Run To God

February 18, 2021

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 the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

~I Corinthians 10:13~

We all have moments of temptation, we are human, living in a fallen world covered in sin at this very moment. We have an adversary who prowls around daily seeking whom he may devour; "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

(I Peter 5:8)

The devil searches for those weak points in us, those areas he knows will tempt us into sin. It may come in forms of addiction, attitude or rebellion. Once we grasp onto that temptation we are turning towards the devil and his lies. He laughs while we struggle. The beauty of it is God never gives up on us, even when we may fall. He is still right there reaching out to pick us up and knock the devil clear on his back. This verse the Lord picked today reminds me of the moment Peter had with Jesus walking on the sea. Peter being on the boat with the disciples waits for Jesus to command him to step off the boat to come to Him; " And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

(Matthew 14:28)

Jesus says "Come," knowing Peter could handle this. Peter steps off the boat and begins to see a miracle occur right in front of him. He is walking on water to Jesus! Suddenly, the noises of the crashing waves and roaring winds started to plant fear into Peter's mind, he took His eyes off the Lord and in that split act of letting fear tempt him, he begins to sink. The only thing Peter knew to do was to go back to Jesus. He yells out to Him; "But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

(Matthew 14:30)

Jesus loves Peter and of course would not allow him to drown, reaches down and picks him up. Peter was instantly delivered. Peter was tempted by satan with fear of the outside world, Jesus showed him the faithfulness of God and picked him right back up again. Paul describes God's faithfulness to the Corinthians in this way as he says "God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able." God knows us more then we know ourselves. He made us after all! He knows what we can escape and what we just cannot bear. He is faithful, says Paul. The key word in this verse is "allow." God does not tempt us. He allows us to be tempted. It builds us. Makes us stronger, shows us how to fight it off quicker the next time satan tries to remind us of that very same weakness we faced in the past. "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone." (James 1:13)

Our battle is with the devil. It has been won by Jesus. When we follow Jesus, we are officially on the winning team. We must trust that whatever God allows into our lives, He will use it for amazing things that the devil has no idea will hit him. For this reason, Jesus shows us how to pray; "And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

(Matthew 6:13)

When we hand over the control to God, we submit to Him, we know He will get us out of any situation He allows us in. Eventually, like Peter who had little faith, was allowed to sink just enough to where he cried out to Jesus to be saved. This increased his faith and need for Jesus in this single moment God allowed his temptation to rise. Sometimes God is showing you, "I need you to come to me and trust in me." When we fall we have no choice but to look up to Him more. He will always allow a way of escape. "And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls." (Joel 2:32)

This is a promise God gives us and the devil does not want people to know about. There is power in Jesus Name, when we cry out to Him in faith knowing He will save us, He picks us right up and blesses our situation. He is love. He is good. He never lies. When Peter was picked back up by the Lord in that moment, Jesus looks to him and says; “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

(Matthew 14:31)

Jesus calls out Peter's doubt and lack of faith. He tells us all how these things will hinder us from receiving our deliverance from any "scary situation." When we fight through each temptation and watch God bring us out of them one by one, we begin to grow stronger in the Lord; "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10)

We begin to increase our faith and become patient in the way the Lord moves; "knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." (James 1:3)

When the devil sees you are not playing his games and that you are in it to fight, he will leave for a season. "Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time." (Luke 4:13)

However, dont get too cocky in your freedom, even with Jesus, the devil always comes back to tempt and try the same old tricks. Keep your full armor of God on and be ready for the attack in the future, he is relentless and desparate. With Jesus, we are victorious in our escape. Without Him, we will continue to get hammered on until the moment we cry out to Him for freedom. When we do with our whole hearts, just as Peter did, He is right there already waiting to pull us up from drowning. He will not let the temptations come beyond what you can bear even if we feel we just cannot. Again, our Father knows us better then we know ourselves. Run to Him! He is already waiting.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you so deeply for being in amazing control of every situation over my life, even the ones the devil uses as he thinks he will win. You always win the battle and it belongs to You! I come into agreement with Your word that tells me You shall deliver me each time I call out to You. I am in disagreement with the devil on the lies he whispers at me calling me weak, useless, a loser, unwanted or without purpose. I declare I am worthy to be Your child for Jesus made me worthy. I praise and jump for joy as I think of Your precious Blood that spilled out on Calvary for my freedom! I give honor and glory to Your Name as it is power in my life always and forever! I love You Jesus and without You, I can do nothing. With You, I can watch demons flee and the devil give up for a time being. I vow to fight the good fight of faith beside You till the moment i come home to be with You. Help me to show others how to fight this same way Lord. Use me. I receive all blessings and protection in the Mighty Name of Yeshua, my King. Amen.