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Apples of Gold
Radio Script for February 25, 2010
“Are You Toying With Temptation?”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
Are you sitting there, wrestling with sin?
Is it a battle you feel likely to lose?
You know it’s not good, it’s not right. You even know the outcome won’t be all that pleasing.
And yet there you are, fully tempted, and toying with just doing it.
Now let me tell you what is going on in the spiritual realm.
And it’s such good news, I can’t wait to tell you!
The Holy Spirit is interceding for you!
He is crying out on your behalf. You are not alone in your moment of temptation.
Romans 8:26 says, “…the Spirit Himself intercedes for us…”
Verse 27 says, “…the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”
And I have more exciting news.
Jesus Christ is also interceding for you!
That’s what it says in Romans 8:34.
Do you think Jesus is sitting up there, watching your temptation with His eyes squinted and His arms folded, just waiting for you to do your next stupid thing, rolling His eyes and saying, “There he goes again”?
Oh my friend, not at all! Check out Romans 8:34. “…Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
So as you struggle with temptation, you are not alone! You have both the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ interceding for you.
Now here’s more good news. Back to Romans 8:26. It says, “…the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses.”
If you are facing temptation, and you feel weak, maybe even powerless, you are not alone. The Spirit is there to help you, and will help you.
Now here is a step you need to take. If you are sitting there, toying with temptation, here is what you need to do. It’s quite simple and practical. You need to derail your mind.
Your train of thought is barreling down the tracks and is headed for disaster. You are toying with it. It is roiling around in your mind.
You need to derail that train! Stop that line of thinking.
Romans 13:14 says, “…do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
Don’t even think about it! If you sit there and stew on it, it’s going to get the best of you. You need to mentally get out of there! Don’t even think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
Now here’s another big step you need to take. Most temptations do not come alone. They usually involve people, so listen. Anyone who doesn’t want what is best and Godly and holy for you – anyone who is part of your temptation – derail them out of your life.
Think of two semis, trucking side by side down the highway. Now picture one semi taking a quick exit. They are out of there, off your highway. You keep going, and they don’t. They are no longer part of your life.
That is what needs to happen to anyone who is part of your temptation. You need to get them out of there. You need to part ways.
Second Corinthians 6 talks about being unequally yoked. It says, for what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? What fellowship can light have with darkness? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit.
So think of anyone who is part of your temptation. Then think of how you can get away from them and their negative influence.
And finally, when you are being tempted, you need to get up and move in another direction. You can’t just boot the temptation from your mind, then do nothing. If you do that, the temptation will slip right back in and you will start toying with it again.
You need to move off in another direction. You need to fill your mind and your time with something else, and here it is. Galatians 5:13 says to “serve one another in love.”
So think of how you can do good for someone, to serve them in a pure, God-pleasing way.
Now don’t start thinking of how you can serve those who are part of your temptation! They need to go, but don’t worry. There are still plenty of people to serve, like your family members or your neighbors and your fellow church members.
So there you go, some simple steps to deal with temptation.
Now here’s a recap. If you are toying with temptation, remember that you are not alone. Both the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ are interceding for you. Plus, the Spirit is helping you in your weaknesses.
Now you need to derail your mind, to stop thinking in any way about how you might give in to that temptation.
And you need to move away from any people who are involved in the temptation.
And finally, you need to replace all that mess with something good and Godly, and that’s the idea of serving one another in love.
So there you go. Some action to take instead of just sitting there, toying with temptation.
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
Another thing to think about – telling someone about your temptation, a wise Christian person. It really takes the shine off of a temptation when you expose it like that.
© 2010 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
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