For The Boys - A Stern Reminder From Pastor Nolan

Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him. -James 1:12

We are tempted every day. Do we give into temptation and sin, or endure and stand firm

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. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:13-15 NKJV)

If we are dead to sin (as sin brings death) we cannot be living sacrifices as we are called to be in Romans 12:1

God sees the heart behind everything we do - the motive behind our actions. Who are we giving glory to? When a worldly desire is conceived (devised and created in our minds), it comes out as sin...

Temptation entices us to go beyond what limits have been set for us. Temptations make us crave more than what God gives us, that we would be vulnerable to even more enticement.
We are accountable for our own choices.

If we choose to take the bait and heighten our desires we are setting ourselves up for failure.

David should have looked once and then stopped looking. Instead he stared and then began to do all sorts of other things after that.

Joseph was tempted day after day, and when Potiphar's wife brought things to another level, he FLED.

What is the key to Joseph's success?

There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? -Genesis 39:9

He made the explicit decision NOT TO SIN AGAINST GOD. We should come to the Lord daily for renewal of our minds, committing to serve Him and Him only. We cannot do it by ourselves. We must allow God to transform our minds that we would be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God.

Every day we must go to God to give us strength. We must go to Him and ask Him for our daily bread as we were guided.

We are most vulnerable when we, like David, become idle.

Sin becomes more sin if not dealt with. It would be easier to stand firm against temptation if we make the explicit decision to follow God by His Word through Jesus Christ. We need to keep on reinforcing this decision, this commitment by avoiding situations where we are easily tempted.

Recognize where the temptation is coming from.
Resist the bait. The birds can keep flying over our head but we must not allow them to build a nest on it.
Rethink. If we say no to something we must say yes to something. Here are those things:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. -Philippians 4:8

We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. Put on the whole armor of God.