How can we apply "do not allow them to enter" in resisting temptation? Anchoring Phrase: “Do not allow them to enter” The verse calls us to keep every doorway of life closed to anything that tempts us away from Christ. That is not passive avoidance; it is deliberate gate-keeping. Why This Matters • Temptation first knocks, then slips inside, then rules the house. • Satan needs only a crack (Ephesians 4:27, “and do not give the devil a foothold”). • The Spirit empowers believers to bar the entrance, never in our own strength but by His (James 4:7). Guarding the Gates: Heart, Mind, Body 1. Heart – affections and motives • Proverbs 4:23: “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” • Love Christ more than the lure; what captures the heart steers the life. 2. Mind – thoughts and imaginations • 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We demolish arguments…and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” • Starve unholy fantasies; feed on Scripture, worship, and godly conversation. 3. Body – senses and habits • Romans 13:14: “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.” • Remove objects, places, and routines that make sin easy. Practical Ways to Shut the Door • Immediate refusal: say “No” the moment a wrong desire appears (Genesis 39:12; Joseph fled). • Relocate your focus: replace the tempting thought with worship or service (Philippians 4:8). • Physical distance: leave the scene, shut the browser, change the route. • Accountability: trusted believers who can ask hard questions (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). • Scripture saturation: keep verses visibly posted; quote them aloud when pressured (Matthew 4:4). • Consistent prayer: “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). • Daily surrender: begin every morning confessing Christ’s lordship; temptation thrives in neglected moments. Scriptures that Echo the Command • Psalm 101:3 – “I will set no worthless thing before my eyes.” • 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “God is faithful; He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear.” • Galatians 5:16 – “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” • 1 Peter 5:8-9 – “Be alert and sober-minded…Resist him, standing firm in your faith.” Living It Out Each Day • Identify your open doors—times, places, moods when you are most vulnerable. • Plan your escapes before the next knock comes; rehearsed obedience reacts faster than impulse. • Fill the house with light—regular worship, fellowship, Scripture memory—so darkness finds no resting place. • Celebrate wins, however small, giving thanks to the One who “always leads us in triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14). |
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