Temptation

TEMPTATION

Matthew 4:7 “Jesus said unto him, It is written again (DEUT, 6:16), Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

In the temptation of Christ we are reminded that our enemy is subtle, spiteful, and very daring; but he can and must be resisted. It is a comfort to us that Christ suffered, being tempted. He allowed it to be done for our benefit. Jesus yielded unto His temptations, yet sinned not. So we learn that when we are tempted of the devil and do not yielded to temptation we do not sin. We are simply afflicted. Satan aimed in all his temptations, to bring Christ to sin against God. He utilized desirable and handsome gifts; surly he possessed what he offered. We need to know that he does own trinkets that entices us to displease God by our acceptance of these things. He tempted Jesus to despair of his Father's goodness; He did not. Satan entices us to distrust our heavenly Father's care concerning us.

It is one of the wiles of Satan to take advantage of our outward condition because when it is weak so is our inner resistance. When we are brought into straits we must double our guard. Christ answered all the temptations of Satan with "It is written;" to set us an example. The Word of God is a two edged sword able to set asunder Satan’s enticement. We must know the scriptures in order to refute the devil with power. Let us learn not to accept any of Satan’s lies in exchange for relief and needs. For when our desperation is full, in some unexpected way, according to His will. the Lord will provide.

Satan tempted Jesus at a point in His life when he was weak, tired, hungry and facing the cross. Rarely will he approach a person with temptation when they are energetic, rejoicing in their salvation, uplifted and satisfied with their state. No extremes are more dangerous than despair and presumption; the most common. He digs in the affairs of our souls attempting to keep or win them to serve him. Satan does not shy away from holy places as the scene of his assaults. He has a preferred seat in the pews. We must not, in any place, be off our guard for the enemy never sleeps and is everywhere all in the same moment.. Positions of prestige and power are slippery ground; advancements in the world makes a man a target for Satan’s fiery darts.

Is Satan so well versed in Scripture as to be able to quote it readily? He is so. It is possible for a man to have his head full of Scripture notions, and his mouth full of Scripture expressions, while his heart is full of bitter enmity to God and to all goodness. Satan misquoted the words. If we go out of our way, out of the way of our duty, we forfeit the promise, and put ourselves out of God's protection.

Satan tempted Christ to practice idolatry with the offer of the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. The glory of the world is the most charming temptation to the unthinking and unwary; by that men are most easily imposed upon. Also, that offer would allow the bypassing of the cross. However, the exchange was for Jesus to worship Satan. He rejected the proposal with abhorrence. "Get thee hence, Satan!" We experience some temptations that are obviously sinful and wicked. Such blatant proposals against the scriptures are not merely to be opposed, but rejected at once. It is a blow to Satan when we are quick and firm in resisting his temptation. If we resist in the power of the Holy Spirit, the devil must flee from us. But the soul that deliberates is already almost overcome. We find but few who can decidedly reject such baits as Satan offers; yet what is a man profited if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Christ was succored after the temptation, for his encouragement to go on in his undertaking, and for our encouragement to trust in him; for as he knew, by experience, what it was to suffer, being tempted, so he knew what it was to be succored flowing a victorious encounter with Satan in being tempted. Therefore, we may expect, not only that He will have compassion for His tempted people, but that he will come to them with seasonable relief. Temptation and Satanic battles are of a permanency and prolific aspect of the world. "So long as we are in this world we are exposed to temptations," and need ever to be on our watch against them. Know God, know peace. Amen 02-03-2020 BLL