What Snares You?

I want to begin with what may seem obvious to some but very few have taken the time to recognize the effects of what snares them. We, as Christian men, have not been completely honest with ourselves and consequently we have been trapped without knowing the reason. We have not been told that our desires are real; therefore, we try to ignore the very thing that catches our attention. You must come to a point of honesty in what your flesh is calling out to get. You might ask, "Why is this important to identify?" It's important because the first clause of James 1:14 tells us that "... every man is tempted ..." What causes this temptation? This verse further reveals that temptation comes from your own lust, which is something you desire.

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." James 1:14 Now that we have established that truth let's talk about how the enemy comes in to pervert desires. For example, you have identified that you like a woman that has long, curly hair with an hour glass shape. The enemy will take this information and present it to you outside of the boundaries of the Word of God. Instead of only getting you to acknowledge her beauty, the enemy presents this elaborate scenario that is lustful and sexual in nature to entice you. Something within your flesh desired sexual fulfillment, and he introduced the thought of it being with her. The same is true with men that deal with same-sex attractions. Something in your flesh desires sexual fulfillment with another man. We know these desires are not godly according to the Word of God; however, you cannot negate that they do exist.

You cannot address what you don't acknowledge! Facts are real, feelings are real, and lust is real. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard men say when they are tempted, "Well, I just try to get my mind off of the temptation or find something else to do." You are only avoiding the issue hoping that it will go away, but if you don't address it, it will return. Notice James 4:7 told us to "... Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." It didn't say ignore the devil or act like he's not there, it said "resist." In Chapter 16 we will talk more about how to resist the devil and plead the blood of Jesus.

If you don't understand that the desire of your flesh is the bait that the enemy will use against you, you will fall subject to it every single time. The scripture I referenced earlier, James 1:14, used an interesting phrase, "drawn away." How does this happen? satan is very studious when it comes to finding weaknesses in men. He is not omniscient (all-knowing), but he is very watchful. Since you were a little boy, the enemy has been sending bait your way to see which one would catch your attention the most. Sexual desire is not evil but was created to be expressed within the confines of marriage. When you allow your flesh to take this outside of the marriage covenant, you are opening up your soul (mind, will and emotions) for the enemy to set up shop in your life.

The enemy really doesn't have many tricks. I can almost guarantee you that he comes to you with the same temptation every time. It may come in different forms or styles, but it's the same trap because he has identified what appeals to your flesh. I'll prove it to you. How many times have you told yourself, "I promise, I'm only going to do this one more time and then I'm not fooling with this anymore?" Let me answer that question for you ... hundreds. You probably can't even count or dare to remember. As you arm yourself with the Word of God, your spirit will grow stronger and more alert, and it will become very easy to identify the devil and stop him in his tracks.

Temptation Triggers

There are certain situations in life that can trigger a response from you. According to Dictionary.com, a trigger is defined as "anything, as an act or event that serves as a stimulus and initiates or precipitates a reaction or series of reactions."

"Lest satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices." II Corinthians 2:11

This scripture admonishes us that we should not be ignorant of the devices of the enemy. A device is designed to set something in motion or to turn something on for a particular task. Take for instance a remote control, what does that device do? If you press the power button on the remote it will turn on the television. If you turn on your iPod, select a song and press play, music will come on. Most devices have a power button to turn the device on and off, and additional buttons are there for the different functions of the device.

The reason why most men get into trouble is because they have not identified the triggers of life. Sexual temptation is not the trigger. It is simply one of the buttons that satan will use on the menu list. The trigger is represented by the power button. Before you can switch to a channel or select something different, you must first turn on the power. What triggers you? There are so many triggers in life which can include stress, discouragement, busyness, pressure, failure, loneliness, etc., and for each guy the trigger is something different.

Have you noticed how easy it is to accept satan's "menu items" (i.e. sex, pornography, masturbation, etc.) during times of trouble when your trigger has been initiated? Why? It's because your defenses are down, and during these times your spirit is not as alert as it should be. The interesting thing about triggers is that they will initiate something, whether good or bad. You must identify what you have conditioned your triggers to initiate.

I know a trigger for me is being overwhelmed. When I become overwhelmed, I know it's time for me to step away from what I am doing and relax. Unfortunately, most men ignore the triggers and keep pressing through them not realizing that they will eventually break under pressure. We were not designed to be under intense pressure for extended periods of time. This is how little weights become addictions (strongholds). What is your default? When life triggers a response, what or who do you...