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Stay Strong

Temptation is a powerful combination of instinct and untamed emotions. It is a desire that triggers a chain reaction in your body and soul that can produce sin. If this impulse is not countered by the self-discipline that is available to all Children of God, your behavior will be impulsive and immoral rather than intentional and goal oriented. When you give in to temptation, your perception of reality becomes subjective and you do not live the full and abundant life Christ died to give you (Dobelli, (2013), John 10:10, Romans 1:21, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15). Instead of feeling peace, anxiety infiltrates your body and soul.

Really?

The Apostle James in chapter 4 verse 17 says, “It is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” and the Apostle Paul says that "whatever is not from faith is sin" (James 4:17, Romans 14:23). For a Christian with a sensitive conscious, this verse often brings an anxious feeling when it’s remembered when you are about to do something that pleases yourself ahead of God. To ease this feeling, some Christians choose to use a different verse like 1 John 1:9; “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. 

Instead of using these two scriptures together as a reflection of God’s sovereignty and grace, some Christians use them independently, as if it were a choice (Hebrews 2:1-4, Romans 1:21, 6:12-13). Their behavior reveals their doctrine; it is easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission (1 Corinthians 10:23).

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“Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion and knowledge” and, if not used discerningly, the more anxiety is created producing the "likelihood of foolish behavior" (Romans 1:18-19, Psalm 38:5, Proverbs 15:21, Carmichael, Dr. Chloe, (2021), p 162). The desires and emotions you feel when tempted may be instinctual, but temptation isn't the same as a "fight or flight" response. When your body generates an emotional instinct to stimuli, feelings start to develop based on the situation and this is when you can direct your response through decision making rather than instinct. With the feelings generated by temptation, you can slow your body's reaction by making an intentional decision so you can respond appropriately (a goal-directed response is guided by intention, not instinct). Human beings have the capacity to learn and so your knowledge base impacts the appropriateness of your response. Once becoming aware, Christians who are filled with the knowledge of God CAN consciously choose a response that is in keeping with the achievement of Godly goals. The more truth you learn from meditating on the Word, the more appropriate options you generate for decision-making so you can direct your responses purposefully as you move through life. 

 

When sensation reaches consciousness, do you tend to use desires, feelings or God’s Word to power your decisions?

 

Washing Machine Analogy

Another way to explain the power of temptation is to use an analogy to a washing machine. Picture a laundry mat with a sign that reads; “for Christians only”. After filling the washing machine with your dirty clothes, you select the type of load you want to do - such as cotton, and then you press the start button. The washing machine does the rest. The clothes automatically move through the various stages until the goal of clean clothes has been met.

 

Temptation follows a similar course. First, it urges you to set the load selection dial to the “sin” cycle and then further encourages you to swiftly press the start button. Once you’ve pressed the start button, the load automatically moves from one stage of the cycle to another and doesn’t stop until the goal of the temptation has been meet (James 1:14-15).

 

In this analogy, upfront decision making is key! Instincts combined with untamed emotions like fear, worry or pleasure prompt a decision to react based on feelings (Jude 10-11). Upon close examination, you’ll find the first decision to be instinctual, but the second is intentional. An emotional reaction to temptation produced by your five senses causes an instinctual decision that leads you to automatically select the sin cycle. Once set, you continue on and make a second decision, one that either allows these untamed desires to be fulfilled by hitting the start button - or one that causes you to select another cycle because you have decided to turn away your first thought.  

Emotions and Decision-making

When emotions enter into decision making, your logic as explained by bounded rationality (a theory that attributes your decisions to logic, will power and cognition) is tossed around by the turbulence that emotions create (Lerner, J. S., Li, Y., Valdesolo, P., & Kassam, K. S., (2015)). Emotions are like a shock to your brain. Feelings like pleasure or pain influence your attitude and behavior for better or worse, favorability and pleasurably, or unfavorably and unpleasantly (Lerner, J. S., Li, Y., Valdesolo, P., & Kassam, K. S., (2015), p 801). To what extent these feelings impact your forth coming decisions reveals your “emotional intelligence”. 

 

Some emotional decisions are helpful, like a quick survival instinct, but some are not, like when logic and emotions collide to produce unwarranted fear or an unbounded desire that eclipses your faith. Sigmond Freud remarked that a human being’s “entire psychical activity is bent upon procuring pleasure and avoiding pain” and this is what causes most people to continue making instinctual decisions (Zeelenberg, M., Nelissen, R. M., Breugelmans, S. M., & Pieters, R. (2008), p 19).

 

Think of emotions as a hot iron searing everything it touches. Uncontrolled emotions like instant gratification, greed, envy or anger cause you to make a decision that, in the long run, makes things worse instead of better (Galatians 5:19-21). From the moment you entertained temptation long enough to press the start button, the cycle runs its full course and everything moves along in rapid sequence, except for the consequences (Galatians 6:8-9). Some consequences take longer to materialize than others. Think of consequences as a second rinse cycle on your washing machine; its selection is dependent upon the soil level of the clothes. The same is true for consequences of temptation.

 

The washing machine example shows you that, while your first decision may well have pushed you into setting the

dial to sin, you can still choose to change this decision to control your outcome. Don’t lock yourself into a bad decision when faced with temptation. Fight the impulse to act between the first and second decisions. As your emotions level off, you’ll be in a better position to select an appropriate thought to act on (Dr. Carmichael, (2021), p 34). Instead of riding the wave of emotion and using it as a springboard to poor decision-making, Christians can choose to intentionally illicit help from the Holy Spirit in between the first and second decision points in the washing machine example (John 14:15-17, 1 John 4:4, Romans 12:2, 1 Peter 2:11-12). If you don’t curb your instincts, you may struggle with achieving the seemingly impossible commands of not sinning when you’re angry and not looking at another person’s mate lustfully (Matthew 5:28, Ephesians 4:26, Psalm 4:4). 

 

What emotions can lead you to ignore or abandon your faith principles?

 

Requesting God’s Help

When you pause long enough between selecting the cycle type and the start button, you have time to remember God. Pray and ask him to fill* you with the Holy Spirit, so He can help you muster up the single-mindedness, the strength and the endurance you need to dismiss temptation and outlast trials and temptation, so when you do face Satan’s attack, you do not get bound up by Him (Mark 4:19, Luke 8:14). *Being filled is the daily remembrance of who you are in Christ (read more at https://www.gotquestions.org/Spirit-filled.html), whereas the indwelling of the Spirit happened when you first believed (John 3:5-8, 14:16, Ephesians 1:13, 4:30).

 

A request for the Spirit’s filing is like a quick “Hail Mary” prayer recited every time you need to fight off temptation. It’s a brief prayer where you invite God into your circumstances so His will can be done instead of your own (Proverbs 3:7, James 1:22). To deny sin and to allow holy, Godlike thoughts to trigger your behavior is the process of deciding to put on the "new man", the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14, Colossians 3:8-10). Otherwise, that habit of sin (the old man) prevails. When the request for strengthening/filling is NOT made by a born-again believer, As Jesus says, in Matthew 12:43-45, you are susceptible to a spiritual attack:

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43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. ... . ” 

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Eve ate from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden because she was made aware of the choice she had to disobey God and, instead, please herself (1 John 2:16, Genesis 2:16, 3:3-6, 2 Corinthians 11:3, Matthew 6:33). Since then, the deceitfulness of sin became ever-present choices in life because God graced all human beings with free will. Look, instead, to some examples of Christians who chose to remain loyal to God.

  • When Joseph was mistreated by both His brothers and the Egyptians, he became an example of enduring the “trials” of living in a sin-filled world while maintaining the standards of his faith (Genesis 37, 39-41:41, 50:20).

  • The Hebrews made a similar decision when they were carried off from Babylon to become slaves in Egypt (Daniel 1:5-15).

  • Even Father Abraham made the choice to stay loyal to God when asked to sacrifice his son (Genesis 22:1-18, Hebrews 11:17-19).

 

Remembering God and asking for help to say no to temptation is like a successful trip to the laundry mat. Even when your instincts have already moved you to set the dial to sin, before pressing the start button, you CAN intentionally go back and reset the dial to the righteousness cycle.   

 

Do you consciously decide to pray and put on the armor of God so you are ready for an attack?

 

Combatting Temptation

Intentionality can trump impulsiveness, but it requires deliberate choices and self – control. As Christians, we can either choose to maintain righteous behavior or we can give in to our fleshly desires and ask for forgiveness later. Remember, even if you were impulsive and you did set the cycle to sin, you have one more opportunity to back out before the washing machine is locked into the sin cycle. You DO NOT have to press start button.

 

In fact, you can WAIT! Rather than running with your impulses, you can pause. To some personality types this might be counter intuitive. In reality though, you are still being active, but the activity is in your mind. You are consciously deciding NOT to physically act; an “action basis” (Dobelli, (2013), p 129). As a Christian, this gives you time to intentionally steer your decisions away from sin and towards God so your thoughts can be directed to fulfilling righteous living (Isaiah 40:31, Matthew 5:27-28, 1 John 3:15). When you choose to wait until your instincts and emotions die down, your actions prove your intent, and your conscience won’t suffer from regret.

 

King Saul chose to listen to the harp to calm himself (1 Samuel 16:23). Queen Esther chose to wait until she mustered up the courage to reveal Hamon’s plot against the Jews before she alerted the King (Esther 5:4, 7:2). I, too, choose to wait. I, too, have learned to actively wait. I intentionally decide to spend this time conjuring up an image in my mind that will help me choose the next right thing to do (Dr, Carmichael, C, (2021) p 254, Morgan, R. J., (2001/2014).

 

It’s a mental image of me abiding in Christ during a turbulent time. When I feel anxious, I see myself crying out to God for help, and then taking a deep breath before jumping off the cruise ship that I’m on. Then I see myself plunging down into the ocean so I can find the ships’ anchor. I slowly exhale as I clasp it on to my ankle. I begin to quote scriptures that specifically speak to my circumstances and as I do, I am embraced by Christ. I inhale again but this time I get my air from Him along with instructions for my next move. Then, I shoot back up to the cruise ship and purposely divert my attention away from the array of temptation available on board. But if I’m having a hard time visualizing this scene because I’m too overwhelmed by my emotions, I simply cry out and say, “Help me my mighty God”! (A short paraphrase of Psalm 141:1-5) and then I wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14, 40:1-17)!

 

What do you do to counter temptation?

 

Freedom of Choice

The washing machine example also brings home the point that you have free choice of behavioral expression. You may not be able to stop your mind from producing inappropriate thoughts, but, as a Christian, you do have the power to do the good you intend. You have the strength to NOT press start after your instincts selected the sin cycle when first aroused by temptation. It is your choice because, as a child of God, you are no longer a slave to sin (John 1:12, Romans 6:6, 6:11, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Galatians 5:13).

 

Just like when I am on the elevator in the cruise ship and I see the advertisements that lure me to go to the third floor where the casino and bar are; I may hit the button, but when I get there, I can choose NOT to get off on that floor. That’s how intention interrupts impulsiveness; look for the second decision point so you don’t get carried away by the momentum sin can produce. While riding the elevator I was able to intentionally steer my thoughts towards living a full life in Christ so I didn’t get off when the door opened (Colossians 2:6-7, 1 John 2:5-6). It is the same as in the washing machine example when you go back to reset the sin cycle to the righteousness cycle before pressing start (Philippians 2:13-14), Romans 8:1, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 5:21). Don’t let the momentum of instincts and emotion direct you to consequences that you’ll regret later (Galatians 6:7-10, Philippians 4:8)

 

Do you abuse grace or follow righteousness because of it? (Titus 2:11-14, Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 6:1-2, Matthew 5:17-20)?

 

Choosing Discipleship

Whether it’s a thought about the temptation to indulge in the pleasures and lusts of the flesh or it’s the temptation to let worry, fear, anger, or doubt dominate your thinking, thoughts trigger our imagination. With lightning speed, you conjure up an image in your mind that either further enhances a sinful desire or stops it dead in its tracks (James 1:14-16). Your choice shows your intentionality. It reveals who you serve (see Matthew 25:31-46, and https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-is-Lord.html).  

 

Fulfilling your commitment to be a true disciple of Christ is the goal of the righteousness cycle on the washing machine dial (Matthew 10:24, Luke 6:40). Think about it in terms of Jesus’ selection of the disciples. When Jesus called them by name to get their attention, it was a chance to be “born again” and then when He invited them to follow Him, he offered the chance to become His disciple. The first call didn’t require any action to prove it, but the second one did (John 3:3, Romans 10:9-10, 12:1, Colossians 3:1, 5-10, Ephesians 4:24). The first decision may show a proper understanding of Christianity, but the second decision shows your willingness to change your habits because of it. 

 

Some people don’t even answer the call from Jesus while others answer the call but put Him on hold (Luke 9:59-62, 14:18-20). Disciples answer the call and intentionally walk with integrity to God. The Bible shows this distinction. To those who stopped what they were doing when Jesus called, He instructed them, let them know what it was going to be like as His followers and then gave them new names (Matthew 10:1-23). As indicated by the language change in verses 32-37, Jesus invites “whosoever”; an open  invitation. To follow Him, whosoever responds will need to pick up their cross and carry it with them. This word picture indicates the hard work it takes to intentionally change your old man habits to be consistent with your goal of becoming a “new creature” in Christ (Mark 8:34, Matthew 10:24, 1 John 2:6, Ecclesiastes 8:14, Galatians 5:1, 5:13). 

 

You are only one decision away from practicing Christian integrity and glorifying God in any situation (Titus 2:7-8, Job 2:3). Deciding to restart the righteousness cycle shows your intent to defeat any type of worldly temptation and pressing start demonstrates your commitment to love and glorify God (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 12:7, 12:10-11, 12:14-16). Soon your selection of the righteousness cycle will become a habit; a locked in cycle that results in taking consistent righteous action (1 John 2:28-29, 3:7, 3:10). Making these faith-filled decisions each time you are faced with a choice is how hope in Christ is realized (Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 9:27, 10:23, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 8:24, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5).

 

In Matthew 12:29, Mark 3:27 and Luke 11:21-22, Jesus warns His followers that it’s Satan that tempts you from selecting the cycle of righteousness. Jesus says, “For when a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe—until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.” You are this strong man, a born-again believer facing temptation. The stronger man in the parable represents Satan. As a born again believer, you are graced with the fruit of the Spirit, but it’s your decision to use it to unleash His power to win the struggle.

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Do you engage in the battle or does your behavior look similar to a non-believers?

(Mathew 16:24, 26, 1 Peter 2:11-12)?

 

Choosing … to Be Strong in the Lord?

Galatians 5:19-21 outlines some common sins of man. The letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 remind Christians to show faithfulness to God by using self-control and by patiently enduring temptations so you can freely and passionately serve the Living God (Hebrews 13:12, Revelation 2, 3, 4:11). To choose to give in to temptation means that you’ve chosen the consequence of breaking fellowship with God; you’ve chosen to abuse grace and continue asking forgiveness for your favorite sin (1 John 3:24). Be it a test, trial, or temptation, a born-again Christian is only one decision away from remaining loyal to God (1 Corinthians 10:13).

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Loyalty is a constant, proven state of faithfulness. The temptation to give in to sin in this world can be likened to a test given by God to prove your allegiance to Him (Romans 3:4, 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:9, 2 Peter 1:3, John 17:14, 15:19, 1 John 5:19). In Job 23:11-12, we see the attitude of a faithful servant of God, as he experiences unexpected suffering and sorrow. Job says, “And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside.  I have not departed from his commands”. In Genesis 39:7-8, Joseph shows us his decision to flee from temptation when seduced by Potiphar's wife. Joshua is another example of a person who used faith to succeed. He implemented all the Lord told him on how to lead the Israelites to take possession of the promise land;

 

      6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to        their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions                Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful        in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be              sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my                        command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you                wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9

 

The command to “be strong in the Lord” implies a decision on your part to make up your mind to do what Job, 

Joseph and Joshua did (Galatians 6:10). “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” so we can always choose to override our impulsive instincts with an intentional decision to honor God (2 Timothy 1:7). Sometimes a simple phrase like “fan the flame” is all Christians need to remember to redirect impulsive thinking. Jesus taught us in the parable of the ten virgins, we are to take action to keep the light of the Spirit within us burning brightly (2 Timothy 1:6-7, Matthew 25:1-17, Matthew 5:16). You can gain the confidence and skills necessary to walk in faith and love by intentional thinking and by routinely adding knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and brotherly kindness to your faith instead of choosing to react to situations with fear, worry, or greed. By feeding on and practicing the Word, you can stand firm in the faith by choosing “to be courageous and strong” as you walk in love (Ephesians 5:1-2, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 16:13,13:4-7, 2 Timothy 2:11-13, Hebrews 12:2-3).

 

Value-based decisions that are in keeping with Godliness become to Christians like guide-rails on the side of a road when traveling near treacherous land (2 Timothy 1:14). Isaiah likens this effective decision making to taking the highway of holiness straight to God (Isaiah 35:8, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). It’s the practice of staying full of God that keeps you faithful and secure as you fight through the battlegrounds of this life to prevent self-gratification, in any form, from leaking through your armor (Ephesians 2:1-4, 8-10, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, Matthew 11:12, John 14:25-27, Ephesians 6:10-18).

 

When what you learn about God’s standards challenge your personal interest or desires, what do you do?  Blame, deny truth, or act responsibly - choosing to keep your behavior within the boundaries of Christianity?

 

Choosing to Be … Tamed?

Untamed human nature is instinctual, self-preserving and self-centered. Remember the tower of Babel recorded in Genesis 11:1-9? This is one example of how, in the Old Testament, God tamed man’s pride. (Thinking too much or too little of yourself.) “Tamed” is an active verb. In the New Testament, God has equipped us with the power of the Holy Spirit to act consistently with our decision to tame ourselves. It doesn’t happen by thinking alone. It doesn’t happen by prayer alone. It doesn’t happen by faith-filled hope alone. It doesn’t happen by sheer will power alone. It happens because you become aware of a bigger purpose and this attitude shifts your mindset (Colossians 3:15, 1 Peter 2:9). Tamed becomes a motive which sets meaning to your life; it is what pushes you to make decisions to act consistently with that purpose so you reach your goal (Matthew 6:33).

 

It takes self-discipline to turn intention into reality. The “old man” had the goal of pleasing self ahead of God. Because of the goal of self-satisfaction, desires and feelings were not tamed so self-will prevailed. The new man in Christ (God-centered and Sprit-controlled) CAN decide to use self - discipline to ward off temptation to prevent the sin cycle from locking in! It is the intentional thought of the new man’s purpose that motivates you to reset the dial on the washing machine! It’s this intention that causes you to not get off on the casino floor and its intention that causes you to imagine being encamped in the arms of Christ. When you remember God, you will be empowered to tame your instincts so you can choose to use self-discipline to walk in love (1 Peter 1:22, Hebrews 2:1-4, Romans 1:19-21, 6:11-13, 2 Corinthians 10:23).

 

A very simple example is seen below in a poem written by Portia Nelson.

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It Is Well?

Human beings are born with a natural ability to self-preserve, but it is this same trait that can give us the tendency to over-indulge self because of who is at the center of our decision – making. King Solomon is an example of this type of Christian. Read about his life in 1 Kings 2:1-4, 1 Kings 11:1-4, Ecclesiastes 12:13. We’ve all been hit with feelings of worry or hopelessness. There may even be times when you get mad at God when your prayers are not answered in the way you want. But our job is not to run the universe or try to figure out the why’s of our destiny. It’s to align our behavioral decisions with the goals of Christianity so we prove our trust in God like the great Woman of Shunem (2 Kings 4:8-37, 8:1-6, Philippians 2:3).

 

The Apostle Paul challenges us to remain single-minded in our dedication to pleasing God (Romans 6:11, 8:8, Colossians 1:9-11). He even prayed to God on our behalf that we’d be unmoved by the circumstances of daily life and, instead, be able to faithfully practice Christlike integrity to God (Ephesians 1:11, 17-19, Hebrews 8:10). The basis for and the volatility of a Christian’s peace is contingent on the use of intentional, value-based decision making (Psalm 85:8). Only a decision to cry out for God’s Spirit to strengthen you in your moments of weakness will kick start the cycle of righteousness so you can run through the landmine of trials, tests and temptations in this world (Philippians 2:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, see Appendix 2L, Appendix 1U).

 

Loyalty to God can be likened to an anchor for your soul during times when you feel like you are being swallowed up by the waves of a secular world (Psalm 119:61, Hebrews 6:19). It is possible to have joy during the middle of trials but it takes humility to see it as an option (1 Peter 1:6-9, 2 Corinthians 6:10). Humility triggers you to remember God so you can see the separate decision points available to you when tempted to sin (Proverbs 22:4, Colossians 3:12, James 4:7)? Joy and sadness like lust and self-control can live together in you but what comes out of you is a choice of expression which reveals your heart (Matthew 12:34, Luke 6:45).

 

Take a bondservant for example. This type of slave made a free will decision to serve another (Ephesians 6:6, Matthew 6:24, 16:24, Romans 10:9-10). The emotions attached to making this decision are contrasting. When you are asked to do something you’d rather not do, or if you want to do something you are not allowed to do in your master’s household, you might feel mad or sad. But these feelings give way to gratitude for the love and security you feel as a chosen member of the household. As a Christian bondservant, your connection to God awakens your courage for Christlikeness and it is this action that brings peace and joy in the midst of trials, tests and temptations (Luke 6:46, Romans 5:3-5, 6:11, Ecclesiastes 2:1-2, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18).  Choose to live your life to the full while shining your light for Christ (1 Peter 2:11-13, Matthew 5:14-17)!

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Is the joy of the Lord your strength?

(Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 119:1-3, James 1:2-3, 1 Corinthians 10:31, John 17:13-18)

 

“Is it well with your soul”?

(1 Samuel 16:7, Proverbs 3:5-6, 17:3, Isaiah 29:13, 1 Peter 3:8)

 

Eternal excellence (E  ) because of D(A + B)= C   is achieved when your hope in Christ sees the future, your faith believes it’s possible, your trust in God drives you to acts consistently with the Word and your love walk is continuous because of your choice to express the power of God's love, the Holy Spirit, living in you (Psalm 117, 1 Corinthians 13:7, 16:14, Galatians 5:13, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 5:19-24, 2 Timothy 1:7, Hebrews 6:11-12, 13:1, 1 John 4:18). Christian cognitive consistency comes from a renewed heart empowered to implement intentional loving decisions.

 

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