Memorise: Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. Luke 12:37
Read: Matthew 13:24-26
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
Bible in one year: Jeremiah 14-15, Luke 9:28-50
AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
1. Temptation is the pressure to yield to influence that can lead a person away from God and into sin.
2. It is also the means by which the loyalty, commitment and obedience of a child of God is tested and proved.
3. Temptation is a part of life that no one can escape from, because nobody is protected or exempted from its influence. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself experienced temptation (Hebrews 4:15).
4. The one who orchestrates temptations, also known as the tempter, is the devil (Mathew 4:3). He has perfected highly deceptive means of carrying out his evil enterprise, because he has been long at it. however, glory to God because the Lord has developed a way of escape for every type of temptation the devil can come up with (1 Corinthians 10:13). If we refuse to use the means of escape provided by God, we will end up falling for the devil’s tricks and disobeying God. This can have devastating repercussions, as seen in the fall of mankind through temptation and the judgement of God which followed (Genesis 3:1-21). It is therefore important for us to learn how to overcome temptation and also reduce our exposure to it by applying the antidote provided by the Lord.
5. In the last few hours before our Lord Jesus Christ was arrested, knowing what was about to happen shortly, He gave the disciples the antidote to temptation, saying in Matthew 24:26: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” In this verse of scripture, He named watchfulness and prayer as the antidotes to temptation.
6. Watchfulness is the state of being alert and expectant while carefully observing emphasis on the need to keep watch for two important events: the second coming of our Lord and the devil’s temptation, which is our focus today.
7. We are called to be alert to the dangers posed to our Christian life by false teachings, worldliness, love of money, inordinate ambition, sinful pleasure, sexual immorality, and all other forms of temptation.
8. Your watchfulness should begin with the admonition of Proverbs 4:23, which says: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
9. Romans 12:2 also speaks about renewing your mind, and this is best done by filling your heart with the undiluted word of God.
10. Another aspect of watching is bridling our tongue in order not sin with it (1 Peter 3:10, James 1:26). For your faith not to suffer shipwreck due to temptation, you are called by God to soberly watch and be prayerful (1 Peter 4:7).
11. Are you keeping watch?
SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 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. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:8-11 May God continually uphold and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name
Prayer Point: Father, please don’t’ allow any temptation derail my Christian journey in Jesus’ Name.
Hymn
Conquerors and overcomers now
are we,
Thro’ the precious blood of Christ
we’ve victory
If the Lord be for us we can never
Fail,
Nothing ‘gainst His mighty powe
Can e’er prevail.
Chorus:
Conquerors are we, thr’o the blood of
Jesus
God will give us victory, thro’ the
blood of Jesus
Through the Lamb for sinners slain,
Yet who lives and reigns again,
More than conquerors are we,
More than conquerors are we.
In the name of Israel’s God we’ ll
Onward press,
Overcoming sin and all
Unrighteousness;
Not to us but unto Him the praise
Shall be,
For salvation and for blood bought
victory.
Unto Him that overcometh shall
be given,
Here to eat of hidden manna sent
from Heaven,
Over yonder He the victors palm
Shall bear,
And a robe of white, and golden
Crown shall wear.
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