ANTIDOTE TO TEMPTATION: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 22ND OCTOBER 2018

MEMORISE:

Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord  when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. Luke 12:37

READ: Matthew 13:24-26

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

MESSAGE:

Temptation is the pressure to yield to influences that can lead a person away from God and into sin. It is also the means by which the loyalty, commitment and obedience of a child of God is tested and proved. 

Temptation is a part of life that no one can escape from, because nobody is protected or exempted from its influence. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself experienced temptation (Hebrew 4:15). 

The one who orchestrates temptation, also known as tempter, is the devil (Matthew 4:3). He has perfected highly deceptive means of carrying out his evil enterprise, because he has been long at it.

However, glory be to God because the Lord has developed a way of escape for every type of temptation the devil can come up with (1 Corinthians 10:13). If we refuse to use the means of escape provided by God, we will end up falling for the devil’s tricks and disobeying God. 

This can have devastating repercussions, as seen in the fall of mankind through temptation and the judgment of God which followed (Genesis 3:1-24). It is therefore important for us to learn how to overcome temptation and also reduce our exposure to it by applying the antidote provided by the Lord.

In the last few hours before our Lord Jesus Christ was arrested, knowing what was about to happen shortly, He gave the disciples the antidote to temptation, saying in Matthew 26:41:

“ Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

In this verse of scripture, He named watchfulness and prayer as the antidote to temptation. Watchfulness is the state of being alert and expectant while carefully observing a person or situation. 

The word of God lays particular emphasis on the need to keep watch for two important events: the second coming of our Lord and the devil’s temptation, which is our focus today. We are called to be alert to the dangers posed to our Christian life by false teachings, worldliness, love for money, inordinate affection, sinful pleasure, sexual immorality, and all other forms of temptation. 

Your watchfulness should begin with the admonition of Proverbs 4:23, which says:

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Romans 12:2 also speaks about renewing your mind, and this is best done by filling your heart with the undiluted word of God. Another aspect of watching is bridling our tongue in order not to sin with it (1 Peter 3:10, James 1:26). 

For your faith not to suffer shipwreck due to temptation, you are called by God to soberly watch and be prayerful (1 Peter 4:7). Are you keeping watch?

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please don’t allow any temptation derail my Christian journey in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Jeremiah 14-15, Luke 9:8-50

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 18: CONQUEROR AND OVERCOMERS NOW ARE WE
1. Conquerors and overcomers now are we,
Thro' the precious blood of Christ we've victory
If the Lord be for us we can never fail,
Nothing 'gainst His mighty power can e'er prevail.

Chorus
Conquerors are we, thr'o the blood of Jesus
God will give us victory, thro' the blood of Jesus
Through the Lamb for sinners slain,
Yet who lives and reigns again,
More than conquerors are we,
More than conquerors are we.

2. In the name of Israel's God we'll onward press,
Overcoming sin and all unrighteousness;
Not to us but unto Him the praise shall be,
For salvation and for blood bought victory.

3. Unto Him that overcometh shall be given,
Here to eat of hidden manna sent from Heaven,
Over yonder He the victors palm shall bear,
And a robe of white, and golden crown shall wear.