First of all, I would like to thank God for this opportunity to testify God’s grace in my life with regard to temptation and how God has helped me to be an over comer. Like a lot of saints, I grew up in the church from a very early age. During my teenage years, I lost interest in the church and began to follow the ways of the world. For about ten years I had nothing to do with any church unless it was a funeral or wedding. I even began to profess that I did not believe in God, especially a Christian one.

 

In the summer of 1986, God began to draw me back to him and the church. I joined a denominational church and tried my best to obey all God commandments. I soon found out that my best efforts were not good enough and that there was void in my life. I continued to fail in obeying God. There was this hunger in me to be real with God and do his will. In the late spring of 1987, God lead me to Lucas temple True Church of God in Christ, a place where I found salvation, truth and love. Today, 23 years later I believe that by the grace of God, I am living an obedient, victorious, and holy life in Christ Jesus. In the many years of my walk in Christ, I have endured great trails of temptation and expect to face a lot more. I would like to share some of the things that have helped me and hope that it will help someone else as well.

 

The first thing God blessed me with to resist temptation was the desire in my mind and heart to please and obey him. Before I knew almost anything about God’s word, I would find myself in the middle of a test honestly praying, letting him know that I did not want to sin against him and asking him to bring me thru my temptation. That prayer always seemed to work. Since I have grown some in the word I now pray to avoid as much temptation as God will allow.

 

Another weapon that helps me is the word of God. God’s word says not to make provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof. I try to avoid compromising situations. The word teaches that with the temptation God has a way to escape. No matter what I’m faced with, I know God will help me overcome the temptation. The word tells me to watch and pray so that I won’t enter into temptation and that I must fight against my own fleshly lust. This makes me constantly examine myself to make sure I stay faithful. The word is truly the greatest tool I have used to resist temptations.

 

Because temptations come in so many different forms and ways, it would be impossible to name them all, but I would like to talk about a very effective way to deal with temptations involving other people. Use your testimony. It has been my experience that telling people about my salvation and holiness and/or what God’s word recommend really works. Not only will it defeat the devil’s plan but it greatly strengthens and builds up my faith. It causes me to strive harder to prove that I‘m a true saint and at the same time it let’s others know who I’m suppose to represent. We really do overcome by our testimony and the blood of Jesus Christ. The testimonies of other saints help me to be encouraged when I am faced with a similar trial. I know that God does not have respect of persons and if he delivered another saint then he will deliver me also.

 

Being involved in church activities, regular attendance and staying busy for God also helps me to overcome temptation. Because I don’t have a lot of idle time, it’s a little easier to resist temptations of the mind and stay focused on my next task.

 

Last but not least, I believe that I have received the Holy Ghost and its power. I believe that God’s power holds me up, guides, protects, comforts and makes me victorious. Countless times his spirit would come to my mind and lead me the right way. Without the Holy Ghost it would be impossible for me to live this holy and sanctified life. I’m thankful that he gave me a desire to receive his spirit when I first came back to the church. This hunger and thirst for God was a great motivator in helping me to overcome temptation. Again I would like to thank God for all that he is to me and for this chance to testify his love and grace in my life. Hopefully something I said will be a blessing to someone.

 

May the grace of the lord Jesus Christ be with us all and I desire your prayers.

 

 

Click Here to read the testimony of Brother Regginald Turner

Click Here to read the testimony of Brother Quentin Jackson

Click Here to read the testimony of Deacon Terry Jeffries

Click Here to read the testimony of Minister Grover Jones, Jr.

Click Here to read the testimony of Brother Emmitt Robinson III