HE CAN KEEP YOU STANDING
"as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." - 2Pet 1:3
Everything you need to make sure you don't fall has been provided for through the knowledge of Christ, the Lord is more interested in your standing than the devil is in your falling - God has invested so much in you that He considers it a loss to the kingdom if you fall, so He Himself makes provision more than the devil can set traps.
There are many lifelines the believer can use so that he is not out of the Christian race, if the lifelines are not used, no one will be blamed for being out, unlike the console game where lifelines are exhausted and one has to start afresh - the mercy and the provisions for godliness is inexhaustible - if and when temptations come, there are enough provisions to overcome.
If we are honest Christians and deal with temptations as they are, we will never stumble - the scripture clearly states in Jude chapter 1:24, that He is able to keep us from stumbling, and this, a believer must take to heart! No one can really stand on his or her own, we must become dependent on Christ so as not to be overtaken by sin - if we do this, we will realise that all we need to overcome are in Him.
Do not blame the devil, we have so much provisions in the knowledge of Christ, that sin and temptations becomes so little. We need to start locating our lifelines and use them properly so as not to fall. There is nothing God gains from the backsliding Christian, He is interested in your standing. We will examine some of the provisions Christ has made for us to overcome and stand.
PROVISION OF THE WORD
"Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." - Psalm 119:11
Some people erroneously think that they can overcome temptations or sin just by becoming suspicious - if the word is absent in the heart, the world will be present therein. The Word is what prevents us from sin and not a religious tradition or activity. When Satan was tempting Jesus, it was the Word that was hidden in His heart He used in defeating the devil, don't be empty - if the Word is not available, the world will convince you to error because of your ignorance.
The reason why many are given to and a prey to sin, is because the word is missing, if you have the word stored up - your heart will always do a search to check the world standard with the word. The people perish because of lack of knowledge. I often advise young people not to be evasive anytime the word is being shared, we should pay attention because it increases our word base to fight temptation.
Ignorance is no longer an excuse to falling, because the word is near you..you can't say you didn't know anymore, because you turned your ears. The word is everywhere only if you will start hiding the word in your heart. A young man can keep his way pure by only taking heed to His word (Psalm 119:9), there is no substitute to this. It is an antidote for sin.
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." - John 17:17
To be sanctified is to be made ready, to be sanctified is to be clean and all these can only happen by the application of the Word, Jesus said in John chapter 15, that we are clean because of the word. Let no one think that they can be clean by moral effort of works, it will avail nothing, the word is a cleanser.
Everything that pertains to life and godliness that the Lord has given us cannot be apart from the Word...It is through the word that we see our stains and correct our errors, if you don't use the provisions of the word - then you are under-using the provisions that make for the life of godliness, you will live below expectation.
The Psalmist said, that the word is a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path, darkness awaits the person who refuses to use the word as light, sin keeps men in the dark, temptations intends to put men in the dark; but we must use the word as light and remain in the world as light.
PROVISION OF PRAYERS
"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." - Matt 26:41
Victory over temptation is first activated in prayers before the word comes to play. If you have been praying, you will be reminded of the word when temptation stares at you in the face. Temptation must come and then it wouldn't be sin, but to fall is the tragedy. Many who read the word without praying will still be at risk when the temptation comes, your mouth may quote but the spiritual strength to resist may become lost. Some won't even remember the word to use because they did not engage the Holy Spirit in prayers.
It is also important that at this time, to let you know that; sinners don't get tempted, they just live the life of sin according to the nature of sin, so a sinner cannot be tempted to live his or her nature, they naturally live such life. It is a born again that gets tempted, it is the disciple that gets tempted to act contrary to the nature of Christ that works inside us - at such a time we must go to the place of prayer to find strength to remain in the nature of Christ.
Praying and seeking the face of God is abiding in the presence of God, it is a safe zone that helps us to be victorious over every craftiness of the wicked, it keeps us alert, it help us sail through when the temptations are fierce, it helps us submit to the working of God, because many temptations will come just to build us...it is in the place of prayer we find strength.
"And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me strengthen your brethren.'" - Luke 22:32
When the devil comes, you may not see a devil to quote scriptures to, but you may just have a God, who you can knee to and find strength in prayers, sometimes we will be surrounded by pressures to compromise, it is in the place of prayer that we can withstand the pressures of the enemy.
The provision of prayer as regards godliness cannot be overemphasized, there are many who think that going to church will give them a hold over Satan's temptations, but friends, the church cannot substitute for what you are meant to take responsibility for. Prayer is part of the lifeline given to us by God so that we can stand.
Prayer is the key to avoid falling into temptation, the word is the real escape, if you do not knee in prayers now, you will knee to the devil in surrender. Why are you not praying about the lust in your heart, why aren't you praying about the pride that is gradually overtaking you..remember that I said that temptation is for the believers, sin is for the unbelievers to live as a nature... You must stay in prayers to be full of the nature of Christ.
TAKING HEED
"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." - 1Cor 10:12
Taking heed is the watching part, to be more specific, it is the need of discernment or being at alert and doing all we can to stay on the side of God. There are some who have become carefree and they think that no one is after their salvation, they think that because they have attained certain level - they are beyond the reach of the devil as regards temptations and trials...that is just a joke the devil loves.
If we will take heed, we will avoid traps, we will avoid wrong company, we will be easily convicted when we stray in thought, even before acting. We need to see the call of taking heed as a warning which we must always embrace as a blessing. The call to take heed can also come in form of chastisement, but we know that chastisement is borne out of love from the Father and we must bless God for it.
The only challenge as regards taking heed with us is that, it is always greeted with denials, when we are asked to take heed, it is usually to do something so as not to fall for something, but we tend to always pretend as if the call to be cautious doesn't refer to us, we most times are deceived by the outward show we ourselves play and deny the very core of our standing. God will not force you, but you may be disgraced if you do not heed the call to heed. Peter argued when the Lord rightly warned him, he boasted that he can never deny Jesus - but at a certain, he fell flat.
"Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away." - Heb 2:1
Heeding helps us to search the word and pray as it regards temptations and sin, but if we do not heed, we will not even consider our searching the word, much less of praying. We keep justifying our wrong, showing that we are smart, but when such a person falls, it is always pathetic. I definitely hear the Holy Spirit saying 'I told you so' - start heeding the warning.
I am usually surprised when some 'righteous' believers feel that the preaching about taking precautionary measures over sin, should not be for the righteous, they do not see all these warnings as a blessing, it certainly sets them on edge, but what they fail to realise is that, most of these warning are a pointer to their spiritual state and if only they will take heed, then they will move unto maturity.
Dear friend, to be casual about the things you should heed is to walk dangerously and to be loosed about the salvation we have. When we treasure our salvation, we will guard it with all our heart so that the enemy of our souls does not encroach on the essence of our lives. Take heed unto the instructions, take heed for your benefit...
CONCLUSION:
You don't have to fall prey to temptations, everything that is to make you stand and overcome, is provided for through the knowledge of Christ by His divine power. Use the lifelines of the Word, praying and taking heed.
God bless you as you remain godly.
Akinsuroju Femi
© The Fundamentals
Everything you need to make sure you don't fall has been provided for through the knowledge of Christ, the Lord is more interested in your standing than the devil is in your falling - God has invested so much in you that He considers it a loss to the kingdom if you fall, so He Himself makes provision more than the devil can set traps.
There are many lifelines the believer can use so that he is not out of the Christian race, if the lifelines are not used, no one will be blamed for being out, unlike the console game where lifelines are exhausted and one has to start afresh - the mercy and the provisions for godliness is inexhaustible - if and when temptations come, there are enough provisions to overcome.
If we are honest Christians and deal with temptations as they are, we will never stumble - the scripture clearly states in Jude chapter 1:24, that He is able to keep us from stumbling, and this, a believer must take to heart! No one can really stand on his or her own, we must become dependent on Christ so as not to be overtaken by sin - if we do this, we will realise that all we need to overcome are in Him.
Do not blame the devil, we have so much provisions in the knowledge of Christ, that sin and temptations becomes so little. We need to start locating our lifelines and use them properly so as not to fall. There is nothing God gains from the backsliding Christian, He is interested in your standing. We will examine some of the provisions Christ has made for us to overcome and stand.
PROVISION OF THE WORD
"Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." - Psalm 119:11
Some people erroneously think that they can overcome temptations or sin just by becoming suspicious - if the word is absent in the heart, the world will be present therein. The Word is what prevents us from sin and not a religious tradition or activity. When Satan was tempting Jesus, it was the Word that was hidden in His heart He used in defeating the devil, don't be empty - if the Word is not available, the world will convince you to error because of your ignorance.
The reason why many are given to and a prey to sin, is because the word is missing, if you have the word stored up - your heart will always do a search to check the world standard with the word. The people perish because of lack of knowledge. I often advise young people not to be evasive anytime the word is being shared, we should pay attention because it increases our word base to fight temptation.
Ignorance is no longer an excuse to falling, because the word is near you..you can't say you didn't know anymore, because you turned your ears. The word is everywhere only if you will start hiding the word in your heart. A young man can keep his way pure by only taking heed to His word (Psalm 119:9), there is no substitute to this. It is an antidote for sin.
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." - John 17:17
To be sanctified is to be made ready, to be sanctified is to be clean and all these can only happen by the application of the Word, Jesus said in John chapter 15, that we are clean because of the word. Let no one think that they can be clean by moral effort of works, it will avail nothing, the word is a cleanser.
Everything that pertains to life and godliness that the Lord has given us cannot be apart from the Word...It is through the word that we see our stains and correct our errors, if you don't use the provisions of the word - then you are under-using the provisions that make for the life of godliness, you will live below expectation.
The Psalmist said, that the word is a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path, darkness awaits the person who refuses to use the word as light, sin keeps men in the dark, temptations intends to put men in the dark; but we must use the word as light and remain in the world as light.
PROVISION OF PRAYERS
"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." - Matt 26:41
Victory over temptation is first activated in prayers before the word comes to play. If you have been praying, you will be reminded of the word when temptation stares at you in the face. Temptation must come and then it wouldn't be sin, but to fall is the tragedy. Many who read the word without praying will still be at risk when the temptation comes, your mouth may quote but the spiritual strength to resist may become lost. Some won't even remember the word to use because they did not engage the Holy Spirit in prayers.
It is also important that at this time, to let you know that; sinners don't get tempted, they just live the life of sin according to the nature of sin, so a sinner cannot be tempted to live his or her nature, they naturally live such life. It is a born again that gets tempted, it is the disciple that gets tempted to act contrary to the nature of Christ that works inside us - at such a time we must go to the place of prayer to find strength to remain in the nature of Christ.
Praying and seeking the face of God is abiding in the presence of God, it is a safe zone that helps us to be victorious over every craftiness of the wicked, it keeps us alert, it help us sail through when the temptations are fierce, it helps us submit to the working of God, because many temptations will come just to build us...it is in the place of prayer we find strength.
"And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me strengthen your brethren.'" - Luke 22:32
When the devil comes, you may not see a devil to quote scriptures to, but you may just have a God, who you can knee to and find strength in prayers, sometimes we will be surrounded by pressures to compromise, it is in the place of prayer that we can withstand the pressures of the enemy.
The provision of prayer as regards godliness cannot be overemphasized, there are many who think that going to church will give them a hold over Satan's temptations, but friends, the church cannot substitute for what you are meant to take responsibility for. Prayer is part of the lifeline given to us by God so that we can stand.
Prayer is the key to avoid falling into temptation, the word is the real escape, if you do not knee in prayers now, you will knee to the devil in surrender. Why are you not praying about the lust in your heart, why aren't you praying about the pride that is gradually overtaking you..remember that I said that temptation is for the believers, sin is for the unbelievers to live as a nature... You must stay in prayers to be full of the nature of Christ.
TAKING HEED
"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." - 1Cor 10:12
Taking heed is the watching part, to be more specific, it is the need of discernment or being at alert and doing all we can to stay on the side of God. There are some who have become carefree and they think that no one is after their salvation, they think that because they have attained certain level - they are beyond the reach of the devil as regards temptations and trials...that is just a joke the devil loves.
If we will take heed, we will avoid traps, we will avoid wrong company, we will be easily convicted when we stray in thought, even before acting. We need to see the call of taking heed as a warning which we must always embrace as a blessing. The call to take heed can also come in form of chastisement, but we know that chastisement is borne out of love from the Father and we must bless God for it.
The only challenge as regards taking heed with us is that, it is always greeted with denials, when we are asked to take heed, it is usually to do something so as not to fall for something, but we tend to always pretend as if the call to be cautious doesn't refer to us, we most times are deceived by the outward show we ourselves play and deny the very core of our standing. God will not force you, but you may be disgraced if you do not heed the call to heed. Peter argued when the Lord rightly warned him, he boasted that he can never deny Jesus - but at a certain, he fell flat.
"Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away." - Heb 2:1
Heeding helps us to search the word and pray as it regards temptations and sin, but if we do not heed, we will not even consider our searching the word, much less of praying. We keep justifying our wrong, showing that we are smart, but when such a person falls, it is always pathetic. I definitely hear the Holy Spirit saying 'I told you so' - start heeding the warning.
I am usually surprised when some 'righteous' believers feel that the preaching about taking precautionary measures over sin, should not be for the righteous, they do not see all these warnings as a blessing, it certainly sets them on edge, but what they fail to realise is that, most of these warning are a pointer to their spiritual state and if only they will take heed, then they will move unto maturity.
Dear friend, to be casual about the things you should heed is to walk dangerously and to be loosed about the salvation we have. When we treasure our salvation, we will guard it with all our heart so that the enemy of our souls does not encroach on the essence of our lives. Take heed unto the instructions, take heed for your benefit...
CONCLUSION:
You don't have to fall prey to temptations, everything that is to make you stand and overcome, is provided for through the knowledge of Christ by His divine power. Use the lifelines of the Word, praying and taking heed.
God bless you as you remain godly.
Akinsuroju Femi
© The Fundamentals
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