Tested and Failed
Good morning
Scripture Reading: James 1:12-17
Hymn: Yield Not to Temptation
We are reminded in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that there is no
temptation we experience, which is not common among humans. There is absolutely
nothing we can do to avoid being tempted, and none of us is exempt from being
beguiled. Satan is crafty and cunning, so much so that he thought he could
beguile the Son of God. The only weapon Satan can use against us is temptation,
and if you are caught in a situation that appeals to the flesh, you are capable
of falling under temptation pressure, and so can I. It is not easy to resist
it, but there is a wonderful promise that says that God is faithful and will
not cause us to be tempted above that which we can endure. No doubt there will
be times when we fail the test because we rely on our strength, because we
become distracted, and because we ignore the warning signals. Whenever you are
tempted, be reminded that you are not alone and you will never face this test
alone. The Lord is always with us, and the Holy Spirit is at work empowering us
to crucify the fleshly desires that war against the spirit man.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, I
worship you, Lord God Almighty, for you are worthy to be praised. Almighty God,
I realize that the closer we get to you, the more we seek your face, the more
Satan intensifies the temptation, but, Lord, we trust you to deliver us out of
them all. Father, O Heavenly Father, we cannot bear these trials alone. Father,
the devil is banging hard, and he is trying to defeat our purposes with his
enticing words and the glitter and glamour of this world, so we need you, Lord,
to strengthen us, lest we crumble under the pressure. Almighty God, our heart
is willing to do what is lawful and right, but the flesh is vulnerable. Lord,
we sometimes pretend that all is well, relying on our own strength, but God,
this morning, I seek your divine intervention to help us combat this ongoing
test of our enduring faith. Lord, we are aware that a little leaven leaves the
whole lump, so we beseech you, Almighty God, to help us resist Satan's
persuasion so we can flee temptation in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Shalom.
Facing temptation is a daily test of the believer but overcoming depends on who is fed more, the spirit or the flesh. One cannot turn a blind eye to a little leven for by the time one realize there is a lump.
ReplyDeleteGod is faithful and just to forgive of all our sins and remove them as far as the east is from the west. Sins have deadly consequences but no one should doom themselves for sins that are forgivable. Keep informing your readers. Every subject is rich with information.
Blessings.