Fighting Temptation
Let’s be real…all of us get tempted to do things that are outside Yahuah’s will for our lives.
Every single day, it’s a constant battle between giving into our flesh vs. staying on the righteous path. It’s an inevitable, never ending fight that we’re going to have to endure until the end.
Even Yahusha Ha’Mashiach got tempted.
Hebrews 4:15 - For we have not a High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
He knows what the battle that we experience daily feels like.
And we have him as our example and can look to him for the blueprint when it comes to resisting the temptations that we constantly face.
It is not a sin to get tempted, but it is a sin when we give into those temptations.
Let’s face it…without Yahuah’s supernatural power, we're powerless in resisting the evil desires and motives of our carnal hearts.
But with His supernatural power, we’re the most powerful beings walking this earth and have every single thing that we need to successfully resist temptation.
2 Peter 1:3 - According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and holiness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue:
The beautiful thing is that we have a way of escape each and every time!
1 Corinthians 10:13 - There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but Elohiym is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Whew, that’s how much our Abba loves us!
Think about a time you've given into temptation. Was there a way you could've escaped that situation?
We gotta remember that Ha’satan is always exploiting our physical and emotional desires in order to try to cut off our relationship with the Most High. We gotta stay on guard and alert at all times!
How though?
We have to starve the flesh and feed the spirit CONSISTENTLY.
James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to Elohiym. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
When our hearts are in the posture of submission, the battle becomes much easier to fight and to win.
So what does it look like in action?
Knowledge of His Word is the first and best defense against temptation.\
This is why we were instructed to meditate on Yah’s word day and night. It directs our path and teaches us how to walk in righteousness. When we apply His instructions, we’re able to successfully thwart off any attacks from the enemy.
Psalm 119:11 - Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Prayer, prayer, and more prayer…and fasting.
We have a direct line to our Heavenly Father who gives us the strength that we need to endure this race. He knows all about our struggles and we can go directly to Him and ask for help during those times of weakness.
Remember, even Yahusha turned to prayer to resist temptation.
Mark 14:38 - Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The ruach truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
Matthew 17:21 - Howbeit this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.
We can’t lose sight of our eternal reward; these earthly “pleasures” are temporary!
Anytime that I’ve given into a temptation that I’ve had, it always felt like it just wasn’t worth it. Ha’satan loves to put a big pretty bow on sin to make it appear more appealing than what it actually is. When we’re focused on the kingdom and the promises that the Most High has for us, those temporary pleasures lose their appeal.
1 Corinthians 2:9 - But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which Elohiym has prepared for them that love him.
We have to recognize sin for what it is!
When we love Yahuah, we should hate sin & evil. When we’re filled with His spirit, we have the discernment that we need to know when something just ain’t right.
Psalms 97:10 - Ye that love Yahuah, hate evil: he guards the souls of his saints; he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
The next time that you’re tempted, remember that you have the power within to resist! Yahuah’s word does not lie - we’re able to resist and always, always have a way of escape!
