how to handle temptation…

so how do i handle temptation?  how do i say no when i want to say yes?  well, james, being the practical apostle that he is, give us the answer. 

first of all he says be realistic.  be realistic. 

face the fact:  you will be tempted.  even CHRISTians are tempted.  all of us are tempted.  it says in james 1.13 (niv), when tempted...  not if tempted but when tempted.  it’s just like trials, temptations are inevitable.

listen i don’t care how long you have been a CHRISTian, you are going to be tempted.  have you ever heard some pious person say, “i thank GOD that i have never been tempted in 42 years!”  folks, that is what you get when you cross a crocodile with an abolone, a crock of baloney.

everybody is tempted.  you’re tempted, i’m tempted.  everyday we’re tempted.  you never get too old for it.  you never overcome it by getting too spiritual.  everybody’s tempted and the more you grow toward the LORD, the more you are going to be tempted.  it’s a fact of life.  the reality is all of us are tempted.

there is a misconception that says, once you’re born again, you’ve got it all together.  you’ve arrived so you wear a mask and fake it and pretend like, how could anybody do something like that?  we all are tempted.

1 corinthians 10.13 (niv), no temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  that phrase, common to man  means we’re all in the same boat.  we all have the same temptations, the same problems and don’t be surprised, shocked and don’t try to hide it.

some of you are possibly caught in a compromising situation right now but it is liberating to know that other people feel the same way.  we all have the same struggles and problems.

listen it is not sin to be tempted.  it is a sin to give in to temptation.  hebrews 4.15 (niv), JESUS was tempted in all points as we are yet HE sinned not.  HE was perfect.  HE was tempted but HE never gave in. 

it’s a sin to give in to temptation.  there are a lot of CHRISTians who are intimidated by temptation.  they think, “how could i have such a thought?” 

listen, the devil put it in your mind; it’s not your fault.  you are human.  temptation proves you’re human, not that you’re evil.  it’s not a sin to be tempted; it’s a sin to give in to temptation.  the more committed you are the more you’re going to be tempted.

just a thought from the front porch…