You may have heard the story of David and Bathsheba found in the bible in the book of Second Samuel chapter 11. One verse at the beggining of the story gives great insight into the process of David's fall and how temptation works in our lives... 2 Samuel 11:1-2 "In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful."
How unspeakable, David is supposed to be leading his people into war and he is at home enjoying ultimate fighting, sportscenter, and naked women bathing on their rooftops. While the King should be sending his sword into the heart of the enemy he is being sent into the worst spiral of sin and temptation he would ever experience. David had lost his sense of purpose and his sense of mission. His desire and passion had waned and he was no longer focused on the very thing God had called him to do, LEAD! David drifted into stagnation.
Did you ever realize that stagnation is the beginning of your fall into temptation. Right at this very moment thousands of "christian" men are looking at pornography on the internet and sleeping with another woman in their heart. Right now there are men on business trips being lured into adulterous relationships, while their wives are at home putting the kids to sleep. Right now countless numbers of woman are in the process of moving into emotional affairs. The evil in our world, the evil in our lives and the evil in our churches is often so offensive and hurtful to the heart of God. And I increasingly believe it can be traced to the loss or absense of a God ordained mission.
How many men are truly filled with conviction about the purpose and direction of their lives? Where are the men of character who will fight for the hearts of their wives and children? Where are the pastors that will fight for the cause of the gospel, who give their lives to seeing their city reached with the message of Christ? I want to find the men and woman who will be pierced and persecuted for the name and mission of Christ. I bet my life this is where you will find holiness, where the fire of Christ burns so bright and strong that cares of this world and lust of the flesh is burned in the presence of the Lord Almighty.
That is where stagnation dies and temptation is choked out! Oh, we will fight and struggle for holiness, but when we are passionately pursuing Christ it is a different fight, it is a fight in the direction of the kingdom of God and mission of the gospel!
Is there stagnation in your life that is leading to your temptation? Are you hot in your pursuit of God? Are you giving your life sacrificially so that the message of Christ can get to the ends of the earth? This is how you fight your most fierce temptation, moving with the mission of the gospel and into the heart of God!
