OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS

By
Kehinde Bolutife
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0
777
VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION
Whatever form or shape a temptation may take, the joy of heaven is to see a believer come forth victorious. And true enough, some Christians always enjoy victory in times of temptations. Others struggle under strain and stress without overcoming. But based on the foundation of the victory won for us by Christ, the Christian can now defeat any attack from the enemy. Here are eight keys to continual victory.
Know That Victory Is Already Won: Because of the defeat at the Cross, the devil’s only strength now is found in a Christian’s ignorance (Hos. 4:6). But when a Christian knows the complete work of the Cross and Resurrection in his life, the devil is stripped of any weapon against him.
Walk In Step With The Spirit: “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” A new power is placed within the Christian- the Holy Spirit Himself. We are to walk in obedience to His inner promptings day by day. If we care to listen, the Spirit of Christ in every genuine believer in Christ always prompts us per time.
Recognize Temptation For What It Is: Temptation is NOT sin. Everybody will always be tempted at one time or the other. YIELDING to temptation is! (James1:5). See Genesis 4:6,7.
Understand There Is A Way Of Escape Provided: Whether we believe it or not, there is ALWAYS a way of escape provided out of every temptation. Christians often yield to temptations either as a result of insensitivity to the promptings of the Spirit or because of our ego. For instance, if Joseph had been mindful of his ego, he wouldn’t have fled out naked, leaving his clothe in the hands of Potiphar’s wife. Many Christians are often ashamed of taking the escape route provided by God in the hour of temptation. Often times the Spirit of God do come with promptings such as “Flee” “Reject” “Withdraw” “Quit” “Open Up To Somebody” “Leave Now” etc. but rather than following the leading instantly and implicitly, we begin to rationalize things until we are overpowered by the strength of the Tempter and consequently end up in the pitiable and regrettable pit of yielding to temptation. Once again, there is always a way of escape for anybody who is willing to follow. Always depend on the Spirit of god to show you God’s way out of every temptation.
Keep The Right Focus In Life: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1,2). To “set your affection on things above” means to look at life from God’s perspective and to seek what He desires. There must be a single-minded devotion to do God’s will. Anything less than a wholehearted determination to please God regardless of the cost would give the enemy an edge in battle. As Christians, our waking thoughts and sleeping meditation must centre on God and His righteousness. We must be occupied for Christ at all times. An idle hand is Satan’s workshop. 
Keep Away From Obvious Areas Of Temptation: “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (I Thess. 5:22). “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11). “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Rom 13:14).”I will set before my eyes no vile things” (Psalm 101:3). “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? (Job 31:1).
If we desire to live in victory over temptation, we must avoid those situations that open the door to gratify sinful desires. There are places where flesh gets excited; places that provoke the lust of the flesh and carnality of life: such places must be avoided. T.V screens, pornographic sites, places of wild parties, notorious living and unrestrained passion are most places where the flesh thrives. Make no provision for the Tempter by avoiding those places. Abstain from all appearance of evil-not even the evil itself but also the shadow, the traces of evil. Do not go to places (brothels, bars) wh
ere you can be tempted. Don’t tempt God. Don’t presumably jump from the pinnacle of the temple and expect angles to pick you up, it doesn’t work that way. You cannot be fondling with the breast of a lady who you are not married to and expect nothing to happen. Continual feeding of your mind with immoral images already makes you an adulterer only waiting for an adulteress to come along. Don’t be walking or living too near to the borderline. One who persists in walking near a precipice is in danger of tumbling over than one who seeks to tread on the sure ground. Reject legitimate offers or favours that lead or predispose you to sin, like the Rechabites did. Flee out rightly from persons who want to coerce you to sin, like Joseph and Christ did. Part with sinful friends and ungodly associations because they can influence you to do evil. Evil association corrupts good manners. Dallying with the devil is disastrous, he is far more experienced than you. Keep yourself within the jurisdiction of the love of God so as to be kept from the sting of the hour of temptation
Study The Word Of God: “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). As a believer in Christ, having a copy of the Bible is just not enough, you need to study it diligently, with determination and sincerity of purpose to obey it. “They overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and the Words of their testimony” Christ our perfect Example of victory over temptation overcame with the Word of God. In every instance of temptation, He reminded the devil that “It is written.” The word of God must dwell in you richly in all wisdom if you must constantly have victory in times of temptation. You must load your spirit with the Word of God. Spend time in God’s word daily. Make it a habit to read and meditate upon the Word. Eat the Word!    
Watch And Pray Always: “Watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” Here are the very words of Christ Himself in the matter of overcoming temptation. Jesus also recognized the reality of temptation and prescribed the way to victory. He said, “Watch and Pray.” To watch is be vigilant, be on the lookout or be careful. The Tempter will always take advantage of a careless unwatchful Christian. We must watch because the Tempter often comes in a camouflage to lure us away. He did not appear as Satan to Eve. We must watch because the Tempter employs any means-whether good or bad to tempt us. Gideon overcame the temptation to be a judge over Israel but fell into the temptation of making an ephod! We must watch because the Tempter can come at any time of the day and every season of life. “Be sober, be vigilant; because of your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” We must watch because nobody is above the temptation of the Tempter. Not even the Lord Jesus or the chiefest of the apostles were exempted from temptation. He thinks he stands should take heed lest he falls. Jesus said, “What I say unto you, I say unto all, watch.” Watch the thoughts of your heart. It was just a thought that entered the heart of David to number Israel but it was injected by the Tempter. Watch the company you keep. Watch the offers you take, not every opened door is God’s opened door…


                                                                            


And as we watch, we also pray. “And when he was at the place, he said to them, pray that you may not enter into temptation.” In fighting the temptation of any kind, prayer is a weapon that we cannot do without. It is through prayer that we receive strength to withstand in the evil days. It is by prayer that we find grace to help in times of need. To overcome temptation, you must “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” It is by the weapon of prayer that we resist the devil. A prayerless Christian is at the mercy of the devil in the hour of temptation. Both Jesus and His disciples entered the same night of temptation, the difference in their responses during “the hour of darkness” was the difference in their status in the place of prayer: while Christ was praying “the more earnestly”, the disciples were “sleeping for sorrow.” And we pray most effectively when we pray the Word of God in prayer. “And taking the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  Constant fellowship with God through prayer and study of the Word equips us for victory in times of temptation.

YOU CAN BE PRESERVED.
“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” (1 Cor 10:13).The devil designs temptations to destroy God’s children but God’s grace is abundant to make them overcome. The saints who were most used of God were also those who were severely tempted. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David and Paul all had their fair share of severe temptations but they overcame by the grace of God. Victory is sweet for those who endure and overcome temptation. The believer’s faith is strengthened so as to keep overcoming in subsequent temptations. “Each victory will help you; some others to win”, says a songwriter. Besides, the believer who overcomes in temptation knows more about God and His unfailing promises. For standing firm and consistent, he bears fruits to the glory of God. He also ultimately receives a crown of life at the end of life.
May you find Grace to help in times of need. Amen
 Christian, seek not yet repose,
Cast thy dreams of ease away;
Thou art in the midst of foes:
Watch and pray.

READ ALSO  I AM JOSEPH! (PART TWO)

Principalities and pow’rs,
Must’ring their unseen array,
Wait for thine unguarded hours:
Watch and pray.

Gird thy heav’nly armor on,
Wear it ever, night and day;
Ambushed lies the evil one:
Watch and pray.

Hear the victors who o’ercame:
Still they mark each warrior’s way;
All with one sweet voice exclaim,
“Watch and pray.”

Hear, above all, hear thy Lord,
Him thou lovest to obey;
Hide within thy heart his word,
“Watch and pray.”

Watch, as if on that alone
Hung the issue of the day;
Pray, that help may be sent down:
Watch and pray.