"I press on toward the goal to

win the prize for which God has

called me heavenward in Christ

Jesus." Philippians 3:14
 
 
 
 

Allen:  As humans, God has given us a powerful tool.  Free will is not only a powerful tool but also one of the most dangerous tools God has put at our disposal.  It is the way we use this free will that determines the way we deal with temptations and junk in our lives.  We all have to deal with temptations. James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, He shall receive the crown of life, which [the Lord] promised to them that love him. When you read that it sounds as though we have all got to be proved.  We have to endure temptation.  But we have to be careful and realize that it is not God tempting us.  If we read on through verse 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempteth no man: but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.  This is what is so special about our relationship with the Lord.  He gives us our own free will to choose to follow him and live by his word.

Clay: I think learning to deal with temptations is a big part of our infant stages of Christianity.  I remember for a long time I had a heart and desire to serve God, but I didn’t realize the conflict that went on inside me.  I was in patterns and used to doing things a certain way.  Then I realized what God’s word said, and I would try real hard to do what was right but it was frustrating.  I looked at it the wrong way.  I looked at it like a works type mentality.  The condemnation and the guilt I felt whenever I would give into temptation and mess up would just be enormous.  I would feel like I had totally failed and I had a sense God would be displeased with me

Allen:  I think we all go through those times Clay.  The thing we all have to understand is that we all have these desires and temptations but if we give in to the flesh then temptation can draw us down those dead end roads. There was a period in my life where my mind wasn’t renewed at all to the word.  It seemed like I was facing temptation after temptation after temptation.  It seemed like every time I turned around there was something else! It wasn’t until I had fellowshipped more and had more of the word in me that I learned how to deal with temptation.

Clay: It took me some time to realize too Allen, that the only thing that was going to give me the power and ability to accomplish what I wanted to accomplish was reading his word!  There is a scripture that helped me realize this Ephesians 5: 25-26 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word.  It is the principle that God gives us in this scripture that showed me that only God’s word going in and renewing my mind would have the power to change me!  Then it was not on my own strength or power but the power of the word of God in me!

Allen: You know Clay it seems like there are some false expectations sometimes when people accept the Lord; they think that they are never going to have another bad day. This is like drawing a big bullseye on your chest.  All at once Satan is going to start laying stuff right in front of you.  Because your mind isn’t renewed your desire is to go after what ever it is that is laid out there.  It really depends on what your weakness is as to what is presented to you.  The way to deal with this is to identify your weaknesses.  Then read the word that is related to that.

Clay:  That is exactly right Allen!  You must first identify your problem. For me it is like a light bulb coming on.  There is like a meter inside of me that when I find myself in frustration, anger or there isn’t any peace or joy in my life, something is wrong.  So I have learned to step back and identify the problem.  Then I go back and apply the principles of God to that problem.  I might have to go back and repent for taking the wrong road, having the wrong attitude, or whatever it may be.  I make sure that I activate 1 John 9, then I get my feet back underneath me, which is getting back on the word of God and applying those principles.  Once I do these things it is amazing how my life falls into place.

Allen: For years I’ve trained and been committed to my roping. A lot a times your flesh doesn’t feel like going to practice.  Recently I’ve started roping with Travis Tryan.  It’s been in the thirty’s and rainy here and I have had the crud but I’ve found a way to practice and made myself drive over an hour to the NRS facility and practice.  It has not been easy; I’ve had to haul cattle and my horses.  After the third practice I felt like it was really paying off.  Today it paid off; we made a really good run on a tough steer at a rodeo.  Over the years I’ve trained myself to know that I have to go and prepare myself for when I go to the ropings.  When you’re not practiced up and sharp or have your horses and partner prepared, common sense and wisdom will tell you YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WIN!  It’s the same thing in the spiritual realm. What makes us think if we don’t go to church or read the word that our flesh will want to do the right things in the spirit?  Church is like practice for our spirit.  It is preparing our spirit for the world.  When we don’t replenish our mind with God we find ourselves making excuses for not going to church or not reading the word.  We find ourselves maybe avoiding someone that we normally fellowship with at a roping.  If you will take an honest look at the times in your life you felt God working in your life I’m almost certain that you will find you were in touch with God and replenishing your spirit regularly.  Everything parallels so well with the principals of God.  There are some people that are so disciplined in every area other than their spiritual life.  They would do great as Christians if they applied that same discipline to their spiritual life.  I guess maybe sometimes we are naive enough to think that it is just going to mysteriously happen.

Clay: That’s right Allen you have to practice spiritually just like your roping if you want to become better and want to win; you have to do everything that you are capable of doing to get the job done.  Whether it is practicing at twenty below or riding your horses when you don’t want to ride them.  Doing all the little intangibles that it takes to get the job done.  Our Christianity is the same way, when we want fruit in our life and peace in our life and joy in our life and we want it bad enough, then we take the necessary steps to get the job done.  I had to learn to practice 1 John 1: 9-10 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.  This is something that I learned I had to apply and activated many times in my failures.  Slowly but surely as we put the word in us it has the power and ability to start changing our lives.  It is not an overnight thing but a process.  Over time we will gain that power and ability to stand against the temptations that for so long had the power to interfere with our lives.  The more we get free and master those temptations through God’s word and ways, we start walking out of places that used to get us down and trip us up.

Allen: If you are feeling condemnation because you are going through some junk in your life, you need to realize you have to go through some things for your love of God to be tested.  In that same thought we have to remember it is not God putting us through it.  I’m not saying you will get through it with flying colors.  Maybe this chapter in your life is a horrible mess but if you keep choosing God you will get through it.  When we do this it pleases God! We should count it all joy.  At the end of every temptation if we come out of it choosing God EVERY TIME, win lose or draw serving God.  At the end of every single one we have if that is what we have done and not turned away, we can count it all joy.  How awesome would it be if on that final day He looks at you and said well done my good and faithful servant!