Power over Temptation (8)

Today we seek the answer to the question, What do we need God for? The answer is, we need God’s grace to mitigate our propensity to sin. We need God to face life soberly when the going is rough.

It is easy to believe that we are all in control of life until that control is tested with the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (Ma 4)

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 4

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.

And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’ ”

Clarification on how temptation works

New Testament Ia: Matthew 1–13 (4:1 Jesus Led into the Wilderness)

The text says “then.” Then when? This was after the descent of the Spirit, after the voice that was borne from above had said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Led by whom? This is marvelous. All of this was led by the Holy Spirit. For it says Jesus was “led up by the Spirit.” All this was for our instruction. The Lord does whatever is necessary for our salvation by both acting and being acted upon. He submitted himself to being led up there to wrestle against the devil.

James 1 on Temptation

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Chapter 1)

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; (James 1:12-13a)

[(Adam Said) “it was the woman that you gave me.” As to suggest she was so influential in voice, speech, physique; my love for her…(the red car, lust of the flesh, pride of life, it was my own desire that could destroy me. Jeremiah says the heart is deceitful above all things.

for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death 13b-15 (James 1:12-15).