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?
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
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Advance Preparation – before we are tempted
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What can I do? – suggestions to prepare in advance
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
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Advance Preparation – before we’re tempted
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Spiritual armor
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Militaries/Police Departments prepare in advance
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Building defenses (like a wall around ancient Jerusalem)
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What are our defenses now?
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Are we learning, training spiritually, becoming spiritually disciplined?
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During Temptation – what we can do?
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Repentance – should be quick and complete
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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
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Military or Police effectiveness is highly dependent upon ADVANCE PREPARATION FOR A KNOWN THREAT OR LIKELY THREAT.
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Planning on being holy in advance (or resisting sin) is scriptural; just take a look at Ephesians 6:10-18.
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A police officer knows when they put on a bullet-proof vest, it’s because they may face danger. The vest protects them.
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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
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The strongest militaries in the world are strong only because they’ve prepared in advance for a known or likely threat.
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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.
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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.
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The Romans had people, equipment, and resources dedicated in advance PRIOR to a time of war/conflict.
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The Romans had trained and prepared – they were DISCIPLINED and have taken the time to exercise for a potential threat.
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POLICE ANALOGY – CITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD
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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.
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A police officer has to completed a level of training and certification to meet the challenges of their duties prior to duty.
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Some police departments have diverse components to target specific crimes to protect their cities
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Major cities usually have specific task forces or teams to specifically target certain types of violence and crimes.
BELOW IS THE MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT
Look at the specialized departments they have, imagine the preparation they’ve had to go through for each one of these.
Miami Florida Police Dept.
Dept. Components
- Office of the Chief
- Media Relations
- Police Athletic League
- Internal Affairs
- Patrol Division
- Accident Investigation
- Motorcycle Squad
- Marine Patrol
- K-9
- Bicycle Patrol
- ATV Patrol
- Special Response Team
- Investigations Division
- Criminal Invest. Unit
- Persons Crimes Section
- Domestic Violence
- V.I.S.A. Office
- Property Crimes Section
- Auto Crimes
- Crime Scene
- Gang Squad
- Juvenile Squad
- School Resource Squad
- Crime Analysis Section
- Strategic Invest. Unit
Cities of ancient times used high walls as a primary defense. Ancient Israel is an example –
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Proverbs 25:28 –Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.
So what does that mean, how does this relate to temptation and resisting temptation?
These examples highlight the need to prepare in advance for spiritual temptation. Just like a military or police department;
If we sit passively in our spiritual walk, we can expect to suffer loss or damage.
BUILDING YOUR FAITH IN GOD is the most effective method to prepare in advance for temptation.
So What Can I do in Advance?
What to do in Advance:
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Have I aggressively attacked my sources to this addiction?
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Am I taking my thoughts captive to Christ, and am I accountable to another human being regarding my thought life?
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Am I taking time in prayer, scripture in my relationship with God?
Feed on good stuff!
Otherwise it is garbage in – garbage out!
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Am I meditating on scriptures specifically targeted to this addiction? – frequently? We can be like a healthy tree planted by streams of water – if we are consistently feeding on scripture.
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Am I asking God for wisdom to defeat this?
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I’m not trying to go alone (a sure bet for failure)?
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Am I daily reconditioning my mind?
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Much of our problem with temptation is the thoughts we allow in our mind.
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Is my relationship with God growing? The closer I become to God, the less the power this problem will have over me.
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A really good book to take to heart is “In the Shadows of the Net” by Patrick Carnes, Ph.D. David L. Delmonico, Ph.D. Elizabeth Griffin, M.A. with Joseph M. Moriarity.
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Also try our “Daily Checklist” area.
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Meditate slowly on Psalm 119 – by King David (written through the Holy Spirit) King David was acclaimed by God to be a man after GOD’S OWN HEART.
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Think of all the work a police chief goes through to BECOME a police chief. Think of the spiritual discipline (try this link too) you can go through in a similar way spiritually to fight this addiction.
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Have an accountability partner who will ask you questions daily
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Have an action plan for when you are tempted – WRITE YOURSELF A LETTER OF WHAT YOU FELT LIKE THE LAST TIME YOU ACTED OUT THIS SIN.
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Buy a video of the life of Christ or another prominent Bible character and have it ready to watch when you are going through a rough time in the future.
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Take an addiction self test
- Titus 2:11-14: 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
During the Temptation
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Help/encourage another brother in BFIC when they are down (helping others helps us during temptation) through email.
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Read the posts – there is a plethora of encouraging material daily at the BFIC website.
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Email the group at BFIC and tell them what you are going through – they can’t support you unless you tell them you need help!
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Get away from places/opportunities for temptation!
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Take an addiction test
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PRAY– and not just a 10 second prayer.
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Email the BFIC group (see “how to subscribe” at the start page).
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Call your accountability partner (see Advance Preparation), this assumes you’ve PREVIOUSLY PREPARED FOR THIS.
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Review your action plan (this assumes you’ve previously prepared for this!
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Turn on a Christian radio station and listen.
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Visit www.pureintimacy.org
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Visit this online library dealing with this problem (Concerned Women of America)
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Visit the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families
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READ ONE OF THE BELOW ESSAYS!
Essays
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Behind Addiction is a Hunger for God (the person is trying to find the wrong kind of fulfillment instead)
After the temptation
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What thoughts did you have earlier to acting out?
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What happened earlier to acting out
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What are your normal thought patterns – do you have “pet” patterns of thoughts that are unhealthy?
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It only takes a spark to get a fire burning.