New Covenant - Overcoming Temptation - Part 5 — Zac Poonen

Reverencing God and Receiving His Secrets

But the church has drifted away from this truth for hundreds and hundreds of years. It is this great secret. And it's called a mystery a secret. The secret of the Lord is with those who fear him it says in Psalm 25.

It's with those who fear him. Those who reverence him. God whispers his secrets. To those who reverence him forgiveness of sins is not a secret that's openly proclaimed. No sins can be forgiven, but the secret of living a godly life.

That is a secret. God whispers it In the years of those who reverence him. And if you haven't heard that secret it probably proves. You don't reverence him. The fear of the Lord is to hate sin. And the one who is honest like Paul and says oh God I find lusting.

I want to be free. I Want to be free. Who cries out at night. Who wets his pillow with tears because he got angry once during the day. Who wets his pillow with tears because he lusted with his eyes once during the day.

The Minority Who Enter a Life of Victory

How many are there in the world like that? Who would rather pull out one eye than lust with that eye? Very few even among believers God whispers certain secrets in their years. That lead them to an overcoming life which 99 of believers never experience.

Remember that only two out of six hundred thousand Israelites enter the land of Canaan. Of that original group that left Egypt I'm not surprised as only two out of six hundred thousand believers who left Egypt enter a life of victory.

It's always the minority. Very few find the way to life. Jesus said in Matthew 7 very few. I want to be among that few. And I want to encourage you to be among that few. Don't miss. This wonderful provision God has made in the new covenant.

Seeking God for Power to Overcome

Don't give up. I remember when I cried out to God for power. I said Lord if it takes ten years. It's gonna take ten years, but I'm gonna seek you, but I'm not gonna live the substandard defeated Christian life I have right now and which I see around me in most Christians.

No I Will look at Jesus and run this race like the Bible says. And so we come to these temptations. The first temptation he was commanded to turn stones into bread. It's interesting that the first temptation that came to Eve was with food and that came to Jesus was with food.

The difference is that he was not really hungry and was in a beautiful garden and Jesus was hungry after 40 days of fasting and Was in the wilderness. It was as difficult as possible and he overcame. I remember once when I had a headache.

Overcoming Temptation in Physical Weakness

Many years ago my children were small and I said Lord did you ever have a headache in your life? You know what it's like to be tempted when you have a headache. I hope you know that. I'm sure you know that.

The temptation is more difficult to overcome when you have a headache than when you don't have a headache. Particularly if it's very severe and the Lord said to me You have overcome. Getting irritated with your children when you didn't have a headache.

Now you have to overcome getting irritated when you have a headache. Aha. So I've been promoted to a higher class. The examination is a little tougher and I said Lord, I want to be an overcomer. I Don't want to get irritated with anybody when I have a headache because the power of the Holy Spirit is greater.

And whatever power there is in my flesh to drag me down. You must have faith. In those in those difficult circumstances in the wilderness after 40 days of fasting and this whole being was crying out for food.

The Subtle Temptation to Use God's Gifts for Self

The devil says Not to do something evil. He doesn't say go and rob some bakery or steal. No, no, no, he knows that Jesus has gone way beyond all that a very subtle temptation. Haven't you got power once you anointed 40 days ago use that power for yourself.

And Jesus said no, it's a very subtle temptation. It can come to you and me. God gives you something. In his case, it was the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Whatever it is in your case and the devil says use it for yourself.

When the prodigal son got his share of the inheritance, who did he use it for? Himself and God gives you gifts and you use it for yourself. You don't even realize that you're fallen in temptation. It's very subtle this PhD level of temptation.

Living by Every Word from God's Mouth

But Jesus was Alert, he was sensitive of the Holy Spirit when you walk 30 years listening to the Holy Spirit. You become sensitive to little little things which other believers don't even recognize. He said no.

Man doesn't live by bread alone. But by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. In the new covenant. We can hear God speaking to us. Every word that proceeds from the mouth of God in the old covenant.

They couldn't. In the old covenant is the book of the law read it. You don't hear God. You just read it and do you know that there are many people today or just read the Bible? They don't hear God at all.

You live an old covenant life. Can I watch this television program? Which verse tells me whether I can watch this particular television program? But if you have the habit of listening to God When John 2 27 28 says the anointing within Will tell you that's how we're supposed to live.

Man shall live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God as soon as that Program comes on the TV. The voice says that's not for you. You turn it off. Do you do that? Most Christians don't. I'll tell you that.

Or you see a some filthy picture in a magazine and the voice within immediately says turn that page. It's up to you to obey. Holy Spirit is not going to turn that page. You got to turn. Then you will live because man will live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God and God speaking all the time.

Responding to the Holy Spirit's Invitation

Haven't you heard God speaking in your conscience? Haven't you heard God speaking when you're busy doing something saying drop that and spend two minutes talking to me now. Just two minutes and you don't you're busy.

You say wait, wait, wait, wait. I'll do that later on and when later on comes you can't find the presence of God anymore. Because you despised it when he invited you into his presence. We've all been guilty of that.

Choosing an Overcoming Life Over Lust

I've been guilty of it, I know I'm not throwing stones at anyone. I'm just telling you some things I learned from the mistakes and the stupid things I did in my own life. And I know what I lost. But I say Lord help me.

I never want to lose that again. I want to be an overcomer. Life is so short. Life is not given to us just to feed our lusts. No. We're to be overcomers. Because then we can fulfill God's purpose on earth.

Man shall live by every word that proceeds in the mouth of God and God speaking all the time. You say but I don't hear it. Well, if your ears are full of other voices. That you're listening listening listening listening.

Hearing the Voice of the Lord Clearly

Obviously you won't hear it but in Revelation 1 10 the John says in the Isle of Patmos he heard the voice of the Lord like a trumpet. I mean if a trumpet blew right now, how many of you would say I didn't hear that.

You know, that's how loud the voice of the Lord was to John. Because he'd walked with God for 65 years and I said Lord. I Want to get there. I want to get there where the voice of the Lord is as loud as a trumpet and all the other voices.