Background
Luke 4:13
Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.
Romans 7:18-25 NKJV
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”
In our last post, we discussed matters on the traits of the beginning of a compromising faith( Traits of the beginning of a compromising faith – Called and Fearless). Today, we dive into what can be done to resolve this. In order to see a solution there is a need to know the cause, let’s dive into the Word…
From the verse of discussion, after the devil had tempted Jesus after His fast, the bible makes us understand that he departed until he had another moment, an opportune time. As Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights He was physically weak yet spiritually strong else He would have not overcome the temptation. The point here is this, in order to overcome compromise there is the need to be strong spiritually, and build up your inner man upon the revelation of Jesus, the rock of our salvation( Mathew 7:24). Upon this revelation your faith can stand no matter whatever state you find yourself. Temptation or a fall away is always around the corner, the moment an opportunity comes, beloved, the enemy is able to make use of. So long as we leave a window or a door, this gives a way for the enemy to come in. Be angry and sin not( Ephesians 4:26), this verse is not about a physical emotion of anger but rather, emphasizes a Spiritual Zeal, to rise above the temptation of sin.
Now there is indeed an aspect of compromise that the devil leads but another is by the flesh. From the second verse of the study, Paul helps us understand the nature of the flesh. Indeed nothing good dwells in the flesh, the deeds of the flesh are evident and contrary to the Spirit. The flesh is always at work, without the help of the Holy Spirit and discipline to subject the flesh(1 Corinthians 9:27) , this aspect of man will lead to downfall. In order to avoid compromise, we must recognize the nature of the flesh, indeed these are evident according to Galatian 5:19.
What is the root cause of compromise?
- Compromise is an issue of misplaced desire, as seen in Romans 7:15 Paul desires to do good but ends up doing what he hates also in James 1:15, just as sin begins by enticement, so does compromise. Both aspects begin with our own lustful desires, which we do not overcome nor translate into the right desires. As seen in the previous message, how the wife of Job looking back on the things of Sodom missed out, so is it when we as believers desire and still see something good in this world. Coming to the knowledge of Christ your desires must begin to change, begin to desire the things of God.
- Compromising is an opening to a fall away, compromising gradually disobeys the little things, and trivializes Godly matters until we totally fall out of grace. Once we allow this opening the enemy can have a hold, James 4:7, helps us understand that we ought to submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, to draw near to God and he will draw near to us, and purify ourselves of every doublemindedness.
- Compromise is an identity crisis, we have always heard of how we as believers have not come to the realization of who we are. As believers, we are not defined by the world we live in but by whom we have been called. This means it is not about where you are but who you are, we ought to live according to the principles of who has called us. James 1:15 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror, for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. If we say we have known Him, then we must live as he does, we no longer live unto ourselves, but Christ living through us has become our new identity. And if we behold our faces and we look nothing like Him, then there is a problem with our foundation.
In order to avoid compromise, you must be intentional and deliberate concerning these:
- Stature must be built and desires exchanged
In Luke 4, Jesus in the cause of His fast, was able to subdue the flesh and be strengthened in the inner man. He was man as we are and yet stood firm when He was tempted and triumphed. The devil will never cease at bringing us into compromising situations, there needs to be a consistent practice of Holy living, Spiritual sacrifices, and studying of the Word. Jesus overcame the tempations of the devil by the Word, which was so embedded in Him that he was quick to refer and to act accordingly. Colossians 3:1-2, if you have been risen with Christ, seek those things above where Christ sits and set your affection on things above not on things on the earth, and put on the new man which is renewed in the knowledge of Him that created him.
2. Become a quality believer and take heed how you build
As the Word of God has been freely given to us in this day, there are men and women who have trodden this path and their lives serve as a guide. Daniel, Shadrach, Mesach and Abednego refused the king’s food and to bow to his image, are men we can learn so much from. They refused strongly to compromise their faith for even food and in the face of death. These were quality believers, as Daniel was even described as a man with an excellent spirit. To be a quality believer you must be rooted and built up in Him, beware of doctrines and philosophy of deceit and traditions of the world which are not after Christ(Colossians 2:7-8). To walk with Christ is different from being rooted and built up in Him, Judas walked with him and yet lived contrary ending up in condemnation. While the other disciples learnt from Him, to the extent that his image was imprinted on them and men could see indeed that these are the followers of Christ.
3. Dwell and Be saturated in God
He who dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty, be not filled with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit( Psalm 91 , Ephesians 5:18). Dwelling in God is our only safe haven from the deceptions and compromises of the flesh. As Job describes there is a place where no fowl knoweth and the vulture’s eye has not seen, the lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it(Job 28:7-8). This is a realm so deep in God no evil can access, that is where the quality believer dwells daily and is saturated in the presence of God. Only the Holy Spirit is able to guide and lead the believer in the path of integrity in righteousness. Do not grieve Him, walk in obedience to His leadings.
As you read this , may you be strengthened in your innerman every Spiritual house broken down, receive life in Jesus name!