Today the Church is plagued by many issues that people in the world are dealing with. Issues such as depression, financial irresponsibility, divorce, etc… As I was riding home from work on the train the Lord starting speaking to me and He started telling me about how there are many immature Christians that are trying to overcome heavy mature spiritual issues all alone. The reason why the Church is not standing up and out like it is supposed to be is because of these issues and more importantly the results that we are getting as a result of spiritual immaturity.Is it wrong for a person in Christ to deal and be tempted by things of the world? The answer is absolutely not. The conflict comes in with how we deal with what is being dealt at the time. What will that outcome be? Generations of religion and tradition has taught us that once we are in Christ than we ought to be perfect. The error comes in when the Church tries to live in a perfected manner according to what the world defines as perfection and not what God says is perfect. In the Bible the word perfect means full grown, adult, full of age, and mature, or in one word complete. So Jesus says in Matthew 5:48 to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect or in other words raise to a place of maturity that you were not at yesterday, or last year.
This is a key factor that we are missing, maturity. We love flowing in the gifts of God and the faith in God, but we don’t spend enough time using the wisdom of God to perfect the whole package. Now because we also have a fleshy nature by just being human, that means that we can be tempted by the lusts of the world from time to time, and it also means that we may become susceptible to things that try and test our faith in God. Today we live in a new day and in a new realm of understanding and relationship with God. Today you don’t have to be ashamed if you’re a born again Christian and struggle with temptations from time to time. We have to know how to overcome and resist.
When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, every time the devil tempted Him Jesus came back and the first thing that He said was “it is written”. This signifies that you can only overcome temptation with what God says about it. Too many of us like to go head to head with the devil only to find out that we’re not stronger than him just by yourself. We ought not to fight against temptation but rather resist it; the days of warfare are over. Why do we still consume the most of our time fighting the devil when the battle has already been won. In all actuality every minute you spend battling against the devil you spend less time with God.
Quick story: At my last job I used to go to work an hour early everyday so I could pray. I had a little office space all to myself uninterrupted and I would use it to pray. So one morning as I was praying I began telling the devil what he wasn’t going to do and how I was more powerful and etc… we’ve all been there before. When I ended I heard a quiet voice say to me “You let him steal My time with you”. As soon as I heard the voice I knew exactly what God was talking about. I let the devil come in and interrupt my praise to God and in a sense I gave it to the devil. The devil is also known as the tempter and the ways that he uses to tempt are very very subtle. That’s why we as Christians have to be strong in God’s word and in relationship to be able to discern various pitfalls when they present themselves.
Now as I was just referencing, it’s not a sin to be tempted, because in that very temptation lies deliverance. Many of us in the Church often fall prey to the temptation because one, we’re not strong in God’s word which keeps us immature and two because we feel ashamed to tell someone who may be able to aid us. Yes we cry out to God for help but in all actuality if you’re not strong in His word, leaving you immature and insensitive to His voice, you probably can’t even discern the voice of God from your own voice. So that leaves one other option, to seek help from someone who is a bit stronger than you are in the ways of God.
We have to overcome the fear of thinking that it’s taboo to go through certain issues and that you have to be perfect in the eyes of man. In the end you’re only deceiving yourself because if you keep trying to fight the temptation by yourself you will soon fall prey to that which wants to destroy you. We see it all the time in the church. Sister so-in-so is back in the world, brother so-in-so just cussed out whoever, etc…
Next month on the 17th will mark Tracy and I 2nd wedding anniversary. The past two years have been very rewarding and also challenging, in a good sense. So much maturity has come to both of us since we were married. Husbands if you are dealing with temptation you should not hold it in. One of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had so far is being able to be honest with my wife when things are tempting me. I have no problem telling my wife about the various things that tempt me, this includes the opposite sex.
First and foremost I made a vow to her and my future children and most importantly to God that I would never defile our marriage. This does not mean that sometimes the lust of my flesh wants to do otherwise. I am comfortable telling my wife that I need her to pray for me and that I need to not expose myself to certain things. When I was able to tell her these things that brought on struggle she began to pray and now that thing that use to be such a struggle is not anymore.
Too many husbands go through this same issue but hold it inside to eat away like a cancer and in the end they fall prey to it. Husbands we are to love our wives as Christ loved the Church. With that being said, if I really love her that much I will tell her if something is threatening that love. Husbands, next to Jesus in Heaven your wife should be your biggest intercessor on your behalf and vice versa. Keeping each other strong and covered in prayer is key to a successful marriage.
Wives don’t think that your husband is fault free. If he respects you that much to be able to come to you in a peaceable manner and confide in you in that manner you ought not to cast judgment or even think that it’s your fault. Instead return with wisdom and understanding and rejoice that your marriage has reached a new level of maturity with one another and most importantly in God.
Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org
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