i’m free but not free…

we are looking here at temptation.   the bible says, what starts in your mind eventually comes out in your lifestyle.  desire leads to deception, deception leads to disobedience.  disobedience leads to death.  death.  james 1.15b (niv), sin when full grown gives birth to death.

that’s the tragic consequences of giving in.  that’s what losing the battle causes – devastating results.

what’s death?  the exact opposite of living.  if you overcome temptation you get the crown of life but the wages of sin is death – spiritual separation from GOD. 

james says we are free to choose any way we want to live.  i can choose any way i want to live but i am not free to choose the consequences of the choice.  i am free to have my kicks but i am not free to eliminate the kickbacks.  i am free to make choices but i am not free to choose the consequences.

in order to overcome temptation, in order to break a habit, first i’ve got to be realistic, admit i have a problem, then i’ve got to be responsible and not blame anybody else and quit making excuses then i get ready by understanding what happens during temptation so i can learn to avoid it.

just a thought from the front porch…

from your thoughts into actions…

it always starts with desire.  then satan moves to deception.  temptation always looks better than it really is.  desire turns to deception and deception turns to disobedience.

3.  disobedience.  disobedience.  james 1.15a (niv), then after desire has conceived it gives birth to sin.

what begins in your mind results in action.  it starts in your imagination.  the battle starts with your thoughts.  it then moves from your thoughts into actions.

first the devil gets your attention then he gets you to have an attitude then he gets you to commit the action.  people say, “what the danger in a harmless fantasy?”  what starts in your mind eventually comes out in your life.  it always begins in the imagination.

what you flirt with, you will fall for.  that’s the whole purpose behind television advertising.  they try to get you to imagine something.  they know if they get it in your imagination, they’ve got you.  if that didn’t work nobody would advertise.  we’re silly to think that’s not true.  you think you haven’t done anything but you have.

the bible says, what starts in your mind eventually comes out in your lifestyle.  desire leads to deception, deception leads to disobedience. 

just a thought from the front porch…