Ezekiel 2:1-7 – “Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you!” 2 As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me. 3 Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. 4 “I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ 5 “As for them, whether they listen or not — for they are a rebellious house — they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 “And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. 7 “But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.”  NASB

I have discovered times in my life when the LORD instructed me to deliver a message that I knew would not be well received by my audience.  It was not a message of pleasantries or platitudes, but a challenge from the Spirit of God over a condition or a call to action.  God called Ezekiel, and his assignment was not enviable for anyone who wants peace and has even a smidgen of love in their hearts for people. 

God told Ezekiel that He was sending him to a rebellious, stubborn, and obstinate people.  Does that sound like an assignment you’d relish being given?  Not me!  I know what it is like to stand in the middle of the proverbial stream and everyone wanting to go with the current and the Spirit of God having me declare, “NO!  Not that way, this way.”  Going against the current is not easy and will meet much resistance and opposition, but if God says that is what God wants, the prize is not downstream but up. 

Then God told him, “Neither fear them nor their words…”  Okay, God, I have learned from experience and reading your word that when you say Do Not Fear, there is something to fear.  There is something that will potentially do harm.  There is something I will face that will be difficult and might make me want to concede and go with the flow.  LORD, when you so “do not fear,” my flesh says, “be afraid, be very afraid.”  

If He had said, Do Not Fear, it might not be so bad, but He says, “…though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions…”  What?  Wait a minute God that sounds like severe persecution and physical and spiritual pain.  It’s about that time, we begin to say, “Lord, I’m not qualified….”  We try to pull a Moses on God and offer excuses for not fulfilling His commission.  However, God will not be deterred, and we might have a Jonah experience, and our only deliverance and theirs is for us to Obey!

There is a truth in God that would behoove us to consider.  If God tells us to warn people, we are responsible for giving that warning, often in tears.  It is not our responsibility to make them repent.  That is totally and ultimately their decision and choice.  But, if we fail to warn them and sound the alarm, we become participants in their failure.  

We are messengers; He is the God of the message!  We convey the message, and He brings conviction to the heart.  Too much of today’s church has lost the voice and office of the prophet of God declaring God’s “Thus Says the Lord.”  When the Church goes silent, evil prevails, and I am praying for God’s voice to be heard in our churches again so that we might hear His still, small voice saying, “This is the way walk in it.” 

God help us to return to You so that You might return to us and restore us! 

Abundant Blessing is my desire and prayer for each of your lives.

Psalm 8:3-9 – “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4 What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!” NASB

I love being outdoors, enjoying God’s creation and the feeling of being free that accompanies being outside the confines of four walls.  Everyone does not share that sense of being that I do when I’m outside, but how could anyone view the world and not see Creation? 

How could anything so perfect, filled with beauty and the intricate detail of the universe, have just happened? To ask me to believe that some nebula or cosmic reaction, as in the “Big Bang Theory,” where a rapid expansion of matter created a massive explosion, and the universe suddenly came into being.  Where did the original matter come from?  How did everything fall so perfectly into place with positioning, orbits, gravitational fields, etc. happen so perfectly?  Sorry, but I believe that design indicates a designer, and when I consider the work of the heavens, the earth, and mankind, I see design.

I am awed when I consider the Biblical view of creation!  I look at the heavens, earth, moon, stars, and all that exists and contemplate the universe and its incredible detail and perfect positioning. I look at man and find myself speechless that God, the creator, and originator of everything, would give such care to man, whom He has described as the pinnacle of His creation. 

I am reminded of the words of Jesus in Matthew 6 when He talked about worry and concern over life and provisions.  He described God’s care for the animals and birds, the flowers of the field, and everything in the natural then said, “But if God so clothes the grass of the field… How Much More…” (v.30).  How much more will He do for you and me!  Amazing is probably an inadequate description, but WOW!  His directive was to seek God first and banish worry because the God who created us would care for us with incredible care.

I am not a scientist trained in anatomy or biology, but when I consider the human body for a layman’s understanding, I believe!  When I view the planetary orbits and how the planets are held in perfect alignment, I believe! 

When I consider the positioning of our Terra firma and how we have winter and summer, heat and cold, and the seasons in perfect harmony and in such a way as to provide and sustain life, I believe!  When I hear the alarmist talk about man-made global warming or climate change, I consider it a slap in the face of our Creator and a diminishing of His care and keeping and elevating man to a position that he does not deserve and in which he cannot function. 

God, not man, is in charge, and puny man, the creation of the Almighty God who spoke the worlds into existence perfectly, is not going to destroy God’s creation.  We are to be good stewards, but we are not gods. There is only one God; He is still Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent.  He is not asleep at the wheel, on vacation, or taking a nap. 

When I consider God’s handiwork, my heart soars with a good theme, and joy floods my being.  In considering God’s work in His creation, I have confidence in the Promises of God that He will keep that which I have committed to Him against that day. He is coming back just like He promised.  We are more than conquerors through Jesus; we can ask what we will and have confidence that He will bring it to pass.  My heart soars as I view the work of God’s hand in the universe! 

God bless you as you enjoy His creation and bask in His divine presence. 

Nehemiah 4:6 – “So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”  NKJV

The phrase “mind to work” is emphatic in Hebrew and indicates the people had “the heart to work” and indicates that their hearts were fully committed to and involved in the project.  I have long contended that what we have a heart, for we will find the cause, not a drudgery but joy.  Unless the heart is convinced, the effort will falter in the face of difficulty, but if the heart is firmly fixed on the objective, the problem will only be a bump in the road, not defeat. 

Have you ever heard the term half-hearted?  I have always stated that in the churches I led, I would rather have a committed person whose heart is in it of lesser qualifications than someone with an impressive resume that is half-hearted.  I want those propelled by their passion for the project rather than one doing it for position or acclaim. 

In this situation, building the walls of Jerusalem, they experienced fierce opposition from Sanballat and his cohorts. They would have scurried into the shadows to avoid conflict if they had been faint of heart.  They were mocked, ridiculed, and those in opposition decried their ability and questioned at what pace they could complete their work.  Nehemiah said the wall was joined and was erected to half the planned height in the face of severe opposition and difficulty.  WHY?  His simple explanation did not exclude the Hand of God but focused on the Commitment and Dedication of the workers. 

I believe there is a lack of Commitment in too much of today’s modern Church and many Christians.  We live in a world of ease and instant everything, or as I like to call it, a “microwave world” where we press a button and press, and the finished product is there. 

I grew up on a small family farm in rural East Texas, few things came easy, and virtually everything took time.  We faced obstacles, and often they seemed daunting, but we knew the task set before us, and my parents’ hearts were in the viability of that farm and in providing for us three kids a life that provided food, shelter, and clothing.  Of course, the most significant thing they gave us was not material.  They gave us love and taught us perseverance, and for that, I will be eternally grateful.

I have often wondered why there is a lack of commitment in much of today’s church and have concluded that, at least in part, it is because there is no common vision.  The Bible teaches us that “where there is no vision, the people perish,” and one translation says, “the people run wild.”  I have often wondered if the lack of commitment is because people truly do not want to take that step or do not have the knowledge needed to see the vision.

There cannot be a genuine commitment to anything people do not clearly understand.  That element of knowledge or knowing and understanding must comprise several factors.  We will only commit to what we understand and know what we are committing to.  I may love and trust you dearly, but if you ask me to commit to a project and I need help understanding or knowing what that project is and its purpose, I will find it difficult to do so. 

Likewise, we have to grasp the value of that to which we are being asked to commit.  Why are we doing it?  Why is it necessary?  What impact will it have on me, others, and the kingdom?  Then, we need to understand the benefits of completing the project and, in that, the benefits of our commitment to the task.

When we make a commitment, such as in marriage, it is not strictly an emotional commitment but one that is reasoned.  Both emotions and intellect or reason are involved.  We count the costs and weigh the benefits and impact on our lives.  When one makes a commitment, they make a covenant and bind themselves to their word to see it through to the end. 

We live in a world that operates from a contract rather than a covenant mentality.  In business, professional sports, and even relationships, we do not view our commitment as binding but binding so long as it benefits us in the way we desire.  A genuine commitment is a personal pledge to do whatever it takes, within reason, to get the job done.   Commitment is not convenience and may and likely will cost us something if not much.  Jesus made the commitment to come and die for mankind, and He refused to allow anything to deter the fulfillment of that commitment. 

If we commit ourselves fully and completely to the LORD and to that set before us, we will begin to see dramatic changes in the labors and success of the Church in this world.  Commitment drives a person to reach that objective and obtain that prize and is epitomized in persistence. 

A person that is committed will not and cannot quit!  Remember the words of Paul in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap IF we do not lose heart.”  You cannot win if you quit!

God bless you is my desire and prayer!

1 Kings 11:1-8 – “But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites —  2 from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. 8 And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.”  NKJV

In today’s politically correct world, much is being said about sexual impropriety and lasciviousness.  It is a prevalent problem in today’s world.  Solomon, a man who began right because of his desire to do good and serve, received the Lord’s blessing in incredible wealth, power, position, and wisdom.  However, in all his getting, he forgot to heed the word and warnings of the Lord and allowed his flesh to rule his life.  He made bad alliances in taking to himself many foreign wives who neither knew Jehovah God nor honored him. 

The Bible says Solomon had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines, and his wives turned away his heart.  This had to be about more than physical attraction and sexual gratification.  It revealed a root problem in his heart far beyond simply fleshly desires.  It was about allowing the Flesh to dominate; I believe he allowed himself to become the ‘center of his universe.’   Adam and Eve did that in the Garden when they fired God as Lord of their lives and became gods to themselves.  Power corrupts!

God warned about bad associations.  That truth was repeated in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’”  Paul also addressed this in Galatians 5:9 and 1 Corinthians 5:6, telling us that “a little leaven leavens the entire lump.” 

In 1 Corinthians 5:9, Paul warned to ‘not associate with immoral people.’  In 2 Corinthians 6:14, there is a clear warning about wrong relationships, “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?”  And we dare not forget the words of Psalm 1:1, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!”

Solomon knew well the directive in Leviticus 20:23, “Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nation which I will drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.” 

Likewise, he knew the words of Numbers 16:26, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin.”  Solomon allowed the prize of his eyes and the cravings of his flesh to overrule his spiritual reason and became corrupted by the influence of unbelievers. 

The warnings of God through Moses in Deuteronomy 12:30 should have been heeded, “…beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?’”  Solomon’s wives followed other gods and his love and devotion to them tugged at his heart and opened the door to his spiritual downfall.  It was his choice and demonstrated the power of the flesh if we do not maintain our focus on God. 

Never allow the flesh to rule you; instead, heed the cry of Paul in Galatians 5:16-26, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” 

Make a decision of heart and conscience, as Joshua declared, “…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”   

God bless you as you faithfully follow the Lord!

Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”  NKJV

Almost every time I have heard a sermon from this text, it was about money.  It is talking about money, wealth, or possessions, but it is about much more. It is addressing “divided hearts” or “divided allegiance.”  In my view, that is one of the central messages of the Gospel, in my opinion.  The verbiage of this passage is quite interesting to me.  Let’s examine it if we might.

Notice Jesus said that we could not serve Two Masters.  Think about that, He called possessions, wealth, money, or whatever divides our hearts and allegiance a Master.  That would imply that we are slaves to whatever that is.  Some are enslaved by their sexual addiction, some by drugs or alcohol, some by the quest for power, some by fame, some by public opinion, and many other things. 

If we allow anything to become a Master or Lord in our lives and divide our hearts and allegiance, we become the person of James 1:8, “double-minded” and thereby Unstable in ALL our ways.  He did not say some of our ways, but ALL of our ways and an unstable man cannot be depended upon. 

Proverbs 25:19 says, “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.”  Paul told the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “…be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Why do I use Proverbs 25 to address the person with a divided heart and divided allegiance?  Read the following words of our Lord about the person attempting to serve Two Masters, “he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.”  That which keeps us from what we want or reminds us of our primary duty when we want to split our love and loyalty is almost always despised.  God will not share His Glory with anyone or anything. 

1 Samuel 12:21 declares, “You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which cannot profit or deliver, because they are futile.”  That speaks of a divided heart and results in a lack of productivity.  The writer of Hebrews declared in Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”  John warned in 1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world nor the things of the world if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them.”  A divided heart results in robbing one of the Joy of the Lord.

God is not pleased with a Divided Heart, as we can see in Hosea 10:1-2 – “Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.  2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.”  Some seem to think they can live with a divided heart and God, or others will not notice, but God sees and knows. 

I suggest you read these passages:

1 Samuel 16:7 – “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart…

Psalm 7:9 – “Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God puts hearts and minds to the test.”

Psalm 44:21 – “Would God not find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

Proverbs 15:3 – “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good.”

Proverbs 21:2 – “Every person’s way is right in his own eyes: but the LORD examines the hearts…” 

Proverbs 24:11-12 – “Rescue those who are being taken away to death, And those who are staggering to the slaughter, Oh hold them back! ¹² If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does  He who weighs the hearts not consider it? And does He who watches over your soul not know it?
And will He not ^[a]repay a person according to his work?”

Jeremiah 17:10 – “I the LORD search the heart, I try test the mind, to give every person according to his ways, and according to the result of his deeds.” 

1 John 3:20 – “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”

Revelation 2:23 – “And I will kill her children with plague, and all the churches will know that I am He which searches the minds and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your deeds.” 

God is a jealous God in the sense that He has given us Unconditional Love through Jesus on the Cross and seeks to give us the New Birth and translate us from the kingdom of darkness to His kingdom of Light.  He wants to include us in His Body, which requires exclusivity of commitment.  Come out from among them and be separate is the plea.

If we ‘seek first’ God and His kingdom, we have the benefits and promises of God. If we divide our heart, love, and loyalty, we separate ourselves from God and find nothing but futility.

God bless you as you enjoy this day in Him!

Judges 2:7 – “So the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.”  NKJV

There was an old country preacher I knew who often said regarding the presence of God, “It is better felt than telt….”  I love feeling the presence of God and basking in the sunlight of His presence, power, and love.  And, as I reflect on that preacher’s words, I find something worthy of consideration regarding experience.  I never want to reach where I base my relationship with God on an emotional experience, but I never want to discount or discontinue that.  I long to make my permeant residence In His Presence here and eternity.

In this particular passage, there is a realization that is important in life.  I have heard about some of the great revivals of days gone by but did not experience them.  However, I have been in the presence of God and had some incredible experiences. I witnessed some powerful moves of God’s Spirit that lasted long in churches, communities, and people.  I treasure those. 

Who among us is not cognizant that historical experiences we did not participate in do not captivate us as those we did?  This passage reveals that so long as Joshua, the Moses mentored leader who led the nation into the Promised Land, and the elders who were eyewitnesses lived, Gog Reigned in people’s hearts.  When they died, there were no longer those who had experiential first-hand knowledge of God’s mighty deliverance and fulfilling His promise to bring them to the Land of Milk and Honey.  When experience died, there was a gradual erosion of commitment and a turning away or growing cold in dedication.

Every revival of the church often lasted until the generation that witnessed and experienced it died, and then it began to wane.  The fervor and fire of that revival kept the Church on track pursuing the truth that revival revealed and restored. Still, when none had experienced it, those who had heard about it could not embrace it with the same devotion nor feel the same compulsion to comply with the directives of the Spirit of God.  It was, to them, theoretical rather than experiential. 

Sadly, many identify themselves as Christians in much the same way, theoretical rather than experiential.  We talk about God being able to “do all things,” but if we have not witnessed or experienced His miraculous, it is, to us, theory, and when the chips are down, we cannot stand on the promise with confidence.

I know some who grew up in churches and homes with a fervent dedication to God; prayer was a staple, and the Bible was the guide.  They heard about it from their parents and grandparents but have yet to experience it for themselves truly. As those who had the experience received their eternal promotion, the devotion and practices that kept the fire burning waned and diminished.  That reminds me of the truth: “You cannot get to heaven on Mama or Papa’s faith or experience.” 

Christianity is a personal experience and relationship, not something inherited like property.  Growing up, attending church may help you establish some important moral principles and ethics but will not save your soul.  The fact that Mama or Papa had their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life does not automatically inscribe yours there.  It is an individual and personal experience.  “If we (each individual) confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” 

Experience or having a spiritual encounter with God is incredibly valuable in helping us resist temptation and maintain our dedication as we “seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.”   If you do not personally know Jesus, I urge you to go into your prayer closet, call upon Him in repentance, and receive His pardon and grace t, transforming you from darkness to light.  Jesus has promised that if Anyone calls upon Him, He will not reject us.  Today is the day of salvation and now is the accepted time.  Experience God for yourself; the Bible will no longer be a theory but a reality.

God bless you as you open the door to today with all its problems, promises, and potential.  Have a Great Day!

James 1:2-8 – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  NKJV

Let me begin by asking, “How many of you have been tempted?”  “How many have been tempted in any area and failed or succumbed to the temptation?”  I’m sure everyone has, and when that resulted, you were probably flooded with guilt, or you shrugged it off, saying, ‘Well, I’m only human.’

TEMPTATION is something that every human being encounters.  It does not respect age, gender, position, or ethnicity.  There is nothing we can do to prevent temptation from attempting to rear its head, and that head is sometimes quite ugly.  It sometimes comes uninvited! 

Let me offer an illustration I have used for years about a teenager being left alone at home.  The car was in the driveway, and the keys were in a bowl on the kitchen counter.  Temptation!  The young man said, “Dad, while you were away, I came very close to breaking my promise that I would not drive the car.  You left the keys on the kitchen counter, and I even carried them in my pocket for three days fighting temptation.”  The father responded, “Son, there is nothing like a temptation to show you what you will do if given the opportunity.”  Temptation can be viewed from several perspectives, and we usually view it from only one, the negative.

TEMPTATION, from the devil’s perspective, is an opportunity to defeat the purpose of God.  Truthfully, he can only succeed in tempting us in those areas in which we have something in common.  In John 14:30, Jesus told the disciples that the devil was coming, but he had no claim on Jesus.  Jesus said to them that there was nothing in Him that belonged to the devil; therefore, the devil had no power over Jesus.

TEMPTATION, from man’s perspective, is a severe test and an attempt to destroy faith and commitment.  Man views it as a Bad Thing!  Man sees temptation only in the light of it, pulling and tugging at his own evil thoughts, bents, and wishes.  James 1:13-15 declares, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” 

TEMPTATION, from God’s perspective, is that it can be and often is a valuable and vital service in the lives of men.  It shows three things about us:  what we are, where we stand, and what we will be in the future.  Temptation is a factor in both the psychological and spiritual growth process that every human being must go through ‘IF’ they are to become mature individuals capable of living a full, meaningful, and victorious life.  In that light, Temptation’s real purpose is always to trigger a choice and provoke a definitive stand or action!  Consider the illustration of the teenager and the car keys again, if you will.

The keys presented a temptation that forced him to make a very difficult but vital decision.  He had to obey or disobey.  To disobey would be to commit an act of irresponsibility that would make it easier to do similar things in the future.  To obey would help create a pattern for mature and wise decisions in the future and make it easier to resist temptation and produce victory and liberty. 

Temptation is a dividing line between innocence and awareness.  Temptations come and Always present a lesson to be learned.  Our choices in temptation demonstrate whether the lesson has been learned or must be repeated, “The Wilderness Principle.”  How many times did Israel take another lap around the mountain?

For example, we teach children not to cross the street alone, but temptation comes into play the moment the child has the opportunity to disobey.  There is no one around to see, the street beckons and promises intriguing adventure.  The response to temptation will determine if the child can be trusted to play near the street or if more supervision and training are required.  Thus, how we face temptation affects every area of our personal life.

May the Lord help us to realize and learn the lessons rather than becoming stuck in an almost perpetual process of repeating or “making laps around the mountain.” 

God bless you richly as you face today with confidence and boldness in Jesus!

James 1:2-8 – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  NKJV

Another passage I suggest is 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  I have learned and believe there are some clear promises in God’s word that we can expect as a part of our Spiritual Inheritance in Jesus.

            GUIDANCE ………  The Holy Spirit will guide us into all Truth. (John 16:13)

            INSTRUCTION …. The Holy Spirit will teach us God’s Truth.  (John 16:13)

            PROVISION ……… God will supply all our needs. (Philippians 4:19)

            COMFORT ……….  We will never be left comfortless. (John 14:18)

            DEFENSE ………    The Battle is not ours, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15)

We are also told that when we do not know how to pray as we should, the Holy Spirit will make intercession for and through us.  God’s word informs us that people are defeated and destroyed because of a ‘lack of knowledge or ‘understanding.’  We have the incredible promise that IF we walk in the Light as He is the Light, we can ask what we will and expect an answer.  Please understand that I believe the Bible teaches that both the motive and request must be wholesome and pure.  If we ask anything According to His Will, the Bible informs us that It Is Done! Therefore, we need to know the following:

• THE WILL OF GOD.
• THE PRINCIPLES BY WHICH HE WORKS.
• WHAT GOD DESIRES TO DO IN US.

That is no small undertaking, and without His help, impossible!  One principle that affects us significantly in our walk and warfare and is often overlooked or completely misunderstood is Temptation.  I refer to it as the “Wilderness Principle,” and in that, we must become aware of the following:

• THE PURPOSE OR WORK OF TEMPTATION.
• HOW TO RECEIVE GOD’S PROMISES.
• HOW TO STAND STEADFAST DURING A PROBLEM.
• HOW TO ENTER INTO GOD’S PROVISIONS.

Again, no small undertaking and without God’s help, impossible!  The Bible teaches that God’s desire for us is conformity with the Person and Image of Christ Jesus our Lord.  He wants us to know, enjoy, and live what I would call full salvation and complete deliverance.  He wants us to enjoy His abundant provisions daily and walk in victory, pulling down strongholds continually. 

Life is a process that begins at birth, progresses through adolescence, and to fullness in adulthood.  Our Spiritual Life and Walk involves numerous tests and encounters that help develop our character and give us a mark, a barometer, and an identity point that enables us to recognize where we stand spiritually.

Hebrews 4:6 informs us, “My people perish for lack of knowledge….”  That is a powerful truth, for if we do not Know God’s Will, we cannot Do God’s Will.  If we do not understand what He is doing, we may resist and rebel when we should be resting and learning.  But, if we understand the Principles of God, we know what to look for and what to do.  Victory comes in understanding and obedience. 

Therefore, James’ exhortation to “…count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations….”  Honestly, that is not difficult. It is impossible Without some understanding of the Purpose of Temptation in our lives and the careful guidance and assistance of the Holy Spirit.

I dare not stop there but will pause in this devotional and pick up in the next more on Temptation’s Purpose and Function in the believer’s life.   

God bless you richly as you embark on this leg of Life’s Journey.