"When the devil had ended all the temptations,
he departed from him until an opportune time."
Luke 4:13
One simple story I heard illustrates an example of “an opportune time." Jim was trying to save all the pennies that he could in order to buy a baseball bat, but it was a hard struggle. One night when he was saying his prayers, his mother heard him pray fervently, "O Lord, please help me save my money for a baseball bat. And God, don't let the ice cream man come down this street anymore!"
He knew that if the ice cream man went by, he wouldn’t have the strength to not give him his money in exchange for an ice cream. Isn't that true of temptation? Evil is a baited and camouflaged trap.
That's so important to note: we can miss evil for what it really is until after it has accomplished its purpose. Only by comparing thoughts and actions to God's Word can we have the insight to see beyond the circumstances.
Being tempted isn't sin - surrendering to it is. But temptation is also an opportunity to do what is right by turning from it.
"No temptation has taken you except what is common to man.
God is faithful, and he will not permit you to be tempted
above what you can endure, but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it."
1st Corinthians 10:13
The door of temptation swings both ways - you can enter or exit. If we choose to enter, once inside we will not see the exit sign so clearly anymore.
The flesh is in rebellion against God. The flesh - although it feels comfortable and natural, is not a friend to be trusted.
"The carnal mind is enmity against God."
Romans 8:7
Enmity is not just an enemy, an enemy can be reconciled, enmity is direct opposition to the will of God. It cries, "Feed me so I can destroy you ... destroy your health, your relationships, your life, your soul."
Satan has been deceiving since the beginning of time. When the woman in Genesis 3:6 "saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom" she succumbed to temptation (took the bait) and rejected God's word. Nothing has changed. The devil still presents the bait as gain or pleasure, but instead of taking responsibility for our actions, many blame people or circumstances for their poor choices.
Someone said, "The devil made me get drunk last night" ...but the person planned the trip to Vegas weeks prior. Although the enemy will come against our family, finances and lusts ...we must take responsibility for our own poor choices.
"For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,
is not of the Father but is of the world."
1st John 2:16
But God has told us what our response must be:
"Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
James 4:7
Be aware of "opportune times."
In battle, the enemy attacks at opportune times. Scripture reminds us that the world entices through cravings for pleasure and through covetousness, and through pride in our achievements and possessions. These are three areas where the enemy will concentrate his focus when we’re most likely to respond. Be aware of these "opportune times."
The source of our strength comes from the food that we choose. What we feed grows, and what grows becomes the strong and dominating force within our lives. Sin never stands still, it either grows or withers depending on whether we feed or starve it. Who is shaping your thoughts? A daily diet of violence, lust, anger, etc, will fuel those very things in your life.
The devil doesn't make us do anything; he simply presents the bait.
When you truly seek God's help, you can control temptation instead of allowing temptation to control you. The key is to pray for strength and wisdom, and to always be mindful of the warfare perpetrated against us.
When we yield to temptation, we walk willingly into the enemy's camp. An immediate exit at the first sign of temptation is the only way to stop it.
"The anger of the Lord will not turn back
until he has executed and performed the thoughts of his heart.
In the latter days you will understand it perfectly."
Jeremiah 23:20
There are some things written those thousands of years ago which have been impossible to understand because they were to be revealed only "in the last days." Many years ago Hal Lindsey published a book called "The Late Great Planet Earth." This is the book that brought to many the understanding of the events of "the last days." When I came to the Lord someone gave me this book and it changed my life. Through it I learned what "the last days" were all about, and how and why they are speaking of this generation - the generation that sees the regathering of the children of Israel back to the land of their fathers. From that time I have been watching the ancient prophecies come to pass before our very eyes. Multitudes will tell you that their understanding about "the last days" began with that book.
But understanding was given only to those who were seeking the Lord with all their heart. If you try to talk to an unsaved person about these things, they will give you a blank stare. Such is true also of the Word of God. If you say something that is from the Word of God, they will give you a blank stare. I have actually seen with my own eyes the glazing over of the eyes of someone I was trying to speak with.
And that is sad.
But it is as the Word says, "none of the wicked shall understand."
"And he said, 'Go your way, Daniel,
for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Many shall be purified, made white, and refined,
but the wicked shall do wickedly;
and none of the wicked shall understand,
but the wise shall understand."
Daniel 12:9-10
"The wicked' aren't just thieves and murderers, "the wicked" are those who are not born again, regardless of their degree of morality. People will tell you they don't read the Word of God because they can't understand it. On the other hand, a person born-again can't get enough of it. Even the simplest among them feed in God's Word.
There is still time. The door is still open ...but not for long - we have arrived at the last days. Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while the door is yet open to you.
I read a book about deathbed experiences - of both saved and unsaved. The thing that struck me the most is that people who have resisted the drawing of the Holy Spirit - when they come to their deathbed they find they CANNOT be saved. There are many stories there and the common thread among all of those unsaved is that ministers and other believers were not able to bring them to salvation - they all say pretty much the same thing, "I resisted the Lord when he was calling me, and now I find I CANNOT come to salvation."
When the Holy Spirit has drawn someone to salvation many times and has been rejected, at some point the Holy Spirit will leave him. At that point, the person is beyond redemption.
Don't let that happen to you. It truly isn't worth it. Why do you resist? He only wants GOOD for you.
Just get onto your knees and confess your sins to God. Ask him for forgiveness. Tell him that you're willing to surrender your life to him. You will never regret it. Come, while you still can. Do not let your eyes glaze over as you read this.
"If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." Romans 12:18 It's not always possible, because not all want to live peaceably with us. But we are counseled to do everything we can to be at peace, regardless. Many times this will require us to allow the other person to be wrong and not argue with them. Preserve their dignity. Human nature wants to assert what we know to be right, but wisdom speaks louder and oftentimes tells us to be quiet. It can diffuse many a volatile situation. And if we do it with a smile, it can totally disarm our adversary. However, if someone insists on not being at peace with you and lashes out, always remember, "WWJD" - what would Jesus do? He gave us many examples of this. Sometimes he simply walked away. But what if you can't even do that? What if you can't walk away? Then we are called to turn the situation over to the Lord and submit it to him, letting it go into his capable hands. He tells us in a situation like that that we are to refuse to fight back, refuse to take vengeance. Yes, we will feel the stings of anger and hurt feelings, and he says not to try to squelch that. No, bring it to Him. Give place to it BEFORE THE LORD. Tell him all about it. Express your frustration and anger and bitterness to him. He'll listen, he's the lover of your soul. But then ...let it go. You've given place to it, you've expressed it, now let it go. Don't go over it again and again and again, don't dwell on it, let it go. If you do it HIS way, he will take care of it, never doubt that. Your job is to stay in his peace. vs 19: "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' says the Lord.'" Friends, it's not easy and the Lord never said it would be. But we are channels of his love if we will allow ourselves to be that. You just never know what love can accomplish. It can so disarm your enemy that the Lord can then bring him to repentance. So always take the high ground, for you never know what the Lord is up to behind the scenes. vs 20: "Therefore, 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.'" If we strive to remain in the love of God and do all we can to live peaceably with all, our hearts will remain free. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, like walking in the peace of God and knowing the awareness of his presence continually. Anyone who has known it would never even think to go back to walking in hateful feelings, oh how repulsive is even the thought. Let us therefore keep an eye always on the possibility of seeing things turn for the good even in the lives of our adversaries. And there's only one way to get there: vs 21: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
This is admittedly very, very hard to do. That's where prayer comes in. Ask God for the GRACE of handling things correctly before him, especially when our feelings are hurt. ASK. Don't try to force it, that won't work. Instead, ASK.