How to Overcome Temptation

The Holy Spirit is preparing you to operate in great power…

But He requires holiness—it’s not an option—it’s the only way. You and I must live in agreement with His ways and commandments, refusing all forms of idolatry and immorality and learning to navigate temptation.

Here’s a simple definition of idolatry and immorality: Idolatry is gaining power outside of God’s will and immorality is obtaining pleasure outside of God’s will.

Every human being has engaged in both, be it in thought or act, no one is free from the continuous harassment of temptation—the constant pressure over our eyes and minds. But the good news is that Jesus showed us how to overcome these temptations.

Immorality is all sexual activity outside of marriage (physical, verbal, technological). Immorality grants Satan legal access to harm your family and spiritually injure your heart. Idolatry is expressed in covetousness and sorcery (Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:5).

Covetousness is the pursuit of money in ways that directly oppose Jesus’ leadership over your life.

Tale of Two Immoral Churches

Both churches were influenced by false teaching on “grace” that made it OK for them to participate in immoral and idolatrous feasts. They were comfortable in compromise, instead of confident in God to pursue purity.

“You have those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before…Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. (Rev. 2:14) I have a few things against you, because you allow… Jezebel… to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.” (Rev. 2:20)

Part of Jesus’ remedy for this “sin cancer” is found in HOW He revealed Himself to them… He told them four specific things about Himself and four specific rewards for those who overcome.(Rev. 2:12-28).

Here are the 4 things he revealed about himself: 1) That He was the Son of God 2) That he had a sharp two-edged sword coming out of His Mouth 3) That he had eyes like a flame of fire 4) That His feet were like refined brass.

On this post I will focus on the last three and on the next we’ll talk about the four rewards.

The Sharp Two-edged Sword

To Pergamos write… “He who has the sharp two-edged sword… Repent, or else I will… fight against them with the sword of My mouth” To Thyatira write… “The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass…” (Rev. 2:12, 16, 18)

The sharp two-edged sword of Jesus eventually terminate those who oppress the Church (Rev. 19:15), but His two-edged sword also speaks of His zeal to intervene against sin inside the Church (Rev. 2:16). The sword also refers to divine power being released by the commands of His mouth—If you obey His Word, His sword will liberate you. If you reject Him, it will be a sword that troubles you.

“The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12)

Put differently, the two-edged sword of His mouth is (also) the conviction of the Spirit in your life—He helps you to obey Jesus and walk in holiness… but you must listen… and you must learn to follow His voice.

His Eyes Like a Flame of Fire

His eyes like a flame of fire show His burning desire for you—they speak of His ability to see everything, to feel love for you, to impart love to you, and to destroy what hinders love inside of you. Jesus is filled with holy jealous love… He longs to be ONE with you… He will not relent nor give up until this happens, so you must not relent nor give up.

To overcome immorality you must understand… the power of His eyes and the power of your eyes.The path of freedom starts by having your eyes fixed on His eyes—because sin prevails when your eyes are disconnected from His eyes.

Read that again…

When His eyes of fire touch your soul… His LIGHT will enlighten the eyes of your heart (causing you to see different) and His fire will warm and tenderize your cold heart (causing you to feel differently).

His Feet Like Refined Brass

Jesus’ feet like brass speak of His commitment to deliver you from immorality (with redemptive judgments that free you from the things that hinder His love). When JESUS steps in to deliver you… He may alter external events and crush the circumstances that empower you to continue in sin. He steps in with His feet like brass to alter your circumstances, cutting off sinful options and uses life events to wake you up.

In short, it’s the combination of His eyes and feet that leads YOU to freedom! His feet alter your circumstances to prevent sin from increasing and His eyes empower your heart with love.

The pathway to freedom (from immorality and idolatry) begins with seeing and feeling what Jesus sees and feels and knowing that He will eventually intervene as One with feet like brass.