OVERCOMING LUSTS AND TEMPTATION
MEMORISE: Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22
READ: 1 Corinthians 10:13
13 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.
MESSAGE
What is leading you in life? Is it your flesh or the Spirit of God? Whenever you allow the flesh to give you direction, it will always ends in regret, but when you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in all things, you can be sure that all will be well. The first step to overcoming lusts and temptations is submission to God, which supplies the power you need to resist the devil, and he will flee from you according to James 4:7. Moreover, the good news is that the faithfulness of God will not allow his children to be tempted above their ability, without making a way of escape for them.
In our Bible reading today, we saw that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear and He will always make a way of escape for us. That is so reassuring, it is for this reason that James 1:2-4 and James 1:12, admonishes us to count it as joy and blessing, when we are going through diverse temptations. This is because; God uses it to perfect the patience of His children, and also as promotion exams for them to receive the crown of life.
In spite of the assurance above, however, if for example, your eyes are always glued to seductive images from the television, internet, and your surroundings, you are merely feeding the lust in your flesh and such will lead you to hell. Don’t fall into it. If you still tolerate ungodly desires to dwell and grow in your heart, heavenly thought, divine vision and inspirations cannot find expression in you.
All believers are required to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. Your body is the temple of God, not a showpiece for people. If you choose to dress in a way to stir lust in the opposite sex, you can no longer claim to be a child of God, but an instrument in the hands of the devil. Whoever you honor with your appearance, determines who you truly serve. God has provided us with everything we need to overcome lust and temptation through Jesus Christ, all we need is to follow His example. Hebrew 4:15 says Jesus our High Priest was in all point tempted, but He scale over them all without a sin. He has given us the power to resist the devil and to live above lusts and temptation. Hallelujah!
PRAYER POINT
Father, please empower me to overcome lusts and temptations , in Jesus name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 57-59
HYMN 23: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
1 Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2 Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3 Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
