HOW SHOULD I RESPOND TO TEMPTATION?

Do you ever find yourself contemplating giving in to a temptation? Especially when the weight of it is unthinkable or unbearable. I almost believe that this has never happened to any body on earth but me. At times, I wonder why such things happen only to me? Whenever I look at others it seems like life is all roses for them. With all that budge of temptation am almost sure God does not care, isn’t fair and never focuses on me. But the truth is, neither you nor I are the only ones facing all kinds of temptations, testing or trails, we are all ever tempted just like everybody else is. You can be sure someone out there has walked you path before and bears the scars of failure or victory.

However, some would say, you have no idea of how temptation comes upon me? That’s true we all have no idea. Nevertheless, no single temptation ever comes upon us charged like a pride of lions, or a park of hungry hounds. All temptations appear like a bouquet of roses with no indication of harm at all. For by its very nature, temptation masquerades itself in some thing promising, glorious and irresistible. It is only after one has given in that it devours. Always, its ugly side only shows up after the sting. But before that it appears great and appealing. For example, Adam and Eve were promised deity, but after their succumbing, their suffrage dwells among us even to this day.

So, what is temptation? J.I. Packer, in the New Bible Dictionary (3rd ed., p. 1161) defined and explained temptation as follows:  “The biblical idea of temptation is not primarily of seduction, as in modern usage, but of making trial of a person, or putting him to the test; which may be done for the benevolent purpose of proving or improving his quality, as well as with the malicious aim of showing up his weaknesses or trapping him into wrong action.”

So then, how does one respond to any temptation? Paul in 1 Cor 10:13 gives us a tremendous encouragement on how to respond to it. He said, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. “
There are three truths worth noticing:

First, that temptation is common to all. There is no temptation that is unique to any human being. No man can ever arise and say that what he/she is going through or facing has never happened to anybody else in history. There is always someone else who has faced your temptation before. Therefore, God wants you to have the comfort that you are not alone in your situation.

Second, God has promised his faithfulness whenever we are tempted. The Scriptures emphasizes the faithfulness of God towards his children with whatever he has promised and said he will do: He is faithful to forgive, to save, to welcome and here to provide a way of escape. You will agree with me that most of the times after you have failed a temptation you always realize that there was an easier way of escape much earlier. It is just that at that time you were either in love with the enticement of the temptation and was fooled into a pleasure that never lasted, or you ignored God’s leading because for a moment you thought you were wiser.  But whatever the outcome God is always faithful and loving. Trust him always.


Third, it is God who provides that way of escape from every temptation. At times we tend to thing that God is absent at the very moment when temptation is ravaging. We usual feel, especially when we fall or fail at its attack, that God had already left the house because he new we would not stand. But to the contrary, the Bible indicates that God is right there championing the way of escape. In fact, according to the text above He has already designed the way of escape. His promises are true and trustworthy even in times of temptation that he will never leave us nor for sake us. His provisions are amazing; using the very temptation to bring us to a place of maturity, perfect and complete lacking nothing (James 1:2-4).

So, the next time you are going through various trails, testing, and temptations never think that you are alone and forsaken. Rather, remember that it is common to all, God is still faithful to you and he will see you through.

LEASH YOUR APPETITES!

There are so many Christians walking around with unleashed appetites (lusts of the eye, pleasures of life, and love for the world). Their appetites are extremely in-charge of them so much that they make them round every block of life with an “I don’t care attitude”. They take them through a roller coaster of a life: from a castle to a pig’s pen. So long these appetites are fed and satisfied, all is said and perceived to be well.

Mind-bogglingly as it may be, these Christian’s unleashed appetites define their lifestyle and at the same disqualify them from their very own acclaimed faith. Not so much that they live in open sinful lifestyles, not at all. It is what they want, pursue and live for that circumscribes them. It seems they have ceased from being pilgrims and have now acquired permanent residence in this world. Consequently, the world and them are now photocopies of each other. You can’t differentiate the original from the duplicate. Just like the world they also want it all. When they shop they literary buy the whole Mall.
When they eat-out they almost gallop the whole restaurant. When they dress they are either under-dressed or over-dressed as well. They have stopped living a disciplined lifestyle that is governed and guided by biblical principles and have turned to the ideology “says who?” They even go so far as to abuse some Scriptures for their own gratification. With their unleashed appetites ruling them, they promptly vouch for “the best life now” or “live life today” or “live life at full crush”.

Does that sound like you? What exactly do you thing has gone wrong with you?

My friend, take time to revisit your appetites. Though the Lord neither wants you to be so poor to the point that you have nothing at all, nor so materially wealthy that you literally posses the earth and all it has to offer, He wants you to leash your appetites and rule over them. God can sovereignly blessing you with countless measures of wealth or leave you to live with almost nothing even when you have loved Him with your life. Job, Lazarus and John the Baptist leave to testify. However, in either state He has promised to meet your daily needs. Just take time to be responsible and lead a disciplined godly life, having your appetites leashed.


Oh my friend, how I pray that you would get back to those Christian basics that you once loved and re-establish your faith in God again. Remember those days when you easily said no to the flesh, the devil and the world?  When your appetites didn’t determine your walk with the Lord. When you consciously gloried in God's grace! Whether you were materially poor or wealthy you called upon the Lord and demonstrated a life that was governed and guided by biblical principles. So, like in those days of old, begin again ceasing and bringing to captive all appetites that led you to an aimless lifestyle of searching and seeking after everything that everybody pursues. Disengage yourself from that shadow boxing of punching everywhere your appetites demand. Be principled, be disciplined, set biblical goals for your life again and God will help you take control and rule over your appetites!

Shouldn’t you emulate Paul on how he was to leash his appetites? He said; “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Cor 9:27)

FLEE SEXUAL IMMORALITY!

Comparable to a child who refuses to get down from a tree after being cautioned of a fall, children of God rarely refrain from things they know too well will lead them into temptation and sin. Somehow, we think we can handle fire. 

Sexual immorality is just one of those nasty vices that Christians easily linger around even when they know its subtlety. As innocent and harmless as it may appear when beckoning, once it has drawn you in its arms it stings like a thousand wasps. And yet we are so fooled to think that we can dance around it, and remain convinced that we wouldn’t enter its domain.

Did you know that sexual immorality does not constitute only the very physical act of the sex-sin? It includes all forms of sexual impurities like pornography, movies, books, and sexual innuendos in our relationships with people who are not our marital spouses. In this light, it’s interesting to observe that 1 Cor 6:19 mentions three kinds of sexual sinners: the sexually immoral, adulterer and the homosexual. Suggesting that sexual immorality is more than just the very physical act. 

Therefore, the command “flee from sexual immorality…” (1 Cor 6:18a) encompasses not only the very act of sex-sin but also all other related forms; the mind and conversations included. Moreover, the command is not about how far we can go without actually committing the act of sex-sin, rather it is about fleeing any form of its appearance altogether. One has said “Safe, is one who stands far from the edge of a cliff than the one who walks at the very edge while convinced that he can’t fall, for when a slippage acts at the edge, there remains no slightest of chances to escape the fall.” 

Thus, 1 Cor 6:18- 20 contains five reasons that should encourage us to flee sexual immorality:

1. Because it is sin against my own body: Sexual immorality leaves a man sick to the bone - spiritual, mentally, socially and physically.  

2. Because my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit: Sexual immorality desires to defile the house of God, which I am.

3. Because it offends God the Holy Spirit: Sexual immorality is one of the filth that the Holy Spirit cleanses a man from in sanctification.

4. Because I was bought at a price: Sexual immorality undermines the priceless work of Christ in Redemption.

5. Because I am to glorify God in my body: Sexual immorality makes a man robe God of his glory.

Dear beloved, be diligent, avoiding all macho thoughts like Samson, rather like Joseph of old, flee sexual immorality!