Dear Internet Church Family,

Temptation is a major aspect of the Christian life. I believe that the greatest temptations are in the areas of Love of power, Love of money, Love of pleasure, Love of personal praise(i.e personal recognition etc), Fear of death, Insecurity, and Fear of failure. In CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE by Richard Foster, he compared the Christian life to walking along a steep narrow ridge and when one ventures to the right, he falls off a cliff because of moral bankruptcy resulting from his human strivings. If one moves to the left, he falls off a cliff because of moral bankruptcy due to lack of human striving. Mr. Foster states that walking along the steep narrow ridge does not produce change in ones life, rather it is the place where change occurs in ones life.

I would like to hear advice from others on this board as to how you handle temptation. Now, I realize that some things are very sensitive and one may not feel comfortable discussing them.

Jazzman

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2002

Answers

Jazzman, interesting topic. My biggest demon is "control." I like being in control of my outcomes (family, work, situations). My life lessons are huge in this area..looks like each day the situations become more intense. I handle my demon by confrontation and prayer. Prayer/meditation helps me to clear my mind and soul...finding perfect peace.

Brenda

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2002

The way to answer this question is with the Word of God. (please forgive I do not have my bible in front of me as I am typing the scriptures)

There is no tempation as to common to man, but God is faithful and with the same tempation will make a way of escape.

Submit unto God, resist the devil and he shall flee.

Yield us not into tempatation but deliver us from evil..amen.

A man who does not have rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down and without walls.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace more abound? God forbid!

So you figure it out!! LC

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2002

Jazzman,

A good question, and one to be taken seriously. It is true that the Word of God has answers to all of our delemas. What is also true is that we have to be broken. Staying in the Word of God will help us, as it points out truth, and tells us what is sin. When the Spirit from the Word quickens our Spirit, then we begin to have a war. It's not a game where we bat at a ball when we are thrown a curve, but it is war and we have to combat. What we want to do is line up our will with the spirit which has been quickened to do what is right.

This is a battle that we all have. Paul had it also;

Romans 7 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

So how I handle it, is taking it very serious and knowing it is enmity against what I know is right (my spirit). I won't let my feelings have rule over me, because many times they are vain imaginations which have to be cast down. To win each battle (temptation) I line my feelings up with the Word of God (which is right).

Just this morning on the way to work I had the battle. Feelings said one thing, mind (spirit) knew the right thing to do. I use combat against my feelings. The outcome....My Spirit spoke truth and said Whatsoever things are lovely, think on these things. As Paul said with the mind I serve the law of God.

I missed Mr. Foster's point. Walking the Christian life is a narrow way, because it's a path with one leader, Jesus Christ. It's an individual way. There's no need for it to be broad. But in it there is joy unspeakable and full of glory. There's trials, and sometimes,like Jesus, we are lead in the wilderness to be tempted. The devil's tactics have never changed. He lures us with the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. We have to do like Jesus, and resist him with the Word of God.

It's a battle, but just know you have the tools and power to overcome. I am hoping one day to say like Paul, "none of these things move me."

Remember that your Spirit knows what is right, your emotions, feel what it thinks will make you feel better. If you go on your feelings, you could possibly end up so to speak in the lap of Delilah, but if we do what is right, we will be in the will of God. His thoughts towards us are good and not evil.

My thought this morning was "What is Right....Just do what the Lord Says Do."

It's long, but I hope you can follow me.

In Christ Carmen Rose

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2002

Temptation is a war, and wars are fought on many fronts, and in many ways. Sin begins in the mind. Satan places a thought, and we're faced with a choice: Nurture the thought, or kill it outright. Sometimes you have to battle the thought for a while, or find you've been dwelling on it unconsiously. But the moment you become aware that it's there, decide to kill it right away.

One good way is to praise the Lord. That drives demons away. Of course you may have to whisper if you're in public, but do it.

Also remember Jesus' approach in the wilderness. He spoke the Word as it pertained to that temptation. Words are a crucial weapon in the battle against temptation. Don't agree with the devil on any subject, as in, "I just can't say 'no' to a doughnut", or "I have a foul mouth." Maybe you do, but by faith, agree with God that you'll be free from that. Speak God's goal for yourself.

I've also found that the more time I spend in the things of God, the less problem I have with temptation. It's not sinful to watch the Discovery channel, but studying a fine Christian book with a prayerful attitude does more for you, and if done correctly will put you in communion with God. It becomes a matter of leaving less and less idle time for the devil to mess with you.

There's other things. Speaking in tongues is an effective weapon, and there is a place for deliverance ministries too.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2002

Thank you all for your very helpful advice. !!! I would like to attempt to clarify Mr. Foster's point because I feel that it's so important. He basically stated that human striving or human willpower is inadequate to live the Christian life because it results in moral bankruptcy. Instead, he suggests that Christian people have to rely upon divine power(Holy Spirit) to live the Christian life.

He proposes the internal disciplines of prayer, meditation, study, and fasting along with the external disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission, and service for making oneself receptive to the Holy Spirit. He also suggests the corporate disciplines of worship, guidance, confession, and celebration for also being receptive to the Holy Spirit. These disciplines have to also be prayed about because the Christian needs help at every step of the way.

Jazzman

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2002

Thank you Jazzman for clarifying that. After reading your explanation of Mr. Foster's statement, I am in agreement with him.

We need the Holy Spirit living within. That's what makes God a present help in the time of trouble.

Carmen Rose

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2002