00:00There is no prayer, no fasting, no spiritual maturity in this world that will remove the
00:06reality of temptation because we're in a world which is dominated by those in darkness. So as
00:16we navigate this world, it's a reality that will be a lot of temptation. And as you rightly said,
00:23there are times you fall. There's a big difference though, as I said in this message, between the
00:31temptation God allows and the temptation we invite.
00:47My question is why the more I pray, the more I fast,
00:53the more I read my Bible, the more is the temptation and sometimes I fall into.
01:01What our brother is talking about is something I've heard many times. People ask, I don't
01:05understand. I'm trying to draw closer to God, but it seems as if the temptations and trials
01:14are increasing, not decreasing. Like, am I doing something wrong? Like, what's going on here?
01:19And I would just encourage you, my brother. Look, there is no prayer, no fasting, no spiritual
01:28maturity in this world that will remove the reality of temptation because we're in a world
01:37which is dominated by those in darkness. I don't say that to cause fear or apprehension. But if we look
01:50at society, we look at what's happening. We're living in a world that people have strayed so far from
01:57godly principles. Sin has dominated so many hearts. So as we navigate this world, it's a reality. There
02:07will be a lot of temptation. And as you rightly said, there are times you fall. There's a big difference
02:16difference though, as I said in this message, between the temptation God allows and the temptation we
02:22invites. If God allows temptation, but you still fall into it because we are weak and sometimes we
02:32succumb to the flesh. What will happen? You will repent and learn from that situation. Oh, what happened
02:42that I fell? This is what happened before I fell. I learned from it. You actually increase your spiritual
02:49maturity through the experience of succumbing to temptation. But if it's a temptation you invite,
02:56when you fall into it, you are not going to have that spiritual benefit.
03:04That's the difference. Once again, I'm not saying you cannot turn to God afterwards. There's no
03:13situation, no matter how bad, that stops us from the decision of turning to God. Even if a trial is
03:21self-inflicted, even if a temptation is self-invited, you can still turn to God. But if you are seeking
03:29him, praying, fasting, reading the scriptures, and yet that temptation keeps coming, and perhaps you
03:38fall, that fall will lead to your rising. What do I mean? You will learn from that temptation. You will
03:45increase your strategies and how to deal with it. You will be more sensitive to the areas that perhaps
03:51lead to it. It will actually result in your growth spiritually. This is a mystery. Why is it that the
04:01path to spiritual growth is so often steeped in tests, trials, and temptations? Well, God has to
04:10equip us for the task he has for us. You don't get equipped in the school. You get equipped on
04:19the
04:19field. I hope you understand, people of God. You don't get equipped in theory. You get equipped in
04:30practical. This is life. The realities of life. The temptations of life. But if you repent,
04:40learn from it, run back to God in the midst of it, that temptation becomes a source of your spiritual
04:48growth. So don't be discouraged. And as I said, don't assume that one day you will reach a milestone
04:56spiritually where temptation disappears. Oh, I'm overcome. I've overcome all of that. I will never be
05:04tempted. No. No, no, no, no, no, no. As far as we're in this world, it will come. But there
05:12is grace. God has
05:14promised a way of escape. A way out. And it's important for me to emphasize that the message I've given
05:23today is for believers. The understanding of a self-inflicted trial versus a trial that God permits
05:34is on the basis of someone who has been delivered. There are some challenges that are as a result of
05:41demonic influence. Which is why prayer in the name of Jesus Christ strikes at the root spiritually.
05:52That's why sometimes you can try and find every, you know, solution naturally. But if something is
06:01spiritual, it needs to be dealt with in prayer. So I'm not denying the reality that there are some
06:09demonically influenced situations that people face, right? Maybe as a result of generational curses,
06:16not through something they themselves have done to inflict themselves. That's why we talk about
06:21deliverance in the name of Jesus Christ. But irrespective, this truth remains valuable for
06:28everyone. Because it's far easier to, you know, let me put it like this. Some people today are very
06:36fond of finding a scapegoat to make them feel better in the midst of their problem. And it's easy to
06:45blame
06:45the devil. Oh, the devil is behind this. Even though the works of darkness may be behind what you are
06:52facing, don't agree with the mindset that quickly points the finger and blame. Because even if the
06:59devil is kicked out, you have a role to play. It's no good for us to propagate the mindsets of
07:05blame.
07:06I hope you understand what I'm saying, people of God. It's very easy for us to say, Oh,
07:12because of my family background, this is where I'm facing this. And there may be truth in that
07:18statement. Maybe there's a curse in the family that needs to be broken. But don't have that mindset
07:24that quickly attaches blame to something beyond your control. Because it doesn't encourage
07:31stewardship and responsibility. After your deliverance, after your freedom, you must use
07:41what is in your hands today.
07:49The effectiveness of our lives here on earth is directly connected to the assurance we have of
07:58where we are going eternally. The more heavenly minded we are, the more focused we will be on our true
08:06purpose here on earth.
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