Running Away from God

My wife, Kym, and I have four children ranging from 14yrs old to 3yrs old. I dearly love them. There are times when they have attitudes and behaviors that I like and some that I don’t like. For example, I love it when my toddler daughter, Elle, runs to me when she sees me from a distance. I feel very loved in that moment. Also, I love it when she and I are doing the same thing together, like holding hands, walking together, or doing a task together. There are other moments I don’t like so much; like when she runs away from me when I tell her to come here or when she flat out resists me with a stubborn attitude going against my stated directions and commands.

It’s interesting how there are similarities between a child’s relationship with their parent and a person’s relationship with God. All four of the behavioral examples I just mentioned about my daughter toward me occur with people toward God. People run away from God. Some people run to God. Some people run with God. And people run against God. All four of these behavioral themes toward God are found in the book of Jonah in God’s Word, respectively in each of the four chapters.

Many people think that the big news in the book of Jonah is about a whale of a tale, but this book is not so much about a big fish moment. This book is primarily about God; His grace, His mercy, His provision, His sovereignty, His message of repentance; and it’s about a prophet named Jonah who found himself in and out of the will of God which is something that we can relate to today. We are either heading toward God, His will, His ways of righteousness or heading away from God in sin. Which path describes your life lately?

From Jonah chapter one, let’s walk through six stages of Jonah trying to run away from God’s will.

Stage 1) God called Jonah to proclaim repentance to sinners in Nineveh; vss1-2

Jonah 1:1-2 ESV Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ² “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”

Jonah was a prophet who received revelation from God and communicated that to other people, usually to Israelites. Here, however, God called, commissioned, commanded His servant Jonah to go to a pagan mission field; specifically to Nineveh, a big city that was involved in much evil. The context here is that God called Jonah to go to these Gentile pagans and rebuke them for their wickedness, preach to them of their need to repent, to turn to God for salvation and live godly lives and if they didn’t, God’s holy just judgment would come upon them.

This would be a very difficult and dangerous mission for Jonah because this was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, which was quickly becoming the most powerful nation in the world. They were steeped in pagan idolatry and were destroying people groups in the region and had a reputation for being very cruel and wicked in how they treated their enemies.

They were a huge threat to the nation of Israel and this was where God was calling Jonah to preach repentance? Wow! Consider a modern day parallel. God calls a Christian preacher from a biblically saturated culture to go to a crowded city in North Korea or Iran to preach repentance in the name of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the only Savior and Lord. That would be a very dangerous mission.

Stage 2) Jonah disobeyed God and fled on a ship in the other direction; vs3

³ But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

I could just imagine Jonah responding to God saying stuff like: “Surely you don’t mean that? The Assyrians? Our worst enemy? Those awful pagans! Wait a minute! You never called other prophets to go preach repentance to our enemy nation. I quit. I’m out of here. Find someone else to do this crazy task.”

Jonah tried to run away from God’s will by fleeing on a ship toward the far west, maybe toward Spain, but there is no escaping the omnipresence of God. Jonah was fleeing the Holy Land where the special divine presence of God was manifested like in the Holy Temple. Jonah was in essence trying to resign from his position of God’s prophet and run away from this divine calling and responsibility. How many times has God called us to be someone and do something and our response was to run in the opposite direction of God’s will?

Why did Jonah disobey? He probably had some Hebrew pride, some national pride. Christians in the United States, do we struggle with a national pride or a Christian pride gloating that we are better than others? Jonah probably lacked faith in God about this dangerous mission. How often has God called us to something and we thought, I can’t, I’m unqualified, that’s too hard, too dangerous, etc…?

Jonah was a faithful prophet as long as God wanted what Jonah wanted. But when God’s marching orders went contrary to Jonah’s comfort zone and desires, the prophet would not do what God told Jonah to do. What about you and me? What is the call to Nineveh in our lives we are saying “no” to God about? When God calls you and me to go communicate His kingdom message to some person, some group, some type of human need, what is our response to God? Is it run to and with God or run away from and against God?

Stage 3) God caused a terrible storm to endanger the ship and its passengers (read vss4-6)

Surprisingly, Jonah is out cold asleep but the captain woke him up and told him to cry out to his god for deliverance from this dangerous storm. It’s a sad thing when a prophet servant of the Lord has to be told by pagans to cry to the Lord for help. Jonah brought trouble to a boat load of sailors because he disobeyed God. Whenever we get out of the will of God there are implications for us and others, some of which we might not learn about until later.

Stage 4) Jonah confessed to the crew he is the reason for the storm & he offered his life for their safety (read vss7-13)

⁹ And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

¹² He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.”

No one’s gods were answering the prayers so the crew decided to cast lots as a way to point guilt to someone who was the cause of this storm. I believe God orchestrated the outcome of the lots for His sovereign purposes. Jonah then confessed a few things and the sailors were even more afraid probably thinking Jonah’s God is angry at all of them. Jonah figured that the only safe solution for those onboard was to get him off the ship. Jonah then advised them to throw him overboard. Some scholars notice a type of Christ in this moment when Jonah offered his life for the deliverance of others.

Stage 5) Jonah is thrown into the sea by the crew (read vs14)

The sailors cried out to the God of the universe, Jonah’s God, because they believed Jonah was the reason for this storm and God was upset at Jonah, and they didn’t want to be held accountable for what they were about to do to Jonah.

vss15-16 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. ¹⁶ Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.

So, the crew did what Jonah told them they should do and they did what they thought might save the lives of all those onboard the ship, even though this meant Jonah would likely die in the sea. They threw him overboard. Notice, then right afterwards, the sea became peaceful. This was another wow moment act of God who is sovereignly in control of the skies and the earth and its seas. Upon the calming of the sea, the sailors gave reverential fear to Jonah’s God and sacrificed something to the Lord and made commitments of some sort.

Stage 6) God provided a great fish to swallow Jonah for 3 days & 3 nights; vs17

¹⁷ And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

The key point here is not what kind of fish it was or how big it was but that God arranged for this big fish to swallow Jonah and preserve him in there 3 days, 3 nights. We read later that Jonah survived this incredible ordeal, but many people have trouble believing it. Did you know that there have actually been numerous cases reported in more recent times of men who have survived being swallowed by a whale? But that’s beside the point here. We do not need a naturally proven explanation about Jonah surviving in a huge fish. What we need is increased belief and faith in the Lord God Almighty and what He has revealed in Scripture. Amen! You either believe God’s word that God created the Heavens and the earth or you don’t. You either believe God parted the Red Sea and delivered His people from Egypt or you don’t. You either believe that the eternal Son of God became flesh by a virgin birth, became the God-man, died, and then rose in a resurrected body or you don’t. You either believe God used a great fish to swallow up Jonah and preserve his life or you don’t. May the Lord help us have greater belief in God and His Word and may we live accordingly, all to His glory.

From God’s perspective, these circumstances on/in the water and in the big fish for Jonah were an orchestrated series of events drawing Jonah back to God and His will, to an important mission with God to reach a pagan people with God’s message.

Perhaps we know God has called us to a certain place and/or to do a certain work. And we’ve got all the reasons in the world why we think we don’t need or want to obey Him. But running away from God’s will and His Word for us is sin and there will be consequences. May the Lord help us to not disobey Him and instead be faithful obedient believers, knowing God better and better and proclaiming Him better and better to the world. I know from personal experience that running to and with God is not only way better than running away from and against God, it is the best God-honoring God blessed path to be on.

Jonah was on a downward journey in many ways but thankfully the story didn’t end there. God extended Him amazing mercy and grace and provision; and for us today, this is found in Jesus Christ. One of the great evidences of the authenticity of this Jonah story is that Jesus referred to Jonah more than once, using the three days in the belly of a great fish for His own resurrection timeframe. This is exciting! The resurrection of Christ was a key moment in God’s plan of redemption for us; to bring us to God, to be in a right relationship with Him now and forever, by grace through faith in Christ. There is nothing more eternally significant than knowing Jesus personally as your Savior and living for Him as the Lord of your life.

And remember, let’s be consistently running to God and with God! For example, let’s spend quality time in His Word, in prayer, and with His people seeking to understand God’s will and stay in His will consistently engaging in His good works which includes being salt and light in Christ and being the hands, feet, and voice of Christ in this world; being who He wants us to be and doing what He wants us to do; all for His glory! Amen!

I encourage you to prayerfully study the book of Jonah and read ahead. In chapter two you’ll notice Jonah running to God, praising Him, thanking Him. In Chapter three, Jonah’s running with God and a great revival among a large pagan group of people broke out. In chapter four, Jonah is running against God, showing his negative attitude toward God’s mercy toward Ninevah.

May the Lord God Almighty help us consistently run to God and with God and may we point others to the same, all to His glory!

What are your thoughts on Jonah chapter one, this blog, and the issue of running away from God’s will?   

Mike

Overcoming Temptation

All people experience temptation, but I’m not writing about being tempted to eat a donut occasionally or being tempted to get out of your comfort zone to speak to someone you find attractive or being tempted by a friend to engage in a potentially dangerous recreation activity. I am writing about our very own thoughts and desires that can lead to sin, engaging in something that is morally wrong, whether it’s committing wrong or omitting right in the eyes of God. I am writing also about influences that can lure us into sinning with our thoughts, desires, attitudes, and behavior.

James 1:13-15 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Temptation to sin is not sin but such a temptation can lead to sin when we give into the wrongful desire and thought. Example; I forgot to attend a meeting and I’m asked why I did not attend and I’m tempted to lie about my reason but instead of choosing to lie I choose to tell the truth. Just because I had a fleeting thought about possibly lying is not sin. That was a temptation to sin. Another example; I’m sun-bathing at the beach and notice some slender young female in a bikini walk by and I look and then I have the tempting thought to lust after her body but instead I just acknowledge mentally that she is attractive and move on to other thoughts. This is an example of temptation without sinning. Now, if I had lied or fantasized about having sexual activity with the beach girl then I would have sinned according to God’s Word (i.e. Mt. 19:18, 5:28).

All people have experience with temptation and with sinning (Rom. 3:23, 1 John 1:8). When you do sin, God has given His people a proper process to go through to get right with Him and move forward in His grace. Check out my blog entries about this at

http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-best-forgiveness-of-all.html

http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2013/09/living-in-grace-not-guilt.html

Praise God that He is forgiving but let’s not presume upon His grace and mercy by thinking we have some sort of license to sin and everything will be okay in the end. No, instead, let’s be holy as God has called us to be holy.

What I’m really focused on for this blog entry is consistently overcoming the temptation to sin and this is possible in Christ when we trust Him and apply relevant biblical principles to overcoming temptation. This is the short version and if you want to read all the extra Bible verses you can read the longer version at http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2014/10/overcoming-temptation-longer-version.html

Check out this early occurrence of the word ‘sin’ in God’s Word.

Genesis 4:7 NLT You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

Here are three principles to heed from this verse:

A. Acknowledge and learn more about the temptation to sin conflict

Watch out! There is a real spiritual conflict related to sin in this world and in our lives! God’s Word proclaims that we exist in a spiritual war. There are real spiritual enemies of God including the devil, demons, sinful ways of the world, and our own sinful flesh/nature.

- Eph. 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Cain did not realize just how vulnerable to sin he was. Let’s ask God to help us have a greater awareness and understanding of God’s will and of temptation and sin and the schemes of the spiritual enemies of God and just how weak and vulnerable to sin we really are. See also Mark 14:38, 2 Cor. 10:3-5.

B. Discern between right and wrong

Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Our greatest resource and standard for such discernment is God’s Word. For example, from God’s Word we learn about holiness and righteousness and unholiness and unrighteousness. We learn that selfishness is wrong but humbly serving others is good and that lying is wrong but telling the truth is good and that sexual relations outside of marriage is wrong but sexual relations inside a marriage between one man and one woman is good.

The Holy Bible gives us a moral compass to live by. There are commandments and principles of morality for God’s people today. Our road to more consistent victory over temptation must include our growing discernment between right and wrong in the eyes of God. This requires regular quality Bible learning/application, prayer, and discipleship learning from mature Christ-followers. Ask God to show you from Scripture what is right and what is wrong. Ask Him to give you discernment to help with decision making, thoughts, desires, attitudes, and actions. See also 1 John 4:1.

C. Master your temptations to sin

The master of all masters, the master over all, is Jesus Christ (Mt. 28:18, 1 Tim. 6:15). The key to our mastering temptation is based on the person and work of Jesus Christ, trusting Him as Savior and Lord, and living for the glory of God based on God’s Holy Word.

Here are ten biblical principles (and several verses) to help you become a master over temptation to sin:

1) Trust God; He’s Powerful and He’s faithful to His people.

a. Jesus, the God-man, was tempted but did not sin (Heb. 4:15).

b. John 16:33b.. take heart! I (Jesus) have overcome the world.

c. 1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

- God will not allow His people to be tempted to sin beyond their ability to resist. We aren’t tempted to sin in ways that no one else has ever been tempted with and God is faithful (to His redeemed) in that He won’t let His people be tempted beyond their ability to resist. God provides His people a way of enduring and escaping the temptation to the point of not sinning. Praise God! Expect this. Believe this. Ask God to help you live this.

- Jesus, as well as the Holy Spirit, is greater than he (the devil or any enemies of God) that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

- God is all-powerful (Rev. 19:6); God has given Christ-followers the Holy Spirit to help us. Also Eph. 3:20-21

- Victory comes through Christ (1 Cor. 15:57)! Over what? temptation, sin, and death

- Jesus is our great Deliverer from the bondage of sin (Gal. 1:3-5).

- See also 2 Thes. 3:3, Col. 2:13-15, Heb. 2:14, 18

- Christ’s atoning work on the cross for our sins struck a death blow to the devil and demons. Jesus is greater than them and we have victory over them in Christ and it’s just a matter of time before they are all imprisoned in the eternal Lake of Fire (Rev. 19-20). God has all the power we need to overcome this temptation to sin issue.

2) Pray for victory over your temptation.

God teaches us through His Word of the importance of praying to Him, that we need the Holy Spirit’s help in praying, that we are to ask in the name of Christ, that we are to pray with genuine faith and according to God’s  will, that such prayer makes a difference. Our real victory is in Christ, so pray for victory and thank Him for it.

James 5:16b NLT The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

See also Eph. 6:18, Rom. 8:26, John 14:13-14, James 1:6, 5:15; 1 John 5:14, Matt. 6:13, 1 Cor. 15:57.

Here is an example relevant prayer to starting the day out (i.e. The Holy Foundation Stage): Holy Father God in the name of Jesus Christ by way of the Holy Spirit, I pray that You protect me spiritually and practically from the enemies of God and the weakness of my flesh. May I be dead to worldly influences and fleshly passions that are wrong in Your eyes. When I am tempted to sin help me find a way out of it, acknowledging that You, Jesus, have overcome the world and that the Spirit of God within me is greater than he who is in the world. Help me not give the devil or anyone else a sinful foothold in my life. Help me learn from past experiences and consequences of sinning. Help me experience consistent victory in Christ over temptation. Thank You, Jesus.

Here is an example prayer when you are being tempted to sin (i.e. The Holy Fighting Stage): Holy Father God in the name of Jesus Christ by way of the Holy Spirit, I rebuke the enemies of God and the weakness of my flesh right now. Frustrate their plans. Jesus, reign in my life right now, in my thoughts, my emotions, and my body and spiritual life. I want You to be on the throne of my life right now. Help me identify any unconfessed sin right now. I confess those.  Help me repent of my sin. Fill me with the Holy Spirit. Help me find a way out from this temptation to sin. Help me submit to You and resist the devil and he will flee from me. Deliver me from any footholds of sin and any bondage to sin in my life. Help me experience victory over these temptations and the enemies of God; a victory that comes by my belief, faith, and trust in You Jesus, Your name, Your blood that was spilt on the cross to atone for my sins, and Your resurrection. Thank You, Jesus.

And you can include other various relevant Bible verses (like those found in this blog) in such prayers.

3) Keep God's Word close to your heart. 

Ps. 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. ¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you

Jesus used Scripture when tempted by the Devil (See Mt. 4). The Word of God is foundational to our life of holiness and foundational in experiencing victory over temptation and sin.

Think of this spiritual war in terms of your offense and defense. The offense includes preparing for battle, preparing for the attacks of the enemies of God, building on the foundation of Christ day to day with increased faith in Him, learning and living out biblical principles individually and in Christian community, and honoring the Lord. I call this The Holy Foundation Stage. This is how we are to live daily according to God’s Word. Then there is the defense that includes responding to specific temptations by crying out to Christ and praying some ‘go to’ prayers and Bible verses, and reaching out to mature Christ followers for help. I call this The Holy Fighting Stage. Consistently overcoming temptation must include both of these stages.

To illustrate, imagine that Saturday night is usually when you are most tempted to lust and give into sinful pleasures of the flesh. Your holy living throughout the week matters in this moment. It’s foundational in your spiritual maturing sanctification. The more you invest in this stage the more you will be prepared and discerning about the temptation and how to avoid sinning. Then comes Saturday night when you experience the furnace of temptation moment but, remember, you have been laying a holy foundation daily and now you know that you must cry out to Jesus in faith, and pray some key Bible passages, reach out to an accountability partner and flee the situation. You have been training and preparing for this moment and now you trust God to help you through the temptation and avoid sinning. Don’t try to experience victory over temptation by doing only one of these stages or neither.

Of the two example prayers above, #2, the prayer to start the day is part of The Holy Foundation Stage and the prayer for when you are being tempted to sin is part of The Holy Fighting Stage.

4) Christ followers are to stand strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God.

Eph. 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

- God’s Word teaches that strength comes from the Lord and we are also exhorted by God to be strong. We partner with God in this process. We know that He is the true source of our strength and yet we have a responsibility to be and do what He calls us to be and do. Let’s be courageous and strong, standing firm in Christ as we consistently use the full armor of God. I recommend you study and unpack the meaning of the pieces of armor and the principles in this passage.

5) Holistically submit yourself to godliness.

We are holistic beings. We have a mind (thoughts). We have emotions and feelings and attitudes. We have a physical body. And we have a spirit.

a. Rom. 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

- We are to present our bodies daily to the glory and honor of God.

- Our mind is a battle ground, a mission field because our mind and our thoughts are tempted to think and act in sinful ways. What we see, read, hear, and think about matters. We need God-honoring influences and God-honoring thinking to take place.

b. Eph. 4:19-24 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰But that is not the way you learned Christ!—²¹assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²²to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

- See also Rom. 8:6, 1 Pet. 1:14-15, 1 Pet. 4:2, Gal. 5:24, 2 Cor. 10:5, Gal. 5:16-17

- Don’t give in to the weakness of the flesh, sin nature. View your body as dead to the sin nature and live to righteousness in Christ. Our attitudes and desires are to honor God. Also, we must be careful not to be feelings and emotions driven. We need to believe God and believe His Word for His people today. Our feelings can deceive us. We need to trust God and His revelation to us.

6) Abstain, resist, and flee.

a. Eph. 4:27 and give no opportunity (NIV foothold; leverage against yourself) to the devil

b. James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

c. 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

d. 1 Cor. 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

- Joseph is a good example of fleeing from sexual immorality. He ran away from Potipher’s wife after her sexual advances.

e. 1 Thes. 4:3-5 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,⁵ not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

- See also 2 Tim. 2:22, Col. 3:5, Rom. 13:14, 1 Pet. 2:11, Tit. 2:12

- Abstain from things that might lead to compromising situations, to sinning. Don’t just say “no” to temptation to sin, say “yes” to holiness and godliness in Christ.

7) Be an overcomer by faith in Christ.

1 John 5:4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

- Christ-followers are ultimately overcomers by the fact of their salvation in Christ. But there is also a need to emphasize and mature in our daily living faith in Christ. Ask Christ for increased faith (Luke 17:5). Pray that your faith will not fail when tempted (like Jesus did for His disciples; Luke 22:32). Saving and Living faith upon Christ as your Savior and the Lord of your life is essential in having victory over temptation (i.e. 1 Pet. 5:9, Eph. 6:16).

8) Be an overcomer with good.

Rom. 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

See also 1 Pet. 2:8-11

- You won’t overcome evil by wallowing in sin. The good in these verses is the kind of good that pleases God not some form of selfish good or ulterior motive good or fleshly good. God is truly good and true goodness is part of the Fruit of the Spirit in the life of Christ-followers who are also created in Christ to do good works for God’s glory. Seek to be good in Christ and to do good in the name of Christ.

9) Walk the way of the wise and understand the Lord’s will.

Eph. 5:15-17 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

- Don’t be foolish or lazy. Redeem your time and ask God for wisdom for living. Prioritize your time around God’s will for your life (James 1:5-6, 4:13-15).

- There is much about God’s will that is understandable (with God’s gracious help) or this Bible statement by Paul would not be true. Much of God’s will for us is already revealed through Scripture; sometimes in specifics and at other times with principles to live by.

10) Do all to the glory of God.

1 Cor. 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 

This is an over-arching purpose verse for us. Whatever the thought, desire, or decision to make, ask yourself, ‘If I move forward with this, will I be glorifying and pleasing the Lord according to His Word and character and will?’ We have a choice to please God or not with our thoughts, desires, attitudes, actions, and spiritual lives. Let’s choose holiness according to God’s standard. Let’s choose to honor God and glorify God with our lives. Let’s trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and live for Him.

As you can see, God provides and promises His people all kinds of help in the battle with temptation and sin.  

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 2 Pet. 1:3-4

In Christ, we can consistently overcome temptation to sin by trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord and living for the glory of God based on God’s Holy Word.

What are your thoughts about what I’ve posted here regarding overcoming temptation?

Mike

Note: All Bible verses are ESV unless otherwise noted. 

Overcoming Temptation (longer version)

All people experience temptation, but I’m not writing about being tempted to eat a donut occasionally or being tempted to get out of your comfort zone to speak to someone you find attractive or being tempted by a friend to engage in a potentially dangerous recreation activity. I am writing about our very own thoughts and desires that can lead to sin, engaging in something that is morally wrong, whether it’s committing wrong or omitting right in the eyes of God. I am writing also about influences that can lure us into sinning with our thoughts, desires, attitudes, and behavior.

James 1:13-15 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Temptation to sin is not sin but such a temptation can lead to sin when we give into the wrongful desire and thought. Example; I forgot to attend a meeting and I’m asked why I did not attend and I’m tempted to lie about my reason but instead of choosing to lie I choose to tell the truth. Just because I had a fleeting thought about possibly lying is not sin. That was a temptation to sin. Another example; I’m sun-bathing at the beach and notice some slender young female in a bikini walk by and I look and then I have the tempting thought to lust after her body but instead I just acknowledge mentally that she is attractive and move on to other thoughts. This is an example of temptation without sinning. Now, if I had lied or fantasized about having sexual activity with the beach girl then I would have sinned according to God’s Word (i.e. Mt. 19:18, 5:28).

All people have experience with temptation and with sinning (Rom. 3:23, 1 John 1:8). When you do sin, God has given His people a proper process to go through to get right with Him and move forward in His grace. Check out my blog entries about this at

http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-best-forgiveness-of-all.html

http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2013/09/living-in-grace-not-guilt.html

Praise God that He is forgiving but let’s not presume upon His grace and mercy by thinking we have some sort of license to sin and everything will be okay in the end. No, instead, let’s be holy as God has called us to be holy.

What I’m really focused on for this blog entry is consistently overcoming the temptation to sin and this is possible in Christ when we trust Him and apply relevant biblical principles to overcoming temptation. This is the short version and if you want to read all the extra Bible verses you can read the longer version at LINK????.  

Check out this early occurrence of the word ‘sin’ in God’s Word.

Genesis 4:7 NLT You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

Here are three principles to heed from this verse:

A. Acknowledge and learn more about the temptation to sin conflict

Watch out! There is a real spiritual conflict related to sin in this world and in our lives! God’s Word proclaims that we exist in a spiritual war. There are real spiritual enemies of God including the devil, demons, sinful ways of the world, and our own sinful flesh/nature.

- Eph. 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Cain did not realize just how vulnerable to sin he was. Let’s ask God to help us have a greater awareness and understanding of God’s will and of temptation and sin and the schemes of the spiritual enemies of God and just how weak and vulnerable to sin we really are. See also Mark 14:38, 2 Cor. 10:3-5.

B. Discern between right and wrong

Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Our greatest resource and standard for such discernment is God’s Word. For example, from God’s Word we learn about holiness and righteousness and unholiness and unrighteousness. We learn that selfishness is wrong but humbly serving others is good and that lying is wrong but telling the truth is good and that sexual relations outside of marriage is wrong but sexual relations inside a marriage between one man and one woman is good.

The Holy Bible gives us a moral compass to live by. There are commandments and principles of morality for God’s people today. Our road to more consistent victory over temptation must include our growing discernment between right and wrong in the eyes of God. This requires regular quality Bible learning/application, prayer, and discipleship learning from mature Christ-followers. Ask God to show you from Scripture what is right and what is wrong. Ask Him to give you discernment to help with decision making, thoughts, desires, attitudes, and actions. See also 1 John 4:1.

C. Master your temptations to sin

The master of all masters, the master over all, is Jesus Christ (Mt. 28:18, 1 Tim. 6:15). The key to our mastering temptation is based on the person and work of Jesus Christ, trusting Him as Savior and Lord, and living for the glory of God based on God’s Holy Word.

Here are ten biblical principles (and several verses) to help you become a master over temptation to sin:

1) Trust God; He’s Powerful and He’s faithful to His people.

a. Jesus, the God-man, was tempted but did not sin (Heb. 4:15).

b. John 16:33b.. take heart! I (Jesus) have overcome the world.

c. 1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

- God will not allow His people to be tempted to sin beyond their ability to resist. We aren’t tempted to sin in ways that no one else has ever been tempted with and God is faithful (to His redeemed) in that He won’t let His people be tempted beyond their ability to resist. God provides His people a way of enduring and escaping the temptation to the point of not sinning. Praise God! Expect this. Believe this. Ask God to help you live this.

- Jesus, as well as the Holy Spirit, is greater than he (the devil or any enemies of God) that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

- God is all-powerful (Rev. 19:6); God has given Christ-followers the Holy Spirit to help us. Also Eph. 3:20-21

- Victory comes through Christ (1 Cor. 15:57)! Over what? temptation, sin, and death

- Jesus is our great Deliverer from the bondage of sin (Gal. 1:3-5).

- See also 2 Thes. 3:3, Col. 2:13-15, Heb. 2:14, 18

- Christ’s atoning work on the cross for our sins struck a death blow to the devil and demons. Jesus is greater than them and we have victory over them in Christ and it’s just a matter of time before they are all imprisoned in the eternal Lake of Fire (Rev. 19-20). God has all the power we need to overcome this temptation to sin issue.

2) Pray for victory over your temptation.

God teaches us through His Word of the importance of praying to Him, that we need the Holy Spirit’s help in praying, that we are to ask in the name of Christ, that we are to pray with genuine faith and according to God’s  will, that such prayer makes a difference. Our real victory is in Christ, so pray for victory and thank Him for it.

James 5:16b NLT The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

See also Eph. 6:18, Rom. 8:26, John 14:13-14, James 1:6, 5:15; 1 John 5:14, Matt. 6:13, 1 Cor. 15:57.

Here is an example relevant prayer to starting the day out (i.e. The Holy Foundation Stage): Holy Father God in the name of Jesus Christ by way of the Holy Spirit, I pray that You protect me spiritually and practically from the enemies of God and the weakness of my flesh. May I be dead to worldly influences and fleshly passions that are wrong in Your eyes. When I am tempted to sin help me find a way out of it, acknowledging that You, Jesus, have overcome the world and that the Spirit of God within me is greater than he who is in the world. Help me not give the devil or anyone else a sinful foothold in my life. Help me learn from past experiences and consequences of sinning. Help me experience consistent victory in Christ over temptation. Thank You, Jesus.

Here is an example prayer when you are being tempted to sin (i.e. The Holy Fighting Stage): Holy Father God in the name of Jesus Christ by way of the Holy Spirit, I rebuke the enemies of God and the weakness of my flesh right now. Frustrate their plans. Jesus, reign in my life right now, in my thoughts, my emotions, and my body and spiritual life. I want You to be on the throne of my life right now. Help me identify any unconfessed sin right now. I confess those.  Help me repent of my sin. Fill me with the Holy Spirit. Help me find a way out from this temptation to sin. Help me submit to You and resist the devil and he will flee from me. Deliver me from any footholds of sin and any bondage to sin in my life. Help me experience victory over these temptations and the enemies of God; a victory that comes by my belief, faith, and trust in You Jesus, Your name, Your blood that was spilt on the cross to atone for my sins, and Your resurrection. Thank You, Jesus.

And you can include other various relevant Bible verses (like those found in this blog) in such prayers.

3) Keep God's Word close to your heart. 

Ps. 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. ¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you

Jesus used Scripture when tempted by the Devil (See Mt. 4). The Word of God is foundational to our life of holiness and foundational in experiencing victory over temptation and sin.

Think of this spiritual war in terms of your offense and defense. The offense includes preparing for battle, preparing for the attacks of the enemies of God, building on the foundation of Christ day to day with increased faith in Him, learning and living out biblical principles individually and in Christian community, and honoring the Lord. I call this The Holy Foundation Stage. This is how we are to live daily according to God’s Word. Then there is the defense that includes responding to specific temptations by crying out to Christ and praying some ‘go to’ prayers and Bible verses, and reaching out to mature Christ followers for help. I call this The Holy Fighting Stage. Consistently overcoming temptation must include both of these stages.

To illustrate, imagine that Saturday night is usually when you are most tempted to lust and give into sinful pleasures of the flesh. Your holy living throughout the week matters in this moment. It’s foundational in your spiritual maturing sanctification. The more you invest in this stage the more you will be prepared and discerning about the temptation and how to avoid sinning. Then comes Saturday night when you experience the furnace of temptation moment but, remember, you have been laying a holy foundation daily and now you know that you must cry out to Jesus in faith, and pray some key Bible passages, reach out to an accountability partner and flee the situation. You have been training and preparing for this moment and now you trust God to help you through the temptation and avoid sinning. Don’t try to experience victory over temptation by doing only one of these stages or neither.

Of the two example prayers above, #2, the prayer to start the day is part of The Holy Foundation Stage and the prayer for when you are being tempted to sin is part of The Holy Fighting Stage.

4) Christ followers are to stand strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God.

Eph. 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

- God’s Word teaches that strength comes from the Lord and we are also exhorted by God to be strong. We partner with God in this process. We know that He is the true source of our strength and yet we have a responsibility to be and do what He calls us to be and do. Let’s be courageous and strong, standing firm in Christ as we consistently use the full armor of God. I recommend you study and unpack the meaning of the pieces of armor and the principles in this passage.

5) Holistically submit yourself to godliness.

We are holistic beings. We have a mind (thoughts). We have emotions and feelings and attitudes. We have a physical body. And we have a spirit.

a. Rom. 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

- We are to present our bodies daily to the glory and honor of God.

- Our mind is a battle ground, a mission field because our mind and our thoughts are tempted to think and act in sinful ways. What we see, read, hear, and think about matters. We need God-honoring influences and God-honoring thinking to take place.

b. Eph. 4:19-24 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰But that is not the way you learned Christ!—²¹assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²²to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

- See also Rom. 8:6, 1 Pet. 1:14-15, 1 Pet. 4:2, Gal. 5:24, 2 Cor. 10:5, Gal. 5:16-17

- Don’t give in to the weakness of the flesh, sin nature. View your body as dead to the sin nature and live to righteousness in Christ. Our attitudes and desires are to honor God. Also, we must be careful not to be feelings and emotions driven. We need to believe God and believe His Word for His people today. Our feelings can deceive us. We need to trust God and His revelation to us.

6) Abstain, resist, and flee.

a. Eph. 4:27 and give no opportunity (NIV foothold; leverage against yourself) to the devil

b. James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

c. 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

d. 1 Cor. 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

- Joseph is a good example of fleeing from sexual immorality. He ran away from Potipher’s wife after her sexual advances.

e. 1 Thes. 4:3-5 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,⁵ not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

- See also 2 Tim. 2:22, Col. 3:5, Rom. 13:14, 1 Pet. 2:11, Tit. 2:12

- Abstain from things that might lead to compromising situations, to sinning. Don’t just say “no” to temptation to sin, say “yes” to holiness and godliness in Christ.

7) Be an overcomer by faith in Christ.

1 John 5:4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

- Christ-followers are ultimately overcomers by the fact of their salvation in Christ. But there is also a need to emphasize and mature in our daily living faith in Christ. Ask Christ for increased faith (Luke 17:5). Pray that your faith will not fail when tempted (like Jesus did for His disciples; Luke 22:32). Saving and Living faith upon Christ as your Savior and the Lord of your life is essential in having victory over temptation (i.e. 1 Pet. 5:9, Eph. 6:16).

8) Be an overcomer with good.

Rom. 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

See also 1 Pet. 2:8-11

- You won’t overcome evil by wallowing in sin. The good in these verses is the kind of good that pleases God not some form of selfish good or ulterior motive good or fleshly good. God is truly good and true goodness is part of the Fruit of the Spirit in the life of Christ-followers who are also created in Christ to do good works for God’s glory. Seek to be good in Christ and to do good in the name of Christ.

9) Walk the way of the wise and understand the Lord’s will.

Eph. 5:15-17 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

- Don’t be foolish or lazy. Redeem your time and ask God for wisdom for living. Prioritize your time around God’s will for your life (James 1:5-6, 4:13-15).

- There is much about God’s will that is understandable (with God’s gracious help) or this Bible statement by Paul would not be true. Much of God’s will for us is already revealed through Scripture; sometimes in specifics and at others times with principles to live by.

10) Do all to the glory of God.

1 Cor. 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 

This is an over-arching purpose verse for us. Whatever the thought, desire, or decision to make, ask yourself, ‘If I move forward with this, will I be glorifying and pleasing the Lord according to His Word and character and will?’ We have a choice to please God or not with our thoughts, desires, attitudes, actions, and spiritual lives. Let’s choose holiness according to God’s standard. Let’s choose to honor God and glorify God with our lives. Let’s trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and live for Him.

As you can see, God provides and promises His people all kinds of help in the battle with temptation and sin.  

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 2 Pet. 1:3-4

In Christ, we can consistently overcome temptation to sin by trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord and living for the glory of God based on God’s Holy Word.

What are your thoughts about what I’ve posted here regarding overcoming temptation?

Mike

Note: All Bible verses are ESV unless otherwise noted.