Overcoming Solicitations of the Heart

James 1:9-18

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that
he is exalted:
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because
as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning
heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower
thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of
it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away
in his ways.
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:
for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown
of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that
love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted
of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil,
neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away
of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth
sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth
death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
above, and cometh down from the Father of lights,
with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of
truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits
of his creatures.

There is a difference between trials and temptation. All of us go through trials and temptations. Trials can lift a lowly man and can humble a rich man, but temptation should be always avoided...

"What is temptation? Seduction to evil, solicitation
to wrong. It stands distinguished from trial thus:
trial tests, seeks to discover the man's moral
qualities or character; but temptation persuades
to evil, deludes, that it may ruin. The one means
to undeceive, the other to deceive. The one aims
at the man's good, making him conscious of his true
moral self; but the other at his evil, leading him
more or less unconsciously into sin. God tries;
satan tempts."
~ Fairbain, quoted in The Words and Works of Jesus
Christ, J.D. Pentecost, p.99

The antidote to temptation is love for Jesus, that we may resist the temptations of the world and make the obedient (to God's word) choice. Those who do not avoid succumbing to temptation are caught up in love for worldly pleasures, devices and immediate gratification that can destroy relationships, even your relationship with God.

Psalm 32:4-5

4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my
moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity
have I not hid. I said, I will confess my
transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the
iniquity of my sin. Selah.

When you give in to temptation you may find the Lord's hand heavy upon you, you may lose sleep, you may be irritable. The Lord searches your heart and knows what you should repent that you may be forgiven. If we are to resist temptation in the first place we must be in love with Jesus and not in love with worldly pleasures and devices.

John 14:23

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love
me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love
him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode
with him.

1 John 2:15-17

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are
in the world. If any man love the world, the love
of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the
flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of
life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:
but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

"Sin (lust for example) gets its power by persuading
me to believe that I will be more happy if I follow
it. The power of all temptation is the prospect that
it will make me happier."
~ E. Lutzer, Putting Your Past Behind You, Here's
Life, 1990, p.54

Galatians 6:8

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh
reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit
shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Resist the devil, submit to God and the devil will flee from you.

2 Timothy 2:22

22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness,
faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the
Lord out of a pure heart.

"When you flee temptation be sure you don't leave a
forwarding address." ~ Unknown

Psalm 86:5

5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive;
and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon
thee.

The Grim Reaper Preacher says, "Try reading the Bible from cover to cover - you'll like it."