"Overcoming Temptation"
"So I say live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of
the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the
Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are
in conflict with each other...Those who belong to Christ Jesus have
crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live
by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:16,17,24,25
The Apostle Paul warns, "If you think you are standing firm, be careful
that you don't fall!" Many of us fall prey to sin simply because we
allow ourselves to be placed in situations we cannot handle. In short,
we are overconfident. To defeat temptation we must operate from a
position of strength, not weakness.
Temptation is a fact of
life; it's inescapable. We can minimize it by practicing spiritual
disciplines and avoiding obviously tempting situations, but we cannot
escape it. Here are five spiritual disciplines which have proved
effective for generations of believers.
1. Recognize your limitations
2. Develop an early warning system
3. Hide the Word of God in your heart
4. Confess your temptations to someone you can trust
5. Flee
(Richard Exley - 1993)
Now ask God to help you put these principles into practice day by day.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Saturday, July 12, 2014
"Earthquake, Wind & Fire?" by Chad O
"Earthquake, Wind or Fire?"
Silence is not an enemy to be avoided, but a friend to be embraced. It is so foreign to most of us, you may have to repeat the discipline of "silence" for several days in a row before it becomes truly meaningful. Silence is the language of intimacy. Even as the heart speaks through silence, so God also speaks to the heart through silence.
1 Kings 19:11-13
"The Lord said, 'go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord for the Lord is about to pass by.'
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave...."
In silence God teaches us the deep mysteries of the Spirit, the things that can never be communicated with mere words. Initially our relationship with God, like the rest of our life, is filled with noisy busyness, but as we become more intimate the silence deepens, and in the silence God speaks to us like a friend with a friend. And slowly, ever so slowly, over months and sometimes years, we come to understand the wisdom of silence. In truth, the most profound and holy things God communicates to men are often communicated in silence.
Silence is not an enemy to be avoided, but a friend to be embraced. It is so foreign to most of us, you may have to repeat the discipline of "silence" for several days in a row before it becomes truly meaningful. Silence is the language of intimacy. Even as the heart speaks through silence, so God also speaks to the heart through silence.
1 Kings 19:11-13
"The Lord said, 'go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord for the Lord is about to pass by.'
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave...."
In silence God teaches us the deep mysteries of the Spirit, the things that can never be communicated with mere words. Initially our relationship with God, like the rest of our life, is filled with noisy busyness, but as we become more intimate the silence deepens, and in the silence God speaks to us like a friend with a friend. And slowly, ever so slowly, over months and sometimes years, we come to understand the wisdom of silence. In truth, the most profound and holy things God communicates to men are often communicated in silence.
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