“Ten Steps to Conquer Impure Thoughts” Part 6

IX.       10th Step: “Use Sensual Thoughts as a Springboard to Spiritual

Insight:”

A.   Remember Satan tried to tempt Jesus right after He was baptized. Jesus defeated  Satan by quoting the Word.

 Matthew 4:1- 11 “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 hungred.  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  Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,  And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 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. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

B.   Every temptation is based on a legitimate need to be filled in our lives.

C.   Satan will do anything to fulfill this need, such as TV commercial like beer ads. They suggest if one drinks a certain beer that person would a cool dude and would be women magnetic. He would also become the status quo. These ads have one purpose and that is to seduce our minds so that we can succumb to our carnal desires.

D.   Temptation is not a sin, it only becomes a sin, when we allow ourselves to dwell on it. It is the second, third and the fourth thought gets us in trouble.

E.   We can be deliver by these temptations by following some easy steps, such as the following:

1.     Submit all thoughts to God. Read 2 Corinthians 10:5  “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

2.     When tempted quote the Word of God to the devil. The Word is our sword.

             Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit

             which is the word of God:”

3.     Ask the Holy Spirit for a scripture or the wisdom in how to respond to this temptation. It is like old adage says, “In with good and out with the bad.”

4..    Replace the temptation with an image of Christ suffering for our sins.

F.    The results will be for us to transform our sensual desires into spiritual power.

1.    We will gain wisdom and insight why we struggle with this problem.

2.    This way in the future, we can avoid any pitfalls.

X.        The Conclusion:

            Remember we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. I would like to

           encourage you that we can become victorious in these thoughts and

           desires. It says in Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which

             strengtheneth me.”

A.   In God’s Word that He will meet all our needs in these trouble times.

B.   Go forth in the Lord and be free as you walk in the spirit

C.   For He will give us the victory.

 Alma 26:12 “Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.”

If you would like to know more about Jesus and your purpose in life, please contact the Mormon Missionaries:

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997-4490

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Elder Zayne Callahan

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