Fighting temptation night and day will wear the believer out and keep him occupied with his own spiritual survival. This leaves him with little or no energy to build My kingdom. Fighting temptation is like treading water, working hard and going nowhere as fast as your feet can move. The only fight for the believer is the good fight of faith 1 Timothy 6:12. Fighting doubt, by constantly exercising faith, no matter what the odds, may be! Temptation to sin, is the pull of demonic forces on our old nature. The old nature is energized by fleshly thoughts that are constantly attempting to invade your mind!

When you are constantly thinking about not sinning, sin is taking up more space in your mind than I AM, and thus feeding your flesh. However when you are constantly thinking about Me and My will for you, and My love for you, your spirit man becomes energized, and temptation dwindles.

Listen, these are the hard facts: “No man can say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for I cannot be tempted with evil, neither do I tempt any man: Face it, every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, based in his old nature, and he is more easily enticed, when he is always sin conscious. Then his lust will bring forth sin: and the sin, will finally finish him, with death” James 1:13-15.

Resisting the devil is not fighting temptation, resisting the devil is just submitting to Me by staying God conscious. Submit yourselves therefore to God and you will “resist the devil, and he will flee from you” James 4:7.

You already know that “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot submit to Me and serve your lust, at the same time” Matthew 6:24.

Try this for one week and you will be temptation free: whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think only on these things, Philippians 4:8. Now this will rule out TV viewing, some Facebook friends, the news media, and many popular websites. Some of your friends will have to go, and some of your music, books and magazines, too.

Rather than go to these extremes, most of you will choose to tread water, and fight temptation, and your nation will continue to plunge into gross darkness. The sad part is, most of you will wear out and sin will finish you off! You are not going to get around this fact: If you live after the flesh, you are going to die: Grace or no grace, but if you through the Spirit do kill the deeds of the body, by staying God conscious, you will live, Romans 8:13.

~ Jim Hammerle

Jim Hammerle (1941-2017) began ministry working with David Wilkerson and Nicky Cruz, founding Teen Challenge Philadelphia. 6 times in the mission field pastoring a mission ship, 15 years with tv and radio, teaching, and preaching.  As a retired businessman, Jim helped to feed widows and orphans in Uganda, helping Muslims find the Jesus who fed them. He became His banker and was privileged to give His money away, wherever He decided, so he also helping to build an orphanage in Haiti and investing in lives in the USA. Totally in love with his Lord, at age 73 he served in ministry at Victory Christian Church and lived every hour listening for his Heavenly Father’s voice.  Jim passed away on May 23, 2017 to be with the LORD.