THE DOOR of TEMPTATION Remember “the door” in my dream? If not, please read over the post: Who Can Find a Faithful Man or Woman? A door usually signifies transition. When we step into the front door of our home, we have transition from the outside to the inside environment. To dream that you are entering through a door can also suggest new opportunities that are presented before you. You are entering into a new stage in your life and moving from one level maturity into another. Remember, in my dream the door is closed which signifies opportunities that are denied and not available to me. In the dream, I sensed something or someone was blocking my progress. After I inquired, I realized that someone blocking me was the Lord in this case. The Lord showed me “this door” in my dream was a door of temptation. When I heard the cries, screams, and I felt deep regret, resentment and pain behind this door, I realized that it was those who had fallen prey to temptation. What I felt was the consequences of their decision. There are two ways to find yourself walking through this door. The first way is you can enter into temptation. We are told to pray we enter not into temptation. Matt. 26:41, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” That means you know what is on the other side of the door. I’ve seen many flirt with opportunity only to find themselves opening a door and walking straight into temptation. I recently approached a married young man I knew who was having lunch quite frequently with one of his female employees. I knew he cherished the relationship. When I would inquire of his actions, he would always say, “We are just friends.” Well, my only question to him was, “do you inform your wife of these lunch engagements?” Only to receive no answer from him. Well, I hesitate to tell you what happened next. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. He entered into temptation. It is that which is in us that determines whether or not we opened the door of temptation. James 1:14, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” When faced with temptations and troubles, we can turn to God for wisdom and deliverance. “In the day of my trouble I will call upon YOU: for you will answer me” (Psalm 86:7). However, if we desire to fulfill the selfish desire of our own heart, we will be lured into temptation. However, let no one say when he is tempted, that he is tempted of God. For God does not tempt any man. The other way to find yourself on the other side of the door of temptation, is we can fall into temptation. If you do not enter into temptation, occasionally the wicked one will present a scheme to entrap you. 1 Timothy 1:6, “But people who long to be rich “fall into temptation” and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.” The most dangerous enemies are unseen. Deadly traps appeal to basic needs. When Satan tempted Christ in the wilderness, he was certainly aware of Jesus’ basic need for food. His first temptation centered on this need as he taunted Christ to turn stones into bread. Jesus detected Satan’s deception, rejected it, and was alert to Satan’s further temptations, refusing each one. (Matthew 4:1–11.) Satan knows that we need and desire food, clothing, shelter, acceptance, security, and companionship. He will offer these things as bait to lure us into his traps. God has equipped us with inner alarms to warn us of danger. He reinforces these alarms with promptings of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13–15), warnings from His Word, and instructions from our parents (Proverbs 6:20–24) and spiritual leaders (Hebrews 13:17). Satan knows that if his bait is attractive enough, we may be willing to set aside cautions. If you are being tempted to disregard warnings, beware! Satan knows that we do not comprehend the deadly destruction of his harmless looking traps. When you become familiar with the sight of a trap, your sense of danger decreases. You might even begin to expect the temptation and rely on it for simple pleasures. If you become accustomed to overlooking signs of danger, your spirit will grow dull and sluggish. You eventually will forsake alertness, and then you can be persuaded into believing that the trap is not even harmful. Once Satan’s traps are sprung, however, there are temporal and eternal consequences, not just for the one caught in the trap but for generations to come. “ . . . For I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me” (Exodus 20:5). Please Like/Join TB Joshua Ministries for more
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 05:39:02 +0000
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