SEVEN FACTS ABOUT TEMPTATION II

Nothing can be more satisfying than the fact that the heavenly Father loves and acknowledges you. Nothing can be more satisfying than divine endorsement. If you take your walk with God seriously, you are guaranteed of comprehensive success. Many people are succeeding to fail; anybody who has not discovered the way, no matter how ‘successful’ here on earth, is an ultimate failure.

True success is not a destination. True success is not in accumulation. True success is keeping timely appointments with divine schedules for your life. If God wants you to be somewhere and you are there doing what he wants you to do, you are full of success. How different that is from what the world calls success. The lowest type of wealth is money while the greatest type of wealth is relationship. The greatest relationship is your relationship with God.

Everyone who is in the wilderness should be prepared for temptation. The wilderness is the terrain of the adversary; that is his headquarters. The wilderness is the terrain of ‘legions’.

Luke 3:21-22, “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” Jesus’ baptism was heralded by open heaven when he prayed. You cannot succeed in the wilderness without prayer. If you want to succeed in the wilderness, take note of the following:

1. God does not tempt anyone.
   Luke 4:1-2, “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.” There is someone called ‘the tempter’, it is his business to tempt. It is your duty to overcome temptation. Temptation on its own is not sin. It becomes sin when you succumb to it. James 1:13-16 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.” If you must be successful in the wilderness, destroy lust. Lust is the food of the serpent. This is because he was cursed to be a dust eater. As such, if you attract dust, the serpent will appear. Spiritual dust constitutes lust. It is your responsibility to know the truth, treasure the truth, hold on to the truth and humble yourself. Celebrate the truth wherever you find it so that God can show you the way. The Bible says “the meek will he guide in judgement” (Psalm 25:9). Lust has a womb to conceive.

Pray –

• Lord, I thank you because you do not tempt any man. I now know who the tempter is. Grant me the grace to always overcome any temptation that the tempter brings my way.

• Grant me grace to live above lust and to flee from every appearance of evil in the name of Jesus.

• Grant me grace never to err in the name of Jesus. Thank you mighty God. I put my hand in your hand and I depend on you. Through you I shall do valiantly.

• Grace to walk with you, grace to live above error, grace to live above deception, grace to live above lust, Lord, I ask that you bestow upon me in Jesus’ name.

TO BE CONTINUED………