The
best and important character to study in response to temptation is Jesus
Christ. He is our best example. The bible declares that he was tempted in all
point, yet without sin. You might say is because he was the son of God. No doubt
about that; but was also a man subject to like passions as we are. In one point
of his life, he become hungry, tasty, fell asleep, eat, prayed, grew, tempted
etc. this means he wasn’t superhuman when he was here on earth.
Reading from the book of Luke 4:4-13, each temptation of Satan was meet
with the same answer or response “It is written”. Jesus overcomes the
temptation of Satan not because he was the son of God, but because he knew what
was written. He had studied the scriptures and was fully acquainted with what
the scripture says. If the son of God used the written word to effectively
overcome the enemy when he came tempting him, you also need to use it to resist
your own temptation.
If there is anything worth pondering over here
on earth, it is the word of God. As you continually ponder over
the word of God, the spirit of the word takes its residence in you. Jesus said;
“…the
words I speak to you they are spirit”
(John 6:63)
Allow
the word of God and the Holy Spirit to occupy your mind. Your mind needs to be
occupied with God’s thoughts. Only then will you be able to rule successfully
over every temptation that may come your way. Jesus was full of the Spirit; and
the written word was also richly stored in him. That is why He was able to
overcome all the tricks of the enemy.
Make it known unto you that, the enemy has
power. The reason why many believers become victims of temptation is as a
result of lack of adequate power. When the power of the enemy exceeds that of
yours, you have no option than to obey his commands.
“Behold, I give you the authority to trample
on servants and scorpion, and over all the powers of the enemy…”
(Luke 10:19)
Read with me also from the Amplified bible,
“Behold! I have given you authority and
power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength
and ability] over all the powers that the enemy [possesses]….”
Though the enemy has power, but we believers
have been given greater power and authority to trample over all the powers of
the enemy being it physical and mental.
The source of this greater power is the word of
God. When the word of God gets hold of you, you become treat to the enemy. So Apostle
Paul admonished believers saying
“Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly”
(Colo. 3:16)
The
power of the Holy Spirit is present in the word. It is said that “God’s word is
His spirit in a written form”. No wonder Jesus said, “The word I speak to you
they are Spirit (John 6:63).
Whenever we store up the word of God, the
divine sperm in us, we are storing and at the same time activating the power of
God in us. Remember God is all powerful, and the scripture continue to say in
the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God
(John 1:1). Take note: The word was God; and if God is all powerful, then it
means the word is powerful or contain power. It is further declared in Romans
1:16.
“For
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God….”
“For
the word of God is living and powerful…”
(Hebrews
4:12)
“While Peter yet spake these words, the
Holy Ghost fell on all of them which heard the word” (Acts 10:44)
As the people received the word, the power of
the Holy Spirit came upon them. I see you being enveloped by the power of the
word as you feed therein.
“Is
not my word like as a fire?”
(Jeremiah 23:29)
God’s
power is present in His word. God’s word is the carrier of His power. That is
our greater source of power to overcome all the powers of the enemy. You can’t
afford to become a victim of the enemies’ temptation while power is available
to overcome. You can never have dominion over temptation and sin without
empowerment. Bishop David Oyedepo said “The only language that the enemy
respect is power”.
“Through
the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee” (Psalm 66:3)
Until
you are empowered by the word of God, (the divine sperm), you can’t have
dominion over temptations not to even talk of sin. When the word of God dwells
in you richly, it begins to release power to overcome every trial of the enemy.
David said
“I have thought much about your words, and
stored them in my heart so that they would hold me back from sin”.
(Psalm 119:11 TLB)
The
only tool that can hold you back from sin is the divine sperm of God. Spend
some time to meditate on the word. For the word to produce the required power,
you need to spend quality time pondering over it. David said “I have thought much about your word”.
In
other words, take charge of your mind, you have to determine what gets into it or
what to think of. The thought of a man directly or indirectly influences his
life. Therefore, think about the right things and be influenced positively. Get
into the word, and begin to search the word of God concerning the area you are
being tempted. As you meditate: take deep thought about the scriptures and
start speaking it to yourself, your thought pattern will be organized by the
power of God’s word to confront all those challenged. Don’t leave your mind
empty (void of the word of God).
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are
of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on
these things”.
(Philippians 4:8)
This
is what Rev. Alfred Kusi Agyemang calls the thinking syllabus. God in his own
way has given us what to think of. All
these thinking patterns can be found in His word. Get the word and be empowered
to overcome every trial of the enemy that first take root in our thought. As
you feed on the word, your mind is being renew to conform to the thinking
pattern of the Lord (the mind of Christ).
If a believer commits to a daily routine of bible
reading immediately after salvation, he or she will be prepared for Satan’s
opposition. The enormous influence of the word in our lives is an effective
offensive weapon against Satan’s attack.
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his
ways? By taking heed thereto according to thy word”.
(Psalm 119:9 KJV)
“How can a young man stay pure? By reading
your word and following its rules”
(Psalm 119:9 TLB)
It is
not enough to read the word but also to follow all the instructions given. Rev.
Alfred Kusi Agyemang said, instructed people are protected people. If you obey
the instructions of the word, you will be protected against every form of trail
that the enemy will bring your way.
There
is power in the name and blood of Jesus and there is power in prayer. Jesus
told the disciples to pray that they may not enter into temptation, but before
prayer, you need to have a clear understanding of what the word of God says
concerning that temptation or challenge.
Please
don’t stand face to face with temptation and start praying, mentioning the name
of Jesus while the word of God says flee.
May you receive grace to be a student of the word, that thou mayest receive power(influence of the Holy Spirit) to overcome temptation.
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