to live produces plenitude of fleshly thoughts in our minds. So then, to truly put the sinful nature to death is not merely the absence of fleshly thoughts but the presence of Godly thoughts instead. If indeed the death of the flesh occurs, certainly, the life of the Spirit is manifested.

At times, we see in our lives, that we overcome certain temptations over a period of time and then fall back into it, all over again. In repenting, we wonder ‘how did I yield myself to do such a thing?’We, by the Spirit of God must put to death all the misdeeds of the flesh, sins that we are struggling with as well as the sins we overcame. Let us not grow in complacency towards the sins we overcame for Satan waits for an opportune moment to make us fall into it. We must yield ourselves to His Spirit to put all of them to death each day. Let us be killing sin by the Spirit, else sin will be killing us.

We must put to death the misdeeds of the flesh by the Spirit each day and never cease at doing it, then we will live. If we must forsake it at any day in our lives, we shall find ourselves yielding to the flesh that leads us to sin and ultimately to death.

In overcoming temptations and sins, we can be victorious only through Jesus Christ and by the grace that comes through Him and by His Spirit, whom we have received through Him who lives in us.

An admonition from the Lord:

        ¹”To the angel of church of Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven 

        spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive,      

        but you are dead. ² Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found 

        your deeds unfinished in the sight of God. ³ Remember, therefore, what you have received 

       and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, 

       and you will not know at what time, I will come to you.

        ⁴ Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with 

         me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ The one who is victorious will, like them, be 

         dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, 

       but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.⁶ Whoever has ears, 

        let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 3:1-6.

It is the victorious or the one who overcomes temptations and those who have not soiled their heavenly garments, who will be dressed in white. But God has made us more than conquerors through Jesus Christ.

        ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For 
        I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present 
        nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
        will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
        Romans 8:37-39.

There is nothing that shall separate us from the love of God, let us love Him with all that we are. I urge you to spend time in prayer with what you have read. If you do not pray, all this becomes as futile knowledge which is ineffective and unproductive for life. But if you will pray now and yield to His Spirit, it will become understanding for your heart which will produce the wisdom of God in your life to live a victorious life.

   Allen Joseph Abraham

   IV Year

   Instrumentation and Control Engineering