Radical Change

Temptation. It's a tricky thing.

You can turn temptation in to a win. Trust me. It's possible.

When looking at James 1:14, it's obvious to see that we are tempted when we become enticed by our own natural desires. The first step in dealing with temptation is recognizing our human tendency to be tempted. We're human. It's bound to happen. Temptation is a given. It will always be there, so don't be caught off guard by it. Instead, expect to be tempted on a daily basis; be prepared for it. 

The NLT translation of 1 Corinthians 10:13 is so cool. It says "But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience." This is a common lie from the enemy, telling you that you're the only one going through this, you're all alone. Lie. Everyone goes through temptation. It goes on to say that "God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give into it".  No matter how hard core the temptation is, God's got your back. He will never let you go through something that He's not able to bring you out of. 

A good measure to take when dealing with temptation is knowing your Word. Hebrews 4:12 says that the word of God is "quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword". Sounds like a pretty intense weapon. Temptation is intense, too. It won't just back down; be prepared for a fight. it's helpful to read God's word when temptation comes, sometimes even that's not practical. A better practice is to KNOW the word of God so that when temptation comes, you can fight it with the knowledge of the word. It's easier to quote a scripture when a thought comes than it is to find your Bible, look up in the concordance something dealing with that temptation and reading that verse. If you are regularly reading your Bible, you will have God's full counsel at your finger tips. 

The title of this blog is "radical change". Let me give you a scenario. 

If you're reading a book, and somebody comes and hits your hand with a hammer, that's going to radically change your situation. Chances are, you're not going to want to continue reading the book. However, if somebody simply walks past you and brushes past your shoulder, you might look up at them, but you'll continue reading.

Regarding temptation, I'm not saying slam your body with a hammer. But check this out.

When temptation comes, one of the best reactions is radical change. 

Go for a run, go to a store, call somebody. Do SOMETHING to change your situation. 

When I discuss sexual temptation with guys, I tell them this: "When you want to look at pornography on your computer while it's sitting there in your room, reading a bible verse and going back to bed won't cut it all the time. You need to do something to completely change your situation. Put your computer in the living room. Go sleep on the couch. Call a mentor. Do something different!"

Refocus your temptation with praise. This one's a hard one. When you're tempted, it's going to be easier to dwell on that temptation than it is to think about worshipping God. Sing a song, read a scripture, dwell on a sermon, write in your journal. Find something to do that is an act of worship toward God. Nothing shuts down the enemy's plan faster than you praising God. 

When we do fail and give into temptation, get up. God's mercy and grace is fresh every morning. Each day when you wake up, God is asking you Will you let your past sin go so that we can continue in our relationship? If you look at any relationship, it's a let down when one party brings up past events that has already been forgiven. God feels the same way. He wants you to move on from your sin so that He can continue to love you and love through you to others around you. 

He's waiting on you. 

Recap:

Recognize our tendency to live in sin.

Run away from sin. God's got our back. 

Make a radical change when temptation comes.

Know the Bible so you can combat the enemy with Truth.

Refocus the temptation with praise.

Repent and move on when failures take place. 

Who Are You?

Who are you?  
Who am I? This is the question that will plague teenagers from now until Jesus comes. We live in a society that stresses the importance of finding who you are. This is why in college, it's mandatory to take classes that aren't related to your proclaimed major. The education system wants you to experience different classes to find out if you're sure on what you want to do with your life. Career, religion, culture, social class and sexuality are different ways in our country to express who you are. The rise in plastic surgeries support the fact that many people aren't comfortable with who they are. They want to change. They want to be somebody else. 
So, who are you? 


Friend Me!
Pop culture magazines, the internet, television and virtually all forms of media are screaming at teenagers to find out who they are. However, often times the wrong message is being portrayed. This message says: Be like us. If you don't look like us, you're not accepted. If you don't do what we do, you're not cool. People use social means like Facebook to produce a facade of themselves that is different than who they really are, posting status updates and pictures that are their faces and voices, but are...well, different. Let me give you an example. Facebook became popular when I was in high school. I had a friend that got a Facebook and started posting all kinds of "religious" statuses. However, when you talked to him in person, you would never know he was a Christian. This isn't about Facebook, it's about identity. This social network has become common talk between people, and we have adapted new words into our language. The words "friend" and "facebook" have become verbs and it's socially accepted to write on somebody's "wall". Why am I talking about facebook? Because it's hurting our identities. 
Am I saying go and delete your page? Of course not. I still have mine. It's a great resource. 


Check out these verses.
John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." 
Psalm 118:8 "It's better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."
Proverbs 14:28 "In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge." 


These verses claim four things. 1) We are in God's friend list. Apart from this connection, we can do nothing. 2) Confidence in man fails. Confidence in God wins. Every time. 3) Self confidence needs to be centered in Christ. 4) Because of this connection, we have the privilege to have a refuge in God. 


The Lie
You see, we live in a constantly changing world that thinks the amount of Facebook friends they have determines their identity. What? Nobody has written on my wall in the last 3 weeks? I clearly don't have any real friends. Internet activity has replaced real conversations. She has 2,400 friends? Wow...I only have 212. I must not be popular. It's probably that person accepts everyone and their mom. Your identity needs to be solid in the One who made you. Jesus is probably so hurt sometimes because his creation can't see that they're valuable in His eyes. Pop culture claims that you aren't of worth unless you bend to the ever-bending morals of society. Movie Stars tells you you're not beautiful because you're not fake. TV stars tells you your life is boring because it doesn't involve having at least 3 sexual partners. Facebook stalkers tell you you're not popular until you've reached your maximum of 5,000 friends. The devil tells you that you don't belong to the Kingdom of God because of past sin. 


The Truth
Let me tell you some facts about how God feels about you. These facts are unconditional (without conditions or limitations). This means they can't change. This is the truth. Check it.
1. You are accepted. 
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
2. You are secure. 
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
3. You are significant. 
John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
4. You are a child, a friend, a temple and a member of God and His Kingdom.
John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
5. You are an ambassador of His reign and reconciliation. 
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
6. You have been redeemed and forgiven of your sin. 
Colossians 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
7. You are complete in Jesus, and only in Him. 
Colossians 2:9-10 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.


Identity comes from Christ. Not from pop culture. Not from Facebook. Not from relationships. Not from anything else. When the foundation of your identity comes from Jesus Christ, you won't fall apart when everything else falls apart.