Resisting Temptation: An Act of Love?

When we face temptation, we tend to think only of ourselves. Rarely do we consider how our actions might affect others. But temptation is an interpersonal issue that draws people into a tangled web and damages relationships. This was certainly the case for Joseph inGenesis 39.

Abide in Me

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. - (John 15:4)

As you put God first in your life, make certain that what you do is rooted in relationship rather than in rules. Too frequently people will confuse structure for surrender. They cross off a list and think that they have put God first. When in actuality, if God is first, you don’t need a list because you will naturally seek Him, His heart, and His way in your own personal surrender out of love. Whenever religious activity trumps relationship, the victory of Christ is no longer experienced in the fullness it ought to be in the believer’s life.

FEED YOURSELF WITH SPIRITUAL FOOD

The Words of God is food for your spirit life.

Your body needs natural food every day. When your body does not get good food, it becomes weak and you feel tired. This is the same for your spirit. Your spirit needs good spiritual food everyday. Your spirit becomes weak when he does not received good spiritual food.

God is Holy; God is Love

Can God be both Holy and loving? Do idols belong in the temple of God? 

We are the temple of the living God, as God himself says, ‘I will live with these people and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.’ 
The Lord also says, ‘Leave them and stay away! Don’t touch anything that isn’t clean. Then I will welcome you and be your Father. You will be my sons and my daughters, as surely as I am God, the All-Powerful.’

2 Corinthians 6:16-18

Many say God’s holiness makes him judgmental, demanding a very high moral standard. Others say if God is loving, then he won’t condemn anyone but all will go to Heaven. Are God’s holiness and love opposite extremes?

Spend Money Wisely

Scripture:“You have planted much but harvest little…You earn money, but put it into a bag with holes.” Haggai 1:6

Are you constantly spending more than you earn? 

YOU ARE JESUS’ BROTHER OR SISTER

While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12 : 46-50)

WHAT DOES FORGIVENESS FEEL LIKE?

What emotions accompany forgiveness?

 “Because you belong to Him [Christ Jesus], the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” Romans 8:2

Forgiveness is freeing. Through Jesus Christ, you have freedom from the power of sin and death in your life! This feeling of freedom can also be felt when you forgive others.

FORGIVE OTHERS AS GOD HAS FORGIVEN YOU

Scripture: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” Luke 7:41-42 (NLT)

Once Jesus shared a meal with a very judgmental person. He used this story to show that a person who understands their debt and receives forgiveness will have great love for the one who forgives. Being judgmental and unforgiving shows that you have little regard for God’s forgiveness.

WHAT DOES FORGIVENESS FEEL LIKE?

What emotions accompany forgiveness?

 “Because you belong to Him [Christ Jesus], the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” Romans 8:2

Forgiveness is freeing. Through Jesus Christ, you have freedom from the power of sin and death in your life! This feeling of freedom can also be felt when you forgive others.

God’s Forgiveness

Freedom from sin is freedom from its guilt; this freedom is brought to us by God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ. God“...is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins” (Ephesians 1:7). You can be confident God’s grace is working in your life: “if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9). When you are forgiven, you might experience joy and the feeling a great “burden” (Matthew 11:28) has been lifted.

PRAY BELIEVING YOU RECEIVE

...Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ~Mark 11:24 (NIV)

“Faith in a prayer-hearing God will make a prayer-loving Christian.” - Andrew Murray

Mark 11:24 is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible. It puts no limits on God. It puts no limits on what you can ask for. It simply says, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” It does not say it might be yours. It does not say it could be yours. It says it WILL be yours. So what are you praying about?

Here are some ideas to add to your prayer list: