You Are Not Alone in Facing Temptation

This expert summary synthesizes key devotional and theological teachings on Christian living, focusing on overcoming temptation, the battle between the flesh and the spirit, and the importance of Godly stewardship in finance and family. It emphasizes that believers are never alone in their spiritual struggles, as the Holy Spirit acts as a powerful “warrior spirit” fighting on their behalf.

I. The Reality of Temptation and the Inner Battle

The Christian life is inherently marked by temptation and a constant internal conflict, a reality often forgotten by believers.

The Twofold Danger: External World and Internal Heart

A central theme is that people, much like unaware children, often forget two crucial spiritual realities:

1. The Broken Fallen World: Believers live in a broken, fallen world filled with a viciousness and evil that they are often totally unaware of. The world system of values constantly wars against us, tempting individuals every single day to fall away from God and betray their highest virtues. This external danger includes things the eyes were never meant to handle and the ears were never meant to hear.
2. The Sinful Heart: The greatest danger is not the evil outside, but the sinful elements within our own heart and flesh. Scripture states that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Evil things that corrupt and defile us do not primarily come from the outside, but from what is stored up in our heart.

A metaphor illustrates this point: even if a virtual Garden of Eden is set up inside a house with no external corruption (like bad television), children (or believers) can create a Sodom and Gomorrah in their own heart because the seed of every known sin already resides there. This inner evil includes the passionate desires and inclinations of our own flesh.

The Spiritual Warfare Strategy

The spiritual battle involves a three-pronged attack against believers:

• The World System (values that war against us).
• The Devil (the commander of the powers in the unseen world, the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God).
• The Flesh (the evil within).

The spiritual conflict is defined by the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.

II. The Divine Solution: The Warrior Spirit and the Way of Escape

The encouraging news is that believers do not have to fight these spiritual battles on their own. God provides divine assistance and a means of escape from temptation.

The Holy Spirit: Guide and Warrior

The Holy Spirit is identified as the warrior spirit who lives within the believer, fighting on their behalf.

• Intercession and Harmony: The Holy Spirit prays for us and pleads for believers in harmony with God’s own will. The Holy Spirit is greater than he who is in the world.
• Guidance: Believers are instructed to “let the Holy Spirit guide your lives and then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature your flesh craves”. Following this leader and shepherd helps believers resist the downward drag of the flesh and the temptations of the world.
• Fruit of the Spirit: When guided by the Holy Spirit, the sinful nature is resisted, and the Spirit produces fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.

Temptation Develops Character

The Father in heaven is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond what you are able. God uses temptation, which develops your character and your faith, and provides the way of escape so that believers can stand up under the pressure.

The Holy Spirit also serves as the comforter and the resident truth teacher, enabling believers to withstand the fiery darts of the devil.

III. Financial Stewardship and Banking with Purpose

The sources highlight the responsibility of Christians to align their financial decisions with their faith.

The Risk of Traditional Banking

Traditional banks invest deposits, and these investments might support activities contrary to Christian values, such as supporting abortions or promoting radical gender ideology. Some institutions have even closed the accounts of Christian ministries for upholding the gospel.

Banking with America’s Christian Credit Union (ACCU)

ACCU offers an alternative where deposits are directly invested into the family of faith to support initiatives like adoption loans, church plants, and Christian education.

• Incentives and Giving: When opening a new account using the promo code KIRK, ACCU provides an instant $200 deposit and donates a box of diapers to a local pregnancy center. This is presented as taking a stand and banking with purpose.