YOU SHALL OVERCOME

God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.(1 Corinthians 10:13)
Dear friend, it is by temptations the devil ensnares us into sin। But we can overcome the temptations of the devil through Jesus Christ. Once, a father brought his son to me for prayer. The young man was an MBA graduate. He was employed in a leading advertising company. It was the practice of the company to entertain their clients with cocktail parties. This young man would host cocktail parties for their clients. Being God fearing, he would politely decline liquour when offered. Later, his boss came to know of this and said to him, “I came to know that you abstain yourself from liquour that you host in cocktail parties on behalf of our company. You too must take liquour to keep our clients happy. If you do not abide by these rules, I may have to appoint someone else in your place.” The young man was helpless. So, he started taking liquour and very soon got addicted to it. Because of his addiction, he lost his memory power. He became weak and had problem with his nerves. He was in a miserable state when his father brought him to me. That was how the devil ensnared him through temptations and destroyed his good health and mind. The tempter, the devil also ensnares us through various temptations in our lives. Even Lord Jesus has traversed the path of temptations and in Matthew 4:3, we see Him being led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tested by the devil. The tempter, the devil came to ensnare Him. Why was Jesus Christ allowed to such tests and temptations? Because it was for Him to know the temptations that we go through in life. He overcame every temptation that the devil brought in His life. The devil in his final attempt showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory and said to Him, "All these things I will give to You if You will fall down and worship me." The Lord then said, "Away with you, satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve" (Matthew 4:9, 10). The devil was defeated and fled from that place. The Lord desires to give us this power to overcome temptations. He desires to clothe us with the Holy Spirit that enabled Him to overcome the temptations of the devil. From Romans 8:26, we learn that the Holy Spirit helps in our weaknesses to overcome the tempter. Yes, when filled with the Spirit we are transformed like the Lord from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:17, 18). Dear friend, when you receive the Holy Spirit, He will enable you to overcome every temptation the devil brings in your life. The devil will tremble at you. The Lord will enable you to overcome the temptations in your life through the Holy Spirit. Prayer:Loving Lord Jesus, I am being tempted so many times in life. Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit to overcome temptations in life. Help me to guard my thoughts, actions and words with Your word. Let my life be pleasing to You. Let it bring glory to Your name. I give You all glory, honour and praise to You. Amen.

- Dr. Paul Dhinakaran