Sorry it took so terribly long to get back to this. Y'all probably forgot all about it! You can go back to "Keep Yourselves From Every Wicked Thing" (part 1) to review this series if you want.
Anyway.....
Remember the text we started out with? Deuteronomy 23:9&14 "When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing...For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee."
Well, hehe, I know I haven't posted on this series I started for at least 2 months, but.......... Have you kept yourselves from every wicked thing!? If you've come back from any lost battles lately, I hope you've returned with a resolve to conquer this weak flesh that envelopes our willing spirits. I hope you'll join me. Let's take a look at these verses -
"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41
The same words are echoed here: "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak." Mark 14:38
So to avoid wickedness, what must we do, according to the Bible? Watch and pray. Be watchful and alert, because every time you feel that life is going smooth, the devil is just around the corner with a fiery dart. Pray - seek the Lord and his face. Seek his guidance and ask for protection. You will be in dangerous battles throughout this walk of faith, but that doesn't mean God can't put his Hand upon you to protect you from the enemy's blows. Also, notice that he says to watch and pray to avoid giving into temptation. A blow from the enemy that could always get some one is temptation. Something that looks so good - something we will desire. Like inappropriate TV shows or websites that our flesh can feed off of. But it will destroy us if we give in. And it will be very hard to fight temptation if we aren't watching and praying.
"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 16:25
This is a good verse to describe the way of temptation. We could follow the tempter's path, thinking it will lead to good fortune. Only to find the bitter end - death. Giving into temptation can be deadly. Alcohol or drugs, greed, intimate relationships outside of holy matrimony.... and we are supposed to be holy. Think of rebellion. "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry..." 1Samuel 15:23. I am a stubborn person, and sometimes I act upon stubborn pride and plain self-ish-ness. It doesn't matter if your parents tell you to do the "dumb dishes" every day of your life, you need to do it with a willing heart and not a bitter or rebellious heart! Have you ever thought "One of these days, I'll get outta here and never have to do anything for them again!" That is wicked rebellion, my friend. Devastatingly wicked. Or maybe your parents won't let you date this awesome person.... so what? They love you - they don't make a pact to keep you in your room til you're 30 (and parents, don't ever joke about that around your kids - just a hint Ü ). Besides, if this awesome person is as awesome as you say and really does love you just sooooooooo much, they'll WAIT until you're allowed to see people. They'll wait for you. This brings to mind another verse!!!
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5,6
If you feel life is unfair, trust in the Lord and listen to him. Read his Word and don't listen to your heart. Yeah - don't listen to your heart. Wow, isn't that just totally opposite from what the movies tell us to do? And the books, and the famous people - the whole world, in fact? Do not trust your heart. Trust in the Lord. Obey his word and get rid of all the junk that's keeping you from being happy, healthy and holy. I know it's hard - I fought it for a while! Trusting your own heart sounds so wistful and good. I learned from harsh experience, friend, that it doesn't work out. OK, back to the point (I got pretty far from it, didn't I?) How can we beat our wicked flesh??? Here's the answer:
WE CAN'T!
If we can't save our own souls from hell, what would make us think we can save ourselves from ourselves? "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9. WHO can know it? "...God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things." 1John 3:20. Isn't that just amazing??? But there's still a problem. God does know all things, but we still don't know how to beat our flesh - it's impossible....
"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26
So it is possible after all!
There are battles to be fought, and battles to be won, but it won't happen if we aren't holy. It's not easy to be holy, but it is possible. We can beat our flesh - with God as our help.
"...God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1
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