Temptation...

Let's begin by reading Matthew 4:1-11.

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
3 During that time the devil[a] came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,

‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,

‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’[c]”

7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’[d]”

8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,

‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’[e]”

11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.



Why do you think the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted? ---to be tested.



I know God is testing us. He wants us to succeed and He wants us to learn that we can do this. God wants us to experience victory.



Why would He tests us when He already knows what is in us? Because we don't! I'm learning more and more about myself through God's tests and it opens my eyes to just how strong I really am!!! And when I am feeling weak and I'm not passing all my tests, I come to the Lord. He listens and I draw closer to Him.



Here I am, Lord! Test me!!!



The verb, tempt, is defined as "to try to get (someone) to do wrong, especially by a promise of reward." How did Satan try to get Jesus to do something wrong? What was it that Satan wanted Jesus to do? What was the reward? How has Satan tempted you on this journey so far? Have you found it easy to resist his sneaky ways?



Luke 22:40 tells us to "pray that you will not give in to temptation." I have done this a lot this week and you know what...it works!! LIGHTBULB...prayer works?!? I can testify that it works in things as small as "Lord, help me to not want this cookie," to things as big as Stage IV lung cancer survival! God has His hands in EVERYTHING that we do so open your ears and hear Him. Read and memorize His scripture. Let His words comfort and strengthen you. Jesus used God's words to resist the devil's temptation. Shouldn't we indeed try to be more like Jesus? Next time you are tempted, come to God, ask for His help and hear His words. Say them out loud if it helps.



Deuteronomy 6:16 tells us not to put God to the test. How might we put God to the test along this journey to good health? We overeat and under-exercise and expect God to bring us to good health. Does this seem like something that pleases God?? How might we please God with our daily "health" choices?



Luke 4:13 provides us new insight into the devil's ways. "When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time." What does this verse say to you? Yes, Satan is an opportunist (one who takes advantage of any opportunity to achieve an end, often with no regard for principles or consequences). Satan comes at a time when we are down and already weak. Often with me, it's when I haven't spent enough time with God. Ever heard the saying, "Seven days without prayer make one weak." Well, here comes Satan to reel you in.



"But when you are tempted, God will provide a way out so that you may stand up under it."



After I resist temptation, I do feel a bit victorious and it's nice to know that I get to share that victory with God's angels (Matthew 4:11). You, Fairmont Faithful Fitness, are God's angels to me.