Title: When We Draw Away From God By Our Own Evil Desires For What Is Forbidden We Will Be Lead To Try Whether A Thing Can Be Done But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (James 1:14 & Ps. 119:11) Word of God Speak - https://youtube/watch?v=W8cJQMU9Q-U All of us who like to believe that when we are tempted, the source of the temptation comes from outside of us. Many of us would say, “The devil tempt me.” We would often say, “this person or that person” tempt me to do “so and so”. But this morning the Lord is setting the record clear for all of us. Temptation comes when we draw away from God and allow our evil desires to take full control of our words, thoughts and actions. It is the drawing away from God through the music we listen to, the television programmes we watch and sometimes our educational pursuits that will cause us to be tempted to sin against God. And you know what is so amazing. Just before we feel our evil nature coming alive, we can hear the Holy Spirit whispering into our ears that the direction that we are about to take is not a good one. But instead of yielding to the voice of the Lord, we prefer to yield to the voice of our own evil and sinful carnal nature. The writer highlighted a very important point which I would like for us to ponder for a moment. He said, “Evil itself is the source of temptation.” Have Mercy Lord!!! And since all of us have been born in sin and shaped in iniquity, without the robe of Christ’s righteousness covering us, we are all evil. This morning the Lord is reminding we are the source of our own temptation. WOW!!!! This is a really bitter pill to shallow. Let us ponder these points for a moment. The only way that we can win this battle against temptation is to recognize that the battle against sin starts in our mind. Now it should be clear to us why Jesus said, “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Unless God transforms our minds through His cleansing blood, we are never going to get rid of temptation in our lives. Since evil is the source of temptation, now we should understand why Jesus was taken into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Jesus had no evil in Him and therefore could not tempt Himself. It is time that we stop blaming others and continue to ask God to give us the victory over our carnal nature so that NO TEMPTATION will come from within us. Jesus has already promised us the victory over our carnal nature and therefore it’s important that we claim that victory. The writer of the Lesson also reminding us that the same way that Jesus used the Word of God as his shield against temptation, we need to also use it as well. We need to spend quality time combing through the Word of God so that we can receive the power to remain strong even amidst the negative effects of our carnal nature. Pray, Lead us not into temptation, that is, Do not, O Lord, suffer us to be overcome when assailed by temptation. Watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation. There is a difference between being tempted, and entering into temptation. (Temperance, pg. 192 – Ellen G. White) It is Satans act to tempt you, but your own act to yield. It is not in the power of all the host of Satan to force the tempted to transgress. There is no excuse for sin. (Testimonies, vol. 4, pg. 623 – Ellen G. White) Men and women may escape this doom if they will. It is true that Satan is the great originator of sin; yet this does not excuse any man for sinning; for he cannot force men to do evil. He tempts them to it, and makes sin look enticing and pleasant; but he has to leave it to their own wills whether they will do it or not. He does not force men to become intoxicated, neither does he force them to remain away from religious meetings; but he presents temptations in a manner to allure to evil, and man is a free moral agent to accept or refuse. (Testimonies, vol. , pg. 294 – Ellen g. White) Christ knew that man could not in his own strength overcome the enemy; so, laying aside his royal robe and kingly crown, he came to this earth to overcome in our behalf. He was tempted in all points like as we are, that he might know how to succor them that are tempted. He met and overcame Satan on every point. He has left us an example of perfect obedience. In his strength we can be more than conquerors. He is able to save to the uttermost all who come to God by him. Christ is a conqueror, and those who follow him will be on the conquering side. There are precious victories before the Christian. He may be weak, but the Redeemer knows his need, and is able to strengthen him. Jesus knows that Satan is trying to get control of men and women, and he stands ready to help all who come to him for help. He is not willing that any should perish. He has made it possible for every tempted son and daughter of Adam, in every time of temptation, to gain a glorious victory. He has placed the power of heaven within the reach of his children. (The Youth’s Instructor, October 3, 1901 – Ellen G. White)
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 12:27:13 +0000
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