Call It What It Is!!!
By Mike Rule

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. 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. Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is full-grown, bringeth forth death. (James 1:12-15 ASV)

Many believe the lie that temptations and desires are the same. This cannot be so; Jesus was tempted in ALL things. If a temptation is a reflection of a person's true condition, if it equals desire, then Jesus was a wicked man. Scripture says that Jesus knew NO sin, so He could not have been wicked. In fact, we know He was Holy, Righteous, and Blameless. We need to look a little closer at the birth order of sin in order to understand the ways of the enemy.

We all carry the lusts of the flesh with us throughout life. That is part of our human condition as we live in this fallen world. Satan usually does not bother tempting us in areas where our flesh does not strongly lust; he puts the majority of his effort into our weak areas. He could tempt me with homosexuality, but it would not be a major struggle to resist because that does not appeal to me. However, a temptation for pornography hits closer to my personal weakness and I would find that more enticing. It's not that a lust for homosexuality is not part of my flesh package; it's just not a dominant pattern. Don't be deceived. We all have every lust dwelling in us to some degree even if we are not aware of it. And like me, you have specific lusts to battle based upon what living in this world has created in you.

When Satan hits me with a temptation, I have a choice. I can believe that the temptation is something I want and let it unite with the lust within me, or I can see it for what it is and label it a temptation, judge it with truth, and deny it the right to direct my life. If I believe I want the temptation, it joins with my lust and sin is conceived, which gives birth to death in my life.

I have counseled thousands of Christians who have believed their temptations were what they wanted. For example, a self-abuser believes that she really wants to hurt herself. A suicidal person believes he truly wants to kill himself. A woman believes she actually wants to have an affair. A man believes he really wants to look at internet pornography. An alcoholic believes she indeed wants alcohol. The key word is BELIEVES. We are confused about temptation, lust, and desire, and when we believe that we truly desire what our lusts and temptations tell us we want, they join in union, which gives birth to sin and death in us. Instead, we can choose to believe Jesus! Believe the Truth!

The people with whom I work often think I am picking at words, but I will not let a believer get away with calling lusts and temptations his or her desire. One day I confronted a brother about something he did that was not edifying or Christ-like. He quickly replied that he was not perfect, to which I responded, "Oh no, brother. Don't buy that lie. You ARE perfect; you just won't act like it."

"For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14 MKJV)

You may ask how I can say a temptation or lust is not your desire when it pulls at you so strongly and is all you can see. How do we know the difference between a temptation and a desire? It's quite simple really. Anything that lines up with Jesus is our true desire. Anything that doesn't line up with Him is NOT our desire. Scripture makes it clear that we are complete in Christ, that He is our Life, and that we are partakers of His divine nature and have everything we need for life and godliness. He is the Vine and we are the branches. That means the life of the Vine IS the life of the branch. Because of Christ in me, I am holy, righteous, blameless, and acceptable to God. No matter what I think, no matter how I feel, and no matter what I have done or am doing, let God be true and every man the liar. (Romans 3:4) This can only be embraced by faith, not by sight.

When I believe the lie that a temptation is what I want, my fleshly lusts embrace it. When I allow temptation to unite with a lust, they conceive in order to birth sin and death into my life. Don't buy the lie! If you are Christ's, you truly do not want ANYTHING that does not line up with Christ. He IS your life. He is Holy, Righteous, and Blameless. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:9-10 MKJV)

Verses for Reflection

For that which I do, I know not. For what I desire, that I do not do; but what I hate, that I do. If then I do that which I do not desire, I consent to the law that it is good. But now it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing. For to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I do not find. For I do not do the good that I desire; but the evil which I do not will, that I do. But if I do what I do not desire, it is no more I working it out, but sin dwelling in me.

I find then a law: when I will to do the right, evil is present with me. For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin being in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. But the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 7:15-8:2 MKJV)