Hebrews 4:15 ( ESV )
15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with
our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet
without sin.
1 John 2:16-17 ( ESV )
16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the
desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from
the world.
17And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever
does the will of God abides forever.
Hebrews 4:15 is such a powerful verse to me. Our Lord was tempted, yet
He did not fail the test. That sends shivers down my spine every time I read it.
We have a God who proved He was the perfect one. We have a God who is able to
understand us and what we are going through when we are tempted. He was tempted
by the desires of the flesh, tempted by the desires of the eyes, the pride of
life but He prevailed. What a blessing.
We
face these 3 sources of temptation almost every day. How often have I failed Him
in these areas? I have failed Him far more than I will ever know. Right when I
feel like I am getting victory over the desires of the flesh, pride creeps in.
You know what I mean. It never ends. What a pleasure sin sometimes brings to us
and we forget that this pleasure is a passing thing. This is why I included I
John 3:17. John wants us to remember that all of this will one day pass away.
The only thing that last is what we have done for Christ. What fools we are
when we live for the temporary.
What
a vast difference between our Lord’s temptation and our temptations. In his
commentary on Luke, R.C Sproul makes the following contrast between Adam’s
temptation and how Jesus was tempted.
Adam-Was in Paradise Christ-Was in the Desert.
Adam-A full stomach Christ-Had been fasting.
Adam-Had Eve with Him Christ-Was alone.
Adam-Lived in a sin free world Christ-Was tempted in a world where sin
abounded.
END RESULT: ADAM FAILED JESUS CHRIST PREVAILED
In
this blog and the following ones I want to look over the temptation of Christ.
What all was taking place and how we can learn how to face the enemy by looking
towards Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Matthew 4:1 ( ESV )
1£Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be
tempted by the devil.
·
Then-After the Baptism of
Christ. Often after God has done a great work in our life we will be tested by
the wicked one. In discipleship it is vitally important that we teach new
believers about how they will be tempted and encourage them about the battle
ahead and how to prepare.
·
The Spirit is the one who
allows this to happen to Jesus. In temptation God will only allow us to go
through what we can handle. I Cor. 10:13-14 He will never allow Satan to tempt
us beyond what we are able to handle. This should encourage us. When we are
tempted God is telling us that with His strength we can prevail.
·
Wilderness-A deserted and
desolated area. It was a place where wild beast were located. Mk. 1:13. “The
land here is barren and experiences extreme temperature changes between day and
night. Fasting is difficult enough in itself, but this region of the Judean Mountains
is very harsh and certainly added to the ordeal. Food, water and shade are
scarce.” JFB Bible Commentary
·
Tempted-Christ was tempted in
all points like we are. Heb. 4:15 to be tempted -- The Greek
word (peirazein) means simply to try or make proof of. JFB Bible
Commentary
·
By the
devil. The word signifies a slanderer (Rev. 12:10) His whole purpose is
to destroy and to defame us.
Matthew 4:2 ( ESV )
·
After-These temptations took
place when he was weak and not filled or cared for like Adam/Eve.
·
Fasting-This was Jesus
preparation for the time of temptation. Fasting would go hand in hand with
Praying. During temptation are we praying? Remember His words to His disciples
when He taught them how to pray? Matthew 6:13, “And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.” Like the disciples though when we are faced with
temptation we find that our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. One of the
most important things that we must do when faced with temptation is to CRY OUT
TO JESUS. Be marked by prayer.
·
Forty days-Elijah in I Kings
19:8 and Moses in Dt. 9:9 spent this amount of time fasting Forty days have
passed before the temptations here take place. Even before we are faced with
temptation may our lives be saturated in prayer.
·
Hungry has the idea of to the
point of suffering. What will be more important to us the physical or the
spiritual?
ONE OF THE BEST
PREPERATIONS THAT WE CAN HAVE IN FACING TEMPTATION IS SATURATING OUR LIFE WITH
PRAYER. UNLIKE CHRIST WE ARE NOT ALONE; HE IS THERE WILLING TO LISTEN AND TO
HEAR OUR CRIES FOR HIS HELP. THE BATTLE IS NOT OURS BUT HIS.
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