Recently I read an entry on Facebook stating that every month 1500 pastors quit the ministry because of 'Moral Failure'. Comments made on this post varied: "Wow! At this rate there won't be any pastors left in ministry.", "They obviously weren't called", "It's because they didn't fast and pray enough", "We are in the last days, and the devil is tempting pastors like never before."
The internet has enabled us to retrieve information like never before. As a Facebook user, I have contact with family and friends around the globe and can use my iPhone to study the Word, capture new inspiration, download free podcasts and of late, download 'kindle' books at a fraction of the cost you'd expect to pay at the Christian bookshop.
On the flip side, I am bombarded with invitations to 'flirt', make lots of money with a single mouse-click or simply get lost browsing till the early hours of the morning. I realise my exposure to these things makes me a target for the enemy. His temptations are sent to entice my flesh and invade my life with things that will immobilise me and land me on the 'scrap heap' of moral failure. 1Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you, except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it." The Bible also says that Jesus is our High Priest who sympathises with our weaknesses, being tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15).
So how do you deal with the onslaught of the enemy? Many years ago I heard an old minister make the analogy of the devil being like the old market merchant who comes to town to buy a young bull or cow. The merchant walks around the animal that's for sale to inspect it. He occasionally pokes the animal to see if he can find any weak areas. It's a good analogy. 1Peter 5:8 warns us; "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." It is good to recognise that you will not defeat the enemy at his game by trying to resist him with sheer willpower.
Some years ago a minister was revealed to have lived a 'double life'; it had been discovered by the media. In an interview he was asked why he hid his lifestyle until it was too late. His answer was sincere: "I thought if I prayed earnestly just once more, or fasted another week, perhaps I would be able to beat this thing." Any person caught in the 'web' of sin will not get out by trying harder, not even by praying more. Why is this so?
The basis for Victory for you and me is the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Every blessing and breakthrough in your life as a believer is a direct result of believing what Jesus did for you when He took your place on the cross.
For instance, the Bible says: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new." (2Corinthians 5:17). My experience may be that there are still habits in my life that don't appear to be 'New' at all. I may still say and do things that really have very little to do with what the Bible terms as 'a new creation'. At that point I don't fast and pray to see if I can make some more 'new creation' manifest.
The same is true in being tempted. Hopefully, after a person has yielded to temptation, there follows a moment of remorse. You feel guilty and sorry. There is shame and, no doubt, the enemy comes along to condemn. After all, he got you into that mess to start with!
Well, after the tears and confessing of sins we receive forgiveness and promise the Lord to NEVER do that again, and we mean it. In just about every case though, believers will reoffend. Then follows the same routine of confession and remorse, but this time with a little less zeal in the promise to not do it again. Of course, nowadays we have entire religions that specialise in the practice of the confession of sins 'till we meet again next time'.
The confusion that many believers face is that they tend to believe what the Bible says as long as it is part of their experience. When our experience does not line up with what the Bible says we either look for a reason to see if maybe 'it's no longer for today' or we admire the promise of God, but feel that God has some hidden reason not to give to us what is clearly promised.
Let's go back to the internet. In the situation that I see the temptation in front of my eyes I have a number of options.
1. I can look over my shoulder. "Is anyone around to see what I am about to do?" Next time you feel tempted with this option, remind yourself also to look up... Someone is definitely watching.
2. I can try and fight the urge, even pray. "Oh Lord, I am tempted. Help me!" Many a person has gone down in battle, not able to resist.
3. This is the option that will work for you, because it brings into force the power of the Cross. The moment that the thought to give in to temptation presents itself, you begin to declare out of your mouth who Jesus has made you. "Thank God, I'm a new creation. This thing has no power over me. Thank you Jesus! All uncleanness was dealt with at the cross. I know it is so. I am free!" Does that sound too simple to be true?
Victory is based on my position, not my effort to be a good person.
My position is IN CHRIST. I don't have to fight with the devil. I don't have to slog it out till I finally 'beat the thing'. All I have to do is with my mouth affirm that Jesus has delivered me from satan's ability to overpower me. It is the difference between ' my good works' and 'His Finished Work' . I choose the latter every time. It is God's will that you triumph in every temptation, every time. Anything less than that is deception of the enemy.
