Monday, June 24, 2019

Temptation, 10of13


~ When Are You Most Vulnerable to Temptation? ~

Key Principle  ~  Satan is like “Murphy.”  Maybe Murphy was named after Satan.  Satan knows you are most vulnerable when you are on a spiritual mountaintop—your guard can easily let down.  In those moments there can also be an element of pride.  “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). “A man’s pride will bring him low” (Proverbs 29:23a).

Example: Biblical Characters  ~  There are a number of examples of Biblical characters who faced serious tests, trials, or temptations following spiritual victories.  One example is the Prophet Elijah who following a spectacular spiritual victory on the top of Mt. Carmel he became depressed.  However, it is important to note that he was later restored to strength and continued to be used of God. 

Example: Jesus Christ  ~  When Jesus had been baptized, He came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.  And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’  Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.  Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread’ (Matthew 3:16-4:3). 
observations:  1. Jesus had just received His Father’s approval: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  2. Immediately following this He went into the wilderness where He would be “tempted by the devil.”  3. After 40 days without food “He was hungry.”  4. The devil tempted Him in His current weakest area of physical hunger: “command that these stones become bread.”  5. Our Savior overcame the temptation by quoting the word of God.  6. The result was:  then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him” (Matthew 4:11).

Today’s Example:  You and Me  ~  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.  But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.  To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.  Amen” (1 Peter 5:8-11).

Victory Today  ~  “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God [see “Example: Jesus Christ” above—Who even though He is the Living Word of God used the written Word of God in fighting temptation]; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:13-18). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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