Wednesday, October 21, 2009

How to handle temptation

When it comes to temptation, remember these seven things:

(1)God is Faithful and we never become so spiritual that we're immune.
1Corinthians 10:13-"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it"

(2)Keep Watch!
Because you haven't blown it yet, doesn't mean you can't. Satan is a master of timing, and he's in no hurry.
Mark 14:38- Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

(3)God’s Bread is all we need to live!
Your flesh is powerful; once indulged it will always want more. Feed Your Spirit More!

(4)Understand that we are responsible.
Sin is a choice. When you choose to abuse God's grace you pay the price, either now or later.
Galatians 6:7- "Do not be deceived...whatever a man sows, that he will also reap"

(5)We're not helpless pawns.
We can’t change what happened yesterday, but your choice, empowered by God's grace, will determine what happens today and tomorrow.
2 Peter 1:3

(6)If you've sinned, there's hope. God will forgive you and use you again.
Jesus told Peter, "I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren" (Luke 22:32 NKJV).
Romans 7:1-6

(7)Stay close to God.
James 4:7- "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Perilous Times!

A little boy was asked by his geography teacher about the shape of the world. He responded, “My daddy says it is in awful shape.” In 2 Timothy 3:1, Paul stated, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” “Perilous” means “difficult, painful, hard times, times of stress.”

The Bible gives us guidelines in times like these. Here are a few:

1. REMEMBER THAT GOD IS WITH US. God has declared in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you.” A television announcer was interviewing a six-year-old girl and queried, “Do you know where God is?” The youngster’s omniscient answer was prompt: “Do you know where He isn’t?” Psalm 94:14, “The Lord will not abandon His people.”
2. MAKE PRAYER AND GOD’S WORD A REGULAR ACTIVITY. In Luke 18:1, we learn that if we do not pray, we will “lose heart.” Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is “powerful.” “Powerful” means “energizing.” D. L. Moody testified, “I know the Bible is inspired because it inspires me.”
3. VALUE FRIENDS. At least 26 times in the New Testament, we find the expression “one another.” A London newspaper offered a substantial cash prize to the one who gave the best answer to the question, “Which is the shortest way to London?” The answer that won the prize was, “The shortest way to London is ‘good company’.”
4. DECIDE TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Studies suggest that only about 25 percent of the tendency toward optimism is carried in the genes, the rest is developed by the individual. Paul exhorted, “Whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report…meditate on these things,” Philippians 4:8.
5. LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME. Three times in Matthew 6:24 – 34, Christ, when addressing our material needs, stated, “Therefore, do not worry.” Then, He promised that if we will seek first His kingdom, “all these things will be added to you,” so, “do not worry about tomorrow.”
6. HAVE FAITH IN GOD. The Jews used the phrase “I AM,” “Yahweh,” as their way of identifying God throughout the Scriptures. “Yahweh” appears more than six thousand times in the Old Testament. It is the expression of the One who lives eternally, from everlasting to everlasting, without beginning or end.

Remember, “We may face situations beyond our reserves, but never beyond God’s resources!”