What to Do About Temptation:

 

 

1.                 Get into God’s Word – it shines the light on temptation and sin so we can see it for what it really is. See Psalm 119:9, 11, 105.

 

 

 

 

 

2.                 Pray – Jesus understands temptation and can help. See Hebrews 2:18; Psalm 50:15.

 

 

 

 

 

3.                 Take God’s exit – submit to Him, resist the devil, and run from sin. See 1 Cor. 10:13.

 

 

 

 

 

4.                 Fill your mind with good things. – See Phil. 4:8

 

 

 

 

 

5.                 Practice right living – make the fruit of the Spirit your goal. See Galatians 5:22, 23.

 

 

 

 

 

6.                 Fellowship with other Christians – see Heb. 10:24,25.

 

 

 

 

 

When Do You Deal With Temptation?

 

          Do you remember the parable of the Arab and the camel? The story goes that on a very cold desert night the Arab woke up to find that his camel had pushed his nose beneath the door of his tent. He was about to drive his camel out when he realized that so little of his camel was inside, that he decided to let him keep his nose out of the cold.

 

          After going back to sleep he felt something strange going on in his tent. Upon turning on the lamp he saw the long hairy neck of his camel inside the tent. He was about to scold the camel when it spoke up and said, “You don’t really mind do you? It’s very cold outside and I won’t come in one inch more.” So the master yielded to the request and went off to sleep again.

 

          On waking the third time, he discovered that by now the camel’s front legs and hump were in the tent. Just as he was about to jump up and drive the beast out, those pleading eyes and tender assuring words, “I promise I won’t come in another centimeter. Besides, it is warmer for you when the two of us are inside…” won him over.

 

          Before long he awoke with the weight of the whole camel on top of him. Then the camel said, “If it’s room you want, there’s plenty outside!” With that he kicked the man out!

 

          Now my question. . . When do you deal with temptation?

 

          If we don’t deal with it at the very beginning of its appearance in our lives . . . when it pokes it’s ugly nose into our tent. . . it won’t be long before it takes over and controls us!

 

          Don’t give temptation a second thought and you will be able to live a life of mighty victory! You can’t stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building their nests in your hair.

 

           Temptation will always change its masks-business for some, sensuality for others, riches for the middle-aged, power for others, resentment for those who hurt, unhealthy fantasies for those who feel trapped. The evil one can bring the changes with greater skill than any advertising agency. He knows the Achilles’ heel of every microbe. You will be tempted continuously. You will be tempted ferociously at times of crisis. Jesus himself was tempted “in all points as we are” (that is, to commit adultery, to steal, to lie, to kill and on and on) yet without sin.

 
 

   

Dr. Charles Horton

First Baptist Church

Cocoa , Florida

 

 

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Last modified: May 05, 2008