Sunday, July 31, 2016

A Weapon Against Temptation

I was recently talking to my cousin who is about twelve years older than me. We didn't really grow up together so I was telling her a little about my teenage years. I can't go into detail because it may hurt innocent people, but I was in a situation as a young teen that was not good. I was being tempted and even encouraged to sin. My mother had instilled a moral conscience within me but I had no Biblical mooring to ground me. But then in April of 1965, when I was 16 years old, I accepted Jesus as my Savior and I was a changed person. I was a new creation in Jesus. The old had passed away and I had become a new babe in Christ. And I knew in my heart that I couldn't even entertain the thought of giving into this pattern of sin. But how to remove myself from this situation? I struggled for a year, resisting as well as I could. So in my youth and immaturity, I finally decided to come up with something different to fill in that segment of my life so I wouldn't be able to be with that person and in that situation.
My Christian friends told me about an opportunity to go on a summer service team. I applied and was accepted! But how was I going to pay for the airfare? I told my pastor about it and to my surprise and amazement, the men of the church decided to sponsor my trip to San Francisco in the summer of 1966, between my junior and senior year of high school. (This church was not the same denomination that was organizing the mission trip which made it even more amazing!)
Being able to go was such a benefit to me. First of all, it broke the chain of bondage in which I felt trapped. Second, it increased my faith that these men would pay my way to go. And third, it opened up my mind and heart to doing things beyond my capabilities. It broadened my horizons!

As I was talking with my cousin, I said, “Somehow I had heard and learned a few Scriptures that said to "abstain from all appearance of evil.”
( I Thess 5:22) Also I Corinthians 16:13, “Be alert. Continue strong in the faith. Have courage, and be strong”  Be alert means to know what tempts you so that you can stay away from it. These truths hit me like a light bulb!  Because I had this scripture hidden in my heart, I was able to remove myself from this situation! I had not thought about this part of my life for a long time and had never put it together how important hiding the Word of God in my heart was to me at that time as a new Christian, especially. Looking back now I really believe I can say that God rescued me! He rescued me from a potential life of sin and degradation.

When you think about it, the Lord Jesus set the example when he was confronted by Satan in the wilderness. Three times Jesus said, “It is written . . .” in response to a temptation. And three times Satan was defeated. (Matthew 4:1-11) We can do the same thing as we appropriate the word of God that we hide in our hearts.

Here are some verses out of Psalm 119 to encourage all of us to delight in His Word:

Psalm 119:11, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

15, “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.

16, “I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.”

18, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

35, “Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.”

105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

133, “Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.”

The Bible doesn't just contain the Word of God, it is the Word of God.
II Timothy tells us, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

I am so thankful for the Lord's protection over my life and especially over my soul. I feel like I was snatched out of the snare of the evil one over 50 years ago plus many times since. And I believe we have no concept how often God has watched over us and out for us that we don't even know about! It is paramount to be living in the center of His will, within His protection. Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

I challenge you to hide the word of God in your heart and mind so that you have a weapon to fight the enemy when he comes to tempt you to sin.


Psalm 91:4, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place – the most high, who is my refuge – no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent, for he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”

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