The dynamics and enticement of temptation and sin part 1 & 2

Truth for the Final Generation The Dynamics and the Enticements of Temptation and Sin Part 1 “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these [things] God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth [are] vanity.” Ecclesiastes 11:9,10.The wounds that we inflict on ourselves and others are not accidents that just happen. If wepause and reflect long enough, we will discover that they were bound to happen. Once we putourselves on a certain course or route in temptation, there are some things that are inevitable andirreversible. Although we desire different or pleasureable results, the reality is that we have set atrain of events or circumstances in motion which predetermine the unexpected outcomes. Inother words, they are the consequences of a series of previous choices. They are the steps thatlead to destruction. They are the small compromises that often result in disaster. Remember thesestatements? “Every habit or practice that leads into sin and brings dishonor upon Christ must be put away, whatever the sacrifice. The blessing of heaven cannot attend any man in violating the eternal principles of right. One sin cherished is sufficient to work degradation of character and to mislead others.” AA 312 “Satan leads many to believe that God will overlook their unfaithfulness in the minor affairs of life; but the Lord shows in His dealing with Jacob that He can in no wise sanction or tolerate evil. All who endeavor to excuse or conceal their sins, and permit them to remain upon the books of heaven, unconfessed and unforgiven, will be overcome by Satan.” P.P.p.202:3In Proverbs chapter 7, we are given a description of a young man who inflicted on himself adeadly wound, one which was unnecessary and avoidable. He thought he could toy with sin andget away with it. Unfortunately, he was already in the grip of sin and received the wages of sin—death. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:13-15.Parleying with sin is dangerous, because sin is so enticing and so gripping that by the time wecatch ourselves, it is already too late. Proverbs 7 describes a series of instructions given by aloving father to prepare and prevent his son from falling a prey to the subtlety and deceptivenessof temptation. The father tells the son ahead to time what to expect, what to cherish, and what toavoid. He explains to his son the nature of temptation such as the dynamics of compromise andthe steps that lead to destruction. Woe betide any young man or woman who does not heed soundcounsel and instruction from the experienced wise man. This father describes a young man who 1

gives in to the advances from a seductive woman and ends up being killed. The advice beginslike this: “My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. Say unto wisdom, Thou [art] my sister; and call understanding [thy] kinswoman: That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger [which] flattereth with her words.” Prov. 7: 1-5.The lessons we can learn from this story warns us not only of seduction and sexual immorality,but also against other temptations. The young man in this account represents all of us: male andfemale, young and old, religious or irreligious. The instruction given is a blueprint for dealingwith all kinds of temptations whether they be alcohol and drugs, dishonesty, immoral sexualfulfillment, lust or other forbidden pleasures. Some of the principles we shall deduce are similarto the ones mentioned in the situation with Joseph in Egypt.Principle No. 1--- Being in the Wrong Crowd. “For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,” Prov. 7: 6, 7.“Tell me who you walk with and I will tell you who you are” is a familiar saying. Our behaviouris definitely shaped or influenced by the people around us and the company we keep shapes ourcharacters more than we realize.The passage says that this young man was found “among the simple” and “among the youth”.You can tell the young man is in trouble because of the company that he keeps: he is in a wrongcrowd made up of some very naïve folks. The ‘simple’ are the inexperienced, who are easily ledastray. (Proverbs 1:4). The first wrong thing that this young man did was to place himself in thewrong crowd/company. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that if you hang out withparty-goers, drug-dealers, gossipers, ungodly, immoral, unchristian, or lazy persons, it will nottake long before you start doing the same thing the group does.“By beholding we become changed”. The company we keep and the things we see them doing,do change us into their image. Therefore we must be very careful and intentional in where we go,who we see and spend time with, what we do, what we watch, and what we listen to. Scripturesays, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” Or “Evil company corrupts good habits”. 1 Corinthians 15:33. We should associate with those who will have a positive influence upon us. See Hebrews 10:25; 2 Cor. 3:18. “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to [do] evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest [judgment]”. Exodus 23:3 . 2

Many young people and adults reason away this sound counsel and continue to hang out withfriends that are not good influences upon them.How is it with us? What crowds are we keeping company with at work, at school, at home, oreven at church? What do we watch? Read? Company we keep? Is sin given easy access to usthrough the environment created by the company with which we surround ourselves?The Word of God says to us, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision forthe flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].” Romans 13:14.Principle No. 2---- Lacking Common Sense “….And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, a young man void of understanding..” vs. 6,7. Being in the wrong crowd is one thing, but being stupid is another. If a person is strong andgrounded, they might take the opportunity to influence the crowd, to be leader, to be an agent ofchange even in a group bent toward evil. This young man was not any of these characteristics.Instead he is described as “devoid of understanding”, one who lacked basic common sense orwas plain immature. He didn’t have sense or discernment. He lacked judgment, the ability toreason through situations and discern danger.The truth is, when we ignore reason, counsel, or common sense in a matter, we are settingourselves up for a hard fall. We show a lack of common sense when we don’t listen to soundadvice or counsel from mature or spiritual individuals, or when we don’t learn from the mistakesof others. When we don’t make decisions ahead of time, we allow circumstances to dictate whatwe do or don’t do.The principle here is, hanging in the wrong crowd and being stupid (ignoring counsel), is a surerecipe for disaster.Principle No.3---Being at the Wrong Place“And a young man……..passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way toher house, “ vs. 8.Observe the movements of this young man. At first, he seems only to be “passing along”, then he“draws near her corner”, before long he is found taking the path “to her corner”. Apparently, hesneaked about at corners, from where he could watch the woman’s house without being observedby others. He took a turn in the direction of her house and is going out of his way to meet her. Itis when we make the choice to travel in the forbidden territory that it becomes dangerous. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12.This young man make a choice to start heading in the wrong direction, towards the wrong place,and like Eve , he placed himself in forbidden territory. And like Lot who pitched his tent“towards Sodom”, he thought he could play around in a dangerous area without getting hurt. 3

Avoiding situations and environments where there is sure to be temptation is our best bet in notyielding to sin. An example is alcoholics in rehabilitation avoiding bars, alcoholic stores, parties,and not keeping alcohol at home. (Avoid the very appearance of evil). Being in these placesmakes victory over temptation much less likely. Some forbidden areas for young and old may besurfing on particular internet websites, internet chat rooms, visiting and consulting psychics,going to gambling casinos, going to the Cinema, After Dark, and Mc Brides, or even to churcheswhere error is forced home to the conscience.Principle No. 4---At the Wrong Time “And he went the way to her house, In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:” vs.9.At what time of the day was this young man in that forbidden area? This verse mentions not justa list of times, but a sequence of times---“in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark ofnight”.It starts out when the light is soft and diffused from the sky, when the sun is below the horizon,either from daybreak to sunrise or from sunset to night fall. It is that invisible time within the 24hour period when day turns to darkness (we call it dusk) or darkness turns to day (we call itdawn). This young man made his decision to tread down this forbidden path on the boundaryline, the exact time of day when light began to turn into darkness.It was a very wrong decision, at a very wrong time, when we become more prone to sin andmake bad choices. (Let not the sun go down on your wrath).The young man was in the forbidden grounds for a very long time. He thought he could engagein questionable activities for a long time without anything happening. He forgot that the longeryou stay in forbidden territories, the more likely you are to make yourself a prey of the enemy. “But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abiding place.” D.A, p.324.You see there are certain times of the day when we tend to be more vulnerable, and whentemptations tend to be more plentiful. There is something about the covering of the night thatassures those who want to commit sin that no one can see and that they will get away with it. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21. 4

“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” 1 Thessalonians 5:4, 5.The principle and the lesson we need to learn here is that we must stay away from the veryplaces, situations and times where the natural thing would be to do something wrong. We mustavoid settings where we are more prone to do the wrong thing.Principle No. 5—Underestimating Impending Danger “And, behold, there met him a woman [with] the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart. (She [is] loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now [is she] without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.” Vs.10-12. KJV. “And there a woman met him, with the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. She was loud and rebellious, her feet would not stay at home, At times she was outside, at times in the open square, lurking at every corner.” NKJV.It was on the forbidden ground, in the darkest part of the night that this seductive woman raisesher head and comes out to meet the young man. The woman here represents the sins that temptus, just as the young man represents all of us—male or female, young or old, religious orirreligious.The young man saw the woman coming from the distance, but he just stood there until shearrived, and “met him”. He saw the danger coming but unlike Joseph, he did not flee or doanything about it. He underestimated the impending danger, overestimating his own strength. Awise caution, “Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall”.Her description alone tells us that he knew danger was coming. Her dress was probably skimpy,tight, provocative; a dress slit half way up the back or front to show a lot of skin. Most likely, shewore excessive make-up, flashy painted fingernail or toe nails, and wearing ornamentaljewelry—the kind of dressing and adornment the Bible speaks against. Although she approachedwith a hidden agenda, secretive, out to trap the man, up to something, the man still convincedhimself that he could handle the situation. The danger bells were ringing loud and clear.The woman had a history. He feet “would not stay at home”. What the young man was goingthrough with this woman had happened to others before. It is the same with us. We know thatalcohol ruins people, immoral sex hurts relationships, unequally yoked relationships separatesfrom church family and Christian friends, and sin results in severe consequences. We’ve seenwhat it has done to others over and over again, yet somehow we think we can escape. We feel itcan never happen to us, or prefer to learn from our own mistakes foolishly.Often we ignore the warning signals of the danger ahead. Spending more time with the T.V andthe internet, less time praying or studying our Bibles, hanging around that worldly man orwoman constantly, at church but not listening to messages, etc.—yet we deafen our ears and shutour eyes. Engaging in the little neglects until we are flat on our faces and begin to blame othersfor talking about us. 5

God cannot keep or protect us if we venture on the forbidden ground contrary to His expressedor revealed WILL. We must always be aware of the dangers around: at work, at home, at schoolor college, in church, everywhere, because our adversary the devil like a roaring lion, isconstantly seeking for whomsoever he can devour. We must not flirt with danger.Closing thought“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because youradversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resiststedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that arein the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus,after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you]. To him[be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen”. 1 Peter 5: 6-11.TO BE CONTINUED…………………… 6

Truth for the Final Generation The Dynamics and the Enticements of Temptation and Sin Part 2We began our last session looking at the young man of Proverbs 7 and the dynamics andenticements of temptations. We saw that this young man was in the wrong crowd, lackedcommon sense, was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and was underestimating theimpending danger he was around. We now continue to look at the other lessons or principles wecan glean from this proverb from Solomon.Principle No.6—Playing the Religious Game “So she caught him, and kissed him, [and] with an impudent face said unto him,[I have] peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.” Proverbs 7:13-15.From the moment she appears on the scene, the harlot takes control. Her appearance, her sounds,her past history and known attitude, all scream danger. A stubborn woman who doesn’t take“no” for an answer, she comes to meet him. Using strategy in her lustful dress she stuns him witha forceful kiss using religious reasons to disarm any reservations he may have.Scripture tells us that this woman (sin) is bold, unashamed and confident, as she no longer hidesher intentions, knowing that she is able to seduce this young man.” So she caught him and kissedhim”. She disarms his shock with soothing religious assurances, “I have peace offerings” and“have paid my vows”; claiming she is a religious woman.Often, many religious excuses and activities are used to entice people into the trap of sin, usingGod and spirituality to hide sin. Many times deep down in our hearts we know that our temptersto sin are lying to us, but we choose to be deceived because we want to enjoy the sin.Deception in the name of religion. Religion offers people the kind of justification they want tocontinue in their sinful actions. Satan knows how to use religion to deceive. He tempted Christ inthe Wilderness using a religious pretext. Even the final crisis mentioned in the book ofRevelation will be religious in nature, overwhelming and sudden in its sweepingdeception……we either worship God or worship the Beast. (See Rev.12 and 13)Principle No.7--- Giving in to Flattery and Fantasy “I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved [works], with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. “ vs.16-18.Two of Satan’s most effective weapons are the flirtatious temptations of flattery and fantasy.Often used by sweet-talking, smooth-talking, soft-talking persons with a hidden charm andagenda. Notice how the seductress begins by flattering the young man. She describes theexpensive preparation she made exclusively for the young man’s entertainment—coverings oftapestry, Egyptian linen, bed perfumed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 1

The foolish young man suddenly finds himself as somebody. She builds up his ego by suggestingthat he deserves to be treated as somebody special. She doesn’t just flatter him, she also leadshim to a fantasy land. Fantasy is the creation of exaggerated mental images in response to anungratified need. She refers to what they are about to do as, drinking their “fill of love”. But it’snot love; it’s wrong, immoral, and offensive to God. Through fantasy and flattery, the seductivewoman appeals to his senses. She paints a picture of pleasure and delight through the immoralaffair, and with much degree of success.Fantasy makes us think we are having a good time, when in actuality we are trapped or hooked.Principle No. 8--- Rationalizing Away Sin and Its Consequences. “ For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; he has taken a bag of money with him, and will come home on the appointed day.” vs. 19-20.A rationalization is applying a good purpose to something that is inherently wrong.Rationalization makes us feel safe in sinning. Notice how this woman rationalizes away the sinthey are about to commit, and why it is safe for them to be sexually involved. It is clear that thewoman is married, because she mentions her husband.The message to the young man in all of this language is that they will not be caught, and nobodywill ever find out. There will be no consequences to the crime. It is safe to sin. One reason whywe commit stupid mistakes is that we try to convince ourselves that no one will know, and thatthere will be no consequences for our choices and actions. But the truth is, whatever you sow,you will eventually reap. There are always consequences for our choices and actions.The consequences may be a traffic ticket, a fine, jail, reputations destroyed, broken marriage,unplanned pregnancies, HIV/AIDS and other STIs, addiction to drugs and alcohol, or avoidabledeaths. But even if we don’t receive the consequences in this life, it never escapes the notice ofour Creator who will one day reward us according to our deeds.When we get into a situation we know is wrong, but we really desire to do what we want, werationalize to make ourselves feel better. Rationalization pushes us right over the precipice, overthe slippery slope that is so hard to come back from.Principle No. 9--- Willingly Sliding on the Slippery Slope “With her much fair (enticing) speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced (seduced) him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;” vs. 21, 22. Even after the step of rationalization, the young man was probably hesitant to do it. Hisconscience may have been bothering him still. Every possible objection he could have come upwith, she responded with other justifications. “With her enticing speech” or “smooth words” sheurged him on. Verse 22 tells us what happens next, “ straightway (or immediately) he went afterher”. When it comes down to the final completion of the sinful act, we just rush ahead. Ourconsciences are seared, blunted, calloused or numbed. The woman appeals to the victim’s sensesover and over again, drawing him in until he willingly goes to her. 2

Remember, it is we who choose to follow the tempter. No one makes us sin; we choose to sin. Itis we who slide along the slippery slope to destruction. The will follows where the mind leads.Although she was persistent, the woman is not the only one to blame for the young man’sdownfall. Just like a wife who is not meeting her husband’s needs (or vice versa) makesenticement or temptation more difficult, he alone is not to blame for his downfall (the wife hascontributed as well) . Of course he allowed himself to be taken in through a series of baddecisions or choices.The young man’s last great mistake was to stand and listen to the woman’s enticing words untilhe was sinking in quicksand. “ All at once, he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose” verse 22.He found himself on a strange bed “drinking his fill of love” –until the last chapter of his life waswritten. Principle No.10---Receiving the Deadly Wound “Till a dart (an arrow) struck through his liver; as a bird hastens to the snare, he did not know that it would cost his life.” Verse 23.Although the woman assures him that they would be safe, they are not safe at all. The husbandapparently returns unexpectedly and shoots an arror straight into his liver. The deadly wound hereceives is fatal.There are many ways in which sin exacts its ultimate price. “There is a way that seemeth rightunto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25. “The wages of sin isdeath.” Romans 6:23.Sin has consequences. Those consequences may come in this life or in the next, but we can neverescape the repercussions of our choices and actions. In the case of Lot, we saw that it was theloss of his business, property, married children, wife, and his self-respect, while having a legacyof nations that warred against God’s people.The young man in Proverbs 7, unlike Joseph, dies a tragic and foolish death. Because it canhappen to any one of us, the Bible warns us,“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12.Retracing the Steps of DestructionThe passage of proverbs 7 concludes with an appeal to listen to counsel: “Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways; go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong [men] have been slain by her. Her house [is] the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.” Vs.24-27. 3

The example of the young man of Proverbs 7 shows us that we don’t fall into sins, we crawl intothem. Sin is not merely the completion of the act, but a process that begins the moment we losefaith in God and begin to trust in ourselves. Romans 14:23. The young man didn’t just sin whenhe slept with the seductive woman; he sinned, the moment he began to leave the protection ofGod, wander into forbidden territory, and rely on his own wisdom and strength. This is how hefell.Sometimes our downfall begins when we consciously choose those pages of a magazine or book,turn on and watch that television programme, listen to that music, enter into that relationship, tellthat small white lie, dress in that particular way, stop having our personal morning devotion orgoing to church, visit or hang out in that particular place, put that food item on our plate, refuseto follow the Bible truth we have discovered, or visit a particular internet site.What is the remedy against sin’s powerful temptation? Listen to the counsel from the Word ofGod: “My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. Say unto wisdom, Thou [art] my sister; and call understanding [thy] kinswoman: That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger [which] flattereth with her words.” Proverbs 7:1-5.Now we know why we often fall from grace. It seldom happens all at once. It is often theculmination of a series of unwise steps. They are the consequences of some unwise choices wemake along the road of life--- choices that could have been avoided.However, Romans Chapter 8 verse 28 tells us that God can take any mistake, any bad thing, andmake them for the eternal good of His children. He brings good from evil, patience fromsuffering, sympathy from pain, and humility from disappointment. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.”Yours in Christian Service,Elder Saul Leacock. 4

The dynamics and enticement of temptation and sin part 1 & 2

by Afryea Charles on Mar 16, 2012

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The dynamics and enticement of temptation and sin part 1 & 2 Document Transcript