Open Heaven 30 August 2020 – Handling Temptations

 Open Heaven 30 August 2020: [Sunday] – Handling Temptations

HANDLING TEMPTATIONS – Sunday August 30th 2020

Memorise: Blessed is the man that edureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12

Read: James 1:12-15 (KJV)

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

13 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:

 

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Open Heaven 30 August 2020 – Handling Temptations

Bible in one year: Ezekiel 16-17, Hymnal: Sing hymn 8

Message:-

In Yoruba land where I am from, there is a saying that goes thus: “That which you would not eat, you should not sniff.” 

Open Heaven 30 August 2020 – Handling Temptations

The way to resist temptations is to run from anything that appears to negate the commandments of God. 1st Thessalonians 5:22 puts it thus:

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

If only David had taken his eyes off Bathsheba, he would not have fallen into the sin of adultery and subsequently murder. If only Judas Iscariot had handed over the treasury of Jesus’ ministry to someone else or at least found someone to be accountable to, he would probably have been amongst the Apostles until he died.

Open Heaven 30 August 2020: [Sunday] – Handling Temptations 

Temptation is not a sin; it is merely the arousal to sin. To resist the temptation is to resist the arousal. When the devil wants to conquer a person, he simply puts things in place that will arouse the fellow to sin, and so the Bible in James 1:14:

 

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

Open Heaven 30 August 2020 Sunday: Key Point

One of my sons once told me that he was always excited to resume work on Monday mornings because he would see his secretary again. He had started lusting after her. My advice to him was that he should sack her. The godly counsel to escape sexual sins is to flee! (1st Corinthians 6:18). You don’t resist temptation by hanging around it or letting it hang around you; you escape by running (1st Corinthians 10:13). Joseph did not wait to explain to Mrs. Potiphar why he could not sleep with her; he ran (Genesis 39:12). Waiting to explain can be dangerous; run and explain later.

Nothing is more important than your ticket to Heaven. Jesus Christ if your hand would lead you to sin, cut it off (Mark 9:43). If you have to resign from that job to ensure that you don’t sin and miss Heaven, resign. If you have to move out of your neighborhood, do so. If you have to unfriend someone, unfriend the fellow. Whatsoever it is that you have to do, just flee any appearance of evil.

Key Point

Don’t sit around and wait for temptation to destroy you. Flee!

Open Heavens Daily Devotional Lessons was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical Churches in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries