Temptations.
Mat 4:1:”Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. “
When Adam was created he was tempted by the devil, and he fell and his fall resulted in ‘original sin’, mankind became sinners. It was fitting that the second Adam – Yahshua Messiah - should be subjected to temptation, to show that there was no power that could separate him from the Father. It has become very common for people to blame Elohim when we fall prey to temptation. But James tells us, in Jas.1:13,’ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:’ James tells us that we are tempted when we are drawn away by lust- an ungodly desire. I Tim.6:9 says,’ But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.’
All temptation is from the devil. A small suggestion here, another one there, and we fall prey to the tempter. In I Chr.21:1, we read how David was tempted. “And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.” The result was that Elohim was angry and the people of Judah had to pay the price for David’s temptation. In II Sam 11:2, we see David once again yielding to temptation when he saw Bathsheba, wife of Uriah, his general. Because David had sinned, his son died. Our Messiah himself was tempted by the devil thrice, but overcame the tempter by the word of Elohim. Judas Iscariot who betrayed Messiah was tempted by thirty pieces of silver and committed suicide for his betrayal. We are all open to temptations but the Bible says,’ resist the devil and he will flee from you’ (Jas.4:7)
How are we tempted? Evil associates tempt us (Prov.1:10). A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbor’s mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good. (Prov.16:29). Young people, because of peer pressure fall into various temptations. In a bid to appear cool and trendy, people fall into temptation and suffer the consequences. We are never satisfied. We always want more, more of everything. We want to be always better than our neighbhors. King Solomon realized this and his prayer is very clear. Pron.30:9 says,’ Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.’ We are tempted when we have less and also when we have more!
Balaam was tempted by Balak with great riches and honour if Balaam would curse Israel. (Num.22:17). Balaam tried to curse Israel but the angel of the Lord prevented him. King Nebuchadnezzar yielded to temptation and was filled with pride when he thought that Babylon had become great because of his efforts. He was punished by Elohim because he did not give Yahweh the glory. (Dan.4:30).
We commit sin when we are tempted to worship the god of this world, who perverts the word of Elohim. Messiah was tempted thrice by the devil, who twisted the words from the scriptures. Messiah overcame the tempter by the word of Yahweh. ”Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. “(Mat 4:1). This verse shows that Yahweh permits us to be tempted as a trial of our faith. James exhorts us to be happy when we are face with all sorts of temptations and trials because the test of our faith produces patience (Jas.1:2-3). James ahs very clearly shown us the effect of yielding to temptation. ‘But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.‘(Jas.1:14-15).
Everyone in this world falls into temptation. It is in our sin nature which we inherited fro our father Adam.
Messiah was tempted by the devil when he was fasting forty days. The Pharisees tempted him, asking for a sign from heaven (Matt.16:1), A lawyer tempted him (Lk.10:25), trying to justify himself. Messiah overcame them all by the word of Yahweh.
Eve was tempted by the serpent, she succumbed to the temptation and sinned. Because of her sin, she died spiritually and from that moment became a mortal being. (Gen.2:17; 3:1-6). Joseph was tempted by Potiphar’s wife, but overcame the temptation because he considered it a sin against Elohim (Gen.39:7-9). Achan was tempted when he saw some garments, silver and gold in the tents of Ai, he took them and hid them in his tent. Because of his sin, his whole family was put to death (Josh.7).
But do not be discouraged! The good news is that we can overcome temptation. Elohim will not allow his saints to be tempted beyond their power. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1Cor.10:13). Elohim knows the limits of our resistance and protects us when we reach those limits. “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished” (2Pet 2:9). “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." (Rev 3:10). James tells us to resist the devil. We can do so by putting on the armour of Elohim (Eph.6:11-18). Do not give the devil any chance to pierce that armour. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:( Mat 26:41). Always be alert, be on guard against the wiles of satan. He is like a roaring lion, waiting to finish us (I Pet.5:8) . Elohim has given us the greatest weapon on earth-prayer. When we are tempted we should pray to the Almighty Father for guidance and deliverance. (Matt.6:13). Avoid evil influences. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men (Prov. 4:14).
Remember, temptations are common to man but he who endures till thw end will be saved. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.(Jas.1:12)
