Too many temptations?

[John 3:17]

How is a believer supposed to be holy in this world when there are so many temptations around?

 

[wayfaring man]

One approach is to pack up a Bible and some basic camping gear and spend some time praying and studying in the wilderness.

Another is prayer and fasting...see "Prayer and Fasting" forum. http://www.christianforums.com/f371/

wm

 

[Servant.DujmovJr]

How is a believer supposed to be holy in this world when there are so many temptations around?

By bringing every thought into captivity.
It is not easy sometimes; it is a battle, a war that you must wage with your thoughts and emotions.
No one is perfect, even though that is what we strive for; perfection.
Some get weak over time and backslide; I know I did
Fellowship is important. Find strong christians to whom you can relate. Let them know when you are struggling and what you are struggling with.

I second what wayfaringman said. Staying in the Word of God, Prayer and Fasting. These are the most important; but you should never try to go it alone. Find strong christians for good moral support.

The race that we run is a marathon. It is not a race of competition. It is a race of endurance; to make it to the finish line is to be victorious. No matter how many times you fall, get back up and keep fighting the good fight.
Let God's grace sustain you; for it is by His grace alone that we are saved; it is not our "perfection" that saves us. It is not by works, lest any man should boast.

Peace unto you
Steve

 

[Sabbath-Keeper777]

Best approach I can think of is this: Wake up and smell the brimstone. Not in hell, but on earth.

If you have shelter, a change of clothes, and know where you're next meal is coming from you're considered rich in this world. Psychologically, we turn away from facing the grim reality of things, but when that veil is lifted there is a sense of deep appreciation for the good things, and for the love of God in our short lives.

What I'm saying is, where temptation is concerned what we need is a good wake up call. "What is man that you are mindful of him?" The rewards for keeping his commandments are great, and the punishment for sins are also great.

 

[11822]

1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

What does this mean? "charity shall cover the multitude of sins"?

 

[kimmiemae]

Ask God for a hunger and thirst for only HIM. He alone will satisfy your deepest longing. He created us to hunger for Him, but I have often tried to satisfy myself with stuff and junk. The consequence of that was my health. My health suffered for years, but when I determined in my mind to follow Him that all changed. I got my health back and that in itself is a miracle.

 

[wayfaring man]

but you should never try to go it alone.

Well, there is a context or two where we need/are called to be able "to go it alone", with God.

Take ye heed every one of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will walk with slanders. <-----> Jeremiah 9:4

Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. <-----> John 16:32

...When it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. <-----> Galatians 1:15-17

Arabia - a desert place

May The Lord Be Pleased !

wm

 

[Tim Myers]

"By bringing every thought into captivity."

All that does is inspire the question: "How is a believer supposed bring every thought into captivity in this world when there are so many temptations around?"

 

[kimmiemae]

Taking thoughts captive was difficult for me before I submitted to ministry to my soul for 3 days. I use to be so passive and allowing all sorts of stuff in my head, bad tv, bad music, drinking, etc...Now, I am in a battle and I use the sword of the Spirit according to Ephesians 6.

 

[wayfaring man]

1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

What does this mean? "charity shall cover the multitude of sins"?

One of the best ways to understand one part of Scripture is to compare it to the other parts which contain the same "key words", and/or their synonyms.

This is relatively easy to do with the aid of Bible Study "helps", like those downloadable for free @ e-Sword - the Sword of the LORD with an electronic edge

Hatred stirs up strifes: but love covers all sins. <-----> Proverbs 10:12

He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends. <-----> Proverbs 17:9

Then though being somewhat familiar with Scriptures in general -

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: <-----> Matthew 6:14

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. <-----> Psalm 85:10

The "charity" spoken of in 1st Peter 4:8 is the kind of "love" that "covers all sins", which is the equivalent of saying "the kind of love that enables us to forgive all trespasses done against us", in the light/hope of God's Love & Forgiveness towards us through Christ.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. <-----> 1st John 4:11

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. <-----> Colossians 3:12-14

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. <-----> Matthew 5:43-48


But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
And unto him that smites thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
Give to every man that asks of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. <-----> Luke 6:27-36

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. <-----> Matthew 7:12

Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD. <-----> Leviticus 19:18

For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done... <---> Ezekiel 16:59

For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head. <-----> Obadiah 1:15

With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. <-----> 2nd Samuel 22:26 + Psalm 18:25

He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? <-----> Micah 6:8

...For God resists the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. <---> 1st Peter 5:5

Being humble and being merciful go hand in hand.

Wherefore it is also said -

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. <-----> Isaiah 57:15

But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. <-----> Galatians 5:15

Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge stands before the door. <-----> James 5:9

So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment. <-----> James 2:12+13

May The Lord Be Pleased to Bless !

wm

 

[wayfaring man]

By bringing every thought into captivity.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. <-----> 2nd Corinthians 10:3-6

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. <-----> Galatians 5:16

... If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. <-----> Romans 8:11-14

...Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. <---> Zechariah 4:6

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? <-----> Luke 11:9-13

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him.
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. <-----> James 1:5-7

The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. <-----> Luke 11:34+35

May The Lord Be Magnified !

wm

 

[wayfaring man]

There has 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. <-----> 1st Corinthians 10:13

(With The Holy Spirit's Help) - It's a matter of being enabled to recognize the "way to escape", having also the inspiration/motivation to "take it", and then following through.

May The Lord Be Pleased !

wm

em

 

[Emmy]

Dear Servant.Dujmov.Jr. I read in your profile that Grandma Warren had such wonderful and good influence in your life. I ask this humbly: if the world was full of such outstandingly Good People, would your life, as well as many others, have been less unhappy and wretched? I am sure it would. Jesus told us in Matthew, chapter 22, verses 35-40: " the first and great Commandment is: Love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is like it: Love thy neighbour as thyself." Then Jesus points out: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Love is what God wants from us, selfless and beneficial. We have Jesus to give us His Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit to empower us with His Love. Jesus told us: " Ask and ye will receive," and God our Heavenly Father will give us His Love to share with eachother. There are many temptations and we will stumble and fail quite often, but we will persevere, will run the race, and keep trying again and again. God will forgive us every time we ask, if we are sincere and forgive those who sin/transgress against us. God is Love, God made us in His image, and God wants loving children/sons and daughters. Jesus will lead us back to where we came from. The Bible tells us to Repent, to change our selfish and unloving character into: loving God with all our beings, and loving our neighbour as ourselves. It can be done, Dujmov.Jr, if we really try. We have time on our side, and Love is very catching, soon people will treat us as we treat them. I say this with love. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[11822]

Thank you Wayfaring man.

Mt 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Mt 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.


1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

 

[wayfaring man]

You're Welcome in The Lord 11822 !
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

One more thought came to mind regarding the topic of this thread. Which fits well with being of a kind/charitable disposition towards each other, especially "others in need".

Consider -

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. <-----> Galatians 6:1

There's a spiritual law of sowing and reaping which applies on many levels, and in the verse above we see an indication that unless we regard the "faults or failures" of others in a meek/non aggressive manner, we are asking to be humbled by being "tempted" in ways which are likely to show us we're "no better" than the one(s) we scorned/berated/proudly denounced etc.

Wherefore, if any find them self seemingly overwhelmed by many a strong temptation, it may be due to the "reaping" of many unmerciful/uncharitable remarks/regard for others who appeared to be sorely struggling or failing in their walk before God.

Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low...<---> Job 40:12

He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. <-----> 1st John 2:10

...The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. <-----> 1st Peter 4:7+8

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou sees the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. <-----> Isaiah 58:6-8

May The Lord Be Magnified !

wm

 

[Ttery]

1 Corinthians 10:13 (New International Version 1984, ©1984)

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

Even though there are many temptations God would not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. God will help us get out.

 

[GodisLove2]

How is a believer supposed to be holy in this world when there are so many temptations around?

Assuming your conscience is clear towards God...He has given you the understanding that yielding to temptation is sin..and you do not want to sin...Just go to Him just as you are...tell Him that you're finding it difficult to overcome and you need His grace and strength to say no...(For without me you can do nothing John 15:5) and if you fail..go back to Him and tell again...persist and persevere in praying in the Holy Spirit...until you overcome ...(and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly Matt 6:5)

 

[wildfood]

How is a believer supposed to be holy in this world when there are so many temptations around?

Turn off the TV, unplug the computer, and find yourself some godly friends.

It's not so drastic a step as you might think.

 

[Human Clay]

"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]."

 

[kimmiemae]

May I suggest reading the Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee?