Temptation: Ward it off with the Word

By Agono E. Duke

There is an African axiom that says; smooth seas do not make skilful sailors. Whatever our level of faith, it is obvious that life is never smooth. God allows temptations to serve as the hard knocks of life that soften man’s rough edges and shape him into something more refined and resilient. Even Jesus our “high priest was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin – Hebrews 4:15”. Consequently, He admonished man in John 16:33; “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Starting with Salvation as the qualification to access God’s way of escape from temptations, the author takes the reader through Temptation, Types and Sources of Temptation, Temptation by Their Names, and Consequences of Failing Temptation. He assures that Temptation is surmountable, making available the steps to resist temptation before unveiling the Word that wards off various Temptations. He skillfully rounded up with additional educative quotes on temptations.

Read, apply and be blessed. Jesus is Lord!

• Language: English
• Publisher: COMMUNE WRITERS INT'L
• Release date: Mar 8, 2024
• ISBN: 9791223015971

Book preview

TEMPTATION

Ward it off with the WORD

AGONO E. DUKE

TEMPTATION

WRITTEN BY

AGONO E. DUKE

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COPYRIGHT © 2024

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author or publisher.

Published by:

COMMUNE WRITERS INT’L

www.communewriters.com

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6, Amusa Street, Agodo-Egbe, Lagos

Published in the Federal Republic of Nigeria

APPRECIATION

My appreciation goes to God Almighty, for His grace and mercy. I deeply appreciate the great and sincere men of God I’ve come across in my short journey in the kingdom of God. These include Archbishop Sam Amaga, Bishop David Oyedepo, Bishop Dan Okayi, Bishop Olaitan Olusegun, Pastor Joseph Ajibade, and Pastor Nwagu Okenwa, among others. Some of them took an interest in my spiritual growth and development; I am grateful for this.

I must also appreciate, in a special way, Hon. Chief Emmanuel Egwu (Esere-Ebekuo), Deaconess Joy Chimdinma Nwanju (JP), Elder (Prof) Udochukwu Ogbonna, for the roles they played, one way or the other, in birthing this book.

And finally, to my darling wife, Juliet, thank you for always being there for me. To God be all the glory.

Jesus is Lord!

PREFACE

An African axiom says ‘Smooth seas do not make skilful sailors.’ True to this aphorism, regardless of our level of faith, it is obvious that life is never smooth. We may wish and love to have a smooth life without trials and temptations, but that is not a reality. Temptations are the hard knocks of life that soften our rough edges and shape us into something more refined and resilient. Not being oblivious to that fact, our Lord Jesus Christ admonished us in John 16:33;

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

That is to say, tribulations and temptations are sure to come but God, who knows the end from the beginning, has made a way of escape for us.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13. 

A major way of escape is to stand on what His Word says concerning that temptation. With the ‘Word weapon’, you can escape the ‘world temptation’. Not only will you be free but you will also be separated from the crowd for the crown of God’s blessings. For it is written;

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. – James 1:12.

Overcoming temptation builds character in us. Such character helps us counteract the world’s catastrophic traps. Temptation comes to all individuals but the difference between one believer and the other is in the ability to overcome. You cannot claim to be a true child of God and succumb to temptations easily. This is because a true child of God has the nature of Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Therefore, a true child of God is as bold as a lion. It is written;

The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. – Proverbs 28:1.

With the Word weapon, Jesus Christ was able to ward off temptations three times while on earth.

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God… Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God… Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. – Matthew 4:1-4, 7, 10. 

Do you know what the word of God says about that situation you are facing? Those who stand on what the Word says about any temptation they might be facing earn the devil’s respect any day, anytime and anywhere. The picture of your future is in the scriptures. Search the scriptures and meditate on it day and night, for therein lies the powerful weapon against temptation. 

Desire to live righteously. With the gene and nature of Christ Jesus in you, coupled with the solution provided in His Word, the world temptation will not overwhelm you.

Jesus is Lord!

"Temptation may even be a blessing to a man when it reveals to him his weakness and drives him to the almighty Saviour.

Do not be surprised, then, dear child of God, if you are tempted at every step of your earthly journey, and almost beyond endurance;

But you will not be tempted beyond what you are able to bear,

and with every temptation, there will be a way of escape."

– F.B. Meyer

INTRODUCTION

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12.

When your words turned up, I feasted on them; and they became my joy, the delight of my heart, because I belong to you, LORD God of heavenly forces – Jeremiah 15:16 (CEB).

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. – Psalm 107:20.

My father in the Lord, Bishop David O. Oyedepo has always asserted, and I totally agree, that God is all you need to meet all your needs. God is His Word and His Word is Him. We can therefore derivatively posit that All you need to meet all your needs in the world is in the Word. God’s word, like His name, is a strong tower. Believers run into it for safety and every one of their needs. This fact is crystalized in the opening chapter of John’s gospel and other books of the Bible also emphasise the same.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. – John 1:1-5.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. – Proverbs 18:10.

It behoves us as Christians to seek the will of God concerning every area of our lives and apply His Word. The will of God is His Word. The scripture contains the grand picture of your future. Search the Word and involve the Holy Spirit in your prayer altar. Among several scriptural verses about the Word, you can stick to these few:

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. – Psalm 119:105.

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. – Proverbs 30:5-6. 

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12.

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. – Isaiah 40:8.

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine,