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)

The Bible also informs 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 warns that it is because of a ‘lack of knowledge’ and/or ‘understanding’ that people are defeated and destroyed.  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, I believe the Bible teaches that it is imperative that both the motive and request are wholesome and pure.  If we ask anything ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, the Bible informs us IT IS DONE!  Therefore, it is incredibly important for us to know:

THE WILL OF GOD.

            THE PRINCIPLES BY WHICH HE WORKS.

            WHAT GOD IS DESIRING TO DO IN US.

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

            THE PURPOSE OR WORK OF TEMPTATION.

            HOW TO RECEIVE GOD’S PROMISES.

            HOW TO STAND STEADFAST IN THE MIDST OF A PROBLEM.

            HOW TO ENTER INTO GOD’S PROVISIONS.

Again, no small undertaking and without God’s help impossible!  I believe the Bible clearly 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, on a daily basis, His ABUNDANT PROVISIONS and to continually walk in Victory pulling down strongholds.

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

Hebrews 4:6 informs us “My people perish for a 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 not only what to look for but what to do.  Victory comes in understanding and obedience.  Thus 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 without 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 life of the believer.   God bless you richly as you embark on this leg of Life’s Journey. 

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 – “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 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.”  NKJV

I had a person tell me, “It just happened and there was nothing I could do about it” in reference to a failure in their life.  If that statement is true then the passage above is a lie and the Word of God is not a lie.  We do get “caught” in faults, situations, and circumstances but they DO NOT just happen.  I would suggest that usually we have opened the door and failed to look for and receive the “way of escape” God has provided.  It really doesn’t matter what the temptation is, there is a way out if we will stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit and not allow the devil to inundate us with justifications that seek to excuse our behavior.

Will we tell God that it “just happened” and we were totally caught off guard without a way out?  I don’t think we’d dare attempt that justification or excuse because we know better. If we fail to heed the warning signs of the Spirit and the flesh we open ourselves to failure on any and every front in our lives.  I had a woman tell me once about her infidelity, “He said such good things and cared about me unlike my husband and it just happened.”  NO IT DID NOT.  You opened the door.  You entertained the flattery and began to enjoy the attention and allowed your guard to be lowered.  I have no doubt that God was continually giving you warning signs and offering you ways out but you were enjoying the attention too much and the flesh was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

We do not just “FALL INTO TEMPTATION” we walk into it.  If we allow the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, or the pride of life override the pricks of the Holy Spirit we become subject to succumbing to temptation.  When we “fall” it was not totally unexpected but we kept moving nearer and nearer to the edge and finally could no longer maintain our spiritual balance and over the edge we went.  But, never doubt there was a way out, a path of escape because that is God’s promise and God never lies.

I cannot emphasize the importance of the biblical directive of Paul in the next verse, “…flee idolatry” and the other biblical warnings to “resist the devil” and to “shun the very appearance of evil.”  We talk ourselves into failure because of circumstances, situations, disappointments, and sometimes simply through flattery.  I have had preachers tell me, “Well, there is no harm in harmless flirting.”  Seriously?  Harmless flirting?  What is that?  Remember it is the “little foxes that spoil the vine”.  If you continue to sow seeds to the flesh and ego, one day you will find the harvest comes in and you won’t like the result.  It is one thing to be friendly it is quite another to flirt which often subconsciously entertains something beyond the harmless.  I have witnessed very bad situations develop as a result of “harmless flirting” that in a moment of weakness, disappointment, and even anger over a situation.  If that door had not been opened the opportunity would not have presented itself and the fall into temptation would not have been a possibility.

God is faithful and He expects faithfulness from us.  The good news is, “if we sin we have an advocate with the Father.”  Never, justify a failure or indirectly blame God for not warning you of the danger because He has promised to provide “a way of escape.” 

            God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Him.