We must decide ahead of time how we will respond to temptations and pressures:
Some time ago I was discussing with a friend how anti-Christian bigotry and persecution are ramping up all around us. I mentioned that I have basically decided that when push comes to shove, and when various hostile state laws come about which will mean I must disobey the state and face the consequences (job loss, fines, jail time, etc) that this is what I will do.
I said it will do no good to wait until that time comes and then try to make up your mind. We need to decide now how we will proceed in such circumstances. We need to resolve now to put the Lord first, regardless of the negative repercussions.
That is a basic rule of thumb that applies to all Christians and is applicable in so many different situations. There would be various biblical examples of this that readily come to mind. One is the famous story of Daniel’s three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and their refusal to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image as recorded in Daniel 3. The critical verses for us are vv.16-18:
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Clearly long ago they had set their minds and hearts to obey God only, and not even consider falling for any idolatry like this, no matter the very negative outcome. The heroism and determination of these three – and of Daniel – is discussed by Sinclair Ferguson early on in his commentary:
“Such heroism does not develop overnight, nor is it created in a vacuum. It is the mature fruit of lives and characters that have been forged by experience, by the tests and trials of the providence of God, and by faithfulness and obedience to Him. Present heroism cannot be explained apart from past faithfulness.”
Much more can be said about this story, but there is another biblical incident – just as famous but even more powerful – that can be mentioned. When it comes to deciding beforehand how a man of God will respond to things, perhaps the best example we have is that of young Joseph.
In Genesis 39 we read about his resolve to remain obedient, faithful and true to the Living God, despite the constant temptations of Potiphar’s Wife and her attempted seductions. The full story is this:
Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.
Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.
But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”
As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.
So how would we fare if we were in Joseph’s shoes? Would we also flee, or would we give in to temptation? Again, this is NOT something we should be thinking about while in the middle of hardcore temptation. This is something we need to decide well beforehand.
A few commentators can be appealed to here on this important passage. R. Kent Hughes reminds us of how very easy it would have been for Joseph to cave in and simply rationalise away the whole thing:
What an insidious temptation. Joseph was seventeen or eighteen years old (cf. 37:2), and his hormones were at full force; so he brimmed with sexual curiosity and drive. The rationalizations were so easy and logical. No one would ever know (cf. 39:11). His family would certainly never find out. They were on the other side of the Sinai and beyond. Moreover, Joseph was a slave. His life was not his own. Sexual promiscuity was a daily part of all slave holding households. Besides, by giving in to Mrs. Potiphar’s wishes, he could enhance his career. This is a time-honored political strategy. What is so wrong with a little “strategic adultery” if it furthers the cause? And face it, old Potiphar was gone all the time and was not meeting his wife’s needs. She was entitled to a little caring affection. This would actually be the loving thing to do. In today’s terms, the situation demanded this ethic. Even more, who could blame him? It was in his blood. Just look at his brothers Reuben and Judah! And again, not a soul would ever know.
I am sure if most of us found ourselves in a similar situation, we could come up with a few nifty – and even spiritual sounding – rationalisations as well. Stuart Briscoe says this about the story in terms of how easy it would be to make such cheap excuses:
If Joseph had succumbed to this seduction he would have simply joined the ranks of thousands of other men in similar circumstances. Moreover, the remarkable freedom which his master had given him could have bred in a lesser man an insatiable appetite for indulgence. Joseph could also have rationalized that if he did not accede to the proposal he might well jeopardize his standing in the household.
Briscoe goes on to look at some of the factors which enabled Joseph to stand strong during this tough time:
He was clearly convinced that sexual activity with another man’s wife was not only “great wickedness” but also a “sin against God.” At the base of his action was his commitment to solid principle. The person who lacks similar principles is much more likely to succumb to temptation. Second, he clearly stated his position. There was no doubt in Potiphar’s mind as to where he stood. . . . Third, he flatly rejected the proposition. His reply allowed no room for debate or discussion. That would have been too dangerous. When passions are high discussions are better postponed. He wisely headed for the exit. Fourth, he did all that he could to avoid being in a compromising position. He not only refused to “lie with her” but also “to be with her” (v. 10). . . . When he could not avoid being with her he abandoned all thought of dignity and got out of there as quickly as he could. That is the fifth principle—in situations like that discretion is the better part of valor. Paul told Timothy to “Flee also youthful lusts” (2 Tim. 2:22) and his advice is well taken, and not just for youths!
These two biblical stories alone should give us much to think about, meditate on, and pray about. As I say, we need to decide ahead of time how we will respond to various situations like this. Whether it is enticement – or commands – to run with idolatry, or temptations to sexual compromise, we need to decide now about such things.
Waiting until we find ourselves in those situations will be too late. The pressures will be too strong. Only firm resolution now, backed up by grace-empowered godly character, will help us to stand when these things come upon us.
If you need to, why not take some time out right now and reflect on these matters, and ask God if you need to make some serious commitments now to the sort of person you want to be in the face of these sorts of temptations and pressures that we all can face.
I live now in Australia as if I am living in a country under enemy occupation.
So true Bro Bill. True believers should have made their decisions by now and be strong in the Lord and the Power of his might. We should put on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. It is dangerous to wait for the last minute. Remain blessed always in Jesus Christ Amen .
Hi Bill, I’ve carefully read through your article several times, and have seriously pondered the short term and long term consequences of the persecutions about to befall us here in Australia. Bill, I can’t offer any more commentary on your article and supporting Scriptures . To do so, with such a serious issue, would be patronising in the extreme. God Bless you Bill in responding to The Holy Spirit’s leadings! It’s very timely, Kel.
I was having a conversation with a Christian colleague late this afternoon as we were getting ready to leave work. We were discussing the increasing amount of training that is coming our way, with each new course smuggling in little bits of ‘Babylonian culture’ that a Christian cannot consider participating in – Buddhist mindfulness and the dreaded deluge of inclusiveness, equality and gender stuff.
I decided some time ago how to respond to these ‘temptations and pressures’ and the first few times are not so difficult – I’ve been saying ‘no’ for the past 18 months and have so far had my choices respected and allowed (surprisingly). However, I believe I am fast losing a reputation as a trustworthy, competent easy to manage employee and gaining a reputation as someone who is difficult and rebellious – objecting to every new training that comes along. When you’ve refused nearly every training opportunity for 18 months it bodes ill. And it doesn’t necessarily get easier with each new one that comes along – it becomes harder as you start preparing for the ‘conversation’ thinking how you might be able to word it differently this time.
We both admitted that it would be so much easier to yield to it all – to give in and go with the flow so that we don’t lose our jobs. I do not know her circumstances but I am only about a year and a half away from clearing my mortgage after finally being in a position to buy my first modest, little house 7 years ago at the age of 55, and living a frugal life since then to pay it off by retirement. I’d be lying to say that it is not tempting to yield. But we encouraged each other to stand firm and keep bringing to to God.
The bigger picture helps to fully understand the importance of being resolved in advance – if you don’t you will fall. Briefly, just some of the consequences I have endured by being resolved to stand firm in my faith – all my belongings discarded (twice); held hostage (twice); threatened with an axe; lost a couple of jobs; forcibly separated from my children for 5 weeks – all of these things occurred because of specific demands to give up my Christian faith and everything connected with it.
The most devastating loss because of my resolve not to compromise has happened only this week – the loss of relationship with my son. This has been unfailingly the worst week of my life. The relationship has severed because he has been waiting for me to compromise on something – he has been waiting 6 years – but because I was resolved and decided, I have not yielded where he wanted me to. But I am deeply grieving knowing that yielding would restore my son to me.
That background also explains why temptation doesn’t always get easier – when you have lost a lot before, standing firm can become even harder. God has blessed me so much these past 8 years with a job I love and do well, and a little home nearly paid off, that the thought of losing everything again is sometimes almost too hard to contemplate –the inner desire to hang on to things is strong.
This is why being resolved ahead of time as to your stance is so important– if you aren’t resolved and decided you will waste valuable seconds entertaining the temptation and those seconds will tempt you to yield. It’s good practice to share your decision with some Christian sisters and brothers– then you will feel accountability for your resolve.
Above all, remember that this is not our home. There is a better country – a heavenly one – and those things we want to hold onto are passing away.
Many thanks Anon – bless you.
This also applies to organisations, businesses and churches.
There are many issues that are coming up that will bring challenges.
e.g. The LBTQ+ pressure and expectations are likely to land on our doorstep unannounced at any time, and we need to have thought through and decided what we are going to do if asked to bake that not so proverbial cake, or assist in celebrating that wedding/relationship.
It is possible that we could be invited to a gay wedding, and we have already decided that even as family we will not go, because we would be endorsing something we regard as wrong. At the same time we will be at some pains to explain our love and our decision to those who might have hoped that we would be there.
There are also issues that may come come at work and issues from society, especially probably very soon about the RNA Covid vaxxine.
Thank you for your powerful and timely message, Bill.
The comments which follow your piece show that you’ve certainly hit the mark.
I am deeply moved by the testimony of “Anonymous by request”.
What terrible dilemmas and conflicts God’s enemies are forcing onto Christians.
Everybody who reads this post ought to remember “Anonymous by request” in their prayers, and pray that this person can continue standing strong in the Lord.
Good points, Daniel and his friends were captive princes by Baylonian King Nebuchadnezzar.
They refused his rich food.
They witnessed to their God continually.
They were targeted for death.
I am sure they knew by heart their beloved King David’s psalm 91.
So jump to today.
An invisible virus (pestilence that lurks in darkness) with a 99% survival rate.
Christian Churches allow themselves to be closed and called nonessential for fear of civil retribution….
God will reward his faithful.
Children are often the vehicle which compromise comes in. Satan know we love our kids and exploits that to try to get us to accept sin. The hardest thing is to stand firm with your child choosing God’s way no matter the personal cost.
We are now strangers in our own countries. Lepers used to be shunned and called unclean now we are the “unclean” ones because we refuse to roll around in the filth with the rest of the world. Nothing is more angering to a dirty world than a person standing there without spots. What makes things even harder is so many “Christians” will roll in the mire with the pigs of the world and excuse it and justify it and the world will say they are the REAL Christians. Compromised Christians cause far more harm to the faith than pagan even could.
This is good, short and to the point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiR_P4baeU4 Things are going to get much worse for the believer but the end is always better than the beginning for the believer. Sure, I’m sad that the America that I knew is rapidly disappearing but I also know that my real, forever home is up ahead, just over the horizon.
In your post, Bill, you rightly remind your readers of the importance for Christians to prepare themselves to withstand temptations and pressures.
You warn us that “we need to decide ahead of time how we will respond to various situations like this…. Waiting until we find ourselves in those situations will be too late. The pressures will be too strong. Only firm resolution now, backed up by grace-empowered godly character, will help us to stand when these things come upon us.”
Your views are both biblical and confirmed by the best medical evidence.
Charles (Lord) Moran (1882–1977) was Winston Churchill’s personal physician from the time Churchill became British prime minister in 1940 until his death in 1965.
During World War One, Moran had gained valuable professional experience in treating soldiers with shell-shock.
At the end of World War Two, he published a book called The Anatomy of Courage.
Here are four noteworthy quotations from this work:
• “Courage is will-power, whereof no man has an unlimited stock; and when in war it is used up, he is finished. A man’s courage is his capital and he is always spending” (p. x).
• “A free people is only ready to resist aggression when the Christian virtues flourish, for a man of character in peace is a man of courage in war” (p. xii).
• “Character as Aristotle taught is a habit, the daily choice of right instead of wrong; it is a moral quality which grows to maturity in peace and is not suddenly developed on the outbreak of war…. Man’s fate in battle is worked out before war begins…. If you know a man in peace, you know him in war” (p. 170).
• “Discipline can form a habit and the force of habit is regal” (p. 182).
Thanks for that John.
Food for the soul here Bill.
The acceleration of warnings is quite real.
There were no atheists in the trenches.
Who said “….. be ye also ready for ye know not the hour nor the day.”?
I live now in Australia as if I am living in a country under enemy occupation.
So true Bro Bill. True believers should have made their decisions by now and be strong in the Lord and the Power of his might. We should put on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. It is dangerous to wait for the last minute. Remain blessed always in Jesus Christ Amen .
Hi Bill, I’ve carefully read through your article several times, and have seriously pondered the short term and long term consequences of the persecutions about to befall us here in Australia. Bill, I can’t offer any more commentary on your article and supporting Scriptures . To do so, with such a serious issue, would be patronising in the extreme. God Bless you Bill in responding to The Holy Spirit’s leadings! It’s very timely, Kel.
I was having a conversation with a Christian colleague late this afternoon as we were getting ready to leave work. We were discussing the increasing amount of training that is coming our way, with each new course smuggling in little bits of ‘Babylonian culture’ that a Christian cannot consider participating in – Buddhist mindfulness and the dreaded deluge of inclusiveness, equality and gender stuff.
I decided some time ago how to respond to these ‘temptations and pressures’ and the first few times are not so difficult – I’ve been saying ‘no’ for the past 18 months and have so far had my choices respected and allowed (surprisingly). However, I believe I am fast losing a reputation as a trustworthy, competent easy to manage employee and gaining a reputation as someone who is difficult and rebellious – objecting to every new training that comes along. When you’ve refused nearly every training opportunity for 18 months it bodes ill. And it doesn’t necessarily get easier with each new one that comes along – it becomes harder as you start preparing for the ‘conversation’ thinking how you might be able to word it differently this time.
We both admitted that it would be so much easier to yield to it all – to give in and go with the flow so that we don’t lose our jobs. I do not know her circumstances but I am only about a year and a half away from clearing my mortgage after finally being in a position to buy my first modest, little house 7 years ago at the age of 55, and living a frugal life since then to pay it off by retirement. I’d be lying to say that it is not tempting to yield. But we encouraged each other to stand firm and keep bringing to to God.
The bigger picture helps to fully understand the importance of being resolved in advance – if you don’t you will fall. Briefly, just some of the consequences I have endured by being resolved to stand firm in my faith – all my belongings discarded (twice); held hostage (twice); threatened with an axe; lost a couple of jobs; forcibly separated from my children for 5 weeks – all of these things occurred because of specific demands to give up my Christian faith and everything connected with it.
The most devastating loss because of my resolve not to compromise has happened only this week – the loss of relationship with my son. This has been unfailingly the worst week of my life. The relationship has severed because he has been waiting for me to compromise on something – he has been waiting 6 years – but because I was resolved and decided, I have not yielded where he wanted me to. But I am deeply grieving knowing that yielding would restore my son to me.
That background also explains why temptation doesn’t always get easier – when you have lost a lot before, standing firm can become even harder. God has blessed me so much these past 8 years with a job I love and do well, and a little home nearly paid off, that the thought of losing everything again is sometimes almost too hard to contemplate –the inner desire to hang on to things is strong.
This is why being resolved ahead of time as to your stance is so important– if you aren’t resolved and decided you will waste valuable seconds entertaining the temptation and those seconds will tempt you to yield. It’s good practice to share your decision with some Christian sisters and brothers– then you will feel accountability for your resolve.
Above all, remember that this is not our home. There is a better country – a heavenly one – and those things we want to hold onto are passing away.
Many thanks Anon – bless you.
This also applies to organisations, businesses and churches.
There are many issues that are coming up that will bring challenges.
e.g. The LBTQ+ pressure and expectations are likely to land on our doorstep unannounced at any time, and we need to have thought through and decided what we are going to do if asked to bake that not so proverbial cake, or assist in celebrating that wedding/relationship.
It is possible that we could be invited to a gay wedding, and we have already decided that even as family we will not go, because we would be endorsing something we regard as wrong. At the same time we will be at some pains to explain our love and our decision to those who might have hoped that we would be there.
There are also issues that may come come at work and issues from society, especially probably very soon about the RNA Covid vaxxine.
Thank you for your powerful and timely message, Bill.
The comments which follow your piece show that you’ve certainly hit the mark.
I am deeply moved by the testimony of “Anonymous by request”.
What terrible dilemmas and conflicts God’s enemies are forcing onto Christians.
Everybody who reads this post ought to remember “Anonymous by request” in their prayers, and pray that this person can continue standing strong in the Lord.
Good points, Daniel and his friends were captive princes by Baylonian King Nebuchadnezzar.
They refused his rich food.
They witnessed to their God continually.
They were targeted for death.
I am sure they knew by heart their beloved King David’s psalm 91.
So jump to today.
An invisible virus (pestilence that lurks in darkness) with a 99% survival rate.
Christian Churches allow themselves to be closed and called nonessential for fear of civil retribution….
God will reward his faithful.
Children are often the vehicle which compromise comes in. Satan know we love our kids and exploits that to try to get us to accept sin. The hardest thing is to stand firm with your child choosing God’s way no matter the personal cost.
We are now strangers in our own countries. Lepers used to be shunned and called unclean now we are the “unclean” ones because we refuse to roll around in the filth with the rest of the world. Nothing is more angering to a dirty world than a person standing there without spots. What makes things even harder is so many “Christians” will roll in the mire with the pigs of the world and excuse it and justify it and the world will say they are the REAL Christians. Compromised Christians cause far more harm to the faith than pagan even could.
This is good, short and to the point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiR_P4baeU4 Things are going to get much worse for the believer but the end is always better than the beginning for the believer. Sure, I’m sad that the America that I knew is rapidly disappearing but I also know that my real, forever home is up ahead, just over the horizon.
In your post, Bill, you rightly remind your readers of the importance for Christians to prepare themselves to withstand temptations and pressures.
You warn us that “we need to decide ahead of time how we will respond to various situations like this…. Waiting until we find ourselves in those situations will be too late. The pressures will be too strong. Only firm resolution now, backed up by grace-empowered godly character, will help us to stand when these things come upon us.”
Your views are both biblical and confirmed by the best medical evidence.
Charles (Lord) Moran (1882–1977) was Winston Churchill’s personal physician from the time Churchill became British prime minister in 1940 until his death in 1965.
During World War One, Moran had gained valuable professional experience in treating soldiers with shell-shock.
At the end of World War Two, he published a book called The Anatomy of Courage.
Here are four noteworthy quotations from this work:
• “Courage is will-power, whereof no man has an unlimited stock; and when in war it is used up, he is finished. A man’s courage is his capital and he is always spending” (p. x).
• “A free people is only ready to resist aggression when the Christian virtues flourish, for a man of character in peace is a man of courage in war” (p. xii).
• “Character as Aristotle taught is a habit, the daily choice of right instead of wrong; it is a moral quality which grows to maturity in peace and is not suddenly developed on the outbreak of war…. Man’s fate in battle is worked out before war begins…. If you know a man in peace, you know him in war” (p. 170).
• “Discipline can form a habit and the force of habit is regal” (p. 182).
Thanks for that John.
Food for the soul here Bill.
The acceleration of warnings is quite real.
There were no atheists in the trenches.
Who said “….. be ye also ready for ye know not the hour nor the day.”?
Some action needed especially for South Australians:
https://citizengo.org/en-au/node/182903
https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/en/How-Do-I/Contact-a-Member
And at the Big Tech level:
https://citizengo.org/en-au/rf/184702-tell-tech-giants-stop-censoring-free-speech