James wrote to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ about practical issues. He wrote about trials, relationships, the tongue, and about temptation.
James wanted believers not to be deceived, but to understand temptation in order that they could overcome the various temptations they faced (James 1:13-16).
What can we do to overcome temptation?
First, turn away from temptation quickly. James described the process of temptation. Temptation begins with our own desires and proceeds to deception. Satan hides his traps and hooks by using bait to attract and entice. The bait causes us to ignore the trap and the hook. It also causes us to not consider the consequences of our actions.
Temptation cannot be considered for a long period of time. The longer we consider the action, the more we will be enticed to take the bait. The best way to overcome temptation is to quickly reject it. Paul told the Thessalonians to “flee from sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18), and James wrote that we should “resist the devil” (James 4:7). To resist the devil will make him flee from us.
Temptation does not get easier with time. The best time to reject temptation is as soon as it comes.
Second, use the Word of God. Jesus successfully resisted Satan by quoting from God’s Word. If Jesus used Scripture in this way, how much more should we.
It is imperative to know and live the word of God. When we do so, we are prepared for temptations. You must fight lies with the Truth.
Third, walk by the Spirit. Paul told the Galatians: “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Galatians 5:16). Walking with the Spirit calls to mind the idea of being in agreement with someone. To live by the Spirit means to be in agreement with the Spirit’s will.
To live by the Spirit is to substitute your power for God’s power. God has already given us His Spirit. His Spirit produces fruit, such as love, joy, peace, and patience. I already have all of these, including patience. It is part of the fruit of God’s Spirit within us. We simply have to submit unto God and let God live through us. Let God do in you what you cannot do for yourself.
“Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
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2 Responses
When the lies of another swallow you up, Truth is an often forgotten footnote. Too many times if remembered at all, too late for the principles affected in life.
The Book of James is a good expansion of Romans Chapter 12. Both seem to take too much for granted regarding the ability of their reader to know applications for issues within the Church and what must be faced together by The Church. Of course when the texts were written, they were written for a specific targeted knowledgeable audience who already had some basis for understanding the communication.
Example of a candle, lit by a child: Left for Dead – Peter Nelson – Google Books books.google.com › Juvenile Nonfiction › History › Other Just after midnight on July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. The ship sank in 14 minutes. More than 1000 men were …
You can also read the story by Doug Stanton: IN HARM’S WAY
With the right backing, lies can travel far and affect many. Lies destroy the fabric of society and are the foxes which destroy the roots of the Tree of Life this side of eternity.
Most Christians hide and are content to let others do for them as they seek to rest in the shadow. The real pain is when otherwise good Christians enable lies; thereby facilitating destruction. I have been privileged to see such destruction up close and personal many times now and grieve.
And people wonder why others cannot get along…
Regarding “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done on earth as It is in Heaven,”
“It is not that Christianity doesn’t work, it just hasn’t been tried.”
When I hear such a quote from different people who have spent their lives studying the Word of God, teaching the Word of God, living the Word of God, I notice.
With your head set as flint against the gate, Bless you & I thank you.
Blessings.
Waylon, I especially like the last part of the post. I’m reminded of the verse: “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him…” (Col. 2:9-10). Yes, I don’t need to pray for God to give me patience, or love, or any other component of the Galatians verses. I need to claim them as my present possession, and instead, pray that I will more closely abide in Christ, that He will be free to manifest these things in my life. (2 Cor. 5:21, Gal. 2:20),