Do you wish you could have victory over your temptations?
We all face temptations. Everyone’s is different—different in its nature and in its intensity. However, it is safe to say that we are all the same in this one area:
We all want to have victory over them!!!
So, weather our particular Temptation walks on two legs, is on-line, or sits in a large bowl covered in chocolate sauce…we want them gone from our lives!!
AND, the good news for us is that
Jesus showed us how to battle our temptations AND EVEN BETTER, He showed us how to have victory over them.
Immediately after His baptism by John, Jesus went to the desert to fast, pray and to get Father’s instructions concerning His upcoming ministry. Our Master fasted for 40 days and nights, and in His physically weakened state, the enemy came to Him with several forms of temptation. AND, just to make it clear to you, these Temptations were INTENSE! Christ was very tempted by them. But, He did not give in. HE had Victory and HE showed us how we can too.
#1 Temptation. “If you are the son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Satan is not only trying to tempt a very hungry man but he is trying to plant seeds of doubt about Christ’s Messiahship. Jesus used Scripture to defeat the temptation. He quoted Deut 8:3 “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of GOD.”
#2 Temptation: Satan takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem and says, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning you to guard you.” The enemy is trying to manupuate Jesus to manipulate GOD—Jump and GOD will be forced to send his angels to protect you. This temptation must have been incrediblly strong for Christ, because it would have given him instant credibility with the Jews— coming down from Heaven on the wings of angels would have been a Messiah worthy apprearance . But Christ did not give in, instead He faught it by using Deut 6:16 “You shall not put the LORD Your God to the test.”
#3 Temptation: Satan shows Christ all the kingdoms of the world and says, “I will give this all to you if you bow down and worship me.” The Enemy was givng our Master an easy way out—instead of going to the cross, just worship me and I will give it all to you. But our brilliant Savior had none of it. He quoted Deuteronomy 6:13, “You shall worship the LORD your GOD and serve Him only.”
Our temptations will never be as intense as Chirst’s were. He lived through the most intense aspects of life, to show us how to make it through our life’s challenges.
And when we follow the Messiah’s perfect example—we too can have victory…temptations included.
After Satan’s attempt to try to trap our beautiful Master, and Christ’s amazing victory over the enemy, angels of the MOST HIGH came and ministered to Christ’s needs.
God will do the same for you when you resist.
So, whatever temptation you are facing, defeat its power and pull by using Scripture to battle that thing.
If you battle anger—use these Scriptures….James 1:19-21 / Proverbs 29:11
Lust or adultry…………….Proverbs 6:32 / Matt 5:27-28
Greed or materialism……1 Tim 6:7-9 / Ecc 5:10
Lying………………………….Proverbs 12:22 / Leviticus 19:11-12
Overeating…………………..1Corinthians 10:31,
Gossip…………………………Proverbs 20:19, Psalms 34:13
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.
Keep your spiritual toolbelt on. I’ll see you on the jobsite of life.
Mary
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