IN A WORLD DARKENED BY LUST,SIN AND EVENTUAL DEATH![JAS.1:15]
TEMPTATIONS IN THE CHURCH OF GOD(JAS.1:13)
Yes, temptations are not limited to individuals alone.
Even the Church gets Tempted, even though, individuals make up the church.
But you see,when we pray, *Lead us not into temptation* I bet most of us think about the temptations we face in our everyday lives.
Whatever our feelings on the devil might be, he is a sure representative of the worst parts of us, and the temptations we so easily fall prey to in life;
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (Jas 1: 13)
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (Jas 1: 15)
The devil shows Christ Jesus a stone and tempts Him to change it into bread; he shows Christ Jesus the nations of the world and tempts Him to bow down to him; and he takes Christ Jesus to the top of the Temple and tempts Him to throw Himself down so the angels will save Him (Matthew 4:4-11; Luke 4:1-13).
Christ Jesus rebukes the devil and each of those temptations by preaching scripture. We are invited to do the same; in a life of prayer.
Our prayers, as much as we pray for ourselves and our loved ones, should also include prayers of protection for Christ’s church. After all, we pray,
*Lead us not into temptation.*
THE CHURCH IS ACTUALLY A BIG ATTRACTION FOR THE DEVIL TO TEMPT, AFTER ALL, THE ONLY MISSION hE HAS IS TO TRY DESTROY GOD'S CHURCH
(A DEAD ON ARRIVAL PROJECT.)
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (Joh 10: 10)
And Christ Jesus also declared;
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH; AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT. (Mat 16: 18)
Let's look at a few common temptations bedeviling the church.
THE TEMPTATION THAT MORE MONEY WILL SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS;
We live this way, so why wouldn’t we think this way in the church too? There is a feeling that if the church just had more money, we could do everything we set out to do. True, money helps, and of course , we can’t maintain buildings, pay staff, support outgoing missions, and lead programmatic ministries without it.
But money can also become an IDOL that UNDERMINES what WE are TRYING to USE IT TO ACCOMPLISH. Money can be well spent or squandered, and we can be tight fisted or generous. The hope and prayer I have is that we manage what we have well while encouraging our ongoing growth in generosity. Sometimes the best decision making happens when we are forced to set priorities, discern a focus, and refine a mission. Christ Jesus said, “One does not live by bread alone” (Luke 4:4).
We need to eat... but we also have God’s word to sustain us. GOD USES EVERY CHURCH TO DO SOMETHING, NOT EVERYTHING. Pray that God uses us for OURS.
THE TEMPTATION THAT BIGGER IS BETTER;
There are both small and large ineffective churches. There are both small and large very effective churches.
Remember, the church started as a band of a few followers ... with little money, no buildings, and lots of hardship. I’ve been opportune to see both small and big churches that are lively and functioning (from my perspective) according to God's Word and Will...though, relatively few. I’ve also been in churches of like sizes where I’ve felt like I was in the way(a hindrance or barrier to them... again,from my own perspective) and these are many.
There are churches that thought they were the center of Christendom and others that saw what they had as gifts to their community and world. You probably have seen them too.
The question is not the size of our community...it is the quality of it. Christ Jesus was offered the world, but instead He invited a few followers to train how to live for God and change lives.
He still calls us, and uses us within a church to be nurtured, and to welcome others into that same changed life. We should always pray for the grace to live out of His promise;
*See, I make all things new* (Revelation 21:5).
What if we asked each other, *What does this new life look like?* and tried to live that way? My guess is that the numbers would matter less than we think they do.
THE TEMPTATION OF RELEVANCE;
There is no magic button to press. Too often we are ready to jettison all that we have received for what is new, because there is a false hope that new is somehow better. New things are good, and I am an advocate for utilizing new tools as we receive them, but sometimes they can become just as BIG an IDOL as ANYTHING ELSE.
Christ Jesus was tempted to throw down His inheritance so that He could be lifted up... revealing His strength with angelic force. We vie for gimmicks, quick fixes, and newest innovations to somehow make God relevant to people. If we truly believe GOD is GOD, then GOD is RELEVANT, because GOD IS. (Exodus 3:14).
GOD'S WORD IS RELEVANT, BECAUSE IT IS GOD'S WORD. The message of new life given in Christ Jesus is relevant, because we need a Saviour, not better packaging. Please don’t misunderstand me...we are always called to bring that MESSAGE with clarity in a language that people can understand ... and new tools can help us to do that more effectively. However, they can only ever be means to an end... and that is to help us to live our faith in a crucified and risen Christ Jesus in the world’s eyes. Pray that we can discern the difference.
Of course there are other temptations than these three, and you may be struggling
with far greater temptations in your life than these. My prayer for you is that you know where true strength resides...not in power, flashy gimmicks or full wallets, but in the Christ Jesus who suffers, dies and is raised for you and me .. . claiming us in our broken flesh, and raising us into His.
The church is an imperfect place, full of temptation, and at times makes horrible mistakes. Give thanks that in Christ Jesus , we are given new life, and pray that He may be made known...even by the likes of us.
Let's understand this;
Lead us not into temptation
What does this mean?
It is true that God tempts no one, but we ask in this prayer that God would preserve and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great and shameful sins, and that, although we may be attacked by them, we may finally prevail and win the victory.
May God help us in Christ Jesus' Name Amen !
IN A WORLD DARKENED BY LUST,SIN AND EVENTUAL DEATH![JAS.1:15]
🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥
TEMPTATIONS IN THE CHURCH OF GOD(JAS.1:13)
🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥
Yes, temptations are not limited to individuals alone.
Even the Church gets Tempted, even though, individuals make up the church.
But you see,when we pray, *Lead us not into temptation* I bet most of us think about the temptations we face in our everyday lives.
Whatever our feelings on the devil might be, he is a sure representative of the worst parts of us, and the temptations we so easily fall prey to in life;
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (Jas 1: 13)
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (Jas 1: 15)
The devil shows Christ Jesus a stone and tempts Him to change it into bread; he shows Christ Jesus the nations of the world and tempts Him to bow down to him; and he takes Christ Jesus to the top of the Temple and tempts Him to throw Himself down so the angels will save Him (Matthew 4:4-11; Luke 4:1-13).
Christ Jesus rebukes the devil and each of those temptations by preaching scripture. We are invited to do the same; in a life of prayer.
Our prayers, as much as we pray for ourselves and our loved ones, should also include prayers of protection for Christ’s church. After all, we pray,
*Lead us not into temptation.*
THE CHURCH IS ACTUALLY A BIG ATTRACTION FOR THE DEVIL TO TEMPT, AFTER ALL, THE ONLY MISSION hE HAS IS TO TRY DESTROY GOD'S CHURCH
(A DEAD ON ARRIVAL PROJECT.)
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (Joh 10: 10)
And Christ Jesus also declared;
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH; AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT. (Mat 16: 18)
Let's look at a few common temptations bedeviling the church.
👉THE TEMPTATION THAT MORE MONEY WILL SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS;
We live this way, so why wouldn’t we think this way in the church too? There is a feeling that if the church just had more money, we could do everything we set out to do. True, money helps, and of course , we can’t maintain buildings, pay staff, support outgoing missions, and lead programmatic ministries without it.
But money can also become an IDOL that UNDERMINES what WE are TRYING to USE IT TO ACCOMPLISH. Money can be well spent or squandered, and we can be tight fisted or generous. The hope and prayer I have is that we manage what we have well while encouraging our ongoing growth in generosity. Sometimes the best decision making happens when we are forced to set priorities, discern a focus, and refine a mission. Christ Jesus said, “One does not live by bread alone” (Luke 4:4).
We need to eat... but we also have God’s word to sustain us. GOD USES EVERY CHURCH TO DO SOMETHING, NOT EVERYTHING. Pray that God uses us for OURS.
👉THE TEMPTATION THAT BIGGER IS BETTER;
There are both small and large ineffective churches. There are both small and large very effective churches.
Remember, the church started as a band of a few followers ... with little money, no buildings, and lots of hardship. I’ve been opportune to see both small and big churches that are lively and functioning (from my perspective) according to God's Word and Will...though, relatively few. I’ve also been in churches of like sizes where I’ve felt like I was in the way(a hindrance or barrier to them... again,from my own perspective) and these are many.
There are churches that thought they were the center of Christendom and others that saw what they had as gifts to their community and world. You probably have seen them too.
The question is not the size of our community...it is the quality of it. Christ Jesus was offered the world, but instead He invited a few followers to train how to live for God and change lives.
He still calls us, and uses us within a church to be nurtured, and to welcome others into that same changed life. We should always pray for the grace to live out of His promise;
*See, I make all things new* (Revelation 21:5).
What if we asked each other, *What does this new life look like?* and tried to live that way? My guess is that the numbers would matter less than we think they do.
👉 THE TEMPTATION OF RELEVANCE;
There is no magic button to press. Too often we are ready to jettison all that we have received for what is new, because there is a false hope that new is somehow better. New things are good, and I am an advocate for utilizing new tools as we receive them, but sometimes they can become just as BIG an IDOL as ANYTHING ELSE.
Christ Jesus was tempted to throw down His inheritance so that He could be lifted up... revealing His strength with angelic force. We vie for gimmicks, quick fixes, and newest innovations to somehow make God relevant to people. If we truly believe GOD is GOD, then GOD is RELEVANT, because GOD IS. (Exodus 3:14).
GOD'S WORD IS RELEVANT, BECAUSE IT IS GOD'S WORD. The message of new life given in Christ Jesus is relevant, because we need a Saviour, not better packaging. Please don’t misunderstand me...we are always called to bring that MESSAGE with clarity in a language that people can understand ... and new tools can help us to do that more effectively. However, they can only ever be means to an end... and that is to help us to live our faith in a crucified and risen Christ Jesus in the world’s eyes. Pray that we can discern the difference.
Of course there are other temptations than these three, and you may be struggling
with far greater temptations in your life than these. My prayer for you is that you know where true strength resides...not in power, flashy gimmicks or full wallets, but in the Christ Jesus who suffers, dies and is raised for you and me .. . claiming us in our broken flesh, and raising us into His.
The church is an imperfect place, full of temptation, and at times makes horrible mistakes. Give thanks that in Christ Jesus , we are given new life, and pray that He may be made known...even by the likes of us.
👇
Let's understand this;
Lead us not into temptation
What does this mean?
It is true that God tempts no one, but we ask in this prayer that God would preserve and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great and shameful sins, and that, although we may be attacked by them, we may finally prevail and win the victory.
May God help us in Christ Jesus' Name Amen 🙇🙏!