What is Tempation?
The desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise that will make a person lose is relationship with God.
Temptation often comes at our weakest moment.it comes when we are at the limit of our perseverance, patience,self- control and love.
Temptation comes in various form, it could be a treat to life, money, Sex, even at the internet you can be directed to other link to view pornography, peer pressure,Family, friends and even at the house of God you can also be tempted.
As christain we all must be tempted even our master when he was on earth he was also tempted. We should be prudent enough to forsee the evil in temptation prov 22:3 "A prudent man forsee the evil, and hideth himself, but the simple pass on, and are punished".
We should always be careful with our speech as brothers/sister of steemchurch, most Chriastains are trapped by the word of their mouth. Prov 6:2,5 ''Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, as a bird from the hand of fowler"
Let our speech be gracious all the time as Christian in Honoring God and be mindful of the things we say to our neighbors and fellow Christians.Some people ignorantly pray against temptation and yet rush into tempting situation without much thought.
Why go to worldly places like clubs or watch movie that portray sex and yet prayed against fornication?
You don't expect to be delivered from temptation when you are not honest or firmly determined to do the best to stay out of tempting situation. When you asking God Help your attitude and way of life should display Godly way of life.
SOURCE
Whatever we may think of, God is not the source of temptation. James’s advice: "Let no man say when he is temepted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted. with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren” (James 1:13-16). God is holy. There is nothing in His nature to make Him want to tempt any man. He cannot be tempted with evil. So, He himself does not tempt any man With evil. Yet, the fact remains that “every man is tempted.” From the First Adam to the Second Adam and. to the offsprings of Adam to the followers of Jesus, the Second Adam, everyone was tempted.
Although Jesus had the power, grace, authority and the spirit within, the Devil tempted him. If the Devil could bring temptation to the Lord with whom He knows he cannot succeed, how much more would he do to us with whom he knows he may succeed!
CAUSES
Although temptation comes to everyone, idle people have more temptation than industrious people. It has been said that some temptations come to the industrious but all temptation come to the idle. It is also said, he that labours has temptation by one devil, but he that is idle has temptation by a thousand demons. We need to be very careful to avoid idleness and not to be led into temptation from which an idle fellow could be led into.
Peter was one of the twelve apostles of the Lord. Shortly after christ’s arrest, “Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and 'went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end” (Matthew 26:58). One, Peter followed the Lord afar off.
Whenever your walk with God begins to lose the touch of intimacy, it is a sure sign that you are following the Lord afar off. At such a time, watch out, the temptation may be around the conrer.
We should be mindful of the gathering we found ourselves. Peter “went in, and sat with the servants” of the high priest. Observing leisure in high places of lead into temptation. Or, when you are careless with worldlyminded people, you may not be able to cope with challenges when it arises. See footnote ##
Uncontrolled curiosity sometimes leads to temptation. He wanted to see the end. The Lord had earlier told them what was about to befall Him. He should have believed and acted on what the Lord had told them and not Wait until he was trapped in temptation"(Matthew 26 : 69-74 ).
When there is an inordinate affection or exaggerated desire for a perceived personal need, the devil can use it to bring temptation into our lives.
When you desire something so much that you are not thinking of the consequences of the path you intend to take, it may pose a real, serious temptation.
When there is uncontrolled desire to have children or healing at all costs, that can become an irresistible source of temptation. “And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else i die” (Genesis 30:1). When you want children or healing so much that you are willing to do anything, it can become a serious source of temptation. It may lead you to places go places you shouldn't go, do things you shouldn't do and become a partners of people you shouldn't be partners to.
When there is an inordinate love for money. When you join in the mad rush for gold, that can become poisonous bait that can ruin your life forever. “They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows " (1 Timothy 6:9,10).
When there is lust of the flesh and impatience in getting a life partner at a all costs; when there is determination to get married even if it leads into compromise of Christian principles; when, like Samson (Judges 14:3), there is a strong will to get married to just anybody irrespective of his or her religious leaning, that could become a serious bait or temptation to you.
When there is an unchecked tendency to please men and to be like the others, it could also be a source of temptation. The children of
Israel asked Samuel to “make us a kin g to jud e us like all the nations” ( 1Samue 8:5 ). it is obvious that they did not want to be peculiar.They wanted to be like all t e other nations. The tendency to imitate others can constitute a serious temptation.
When there is pressure, unreasonable influence from our relations and intimate friends. When our relations look at our condition and begin to pity us and to say things that can make us stop depending on the promises of God or make us take ungodly decisions, we need to be very careful because temptation is near (Job2:7-I0).
When there is discouragement, it could be used as a tool by the devil to bring temptation. Jeremiah was discouraged because he was not seeing the fruit of his labour Of his prophecies in the lives of the children of Israel. He felt like giving up the prophetic ministry (jer 20: 9).
VICTORY
If we have to pass through temptation, we must do so Victoriously. No matter how thoroughly sanctified we are, we must overcome temptation before we can cross over to the heavenly city. This dog of hell will continue to bark at us until we get to heaven where there will be no more temptation. There is need to watch so that we do not allow temptation to overtake us. Do not think that temptation only comes to the worldly-minded. Spiritually minded people in the holiest of state may suffer the darkest temptation. This is the reason we need to put on the whole armour of God at all times so that whenever the devil comes with temptation, we will be able to overcome.
My Fellow brothers and Sisters of steemchurch I urges everyone to be steadfast in prayers and fasting and never lose faith in the most High God despite the temptation or trial we are going, our reward is everlasting life with Him.
Footnote
As Christian our faith in the most High God must always be question, Satan does not want us to maintain a good relationship with God. he knew only a good relationship with God Almighty will help us to resist temptation.
Questions we all need to ask ourselves
What is my relationship with God?