The Weekly Encourager – February 22, 2015 – Six Truths About Temptation

Today we had the opportunity to attend a different church. The minister's message was about Christ's temptation and ours. Here are some of his observations and my thoughts: Six Truths About Temptation.

1. We will be tempted, because Christ was tempted. There are interesting parallels between God's nation of Israel in the Old Testament and Christ's path in the New. Jesus' baptism recalls Israel's passing through the Red Sea, His 40 difficult days in the desert recall Israel's 40 years of wandering, and Jesus' temptation in the wilderness parallels the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden. Of course, Adam and Eve failed to resist their temptation, while Christ succeeded. He was tempted in every way like us, yet without sin. Thanks be to God.

2. Satan appeals to our vanity. He doesn't approach us saying, “Hey, do you want to be like me?” Instead, he approaches us saying, “Do you want to be like God?” Remember that Eve was asked if she wanted the knowledge (and therefore power) of God by eating fruit from the Tree. She might not have eaten the fruit if she hadn't felt already entitled to its benefits.

3. Satan appeals to our strengths. He only asks us to do things he knows that we can do. Satan knew Eve could reach the low-hanging fruit. Satan knew Jesus could turn stone into bread if He wished. Satan knew Jesus could come down from the cross, for He was God. The greater your abilities, the greater the temptation that will be presented to you. (Perhaps this is why some who have been given great spiritual gifts fall so hard later on? They think they can handle more than they really can.)

4. Satan appeals to our short-sightedness. Satan shows a short-term perspective; he doesn't advertise consequences down the road. He doesn't ask us to do something that would immediately make us look bad or feel bad. He doesn't say, “Do you want to lose your family and your job?” but rather, “Do you want the freedom to fool around and have fun?” Often what he suggests is just what “everyone else” around us is already doing.

5. Satan appeals to our laziness. He offers an easy path, because Satan wants a different kind of follower. Satan appealed to Jesus with promises of pride, power, and position, but giving in to those things would make Jesus a different kind of Messiah. When we give in to what Satan suggests, we're giving in to what's easier in the moment, rather than choosing the difficult path of discipleship. God has a plan for us to become like Jesus in every way, conformed to His holy image. But Christ's road to Resurrection went by way of the cross. Take up your cross and follow Me, He says. Do we want our Easter without Good Friday?

6. Christ is there to help us! Praise God! We can call on the only One who was able to resist every temptation and to walk in perfect righteousness, the One who suffered and died to forgive our sins, the One who was obedient unto death, then rose again in glory! Emmanuel, God is with us. Be ye glad.

God is faithful,
j

These thoughts were stimulated by the sermon of Rev. Dr. Timothy Gerde, Lead Pastor of Fairfax United Methodist Church, Fairfax, VA. It's nice sometimes to worship with a different denomination: we get a greater sense of the whole of God's kingdom. We are encouraged to see how He's building His church in many places and many ways. They may have minor differences in doctrine, but these are our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we need to unite with them in a world of increasing secularism on the one hand, and violent religious extremism on the other. Thanks be to God for the fellowship of believers!