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Quick Reminder : Always remember this when faced with temptation
In this fallen world do take heed that there are temptations but don’t be dismayed about them. Instead always remember this when faced with temptation:
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. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Verses for reflection:
An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble. (Proverbs 12:13)
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:13)
then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment (2 Peter 2:9)
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)
Come again O Lord Jesus
Come again O Lord Jesus,
And from the Evil One seize us.
The world has become more evil,
And is in constant upheaval.
Your saints and friends need your grace,
Show once again your redeeming face.
As the winter gets longer,
O Lord make us stronger.
O God send your Son Jesus again,
Let Him take away our pain.
Against sinners give us redemption,
To you we give our solemn attention.
You creation still suffers and groans,
Do put back on it the flesh to the bones.
Come again O Jesus the Son of God,
Yet again on Jerusalem’s paths to trod.
O Lord, deliver us from evil
O Lord, deliver us from evil.
When faced with dangers, rescue us.
When terror roams around, defend us.
When temptations arise, hold us.
Deliver us because you are the Good Shepherd.
Deliver us because you care for us.
Deliver us for the sake of your Holy Name.
O Good Jesus, we come to you with full trust in you.
Let us not be put to shame by the Enemy.
Let us not be down with sickness and disease.
Let us not be fearful of the future.
Save us and we will be saved.
Save us because you are the Almighty.
Save us that you be glorified O God most high.
O Lord, hear our prayer and deliver us from all evil. Amen.
Avoid being overconfident of your own wisdom
O believer in Jesus Christ, never make your own logic and understanding your refuge because its possible to fall into delusion and deceptions if you do that. Always consider yourself in need of wisdom from God above, so that you prevail against the Kingdom of Darkness each time.
How much so then that the Enemy of your soul desires that you depend so much on your own wisdom? For he knows that only the knowledge and counsel of the Lord God is something that he can never defeat nor banish. It’s very easy for the vile Serpent to misguide people who are overconfident or just don’t bother about the principles and edicts of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Think about the times when people despite having the best of jobs and the best of qualifications, have married the wrong person just because they depended on their raw impulses. Know that the bravest of people have fallen prey to scammers just because they didn’t take a second opinion against fraudulent investments. And even the most pious of men and women due to their pride in their religious knowledge rather than humility in Christ Jesus have fallen into soul damning heresies!
Therefore, be on guard O those who call yourselves as God’s friends that you don’t get deceived like Adam and Eve by the Evil One. Safeguard your heart from eating the manna of Judas and Herod, who lost it all for ungodly gains. Avoid the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy that you be a true follower of the Lord your God all through your life.
- Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
- Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shall you dwell in the land, and verily you shall be fed. (Psalm 37:3)
- Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah (Psalm 62:8)
Tempt no one
Tempt no one to sin ever,
Though you be naive or clever.
Refrain from such a sin,
Lest your hope become thin.
Remember that no tempter is allowed in paradise,
For God’s kingdom detests all vice.
Tempt not for leisure nor treasure nor pleasure,
Lest God’s judgement you’d get in full measure.
Do not entice your friend nor foe nor neighbour,
Lest for your place in Hades you labour.
For its gate is wide and entry much cheap,
And the unrepentant there their torments reap.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea
(Matthew 18:6)
As a Christian you have a sacred duty to resist
Thanks be unto the Lord Jesus Christ who has given us the undeniable duty to resist the Devil. As your Holy angels are always opposed to the minions of the Evil One, so let us be opposed to everything that tries to keep us away from following you. May the Holy Spirit encourage us to say no all deceptions of the world. Amen.
As a Christian you have a sacred duty to resist the Devil and all his evil schemes and lies. Don’t be deceived when you say you don’t have a choice. You do have the option to fight back against the falsehood of the Enemy.
Why is resisting the Devil a duty?
- Because this is not an option but an order from the Lord God above.
- Because even if you don’t take it as a duty the Devil will still try to tempt you.
- God forbid that having no sense of duty you end up lowering your guard against sin.
Why is resisting the Devil sacred?
- Because the God has mandated it in the Holy Scriptures.
- Because God’s commands are just and holy.
- It’s a sign that you want to hold on to Christ.
Where in the Holy Scriptures has this been mentioned?
- Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you. Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour.Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world. (1 Peter 5:6-9)
- Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
Some sinner says the Devil made him sin, is that a valid excuse for his sin?
- That sinner made his own choice to sin.
- The Devil only provided the temptation that suited the sinners intellect and personality.
- So the sinner can’t put the blame on the Evil One without blaming himself equally.
So as a believer in Christ, what should I be doing the next time the Devils speaks lies to me by any person, movie, novel or whatever?
- Resist the Devil and his evil tricks in all their forms.
- Fight back for the glory of God.
- Don’t be ashamed of the Gospel no matter who or what is the source of temptation.
How to tackle temptations which are still successful against oneself?
- It’s good that you at least decided to admit you did sin. Strictly speaking it means that you didn’t resist enough.
- There’s still hope for you if you are willing to crucify the flesh. The one who has cut off his sinful desires can’t be tempted easily.
- And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24)
- A word of caution; don’t try to act like a hero with temptations that easily take you down. If you can keep a distance from them do so by all means. It’s foolish to deliberately place oneself in the way for temptation and give the great deceiver a chance against you.
- and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:27)
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A reminder of God’s love for those who believe in Christ
For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7-8)
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:1-3)
In your walk with God sometimes you may face temptations, sometimes you might be rejected by those who reject Christ our Lord and sometimes you might flying high above the opposition. What will sustain you and keep you from losing faith? It is none than your relationship with God. Christianity is ultimately is about being in a relationship with God in Christ Jesus. A relationship has emotions involved. God does express his emotions.
For those who believe in Christ the most prominent emotion by God is love. God loves you a lot. You cannot earn God’s love. There is no good deed that can cause him to love you more. All you need to do is to receive his love. Don’t block yourself out of the love of God by depending on worthless human tradition, self-abasement and worldly philosophies. Receive his love through his Son Jesus Christ. Christ’s love for us exceeds anything and everything. No one could possibly love you more. You sin is atoned for by Jesus Christ. Live no longer for the sinful world nor for any sin. Receive the freedom that Christ gives you through his redeeming sacrifice and shedding of his blood for you. Overcome because you believe in Jesus the overcomer of the world. Be holy therefore as the Lord your God is holy.
Trust in the Lord your God with your heart. Believe in his love for he is near to all who call on his name, in faith.
Christ be with you!
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Confidently approach Jesus the high priest of our confession
Jesus seated on the Throne
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
When you are faced with trials of life or if are wondering if you will ever go to heaven when you die you better make a choice. The choice is to approach Jesus. Not just approach but do so in confidence. This is because he is the high priest of our confession.
Jesus too faced the temptations that we all face. No was no stranger to it. He understands how people face attacks on their faith whether it is direct threats or lies of the enemy. But in all this remember that Jesus was tempted like us but never succumbed to it. He overcame sin, death and the grave.
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15: 56-58)
No wonder in the light of the Holy Scriptures when you are beset with temptations or just situations which try to rob you of true faith, approach Jesus confidently. The Lord Jesus came for sinners. He is ever willing to help those who want to leave sin and come to his throne of grace. He will forgive those who come back to him. In fact if you are faced with temptation you don’t actually have to sin. Pray to Christ, yes pray to him to help you overcome temptation. He is mighty to save and deliver, if only you trust and pray to him.
Disciples of hope 