Temptation: Stand strong

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. But John tried to stop Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and yet You come to me?” Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him to be baptized. After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him. And there came a voice from heaven: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him!

We have these type of moments in our lives

These mountain top experiences

Where we feel God

Everything is perfect

Perhaps it was at Awakening

or another event

or even at a Friday night Encounter where we are praying and nailing things to the cross

we have these times in our life were we can feel God

he is moving

But what happens when the mountain top is done?

what happens when we leave here after Encounter and go back to life?

Back to our homes?

our families?

our school?

our struggles?

Matthew 4:1–11 ESV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Matthew 4:1-1

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 4279 πειράζω

tempt, test for purposes of making one sin

Jesus was being tempted so that He would sin

sin-

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 281 ἁμαρτία

sin, wrong-doing (1Ti 5:22); 2. LN 88.118 being evil, a state of sinfulness (Jn 9:34); 3. LN 88.310 guilt, the moral consequence of sin

to sin is to act or think that which is opposite of what God

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 88.289 ἁμαρτάνω; ἁμαρτία, ας

to act contrary to the will and law of God—‘to sin, to engage in wrongdoing, sin.’

The first temptation

when He was hungry

in a moment of weakness

Satan appealed to something that was desirable in that moment

it is that you know you want

What areas of our lives to we get tempted to do something that appeals to us?

perhaps the work triggered gets used

(of a response) caused by particular action, process, or situation. "a triggered memory of his childhood"

It is something that sets you off to respond a certain way

James 1:13–15 HCSB

No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.

James 1:13 ESV

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

It begins in the mind

it starts with a thought

then it becomes a desire

Genesis 3:1 HCSB

Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Gen 3:1

Temptation is being deceived

What do we do when we our tempted?

Do we give in?

Do we even know we are being tempted?

or has it just become a way of life for us

Can we beat the temptation?

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

God is faithful

He doesn’t Change

He is trustworthy

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 4412 πιστός

trustworthy, pertaining to being reliable (Mt 25:21; 2Ti 2:2, 11); 3. LN 71.17 sure, implying worthy of full trust (Ac 13:34)

You can rely on God

Jesus during his temptation look to God’s word

What does God say?

during our times of struggle we have a God who is faithful and trustworthy

Ephesians 6:10–18 HCSB

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.