Why is freedom so difficult?
(Hint: Seeds start small.)

Our Thoughts • Build desires within us, like FIRE on a stove-top
Our Emotions • Are like WATER in a tea kettle
Our Behavior • Is like the STEAM from a boiling tea kettle

What does scripture say?

James 1:14-15 

Our Thoughts • 14: but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  FIRE

Our Emotions • 15a: Then, after desire has conceived,…  WATER 

Our Behavior • 15b: … it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  STEAM 

Take our thought life captive to Christ!

Here are some topics expanded below

TEMPTATION SUB-MENU

• Advance Preparation – before we are tempted

• What can I do? – suggestions to prepare in advance

• During Temptation – suggestions

A word before going on…

Many of us have probably heard/read passages in scripture on temptation.  One thing that can make a difference is treating things we already know or have heard as new – so it will trickle down past our brains into our hearts.

Matthew 18:1-4  The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven (treating spiritual things as new) 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

TEMPTATION SUB-MENU

• • Advance Preparation – before we’re tempted

    • Spiritual armor

    • Militaries/Police Departments prepare in advance

    • Building defenses (like a wall around ancient Jerusalem)

    • What are our defenses now?

    • Are we learning, training spiritually, becoming spiritually disciplined?

    • What can I do? – suggestions

  • During Temptation – what we can do?

• Repentance – should be quick and complete
  

• Nature of Temptation – the temptation itself is not sin, but we must be aggressive in eliminating it.
  

Military Analogy                              Roman Army of ancient times
Police Analogy                                Effective police departments
Spiritual Application                        What we can learn from this

• Military or Police effectiveness is highly dependent upon ADVANCE PREPARATION FOR A KNOWN THREAT OR LIKELY THREAT.

• Planning on being holy in advance (or resisting sin) is scriptural; just take a look at Ephesians 6:10-18.

• A police officer knows when they put on a bullet-proof vest, it’s because they may face danger. The vest protects them.

• The spiritual armor in the scripture above has to be put on BEFORE the battle.

Does my thought life stink? 

Wearing armor and yet shooting myself in the leg

doesn’t make sense!

MILITARY ANALOGY – THE ROMAN ARMY

• The strongest militaries in the world are strong only because they’ve prepared in advance for a known or likely threat.

• The Roman Army of ancient times was renown for their tactics, strength and strategy.  We can draw spiritual lessons from ancient Rome, even though the Roman society had some severe problems and were bent in various ways.

  Ephesians 6-10-12

• The Romans were so strong because they were prepared in advance for almost any threat (except the decline of their own society) by any military around them.

• The Romans had people, equipment, and resources dedicated in advance PRIOR to a time of war/conflict.

  • The Romans had trained and prepared – they were DISCIPLINED and have taken the time to exercise for a potential threat.

POLICE ANALOGY – CITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD

• Effective Police Departments are effective because they’ve prepared in advance.  A policeman/policewoman in a patrol car is there because they’ve attained a level of training.

  • A police officer has to completed a level of training and certification to meet the challenges of their duties prior to duty.

  • Some police departments have diverse components to target specific crimes to protect their cities