Michael asks, Do you have trials and temptations? Are you cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior still our refuge, take it to the Lord in Prayer. Philippians 4 says, be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God that passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
According to Ephesians 6, we wrestle not against flesh and blood. We are in the middle of a spiritual battle and the battlefield is in the mind. The devil’s purpose is to steal, to kill, and to destroy. Through temptation, he lures us and entices us to sin. To tempt is to beguile ... it means to con, dupe, deceive, fool, bamboozle and take advantage of. There’s so much deception in the world around us today. The Greek word “thilipsis” translated “temptation” in a negative sense, can also be translated “trial” in a positive sense. In the negative sense, it is a temptation from the devil to appeal to the desires of the sinful flesh. In the positive sense, it is a trial from God to prove His character in us.
According to James 1:2-7, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”
The devil upsets our balance by distracting our attention away from the truth of the Word of God. Where there is strife and contention, there is confusion and every evil work. 1 John 2:6 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.” The word “lust” means over desire; Concupiscence; carnal appetite; unlawful desire of carnal pleasure; Evil propensity; depraved affections and desires. In the negative sense, lust means anything that takes our focus away from single mindedness on things of God and His purposes.
Sin is the voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity. Sin is either a positive act in which a known divine law is violated, or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such command. Sin comprehends not action only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to God's commands or law. To sin is to miss the mark.” The mark is the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The emphasis of the word sin is not on the missing but on the mark itself. To hit the mark requires that we focus on the target... God’s standard according to His word.
Through trials, by experience God will reveal his true character in us. What is the true character of those who have been "born again" of God’s Spirit? Jesus said, apart from me you can do nothing. Trials and tests prove and re-prove His character in us. For tribulation works patience, and patience experience. Experience is proven character. Character is tried and proven through tribulation ... the pressures of this world. We cannot bear up under pressure in our own power. According to Proverbs 17:3, “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.” The metallurgist performs a trial or “assay” to prove the purity of silver or gold. Likewise the Lord uses trials to prove that the true character of our heart is according to His word and will. 1 Peter 1:7 says, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
Oswald Chambers said, I’m responsible for that which dominates me. I can either yield myself to selfish pride, lust, and the pleasures of the flesh, or I can yield myself in loving obedience to my Lord Jesus Christ. It’s my own choice. Romans 6:16 says, “Don't you know, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
We were all born with a sin nature that we inherited from Adam. The apostle Paul said, “In my flesh dwells no good thing.” We cannot overcome the darkness of this world in our own power. Therefore 1 Peter says, “casting all your care upon him for he cares for you.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” It is not a sin to be tempted. Jesus Christ himself was tempted in all things like as we are yet without sin. He always chose to do his Father’s will. Even though we still sin when we break fellowship with God, if we we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The world will indoctrinate and desensitize us to become complacent about sin. The world calls evil good and good evil. As the Nazi Joseph Goebbels said, if you tell a big lie long enough, people will accept it as truth. The devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. The solution is to cast your cares upon Jesus, for He cares for you. To turn away from the lust of the flesh, turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face..... and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked Peter, James and John to be vigilant, to watch and pray. Instead they yielded to the temptation to sleep. Matthew 26:41 says watch and pray that you don’t fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is week. Therefore, keep your heart. For out of it are the issues of life. Despite our fallen nature, God provides a way to return our hearts to Him. In that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. Not because of we were deserving of God’s saving grace, but because grace and mercy is the nature of God himself.
To resist temptation, Philippians 4:8 says, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The battlefield is in the mind. These seven things we need to think on are according to the Word of God. These are the character qualities of Jesus Christ, for he himself is the Word of God made manifest. We’re commanded to set our affections on the things that are worthy of respect and high regard; the things of superior excelling excellence according to the purity of the truth of the Word of God. These are the virtuous and praiseworthy things that glorify God.
Sin is to miss the mark of these praiseworthy things listed in Philippians 4:8. To hit the mark, we need to concentrate and focus on the target. Therefore, I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The devil tricks people into thinking “what’s in it for me?” Those who are looking for a “seeker sensitive” solution to justify their own prideful lusts of the flesh are looking for a false bgospel of “affirmation” of their sinful lives. The politically correct culture says that there is no such thing as sin. They say everything is relative and there is no absolute truth. Their right is their perceived right “not to be offended.” They say, “If you offend me then you’re guilty of my definition of sin.”
In order to come to the truth of the Word of God I have to humble myself and forsake my pride. For in my flesh dwells no good thing. Those who approach the throne of God must approach with a heart of meekness and humility. As David prayed with a broken and a contrite heart, “create in me a new heart O Lord. Try me and see if there is any evil thing in me. Purge me with hyssop and make me whiter than snow.” If God has to break my heart to approach his throne of grace, then I shall thank him for breaking my heart. We’ll never come to understand that He is all we need until He’s all we have. In a world run amok, Romans 8 says, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? Nay, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither height nor depth nor angels nor principalities nor height, nor death, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord ... that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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