The Joyful Heart by Jim Hughes: Having Done All

There comes a time when temptation is too hard to handle. I do well for a season resisting temptation, living a disciplined life, then I give in and now all I can think about is that temptation. As the scripture says, lust just never quits!

Proverbs 27:20

(MSG)

Hell has a voracious appetite, and lust just never quits.

Once that floodgate is opened it’s pretty hard to plug it up again. But thank God for His Word!

Ephesians 6:13

(MSG)

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet.

I remember a parable that Mark Hankins tells about when driving down the road and you start swatting at a fly and lose focus on what you’re doing and crash into the ditch. Sometimes it’s just better to put up with the annoyance for a while until you can pull over and deal with the pest!

Ephesians 6:13

(KJV)

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Having done all—that’s the key! Having done all you can possibly do to withstand the devil’s onslaughts—that’s the key to resisting temptation. Let’s face it, we are tempted by something we love, something we are lusting after. It’s not something we dislike. Yes, lust is evil – it’s the evil day spoken of in our text, but it doesn’t present itself as evil. It comes after me as the most prized possession I desire!

Like I’ve said in other studies, I’m retarded. God knows that, he made me that way. There’s nothing I will do that will ever surprise Him! But, when faced with temptation I need to listen to God’s still small voice in the midst of the shouting of that temptation and just be still!

Elijah was having a pity-party and got alone to seek God (sounds real religious doesn’t it – just because you have your devotions and time to pray doesn’t guarantee that you won’t be caught up in selfishness). He had just slain all the prophets of Baal with the sword.

1 Kings 19:1-18 (MSG)

^1-2 Ahab reported to Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, including the massacre of the prophets. Jezebel immediately sent a messenger to Elijah with her threat: "The gods will get you for this and I'll get even with you! By this time tomorrow you'll be as dead as any one of those prophets."

^3-5 When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life to Beersheba, far in the south of

Judah

. He left his young servant there and then went on into the desert another day's journey. He came to a lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade, wanting in the worst way to be done with it all—to just die: "Enough of this, God! Take my life—I'm ready to join my ancestors in the grave!" Exhausted, he fell asleep under the lone broom bush.

Suddenly an angel shook him awake and said, "Get up and eat!"

⁶ He looked around and, to his surprise, right by his head were a loaf of bread baked on some coals and a jug of water. He ate the meal and went back to sleep.

⁷ The angel of God came back, shook him awake again, and said, "Get up and eat some more—you've got a long journey ahead of you."

^8-9 He got up, ate and drank his fill, and set out. Nourished by that meal, he walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep.

Then the word of God came to him: "So Elijah, what are you doing here?"

¹⁰ "I've been working my heart out for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies," said Elijah. "The people of

Israel

have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."

^11-12 Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by."

A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.

^13-14 When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, "So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?" Elijah said it again, "I've been working my heart out for God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, because the people of

Israel

have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."

^15-18 God said, "Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus. When you get there anoint Hazael; make him king over

Aram

. Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi; make him king over

Israel

. Finally, anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Anyone who escapes death by Hazael will be killed by Jehu; and anyone who escapes death by Jehu will be killed by Elisha. Meanwhile, I'm preserving for myself seven thousand souls: the knees that haven't bowed to the god Baal, the mouths that haven't kissed his image."

We have to stop the pity-party that we are the only one's who have ever been tempted this way and have got to start training ourselves to listening for that “still small voice” that “gentle and quiet whisper” so we may be able to do all we can to stand in our moments of temptations!

Ephesians 6:13

(GW)

For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. [Or “when the evil day comes.”] Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground.

(AMP)

Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

Amen! When we have “done all the crisis demands” we can stand firmly in our place.

Nehemiah 8:10

(MSG)

Ezra continued, "Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don't have anything: This day is holy to God. Don't feel bad. The joy [you have in] God is your strength!"

The joy we have in God is what the devil’s after. Don’t let him have it!

King James Version (KJV)—Public Domain/ 1604, King James I of

England

The Joyful Heart by Jim Hughes

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Having Done All

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