Testing and Temptation

Testing and Temptation  Matthew 4:1-11

 

    “ There is no conquest without a combat”  Matthew Henry on this passage of Scripture.  As Christians we are tempted, but if we do not yield to the temptation we have conquered yielding to that temptation and do not sin.  Interesting how we rename things that are really sinful….get drunk=get bombed for example or a lie is a white lie and therefore not that bad.  Or here is one, “ an affair” = adultery.  Ok. You get my point. How should we approach temptation and testing? Jesus had to do that and we can learn something about how we should do it as well in this passage of Scripture.

 

    Point 1.  The trick of the devil is to get us to doubt our identity as His Children , Christians.  “ If you are the Son of God….”  This is repeated by the devil again in vs 6 ( as well as vs 3).  Who are we really?  In times of self doubt we are attacked in this particular area.  Ephesians 2 says God in His mercy loved us even when we were dead in sins “hath quickened us together with Christ”.  He goes on to say, “ by grace you are saved”.  Brethren our name tags say Christian and we should remember that.  We have been called, redeemed, forgiven and chosen by God in Christ.  Nothing can separate us from the love of God ( Ro. 8)

 

    Now it is true we are deal with broken images of our self from the past.  There are areas of hurt that perhaps a loving parent inflicted upon us.  But the Lord can heal those areas of our lives.  The bigger question is , “ are we willing to accept ourselves as God does?”  M.R. De Haan gives an illustration of this, “ For a long time an old Cap Cod style Church sat in a Detroit neighborhood, empty and abandoned.  White paint peeled and dropped from its clapboard siding…grim, unswept, forgotten----that’s how it all looked. But one night the old church was ablaze with light. Parked cars lined the streets.  The sound of music filled the air.  That’s how it is with some people; they had the look of being Christian, but inside there was anger, selfishness and pride.  Then one day all was changed.  Suddenly the darkness was gone.  It was if someone had turned on the lights, and filled their lives with music. “  De Haan then asks, “ Have we lost sight of the power of Christ?   God specializes in giving life to those who seem beyond hope. 

 

     Point 2.  Remember God is in control despite your situation.  4:1 “ Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” Why does God test us?  Deuteronomy 8:2 “ Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”  I like the verse very much that always helps me “  God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  Joseph was tempted in Genesis 39:6-12.  His way out was to get out of there fast.  “ And she caught him by his garment, saying ,’ Lie with me: ‘ and he left his garment in her hand and fled, and got him out.” Vs 12.    God is in charge our circumstances, even the details.  Matthew 10:29 “ not a sparrow shall fall on the ground without your Father.”  “ the very hairs of your head are numbered. Fear not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

 

     Point 3.  Use the Scripture to help you.  That is what Jesus did. Jesus in the 1^st temptation quotes Deut 8:3. Command these stones be made bread.  “ Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Also Jesus uses Scripture in the third temptation. But even the devil uses Scripture in the second temptation but he leaves out “ to guard you in all your ways” psalm 91:11-12  Jesus answers with another Scripture , “ Do not put the LORD your God to the test” Deut 6:16 .  The point here is not that we have just memorized the Scriptures but we know how to apply them to our circumstances of our every day lives.  God has given us a mind to understand and to apply His Word to our lives. It is not always easy but we must start with His Word. Psalm 119:11 , “ Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee”

 

     Let’s take these encouragements and examples from Scripture to help us too when things don’t seem to be hopeful.  The idea is to apply what we have learned and to not be defeated in our struggle with people, problems and perplex situations.  Let us endeavour to be more like Jesus in our every day living.