TOPIC: Victory Over Temptation (Mountain Of Fire And Miracle Ministries Monday, 3 September 2018)
FIRE SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 10:13-14
MEMORY VERSE: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” –
James 1:2-3
The MESSAGE:
Temptation is the desire or urge to have or do something when one knows that it is not right to do it. As Christians, we should know that Jesus does not promise us a life free of temptation. He said we will face persecution and temptations but we should rejoice because He has overcome for us (John 16:33). The tempter; satan, has a particular interest in discrediting believers. He tries to entangle us in sin in order to prove us to be unfaithful. This temptation, if not resisted, causes us to do what we know is contrary to God’s will. The devil’s temptation is for the purpose of causing us to fail. He wants to confuse believers and cause them to stumble. For example, if we mistakenly believe that salvation leads to a state of no sin, this will put us in a position that God does not want us to be. The devil further intends that any failure on our part be misconstrued to think that God is powerless to meet our needs. He desires us to forget that failures come from our refusal to meet God’s conditions and not from any limitation on God’s part.
However, God uses tests to prove what He made us to be and to give us the satisfaction of victory. When God tests us, it is for the purpose of proving us in order to promote us. Test is not for the purpose of making us fall, but for the purpose of preparing us to receive more advanced knowledge. The Lord taught us to pray that God would not lead us into temptation, meaning, do not lead us into a path which will allow us to be tempted by the devil. It is an acknowledgement of our weakness in handling satan. Jesus knows that we are better off resisting the devil so that he will flee from us (James 4:7). When it comes to satan, we must humbly confess that we cannot handle him on our own.
A person blessed with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit will not be overcome by any testing which God permits or directs. Such testing leads to demonstrating that they are approved of God. This is the testing in the positive sense, for when a believer is tried and he overcome, he shall receive the crown of life. God does not tempt us to cause us to sin. Only satan or our lustful desires do that. Hence the statement: “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…” (James 1:13).
Also, God will not allow us to tempted beyond our strength. God is faithful, and He will give us the strength to overcome because we cannot do it on our own. God never permits anything in our lives without a purposeful end (Romans 8:28). Knowing this makes every temptation involved in our humanity bearable. Throughout the Bible, there are people who turned defeat to victory and trial to triumph. Instead of being victims, they became victors. No matter what the trials may be on the outside (James 1:1-12) or the temptations on the inside (James 1:13-27), through faith in Christ we can experience victory. The result of this victory is spiritual maturity. As we read about Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, and even our Lord, we realise that God has a purpose in believers’ trials. God fulfils His purposes as we trust Him. There is no substitute for an understanding mind. The devil can defeat the ignorant believer, but he cannot overcome the Christian who knows his Bible and understands the purposes of God.
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
GOD DOES NOT TEMPT US TO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIN, BUT TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OURSELVES APPROVED.
PROPHETIC WORD:
You will be a victor and not a victim to temptation.
PRAYER POINTS:
MORNING
1. O Lord, reveal to me the source of my present predicament, in the name of Jesus.
2. Holy Spirit, show me the purpose of my trials and tribulations, in the name of Jesus.
3. O Lord, give me the increased grace to walk through my trials unhurt, in the name of Jesus.
EVENING
4. Powers tormenting my life, your end has come, release me and die, in the name of Jesus.
5. Holy Spirit, nurture Your fruit in my life, in the name of Jesus.
6. I receive the grace to overcome my trials and temptations, in the name of Jesus.
7. I move speedily from adversity to promotion, in the name of Jesus.
If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional HERE
MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)
Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.
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