1 Corithians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
In reality, every temptation is common to man, there is nothing like this is beyond my resistance, all temptation is common to man, for instance, Joseph didn’t self-pity when faced with the temptation of Potiphar’s wife who wanted to lure him into His masters bed (Genesis 39:12-18), neither did Jesus when He was fasting and offered the glory whole world (Luke:4) ,both never gave in however the force of the temptation. Imagine an irresistible force come against you but you still stand-(this battle is won in the mind).
The same areas that Adam and Eve were tempted are the same areas Jesus was tempted; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life!!
Lust of the flesh; desire to do something outside the will of the God, the act / cravings of the body; food, sex etc.
Knox said, “I know how hard the battle is between the flesh and the spirit under the heavy cross of affliction, when no worldly defense but present death doth appear. I know the grudging and murmuring complaints of the flesh…”
Lust of the eyes, whatever is appealing to your senses, whatever you convet, desire to have outside the will of God , Eve saw and desired.
Genesis 3:6
[6]And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate.
Cecil Alexander said,
“Jesus calls us from the worship
Of the vain world’s golden store;
From each idol that would keep us,
Saying, ‘Christian, love Me more.’”
Pride of life , a desire for fame, glamour, status, once the devil put the thought of God knows you would be like gods, all knowing and wise , the need to gain that status, a pride of life caused a desire in Eve to partake of ‘the fruit’…
This kind carries the vile as pride led Lucifer to be thrown out of Gods domain.
(Genesis 3:5
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.)
Hebrews:12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
We have a great cloud of witnesses that survived ‘it’, people we can look at and be moved to move, held to persist, see to hold on to faith, that situation no matter what only has power when we yield ourselves.
I for one do have a sweet tooth but heard something on the less sugar you partake the less you’ll crave it, for like a week I dare to take no sweet sugars and the desire is not there any a month later.
We forsake alot when we ‘choose’ to yield to temptations, sensual appeal, wealth/status / importance, in all one becomes a soul surrendered to damnation.
What would have happened if Jesus gave in ? What would have happened if Joseph gave in?
In prison, Joseph was lifted, and in death Jesus was lifted. Untamed appetites will make what is un pleasant seem as if you are missing out on something really great but in the end it becomes a damnation, a loss, a forfeiting , like for Adam, it led to spiritualdeath, like Jacob , it attracted a bondage of sorts being cheated by Laban, like Israel , a fofeited fountain of life!!
(Jonah 2:8
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.)
Jeremiah 2:13
For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
Proverbs says, guard your heart, Galatians says walk by the spirit, James adds submit to God , resist the devil and He will flee from you, David proclaims, His word is a lamb unto your feet, Paul says , take captive every thought that sets it’s self against the knowledge of God , take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Prophetic Utterance:
My redeemed state leads me to take hold of the lamp of God, His word/lamp for my light and the lamb of God my cleansing, my saviour for my life, He directs my paths; I take captive every thought and desire to God’s obedience, by His spirit, I conquer.
Halleluya
Guiding Text:
1 John:2:16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.