The Temptations Full Movie - Youtube

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Merlino Riviere

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Aug 3, 2024, 5:10:58 PM8/3/24

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Being the CEO of an organization is one of the most difficult challenges a person can face in a career. But it is not a complicated one. In fact, when it comes right down to it, there are only five really important things a CEO has to do in order to optimize his or her success. But more importantly, a CEO has to avoid the five temptations that lead to eventual failure.

Now how do we triumph over the temptations that come to us from the world, the flesh, and the devil? How are we to defeat these temptations? We should begin, I suppose, with fleshly temptations, since you and I generally think of them first. What are they? Well obviously they're at least temptations to sexual sins, drunkenness, overeating, pampering of our body, and so on.

But we cannot limit the sins of the flesh to these things. What about laziness, for instance? Very fleshly! Shouldn't fleshly sins include the desire to stay home and enjoy comfort, while others are suffering great material deprivation or are working hard for a good cause? Shouldn't they include the temptation to buy the second car when we don't need it, take the long vacation, or whatever it may be, when we could help important spiritual enterprises by our giving or by a better use of our time? Aren't they also the temptations to stay home on week nights and watch television, when we know of a need for tutoring the underprivileged, befriending the lonely, visiting the sick, and so on? Well obviously all of these things are fleshly sins and temptations to do them are fleshly temptations.

Now a moment's reflection will show why in some instances this must be so. In most of the temptations of this life, although they may be severe, the Christian has an ally in reason. For example, he may be tempted to cheat on his income tax, but his reason will tell him that the computers today are very thorough and that the gain (if there is any) is entirely out of proportion to the loss of money, time, and reputation if he should be caught. Reason unites with his knowledge of the good and the internal witness of the Holy Spirit to save him.

It's the same with many other temptations, but not with most of the fleshly temptations. What couple ever sat alone in an apartment reasoning out the relative advantages and disadvantages of premarital sex, for instance, and on that basis either had sexual intercourse or avoided it? It just doesn't work that way. And consequently, if you find yourself in this situation, you must start running like Joseph. Get out of the apartment. Visit a friend. If your problem is drunkenness, avoid alcohol. If it's overeating, you must force yourself away from the table. If you're lazy, turn off the television set. Without such aid, mechanical aid if you will, neither you nor anyone else is 100% able at all times to avoid these temptations.

Application: Recognizing that temptations of the flesh can involve more sins than we tend to think about, are there any that pose a difficulty for you? What changes will you make to remove the temptation from you?

Think and Act Biblically from James Boice is a devotional of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Think and Act Biblically and the mission of the Alliance. Christian UnityChristian Living

The Alliance is a coalition of believers who hold to the historic creeds and confessions of the Reformed faith and proclaim biblical doctrine in order to foster a Reformed awakening in today's Church.