Overcoming Tailormade Temptations. Part [15] 12/25/2023 Evening thought)

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in thee. 4 Trust in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.

This is what David failed to do in this instance when he fell a lusting, and this is also what we often fail to do, for when we compare situation to situation, we discover that both David and Christ were suffering under extreme clamors of the flesh, in David’s case the clamor was bad, in Christ’s case the clamor was a good one, because there’s nothing wrong with being hungry.

It really does not matter whether the clamor may be good or bad; what matters is how we respond to the temptation. If folks neglect prayer, and the study of the word of God, they will become sitting ducks for tailormade temptations, for the clamors and latent tendencies, indigenous to human nature, will drive us over the edge.

We have no clue when tailormade temptations will come our way, but what we can, and should do is to be fully prepared as Christ did for the timing and the intensity of the temptation becomes irrelevant if we are girded with the panoply of heaven always. Knowing a whole lot of Scripture is good, but in and of itself it cannot stave off tailormade temptation.

Mark 14:38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. 39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spoke the same words.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

Overcoming Tailormade Temptations. Part [14] 12/24/2023 Morning thought)

Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

Our victories in overcoming tailormade temptations can only be materialized, by following closely in the footsteps of Christ. Jesus didn’t wait for temptation to come His way, before He prayed. Instead, He took preemptive measures by communing with God in the wilderness, before the approach of devils. Preemptive preparation almost always guarantees victory, for it is not God’s will that we face the devil without first being prepared, and strengthened for whatsoever he may throw at us.

[D.A. pp 321] When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan. But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one.

The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God, we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, and temptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!