THINK ABOUT THIS!
What was GOD greatest gift to us? Choice!
GOD did not make us robots. Doing only what God wanted us to do. God did not want robots. He gave us the freedom to pick and choose. This freedom starts with the smallest to the largest things in our lives. He gave us the freedom to accept or reject HIM. This also includes temptation. The temptation is an opportunity to do good or evil. This CHOICE is yours!
Our Scripture for this lesson is ” James chapter 1 verses 12 thru 16
verse 12: Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love HIM.
verse 13: Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by GOD; for GOD cannot be tempted by evil, nor does HE Himself tempt anyone.
verse 14: But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed
verse 15: Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
verse 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
TEMPTATION IS AN OPPORTUNITY
The temptation is simply the CHOICE to follow GOD or satan. Verse 12 says; blessed is the man who endures temptation. Temptation is a satan weapon to destroy you. God uses temptation to teach and strengthen us.
Where does temptation come from?
Read verses 12 and 13 again.
1. GOD cannot be tempted.
2. GOD does not tempt anyone
3. verse 14 Temptation comes from within us, our desires.
Satan uses the desires to destroy us, to defeat us, and discourage us. Satan can use any desire we have, no matter if they are evil or legitimate, he can use them to defeat us. Satan will whisper to you; you deserve it, you should have it now, it will be just for fun, no one will know, just this one time won’t hurt and it’s just a little white lie. Please remember this, satan can make sin into the most beautiful things you will ever hear, see or feel.
Satan uses DOUBT to trick us!
Satan tricked Eve into eating the apple, By saying, did God really say not to eat the apple, you will not die if you eat it, you will be like God if you eat it! Satan has not changed his tactics to this very day, We are still falling for them!
Satan uses Deception to Trick us!
Satan uses deception to trick us by whispering to us; you can get away with it, no one is looking, It will solve all your problems, just this once won’t hurt, I deserve it. I have worked hard, why can’t I everyone else is doing it, I don’t care I will worry about it tomorrow and the biggest of all, I can’t do this, I am too weak, I should have never tried.
Then comes DISOBEDIENCE
We finally act on our desires we have been toying with, and give in to temptation, We believe the doubt, the deception, and fall into satan trap!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So how do we resist Temptation?
1. By studying satan tactics.
2. Daily Bible reading.
3. Group Bible study.
4. The Bible is GOD’S instruction manual on how to live your life here on earth. You will not know if you don’t read the manual!!!!!!
5. temptation is an opportunity!
Next week we will continue our discussion on ” how to resist temptation”
