How To Beat An Escape Room

“how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him”

Hebrews 2:3  



Escape Rooms are really popular right now as you are locked in a room with a set time limit as you look for clues. The faster you crack the codes and put together the clues, the sooner you find your way out. The pressure is on you entirely. Fleeing temptation is just the opposite. God has not called us to crack any codes or to rely on our own mental prowess. The way of escape for the believer is to follow Jesus leading, to trust Him to crack the code and show us the way of escape. God always comes through! Do you remember the story about the guy who got trapped in the flood. The waters were rising and he was forced up on his porch. A boat came by and offered him assistance. He refused saying he was trusting God. As the waters rose he had to retreat to the second story balcony. Another boat came by and again he refused assistance saying he was waiting on God. Finally the waters rose to the point he was holding on the the chimney on the roof the waters were so high. A helicopter dropped a rope down but he refused saying he was waiting on God. He drowned and went to heaven and he asked God why He allowed him to drown when he was trusting God to deliver him. God answered, “I sent two boats and a helicopter, what more did you want me to do?”

The point of that little joke is to remind us that though temptation is no laughing matter, when we are tempted, every single time God makes a way of escape. God is faithful… What is your way out since God doesn’t usually send two boats and a helicopter? Let me ask you a question. How did you get saved? You admitted you were a sinner in need of a Savior. Confession worked then and confession is just as powerful today.

Proverbs 28:13 teaches us, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” Confess James tells us in James 5:16, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” 1 John 1:9 puts confession in plain language, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confession kills the growth of sin. Write down these following truths, “What remains covered up cant be healed.” “You are only as strong as you are honest.” “Sin grows best in the dark.” Don’t battle sin alone! Bring it to the light. Seek out accountability…

When you confess you are powerless you open yourself up to receive a power greater than yourself. True repentance, turning completely, quit dabbling, make a stand, Do a 180! Don’t look back! Let your temptations drive you to Jesus! If you fall God will pick you up and show you the way out. Say this out loud… “Christ Jesus in me is stronger than the wrong desires in me.”

Remember the definition for temptation: Anything or anyone that promises satisfaction at the cost of my obedience to God. And never forget this. There is always a way out of temptation and the way out is Jesus. If we don’t stand for something we will fall for anything.Tap in to the power of God and starve the sins that have been seeking to kill you. Every day make a stand for Jesus for every where you stand is holy ground!

Galatians 5:24-25 reminds us, “And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” There is an old Eskimo proverb that speaks of the battle between our flesh and our spirit. “There are two dogs fighting inside of you. The one you feed is the one that wins.” The good news today is we can choose to feed the flesh, or choose to feed the Spirit.

Here are three clues for walking in victory in Jesus! 3 Essentials for walking in the Spirit.

1. Feed your spirit with prayer. As pastor Jon Courson likes to say, “Read your bible every day, pray and obey.” In Matthew 26:41 Jesus said to Peter, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

In Matthew 6:13 Jesus taught us to pray,  “Do not lead us into temptation”. Prayer is a great weapon against temptation that strengthens your spirit. People say, “I fell into sin”. How come no one ever says, “I fell into righteousness”. “Oops, I tripped up and became holy”. Jesus said these things in the Garden of Gethsemane. At His weakest moments Jesus prayed and was strengthened. When we are submitted to God we can withstand the temptations. Thats what Jesus did in Matthew 3 before He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. He submitted first.

2. Feed your spirit with the Word of God. 1 Peter 2:2, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” Psalm 119:6, “I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:9, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word”


Remember: The Word of God is the only offensive weapon we have in the armor of God in Ephesians 6:17. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Using God’s Word to resist the devil is the example Jesus gave us in Matthew 4 when He was tempted by the devil. Jesus responded each time, “It is written…” People say they cant memorize scripture. You memorize what is important to you. Songs, movie lines, jokes, gossip… Feed on the bread of life… The Word of God takes the trash out and replaces it with truth. Renew our minds! Ephesians 4:23  “and be renewed in the spirit of your mind”


3. Feed your spirit with good company. 1 Corinthians 15:33. “Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." The people you hang with impact your spiritual journey. Being around the wrong people doesn’t help you do the right things. Maybe it’s time to upgrade your friendships? We need people to speak into our lives who will tell us like it is. Who in your life do you have that you can open up to?


Just as there is no “I” in team there is no “I” in the “Church”. God doesn’t want us to fight our battles alone. As you gather together with other members of the body of Christ we find strength and comfort and we learn we are not alone. God is with us and in us and He is willing to lead us in the way of ever lasting. Look to Him today, listen to Him, walk with Him and follow Him and experience the victory that is ours in Christ!

“I am the door: if any one enters in by Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and shall go out and shall find pasture.”

John 10:9


I LOVE YOU!
 









Michael Osthimer

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