OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS

• DAY 98
• Faith File: The Courage of Jesus
• Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

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

Matthew 4;1

Tempt: to entice or allure to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral. To put (someone) to the test in a venturesome way; provoke:

When you read this definition above what comes to mind? Because everyone has an enticement. There is something that if it was presented to you it would take you a lot to look the other way. And it is not always the grand things. It could be food, sleep, movies, or anything. One season of your life could be the enticement of sleep. Every time you want to pray or study, the enemy tempts you with dizzyness because it works to draw you away from fellowshipping with God. This is why temptations come. The enemy hopes that he can use it to provoke you to sin or draw you away from God’s will.

A Package Deal

That’s why if I could pick and choose the experiences I want to have, I’d eliminate temptation. I don’t want to experience any of that. I don’t want to fall short of God’s standard. I want to do God’s will every time.

But the truth is that; because we are on this earth this is probably not going to happen. Temptations will always arise (Luke 17:1), it is part of the human experience. We see in our text that Jesus was tempted. He was fully God yet He still faced temptation. What I find curious is that the Holy Spirit led Him to the place where He will be tempted. And we know by scripture that we are led into temptation by our own desire. It is what the enemy knows we are drawn to that will be used to draw us. But for a man who was completely God, what on earth could possibly draw Him? I think nothing. But yet God was particular about Him being tempted.

And my question is why? Why was it necessary for Jesus to be tempted? You see, the entire assignment of Jesus on the earth was to redeem us. To be a redeemer it is necessary that He understands the feelings of our infirmity. This was similar to a rite of passage.

Unlike me, Jesus wasn’t questioning the process or throwing tantrums, He took it on with courage. He knew that to overcome the world you have to overcome what is in the world. “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ” (1 John 2:16) And we know that He overcame this temptation and all that is in this world.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”.

Take Courage

Beloved, the overcoming of Jesus doesn’t grant you exemption from temptation, instead, it provides an assurance and the hope that you can overcome it when it comes because according to Luke 17:1, it will come. The Bible says,

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

God always equips you to bear it because it is necessary to experience it so that through it you can mature and grow. One common temptation we face is fear. It is designed to trick us into shifting our focus, taking our eyes off God and putting it on self-made idols or self. But God makes a way for us to bear (overcome) it and overcoming happens through the word.

 Victory In The Word

Knowing the truth in God’s word will give you the necessary capacity to overcome the tricks of the devil. The Bible says that we should not be ignorant of the wiles of the enemy. He has a lot of wiles, a lot of strategies, and tricks. Through the word, we can discern his schemes and overcome them.

Pray

God, give me the grace and the strength to overcome the temptations that might come along my way and help me to stand firm and strong before you. All the days of my life. Amen. 

Shalom