temptation

Sin’s Red-line

Dr. Mike 2024 , ,

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”   Mark 14:38

When do you know you have crossed the line with sin?

I remember once hearing Dallas Willard discuss the process of sin. He explained the difference between a bad thought, temptation, and the actual sin. His teaching help clarify the process. He made us more aware to catch oneself before entering the alienation minefield. He outlined the process as three levels.

First there is the sinful thought that enters your mind. This is not sin. This is only the idea or concept. The question is what will you do with the thought.

If the thought is not removed, then the person will begin to move into the temptation level. This is where your thought meets the inclination to perform. You haven’t completed the act, but you are now leaning toward the possibility. The moment of truth has arrived for a decision. Will you or will you not? This is what temptation is.

If your character and spiritual formation is strong, you will likely choose wisely. The temptation will only be a temporary lure. You know the ugliness of sin and will refrain from the enticement. What we may not realize at first is sin also lives within our habits. We have unbeknownst in most cases trained our habits to sin. This is why we need to put into practice regular means of grace.

But if you are weak and unprepared with little character strength, what then? For sin is when you act out your thought and inclination. It is sin even if you don’t perform the deed but would do so if the conditions were right. This is why Jesus said if you had lust in your heart you have already committed the sin. The challenge is to train oneself in godliness. To have the willpower to push yourself away from the temptation. And humanity apart from God fails at it.

One needs to be born again with the Spirit of God to regenerate the heart. Then pursue a life of sanctification. This is the process to transform the human spirit and will after the likeness of Jesus Christ. This path is a high adventure with failures and successes. As we put forth the effort, God supplies us with HIS grace in the areas we are currently failing at. But over time, as we lean more and more on HIM, the inner soul is being modified after the character of Jesus himself. And we don’t take credit for the success. For we know it is only because of the grace from God we succeed.

Yes, this is a long process. But we know we are HIS workmanship. So whatever failure and successes we experience is a reflection of our weakness or HIS glory. But it requires our cooperation. If we keep failing, is it because we are not cooperating with HIM? Do we need to do more business with HIM? Or don’t we understand the life of a disciple of HIS? But then again, maybe you are becoming more like HIM than you realize. You may have higher expectations of yourself than God has of you. Maybe HE is working on something else. All this while you are struggling with what you consider more important. Only time will tell. Meanwhile, focus on Jesus. Learn from HIM. Integrate all you learn into your everyday life. And watch as God grows you into HIS masterpiece.

And yes, it helps when you know where the red-line is in your choices.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Blessed Test or Repeat

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , , , ,

How are you when it comes to tests? Does your palms sweat? Does your stomach turn into knots? In those undergraduate days, I hated tests. Since I was blessed with an excellent short term memory, I would cram the day before the exam, take the exam, and score a high grade. But don’t ask me the same questions the following week; I wouldn’t be able to recall. Yes, I basically studied for an exam grade; learning was on the lower rung of the priority ladder. However, in graduate school, the attitude changed. Exams were excited because I loved the majority of my classes and learning was my prime motivation. I didn’t really care about the grade. The result: better grades and mastery of the subject material. Why does this matter?

The Bible states that you will be presented with life tests (Ps.11:5, Pr.17:3, I Thess. 2:4). A time when you will face a moment of truth. A time when the results will reveal the true character of your soul. These tests will not be multiple choice, essay, or mathematical formulas. They will typically confront you with two primary choices. The choice to live within the circle of the Triune God fellowship or outside the circle. In either circle God remains with you. The difference has to do with eternal rewards and possibly a more difficult path to follow while walking through the jungle of life.

For example, Adam and Eve failed their test and was thrown to live outside the Garden of Eden. Abraham chose to obey and was ready to sacrifice his one son; yet God intervened and Abraham was favorably rewarded for passing his test of faithfulness(Gn. 26:5). Jacob wrestled with the Lord (Gen. 32:24-26) and likewise passed God’s test for persistence and endurance. Joseph was tested through slavery and prison, but remained faithful and obedient to God’s integrity. Saul was made the first King of Israel but failed the test and was disowned and replaced by David. Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by Satan. (Temptation is not a sin; temptation draws-out personal desires that could lead to sin). In Jesus’ case, he was tempted with immediate governmental, religious, and economic leadership (Lk.4:1-13). Jesus though trusted that His Father will work out the plan and didn’t take things into his own hands. He was faithful to His Father’s desires and passed the test.

In business, many opportunities will come to make large sums of money. The problem isn’t the money, but the manipulation, deceitfulness, and witchcraft that is played out to attain the “prize.” Is this God testing you or blessing you? Or is this God blessing you and testing you? Like all moments of truth, you will not know until later in life. But for the moment, are you willing to sacrifice one’s character, virtue, and integrity for the “golden fleece?” Your prize comes from being faithful to our provider; to live and conduct business within the Triune God’s fellowship circle. During the test, will you faithfully and honestly stand before God who knows you better than anyone, and hear his voice speak to you? The objective is to be wholeheartedly honest with all parties through the entire process and focus on glorifying God with the end result. When you remove God’s purpose from the picture, than you cloud the process with selfish desire and godless acts that shamefully brings a failing test to the Master’s feet. The outcome is a good reflection and snapshot of where your soul stands before God.

Again, life tests will come in the marketplace. The choice is usually between more Mammon or fulfilling your word with others and God. The answer will reveal whether one’s heart is truly purified to stand within God’s inner circle or just continue to hang on the far edges with more refining to be done. Though God will never leave you nor forsake you, you have a choice in how diligent you cultivate your soul. Or is that just simply too radical for you to believe?

OUR PRAYER

apprentice 2

Our Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit: thank you for loving us so much that you have invested the universe to prepare us for eternity. Thank you for opening our hearts to see, our minds to comprehend, and our hands/feet to serve you. Thank you for taking time to create your masterpiece in us through a new creation in Christ. Help us to yield ourselves to your Word, calling, and purpose. Help us each day to redeem the time. Help us to be prepared for whatever tests come our way that we will be truthful and supportive of your honor. Help us to desist and you to uplift your ways, your love, and your Kingdom through us and in us. Thank you for a new life in you.

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Mike

Executive Chair, Consultant, Encourager
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
* Great Business Emulates a Good God
* Be Radical…Follow Christ!
* Simply The Messenger
* Unequally Married

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