MEMORISE:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour;” – (1 Peter 5:8)
READ: 1 Peter 5:8-10 (KJV)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
MESSAGE:
The devil is a very crafty being. When he senses the glorious destiny of a person, he does everything in his power to ensure that the fellow does not fulfil that destiny. He however cannot succeed except the person commits a sin and God leaves the fellow alone. When he heard the dream that Joseph had, he knew that the boy had a glorious destiny so he planned for his brothers to kill him, but somehow God intervened and he was sold into slavery. The devil then arranged for a woman to tempt him, and he said that woman should be no other than Mrs. Potiphar who lived in the same house with him and was not under his control. Everywhere he turned to in the house, the madam was there smiling at him. Many people have lost their destinies this way. The devil arranged for a woman close to them to keep tempting them continually until they fell. The devil did not use the woman they only saw once in a while, he used the one they would see every day because he wanted to take no chances in ensuring that they wouldn't fulfil their glorious destiny. If that temptation keeps knocking, recognise that the devil is up to something and run for your life like Joseph did.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. – (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Maybe there is a man or lady eyeing you somewhere around your office, or maybe you are constantly tempted to visit pornographic sites; no matter how intense the temptation is, God has provided a way of escape from it. The only problem is that your attention is on the temptation and not on the way of escape. There are people who can help you get out of that tempting situation. There are decisions you can take, though drastic, to free yourself from that temptation. There is always a way of escape.
Don't be too shy to ask for help, don't be too timid to do what has to be done in order not to fall. You must escape the temptation in order to reach your goal. From experience, I can tell you that the more of those temptations you overcome, the closer you will get to your goal.
ACTION POINT:
What is that temptation that has been knocking on the door of your heart? Take a bold step today to ensure that you don't fall for it anymore.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 48 - Daniel 2
AUTHOR: PASTOR E A ADEBOYE
HYMNAL: 29 - WILL YOUR ANCHOR HOLD IN THE STORMS OF LIFE
1 Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!
2 Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear,
when the breakers roar and the reef is near?
While the surges rage, and the wild winds blow,
shall the angry waves then your bark o'reflecting
3 Will your anchor hold in the floods of death,
when the waters cold chill your latest breath?
On the rising tide you can never fail,
while your anchor holds within the veil.
4 Will your eyes behold through the morning light
the city of gold and the harbour bright?
Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore,
when life's storms are past for evermore?