Do You Take Temptation Seriously?

One outstanding characteristic of our day is the lack of discernment. With all the knowledge and experience that we have, we still do not seem to be prepared to face and fight temptation. It seems that we are such easy targets of prey for the devil.

If I am tempted and succumb to the temptations, are there any lasting effects and consequences to my sin? The answer is, yes! We act as though we do not really know the truth except in our heads.

In the beginning of Genesis, the Creator comes into view. The creation is brought into existence by the expression of God’s power. He said all of this was “good” and “very good”, but then a catastrophe takes place with the disobedience of Adam and the fact that Eve was beguiled. Before Chapter 3 ends, even God Himself gives the cure for man’s malady in Chapter 3:15.

1st Note- (The place of temptation)- You would think if there ever was a place that was temptation free, it would have been the garden of Eden, but that was not so. You can be tempted anywhere, anytime; so be careful.

2nd Note- (The presence of the tempter)- He comes always in disguise, always to deceive, and he has demons that will do his bidding and work. Walking in the will of God is a safe place, but we can also be interrupted by a wrong thought or look that becomes lust.

3rd Note- (We come to the process of temptation.)- If you will notice, temptation starts almost unnoticed and undetected. Dr. John Phillips wrote the next four thoughts concerning this process. In Chapter 3:6, Eve “saw” which means the “look became lust.”

It was first hesitation that led to contemplation. Then the Bible says that she “took”, which means the “desire became a decision”, the “choice became a chain”, and the “sinner became a seducer” as she “gave also” to her husband.

It is amazing that all this happened to these innocent people in a perfect environment, but it did, and the story is repeated over and over again with different names.

4th Note- (Truth to notice is the purpose of temptation.) It is the devil’s purpose to ruin our lives by trying to convince us to doubt the love of God and the Word of God. The devil convinced Eve that God was holding out on her, and that He didn’t really mean what He said. I want to remind us that our Heavenly Father always says what He means and means what He says.

The devil knows he cannot take us away from God. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” John 10:27-30 But, He can tempt us and get us out of the will of God. James 1:13-16 describes clearly what we are capable of and the devil knows it. “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.” My God help us all to take temptation seriously. — Fires of Revival, Publication 2007.