Self discipline part three
Temptation
1 Corinthians 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.” (NKJV)
Temptation is something that entices, attracts or appeals strongly too, that implies a promise of obtaining a greater good by following a way of disobedience.
No one is exempt from being tempted and at one time or another, a person will experience temptation. If a person yields to temptation, they can experience negative consequences to not having good self-discipline.
Galatians 5:16 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Vs.17 “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”(NKJV)
A person that is walking in the Spirit will get the strength from the Spirit to exercise good self-discipline, and not yield to temptation.
A good method that can be used to identify temptation is to think (part one “your thoughts and way of thinking”) about the consequences that will be experienced after acting, or yielding to temptation that is before someone.
Matt 26:41 “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(NKJV)
The flesh usually gives “right now gratification” and will not show the later consequences. This “battle” between the Spirit and the flesh can happen on a daily basis, therefore has to be fought daily. The Holy Spirit is always willing to help the believer with fighting this battle.
1 Corinthians 15:31 “I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. (NKJV)
And winning these battles daily, can give a person the victory of winning the war.
Romans 8:37 “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (NKJV)
The believer can be more than conquerors over temptation because of the love that Jesus has for us.
1 John 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (NKJV)
The Holy Spirit that lives within the believer, gives strength to overcome worldly temptations.
“Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us all that we need to remain victorious over temptation…Amen!
Continuing in His service…Rev
