Temptation

Temptation is the chief weapon of Satan, and as christians we become prime targets. Therefore we must expect to have times when we are tempted to do what we know is wrong and remember that our only defence is the armour of God. If we try to resist temptation through our own strength we will fail. As ever, our example to follow is Jesus, and we can look to the time when He was tempted to learn how to overcome.

Matt 4; 1-4 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.'' But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' ''

Jesus here refers to Deut 8; 3 when God provided manna for the Israelites during their own wilderness years, also as a demonstration that we require more than our physical needs and desires to live. The desires of our flesh is one of our most vulnerable areas and Satan knows this. What we must do is turn to God in prayer during these times and focus on His Word rather ourselves.

Matt 26; 41 "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.''

Notice also that when Satan challenges Jesus he says "If you are the Son of God..." Satan also tries to instil doubts in our own minds when things aren't going our way and tries to get us to tempt God by insisting on some outward sign. What we need to remember is that if God wasn't real, then Satan wouldn't be tempting us in the first place!

Matt 4; 5-7 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: `He shall give His angels charge concerning you,' and, `In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.' '' Jesus said to him, "It is written again, `You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' ''

Here we see also that Satan knows the scriptures inside out and will use that knowledge to try to confuse us. Remember, God is not the author of confusion...Satan is! As we study the Word, we are likely to form opinions that we later find to be wrong and we must always be prepared to examine our beliefs closely, and if necessary change them, praising God all the way as He perfects us. Otherwise we'll end up in an endless circle of self-fulfilling, unchallenged scriptures which we use to justify ourselves rather than God.

Matt 4; 8-10 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.'' Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, `You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' ''

Worldly possessions, money and power are another source of temptation. Its all too easy to be 'christian' when we are well off and living comfortably and put on an outward show to others. Indeed there are many of these pseudo-christians around, both inside and outside church. Jesus could have had power over all the world, and still done good works, but He realized that it is God and God alone who we should worship and serve, trusting Him for all our needs. Even through our times of temptation, if we keep focussed on God then we are assured that we will be able to bear them.

1 Cor 10; 12-14 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Jesus faced and overcame temptation as a man, so Satan focused on His human vulnerabilities. How did Jesus overcome this temptation? In each case, He drew a relevent principle from the Word of God. There was no magic in the way Jesus dealt with this. He simply chose to commit Himself to the Words God had spoken. When temptations come, lets make our stand with Jesus and trust what we know to be right...God's Word, and know that Jesus understands our every weakness, and remembering that despite them, God still personally chose us to be a part of His great plan!

Heb 4; 14-16 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.