Today, we will learn some of the reasons why Jesus was tempted and we will receive
encouragement for when we go through temptation ourselves.
Luke 4:1 (NIV) Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit,
returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted
by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them
he was hungry.
Led by the Spirit- to be tempted by the devil...
(It seems it doesn't make sense, doesn't it?)
Don't we feel that if the Holy Spirit leads us, it will always be "beside
quiet waters" (Ps 23:2). Instead, we see that He led Jesus in a long and
difficult time of testing, and the same Holy Spirit may also lead us
into difficult situations... Let's look at some principles in the life of Jesus, Israel, and
Job.
FOR JESUS, This testing was necessary to show who Jesus was: the Messiah,
the Son of God, the Perfect Man (qualified to be our substitute in order
to give his life as the perfect sacrifice)
GENERALLY, A person has not shown true obedience, if he had never had an
opportunity to disobey.
FOR ISRAEL, In Deut 8:2, God led Israel in the desert to humble and test
them. God wanted to see if his people would really obey him. In the same
manner, we too will be tempted...
Look at Job's experience. It is God who took the initiative
to challenge satan on Job's integrety. "Have you considered my servant
Job?...(Job 1:8) satan attacked Job's motives... it's because it profited
him... "Does Job fear God for nothing? (Job 1:9) - Ever since he started
to follow God, everything had gone well for Job. satan wanted to prove
that Job worshipped God, not out of love, but because God had given him
so much...
satan analyze why people trust God. FAIR-WEATHER believers
follow God only when everything is going well or for what they can get.
ADVERSITY is a mean used by God to destroy this supercial faith,
causing believers to dig their roots deeper in God.
Job was a model of trust and obedience to God, yet God permitted satan
to attack him in a very harsh way.
Believing and obeying God doesn't shelter us from life's calamities.
But in our tests and trials, God expects us to express our faith to the
world.
Something we must understand:
Jame 1:13 (NIV) When tempted, no one should
say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does
he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own
evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives
birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
God does not tempt us. God is not evil. He is not
mean or playing games with us. God is Holy, and He loves holiness. He takes
pleasure to see his beloved children walk in rightheousness. When we allow
evil desire to work in our imagination, we disposed ourselves to become
an easy prey for the devil to drag us away, and entice us. We bear the
responsibility of how we will face temptation. After we are born again,
we have the Spirit of holiness in us to strengthen our inner man, so we
can say no to ungodliness.
1Cor 10:13 (NIV) No temptation has seized
you except what is common to man. And 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.
The reason why God allows temptation is to prove
satan that we will overcome him and that we love God more than we love
him.
Let's think of temptation as a proof of how much
confidence God has in us (or in His Spirit in us).
When God allows temptation to come our way, He is
not expecting us to fail, because he has empowered us and equipped us to
overcome, to testify to the world that we are his children and that we
live in rightheousness to the Glory of God our Father.
When we face troubles, do we ask God: "Why me?", or "Use me?"
If you like this study, please recommend it to a friend
Pastor Rene's Bible studies
