Word of Encouragement (9/24/2020)

Today, we begin a new topic: using God’s promises in times of temptation and sin.

Temptation is an inevitable reality especially for Christians who have been redeemed from the dominion of sin and Satan. “…Satan fumes with rage at having lost his citizens. Like Pharaoh of Egypt, he will not sit idly by and watch his slaves walk away from his dominion. He therefore sets out with his vast and dark army in hot pursuit of us (Ex. 14:5-8)” (p. 93). “He tirelessly tempts us to sin, setting traps for our feet, lures for our hearts, sirens for our ears, and enticements for our eyes…” (p. 93). He is much stronger than we can ever be. But thankfully, we have the promises of God to help us in times of temptation and sin and preserve us through them all. But the authors first deal with three things about temptation we must understand.

The first is that we are not alone in temptation. All Christians face temptation. You are not the only one who is tempted and struggles with sins. We all have certain sins we struggle with more than others. “Having tempted Christ (Matt. 4:1-10), the devil now tempts us (Luke 22:31); having tempted the parents (Gen. 3:1; Rev. 12:13), he will tempt their children (1 Pet. 5:8; Rev. 12:17)” (p. 95). This also means that we are not alone in temptation because Christ “in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). It also means that we are with all other Christians “who are positioned against the devil on the battlefield” (p. 96). We can prayer for one another and counsel, encourage, and support one another.

The second is that temptation comes to us from three agents: “the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). “‘The lust of the flesh’ refers to the sinful pleasures that life offers, ‘the lust of the eyes’ to the riches and possessions of this world, the ‘the pride of life” to the honor and praise of men” (p. 96).

The third is that temptations are subject to God’s providence. “Because we belong to Christ and God is working all things to conform us to Christ’s image (Rom. 8:28-29), even temptations are ordained to help us to grow in grace” (p. 97). Consider what Jesus told Peter: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32). Satan plots our fall with his temptations, God ordains them for our humility. What Satan means for evil, God means for our good (Gen. 45:5; 50:20). The sin that is meant to ruin and shame us is sovereignly worked for our benefit (Acts 2:23, 36; 4:27-28) (p. 98).

But this should not make us think lightly of temptation and sin. The taste of sin is bitter and its consequences are painful and destructive. So, the Hebrews writer said, “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Heb. 12:4). But, should we fall, we should not despair, for God can use it for our sanctification still. Also, we should remember that, every time we resist temptation, our spiritual muscles grow stronger and we become more resistant to it. May the Lord help us to resist temptation and grow stronger in our faith!