Each Person Is Tempted When They Are Dragged Away By Their Own Evil Desire And Enticed

Good day everyone.

Father God, please empower and strengthen us to reject all ungodly temptation, to stand firm against all sin that we glorify our Father in heaven. Amen.

JAMES 1:12-15

“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. 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 ‭1:12-15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/114/jas.1.12-15.nkjv

Temptation comes from one’s own desires, a single evil thought, and then if allowed, entices him or her into sin. Unless one stands firm against sin and addresses it, eternal death shall follow.

Jesus suffered the agony of a cross to pay our debt of sin and put it to death forever, not so that we can continue in it.

We must turn from all sin in repentance if we are going to inherit the Kingdom of God.

The devil comes to steal, and to kill, and destroy (JOHN 10:10), and he knows you very well, including your weaknesses, and will put you in situations that bring about all kinds of temptation.

Furthermore, he is a deceiver, and convinces many that certain actions are not sin, that we must move on with the times.

We see how homosexuality has become more and more acceptable in society and is seen as normal behaviour. We see couples living together outside of marriage, but however the world sees these things, we must consider how God sees them and submit to His will.

The devil tested Jesus when He was most vulnerable after He fast for forty days and was hungry. “And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God

‭‭(Luke‬ ‭4:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ see Luke 4:1-13).’””

Just as the devil tested Christ, he will test you when and where you are most vulnerable; furthermore, if we are to stand strong and not cave to such temptation, we must follow Christ’s example and answer with and stand firm in Scripture.

Many believers wonder why they still have temptations. It’s not because God brings temptation, but He allows the devil to continually tempt us.

He uses these trials and challenges to build us and make us strong.

God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone else. However, He allows Satan to tempt people in order to refine their faith and help them grow in dependence on God. He will not allow the devil to tempt anyone more than he or she can can bare and will always make a righteous way forward (1 CORINTHIANS 10:13).

We can resist temptation by simply calling on the name of Jesus and asking God for strength and choosing to obey His word.

It is important to understand that regardless of our failings, God knew about our sins before we was even born, and accepted by His grace His chosen people, and gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit as a down payment or guarantee of salvation, regardless of past or future mistakes.

For “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

When one is saved, he or she receives the gift of the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised, saying, ““If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The Holy Spirit joins with his or her spirit, not the flesh or the soul, which is our mind, will, and emotions, but manifest through the flesh to influence the soul and lead us in His righteousness.

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

When one slips back into sin, the Holy Spirit retreats back into the spirit, and he or she feels like the Spirit has left, or like he or she is alone in the wilderness.

But God does not break His promises, and silently continues His work from within the spirit to bring conviction to repentance and change.

Sin lets the devil in through the flesh to influence the soul, but cannot touch the spirit which is made perfect in Christ.

James said, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

One of our biggest battles is from within, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We are all sinners in need of a saviour, and at times may slip back, but Spirit filled believers will be convicted to change, for “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Having said that, sin opens the doors to demons, and to expell them, one must submit to God in repentance, rebuke the devil by verbally calling him out, and he shall flee from you.

The crown of life is like the victory wreath given to winning athletes (see 1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27).

God’s crown of life is  by far more than glory and honour here on earth-it is the reward of eternal life with God. 

Therefore, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1:2-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.