Jesus Strength in Weakness

February 28, 1993

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One Man the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19

Musings on "Temptation"

This past week my "grand-dog" "ate" my sheepskin hat. I guess I was too proud of it— I thought I looked like a proud Russian cossack. Now I look like a survivor of the siege of Leningrad that got shot in the head!

I tell you this to confess that at the time I think I underwent temptation. I had the strong urge to strangle a certain large golden retriever!

I. THE HEART OF TEMPTATION DISCOVERED

Just what IS "temptation?" You MIGHT say:
- Temptation is when you are pushed or pulled to do something you know you probably shouldn't.
  OR,
- Temptation is when you are ENTICED, drawn by the BAIT of something good to do something BAD.
  OR,
- Temptation is the LURE to commit an act of SIN!
And probably all these are right. But there is something more basic, more fundamental about temptation in the two Bible stories in our lessons today than even being tempted to commit sin.
Temptation is a solicitation to part company with God! It is an invitation to go against divine revelation.
1. In the Garden of Eden (1) God walked with Adam and Eve "in the cool of the day;" there was fellowship. But God also (2) talked with Adam and Eve, and they knew what God wanted them to do and not to do in some clear fashion.
2. The tempter came to say: (1) I'm not sure God actually HAS spoken to you! and (2) If God HAS spoken to you He didn't get it right! God is WRONG!
3. When they chose (they chose!) to part company with revelation, they were cut off, separated, spiritually orphaned!
4. As we will see, when Jesus was tempted, Jesus used the words of scriptural revelation as weapons in the battle to resist and division between Himself and the Father's will!
Simply stated: The goal of temptation is not just to get you to sin, it is to separate you from God, and ultimately, to damn your soul in everlasting death!

II. THE 'BESETTING TEMPTATIONS' OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

The "timing" of temptation.
1. Now, at Lent.
  When we decide to walk with Jesus is when we begin to face the full strength of temptation. Temptation is the lot of all those who face the day. If we take the way of Christ and seek to walk with Him we will inevitably come face to face with temptation.
2. Temptation immediately followed (Matthew 3:17) the great assurance at the Baptism by John. God spoke from heaven: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
3. Temptation will oppose every single movement toward God. Wherever you are in your spiritual pilgrimage, you need to recognize and resist your temptation:
Recognizing temptation for what it really IS!
Temptation is a life-long fact of life for those who would walk with Jesus. It never just "goes away." If we think it does, we've been blind-sided!
1. The temptation of the beginner is distortion. The perspective of the Way is all mixed up. Sometimes the Christian Way is made to seem impossible! It seems such a long, hard road. [I was sure my mother would get lost in Junior High school; I tried to give her directions to my home room (208, Miss Hagan. Somehow, she found her way.]
  Or, by the same distortion method, at the first we are tempted to think "we have arrived!" This way is SIMPLE! The "old folks" have made such a big deal out of it— all they need to do is really get the kind of sincerity I have!
  [Keep your eyes on JESUS! Distortion usually comes from watching people more than we look to HIM!]
2. The temptation of the progressing Christian is often connected with discipline. Why do we need day-in day-out, regular use of the "means of grace" to press into the deeper things of the Spirit? Isn't that "works religion?" Or, conversely, thinking that a technique or ritual, even a good one, can make us like Jesus!
  But the fact remains: No Christian ever develops into her/his potential without the dimension of spiritual discipline. There simply are no short-cuts and all such are temptations to err.
3. The temptation of the veteran is scruples and fear.
  It is not the easiest thing in the world to pass the torch to succeeding generations while maintaining a Christ-like spirit.

[Do you know where the word "scruple" comes from? Neither do I! But I have read that it comes from a root which describes getting a tiny little pebble in your shoe. Did you ever get a large grain of sand in your sandal? Unless it is removed it soon becomes as big as the Rock of Gibraltar, and nothing else, not even the love of Jesus seems very important!]

III. LESSONS FROM JESUS' TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS

Genesis 3 is an important lesson for us about temptation. But we can thank God that it is NOT the final word! [A brief description of the wilderness temptation here: The fasting; the approach of the tempter; the use of scripture. But it is important here HOW THE SCRIPTURE WAS USED.] Jesus became our Champion! There are some lessons we can learn from His victory:

Temptation is not sin.
The fact is, temptation is often most keen in the experience of the resolute. ("When I would do good...")
Jesus was tempted, and He was both holy and noble. Temptation may appeal to the very best within; but there is always a little "twist."
Temptation opposes any spiritual progress. As soon as we choose to respond to grace and walk with God we face opposition. Jesus faced temptation immediately after His Baptism by John in the Jordan; immediately after the heavens opened and the Father said, "This is My Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit like a dove descended upon Him in a wonderful epiphany of glory!
He faced it again when Peter spoke against His death after the Great Confession ("Get thee behind me, Satan!") And again in the Garden of Gethsemene. Temptation's timing is exquisite! It never seems to come when it is easy to face!
Temptation is a deadly warfare.
1. Jesus taught us to flee to the scriptures. We are not simply to "use" them as some sort of technique, but to genuinely love and respect them, and to LIVE under their authority.
  1. Knowledge of the scriptures will give us an awareness of the twist of temptation. The tempter in fact sought to justify his attack by USING the scripture. But something was wrong!
  2. THE TEMPTATION TO "USE" THE SCRIPTURE IS ALWAYS DANGEROUS. An irreverent attitude toward revelation is ALWAYS an invitation to darkness.
  3. Cultivate a reverence for the Word of God. Satan is never far away when we approach the Word of God with skepticism: Awareness of an enemy: what Satan knows about you; what Satan knows of the scripture; Satan's use of the scripture.
2. Jesus did not argue with Satan (that is, attempt to 'reason' with him).
3. God gives us grace to resist, to CHOOSE the right! Temptation is settled, finally, by choosing. Goodness is always a result of choice; otherwise it is just "nice-ness."

IV. WALKING WITH JESUS IN OUR TEMPTATION

Jesus is MORE than an example; He is our Champion!
The possibility of moral goodness means also the possibility of its opposite. This is where Adam failed. This is where we all have failed, ever since. We have "turned every one to his/her own way (Isaiah 53)."
Our strength lies in HIS authority.
Temptation does not last forever, and when we resist we are ministered to, and we are strengthened.
God sees, He cares, He approves, He loves!
The angels of God still minister!

Conclusion

The heart of temptation is— to separate you from God and His love. But the heart of Jesus is to bring you into life and fellowship with God.

As we seek to walk with Jesus during this Lenten season, we will be opposed! It is never simple or easy to "draw near to God!"

So in the hour of temptation, do not simply flee from the act of sin. Oh, yes! DO flee from sin! But flee TO THE STRENGTH OF JESUS!

Prayer

O God, Who does not lead us into temptation, but Who does deliver us from evil:

We acknowledge that we do not live by bread alone, and that the wealth of our living is more than material things and money. You are the Bread of Life, You are the Joy of Living.