TEMPTATION AND THE WORD 2

Lord, please, open our hearts to receive your Word and help us to put you to use all that we learn today, so we can live a victorious Christian life. Amen.

Before we start studying the scriptures, it's salient to understand what temptations are and what they mean for the believer.

I had a discussion with a lady many months ago and she said God would never tempt a man because He's good and would never allow the devil tempt her too. I smiled at her, because really?

The bible records that God will not tempt a man, but we see instances of God testing men, so, it would be safe to say God does not tempt, but He tests us. 

The end goal of God's testing is to take us to a higher level in Him and it usually comes with you and I sacrificing something. Abraham in Genesis 22:1-19

Satan does the tempting. The end goal is to make you disappoint God and further pitch you in a corner where it will be hard for you to receive God's grace to get back to your feet. Samson in Judges 16:23-31

Temptation is usually associated with bad things. It is a desire that comes from enticement, or seduction, when your emotions are manipulated to be unusually curious, to prove a point, or do something because you fear loss of it. 

In simple terms, temptation usually provokes you to do something unwise, unnecessary or foolish.

Temptation for the believer is not necessarily evil because it an opportunity to build capacity. We cannot run from temptation as believers because we live in the world that's governed by the Devil and he will always send temptations our way.

But even while we live in this world, we (you and I) have been equipped to overcome, because Jesus, our high priest came to experiment His glorious body with Devil's temptation so that we can learn how to overcome temptations while we live in this earthly body. Hebrews 4:14-16,  James 1:24-25. All thanks to Jesus. 🙌

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The Bible records that Jesus fasted for 40 days and night. 40 holds much significance in the Bible. You can read more about it here. 

When I read this story some months ago, I never knew I would write about it, but I enjoyed the action movie going on in my head and I invite you to read and enjoy it, too. 

You can read in TPT, NLT and MSG versions. ❤️

So, after Jesus had fasted and was very hungry, Satan thought to come and test Him at the seemingly right time.

You will agree that you're most vulnerable when you're hungry or out of strength. 

And like I said in the strong man episode, the devil and his agents try to tie and pull you down through your weakness(es). Link at the end of this episode to read if you haven't. 

The drama goes thus:

Satan: Jesus, how far? You had a pretty good time consecrating yourself up there and I must really commend you. 

We both know you're hungry at the moment. Let me remind you that you are the son of God and power to do anything is in your hands including commanding these stones to bread to feed yourself. 

You shouldn't even waste any time at all. We can eat bread together too, if you don't mind. 

By human standards, this is a smart approach to get someone do anything. The devil is a very cunning person. Kai! 😂😂 

I know KJV puts it as a more serious conversation, but I believe the devil came in a subtler way.

When the Devil comes to tempt you, he doesn't make it look like a temptation and that's why many of us fall for it even before we realize it. Right?

Understanding that Jesus was a man, he decided to use this same psychological trick. Thank God that Jesus had the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit replied, "Any (wise) man should not live only on bread because it cannot satisfy, true satisfaction comes from God's word that goes forth from His mouth." 

I can imagine the hush in that moment. The Devil must have been dumbfounded. Jesus shut him up immediately by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. 

You may say, Jesus is God and the Devil can never defeat God. True, I agree too. 

But, you must also know that He was a man at the time and He had to use the Word so you and I can know what to use in similar situations.

Also, what you know becomes useful when used at the right time. Jesus administered the right scripture at the needed time.

If Jesus had responded differently, the devil would have made sure the conversation became longer and probably, it would have led to a heated argument and Jesus turning stones to bread to prove a point.

MAJOR LESSONS: 

- Knowing the Word is good, using it is beautiful, using the right word at the needed time is both good and beautiful. 

You should not be quoting a scripture that speaks about grace when you should use one that speaks about fleeing from sin.

- The devil only responds to the Word. Use that to shut him up quickly, and without stress.

Any other response apart from scriptures allows him to lurk around and if you exchange words with him, he'll waste your time and argue till he confuses you.

Gone are the days I usually used sleep as a coverup for ignoring temptations. Not anymore! I now use the Word as God helps me. Use the Word, too.

- Jesus knew and understood His season. He knew that the devil wanted to tempt him to use His powers. He also knew it was not yet time to show Himself and He answered the devil accordingly. 

The devil will test you. He will send people to test you. You need to know and be very sure about what exactly you should be doing per time, so you don't run into error. 

The Devil controls anyone (believer) who is not fully aware of what he/she should be doing.

- When someone dares you, you have the option to show your power or not depending on many factors. 

Jesus knew He didn't have to show anything to the devil because He was acting by the Spirit.  

- "Not all battles are for you to fight", one of my pastors would say, "you must run from some, you must flee from some, you must fight some".

You must follow the lead of the Holy Spirit at all times, because only Him can help you to know the battles that are yours to fight.

- Right before Jesus went to the wilderness (Matthew 3), He received the company of the Holy Spirit. He knew He couldn't do anything without the Holy Spirit. 

I can't imagine what response He'd have given to the Devil without the Holy Spirit.

Dear Believer, if you desire to live as a victorious christian, you have to allow the Holy Spirit have full access of you. He is so important that Jesus instructed the disciples to wait until He arrived.

Personally, I have come to understand this truth after sour experiences that living life without the Holy Spirit is the same as eating uncooked rice - you'll get choked with life and life troubles.

These are a few lessons from the first temptation and we can live a victorious christian life if we apply them.

I believe you're blessed from this study already. If you have more lessons to share from the first temptation that are not here, kindly put them in the comments for others to be blessed by it.

Again, it may be easier said than done to do these things, but there is grace and much grace available for you, the believer, to do them. Cheers. 👍🏾❤️

DECLARE WITH ME:

I move by the instruction of the Holy Spirit.

I'm in tune with Him and I don't walk through temptations alone.

I know what I should be doing per time and I'm super convinced beyond confusion.

I administer the scriptures properly and it works for me.

The Devil obeys me when I use the Word.

I receive grace to live above temptations in Jesus name. Amen.

See you next week, bye!! 👍🏾❤️

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