If you haven't read the last blog (Transforming Our Hearts Through Purification) then go to this link, https://www.afruitfullife1516.com/blog, and read it now! If you did, here's a reminder! The last blog was about purifying ourselves to grow closer to God. It was about getting rid of our old self and putting on our new self, us with Jesus. One of the hardest things about coming to Jesus and changing your life though are the temptations that come. You have always been around these temptations but you weren’t noticing the damages it would cause because you didn’t know better. But now, you see what temptations you have and you might not know what to do with it. I want us to go over that today.
Some of the biggest struggles in life stem from the temptations that we face. This could be temptations to watch things you shouldn’t, do things you know you shouldn’t do, eat more than you should, lie, etc. Whatever your temptation(s) are, I want to give you some tools to fight against them. We have to be ready at all times because we never know when temptation will hit.
I want us to go to Matthew chapter 4. Here’s some backstory before we dig in. In chapter 3, John the Baptist started to prepare the way for Jesus to come. He was spreading the word and telling everyone to repent of their sins, that the Kingdom of Heaven is near (Matthew 3:2). He was trying to prepare everyone for when Jesus would jumpstart his ministry. At the end of Chapter 3, Jesus comes to John and has John baptize him. This then leads us to chapter 4.
Chapter 4 starts out like this, “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.” I want to pause here and say that sometimes, we have to go through the wilderness. The wilderness can be so necessary for growth. It can be confusing, lonely, and maybe you feel lost. I get it, I’ve been there. I am there. But our eyes are to stay fixed on the Lord. We are to stay focused on the one who loves and takes care of us.
Jesus was led into the wilderness so that he could better prepare for his ministry to start up. He was in the wilderness to prepare his mindset and get his focus solely on God. This could essentially be another reason we may be led into a wilderness season of our own. I order to fix our eyes on the only one who is able.
Going on in chapter 4 (verses 2-4) it says this, “For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ “”
As you can see, what Jesus gave up (food), the devil tempted him with. Jesus was hungry. I am sure he wanted food. But he knew that the devil was tempting him. You see, what you give up in life to grow closer to God is something that will become a temptation. If you are so used to drinking alcohol every night and you decide to give that up for Christ, that temptation is still going to rise up. It is your choice to either pick up that drink, or fight the temptation.
“Well how do you fight it?” That’s a great question! Let’s look back at the highlighted part in what we just read. “The scriptures say.” Jesus fought the temptations by speaking scripture. He knew he was hungry; but he also knew what the Word says about that specific temptation.
The devil wasn’t finished yet. It goes on in chapter 4 verses 5-7 to say, “Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”” The devil was really trying to get Jesus to fall into temptation. He was throwing everything at him, even provoking him to test the Lord. The devil tried using scripture to tempt Jesus, but Jesus threw scripture back at him.
Lastly, in chapter 4 verses 8-11 it says this, “Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.”
In this final temptation from the devil, he promises power to Jesus. He promises that he could rule the entire world. One of the biggest things that this world craves is power. You see it in kids, teens, young adults, adults, celebrities, and even some pastors. You can see it in those you pass by and maybe even in some of your closest friends. Don’t let this temptation get you. You can see so many people that have given their lives to Satan and now they have all this power, but they are still miserable. I want to point this out though, NOTHING is more powerful than our God. NOTHING has more control than our God. The devil thinks he wins, but in the end it’s the Lord that has the victory. And that can go for you too.
The temptation that you have might feel like it is incredibly powerful. You may feel helpless when the temptation arises, but I promise you that nothing is more powerful than our God. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says this, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” What good news to hear that when we are tempted, the Lord gives us a way out. When we are tempted, we have been given a whole book to speak over ourselves to fight the temptation.
My challenge to you this week is to take some time and search for specific verses that pertain to your temptations. Write them down, put them everywhere. Remind yourself of them. Memorize them. And when those temptations come, speak them over yourself. Pray and lean into God.
I also want to say this; if you fall into your temptation, the Lord still loves you. He forgives you. And He is waiting for you to run right back to him. Don’t wait to go back to the Lord. Run hard and fast toward him and fall into His arms.
I love you all and I am praying that the Lord is giving you the verses you need to fight your temptations.
Comments