Thursday Open Heavens - Overcoming Trials I

Memorise: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which he Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12

Read: Proverbs 1:11-15, ¹¹ If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: ¹² Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: ¹³ We shall find all precious substance; we shall fill our houses with spoil: ¹⁴ Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: ¹⁵ My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

The irony of the spiritual realm is that the tempter is the prosecutor. The Bible says:

“And the great dragon was cast out that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceieveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:9-10

The above scripture points to one bitter truth; trials and temptations are characteristics of life whether we believe it or not. It is, however, better to believe it because it is then we can preparedly overcome it. The Bible also confirms it by attaching a blessing to overcomers of temptation:

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12

It takes genuine love for God to be able to overcome temptation. Joseph was able to overcome the temptation of sleeping with his master’s wife because of the love he had for God. This love was what produced his victory. He said:

“There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9

As said earlier, there will always be temptations as long as we are on this earth. Temptation is not a sin but falling into it is the sin. The bad thoughts that the devil flashes at you are not sins until you begin to hatch and execute them.

It is our resistance to temptation that makes us overcomers. The Bible says:

“Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Hebrews 12:4

My prayer for someone using this devotional is that you remain an overcomer over sin from now on in Jesus’ name.  

Prayer Point: Father, sanctify me wholly from every besetting sin by the Blood of Jesus shed on the Cross.

Bible in one year: 1^st Kings 8:22-9:28, Proverbs 16:20-33