August 9 – A Tap on the Window, a Knock on the Door
James 4:7: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Temptation crouches at our door every given day and this will happen as long as we live in a fallen world system. However, the closer we are to Christ, His light and angels surround us and keep out all evil a bay and it is not so easy to fall. We can stare at the face of temptation and coolly walk away. If we walk in the flesh, it is far easier for temptations to crouch at our door. If we are already walking in dangerous territory, we are not immune to a little tap on the window and a knock on the door. We hastily open it to something more, an avenue of sin. Satan sends temptation in the guise of sweetness, goodness, charm, enchantment, pleasure and happiness. In this zone, you tend to forget your worries and responsibilities. That moment of pleasure is like wine or a drug. It gives a shot of euphoria but the after affects are terrible, groggy headed, bad-tempered and our life starts to look upside-down. That brief pleasure for us brings pain for our loved one. Falling into temptation, Eve closed her heart to God and listened to the snake as she was devoured by desire. Adam hid from God in shame, Each evening, Adam and Eve would hear the footsteps of God. Don’t talk to the devil but draw close to God.Don’t reason with the devil.
Jesus defeated three temptations that are common to everyone. Each time Satan came to Him to tempt Him. He said, It is written.”
Satan used the temptation of flesh and appetite. He said, in Luke 4:3 “If you are God’s Son, tell this stone to turn into bread.” Jesus responded, “No one can live on only bread.” Today, people are tempted by food and material gain. They have given up their call for money. They have compromised the truth for money. Mammon started to rule them and thus in times of trials, they fall so hard and cannot get up. They did not resist the temptation of the flesh. God is our provider, Jehovah Jireh, but if our provision makes us compromise, we have to beware it is not from the devil. Running after the lusts of our flesh to fill our belly causes broken relationships, adultery, and many other sins.
The next temptation was of power: The devil told Jesus, “I will give power and glory to you. Just worship me, and you can have it all.” Jesus said, “The Scriptures say: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only Him!’ The devil also promotes people, puts them in high places. People even make blood pacts with the devil to gain high positions. Sorcery, idolatry and worship false powers to gain power will bind us in further darkness. Flee from the temptation of power.
The next temptation was protection: We often think some power will protect us and run to that. Nations look to others for protection and compromise integrity and convictions. They close their eyes to the wrongs of the other person or nation for sake of protection. Because of fear and need for protection, Satan takes advantage of our fears and starts to control our lives.
We need to call our weakness that we cave into what it is.. Recognize its face. Call it out and rebuke it. Know what is your weakness and if temptation knocks on your door, close the door and shut the windows. Lock it out. Then ask God to help you. In that hour of prayer, let Him renew your mind, and get into a holy sanctified alignment with God. As you keep doing this as a habit, the power of temptation will break over your life.
Rita
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