Temptation in the spirit = POSITIVITY: Recognition and acknowledgement, humility, resistance, understanding, strong will, FAITH, FAITHFULNESS, diligence, determination, all the way to overcoming, then VICTORY...
Again, the egocentric mind is to be trained! Self-control is always existent, though is managed by the spirit OVER the carnal, natural plane! This control is VITAL to resisting, then deleting each, but ever coming temptation from our paths, and certainly to remaining free of the damaging shackles the world would place on us! Self-control is gained through THE LORD, HIS WILL, and HIS WORD; knowledgeable understanding, and acceptance THAT temptation IS ever nearby, and DOES affect our walk with THE LORD, as well as our lives...
Temptation is bothersome, and suffering is tiring, yet both ARE a part of the journey through this maze called time, because of the evil enemy of the world, who is opposed to *GOD*, thus, HIS Children! THE LORD never said that when we turn to HIM that there would be an end to temptation, or suffering; HE DOES promise that HE will be with us through them. HE has declared that such makes us stronger, wiser, and more enabled, plus, through FAITHFUL endurance, perseverance, and overcoming, HE will reward us...
Some don't believe that *GOD* can relate to our predicament on this Earth, but, I tell you what, not only did CHRIST endure temptation, and suffering; in HIS LOVE of us, *GOD* has SURELY felt what we feel, and HAS cried many tears for us! NO ONE has suffered to the point that our LORD has suffered, so this thought is without basis, and is self-inclined...
The closer we come to THE LORD, the more the evil one is going to mess with us; it is his mission, it is his twisted pleasure, it is his intent! The temptations, and sufferings might become subtle, to where we are not aware of them, until it is too late, or nearly too late! You see, in our human condition, we ARE prone to err, through every aspect of our humanness; from the eyes, all the way to the feet, from the mind, all the way through the emotional makeup of our being. Our tongue alone, untameable as it gets, creates LOTS of problems for us, as we speak before we use our minds, and so on. A LOT of our suffering is due to err, thus, to be knowledgeable, decreases the likelihood of err, especially conscious err...
What can we do? We keep on keepin' on, and we PRAY unceasingly! We remain in HIM, and HIS WORD! We leave the lines of communication with HIM wide open, so that HE is as close as our skin, that HE can deliver us! We hold onto HIM in FAITH, while implementing every GOOD effort we can muster, TO keep ourselves IN TRUTH, and we DON'T give that ole' troublemaker any more power than we can't help but give him...
ROMANS 8: 28...
We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
That is good for the saints which does their souls good. Every providence tends to the spiritual good of those that love God; in breaking them off from sin, bringing them nearer to God, weaning them from the world, and fitting them for heaven.
When the saints act out of character, corrections will be employed to bring them back again. And here is the order of the causes of our salvation, a golden chain, one which cannot be broken.
1. Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son. All that God designed for glory and happiness as the end, he decreed to grace and holiness as the way. The whole human race deserved destruction; but for reasons not perfectly known to us, God determined to recover some by regeneration and the power of his grace. He predestinated, or before decreed, that they should be conformed to the image of his Son. In this life they are in part renewed, and walk in his steps.
2. Whom he did predestinate, them he also called. It is an effectual call, from self and earth to God, and Christ, and heaven, as our end; from sin and vanity to grace and holiness, as our way. This is the gospel call. The love of God, ruling in the hearts of those who once were enemies to him, proves that they have been called according to his purpose.
3. Whom he called, them he also justified. None are thus justified but those that are effectually called. Those who stand out against the gospel call, abide under guilt and wrath.
4. Whom he justified, them he also glorified. The power of corruption being broken in effectual calling, and the guilt of sin removed in justification, nothing can come between that soul and glory. This encourages our faith and hope; for, as for God, his way, his work, is perfect. The apostle speaks as one amazed, and swallowed up in admiration, wondering at the height and depth, and length and breadth, of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. The more we know of other things, the less we wonder; but the further we are led into gospel mysteries, the more we are affected by them. While God is for us, and we keep in his love, we may with holy boldness defy all the powers of darkness.
REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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