The Two Trips To Temptation


 

The Two Trips To Temptation 

 

 

There are apparently two ways in which to find yourself involved in “TEMPTATION”

1.       Enter Into

2.       Fall Into

 

 

One is a purposeful decision to journey

 

The other is a purposeful journey with a decision

 

 

ENTER

 

 

Mk14:38;Lk22:46

“Watch  and pray, lest you ENTER INTO temptation. 

The spirit truly is ready, 

but the flesh is weak.”

 

 

“ENTER” – to come from one place into another in a worse condition… and very often

 

 

To “ENTER”, you halt between two opinions and… more often than not… make the DECISION to 

·       Journey back to what you know

·       Journey back where you came from

·       Continue the way are going

·       Continue on the path of least resistance 

·       Do what is easiest on your flesh and your soul (mind, will, emotions)

 

 

Paul explains this dilemma in Rom7:15-25

“For I do not understand my own actions 

[I am baffled, bewildered]. 

I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, 

but I do the very thing that I loathe [which my moral instinct condemns]. 

 

O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death? 

O thank God! [He will!] 

through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! 

 

 

FALL

 

 

Jas1:2-4 

“My brethren, count it all joy when you 

FALL INTO

divers temptations; 

Knowing this, 

that the trying of your faith 

worketh patience. (Hupomone – constant, cheerful consistency)

But let patience have her perfect work, 

that ye may be perfect and entire, 

wanting nothing.”

 

 

“FALL INTO” – defined as:

…all around
into the midst of, 

…involved in, 

happen upon a place…

And be totally surrounded or encompassed by

 

 

So… to expound on the picture these words were meant to paint in one’s mind:

 

 

 “Be joyful when you are totally surrounded by temptation…

Because it has come to try your faith… to distract you from the purposeful journey on which you have embarked in Christ…

And the very place in HIM from which you see all of life… and only solidifies your previous decision to stand with constant, cheerful consistency. 

 

…and let that constant, cheerful consistency have her perfect work in you…

So you can be 

Whole and mature…

Entirely complete…

 

And wanting for absolutely nothing!”


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