Temptations

Genesis 9:8-17, Psalm 25:1-10, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15

We have just begun our 40day period of Lent, journeying through the wilderness with Jesus by our side. As we journey, this morning we are called to reflect on the preparation for the joy of Easter – the Temptations. And so we journey with Jesus, because he himself was tempted yet he did not fall into temptation.

Temptation is a test. An exam. Temptation is the test to refuse believing in God or God’s word and live a self-dependent. Temptation is from the devil. The purpose is to cause a fall. But God does test believer. God test with one purpose to prove that the person who is tested is his. We can take two examples one from the OT and one from the NT.

In the OT Job stands out. Job 2:3 “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.” The latter part of v10 tells us that “in all this Job did not sin”. In the NT we have Jesus. 40 days in the wilderness, tempted yet did not sin. Jesus also taught his disciples to pray “lead us not into temptation”.

Now let us look at some main areas where the believer falls into temptation

1) Eph 4:32. Forgive each other; just as in Christ God forgave you. Col 3:13. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Now the temptation here is to not forgive and forget. So they end up having grudges. It creates anger, hatred, and bitterness.  How can you stay without forgiving and forgetting when God himself forgives and forgets? More over if God were to remember every sin you have done, can you stand before him?

2) Mat 5:16. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 1 Cor 10:31. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. The temptation is to seek glory for self. They want the spotlight, they want praise, they want applause, they want name and appreciation. You do for God’s glory (Mat 5:16). When you don’t you rob God of his glory. So when such doesn’t happen, there is demotivation, disillusionment, The disciples had this attitude too. James and John.

3) Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 2 Cor 6:14,15. The temptation is to look at beauty, position, status and marry an unbeliever. Let alone young people falling in love with an unbeliever, today parents too propose unbelievers for their children. After that, rather than bring the unbeliever partner to Christ, you find the believer also doing all what the unbeliever does. Unable to stand up for their faith in Christ. Unhappy. No peace.

4) Ex 20:14 You shall not commit adultery. I Cor 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. Mat 5:28 I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Adultery is a temptation that many face. Either they would look at a boy or girl lustfully. Or there will be an extramarital affair. Or there are physical relationships outside marriage. Young children and adults alike commit adultery. One of the reasons for this is the way boys and girls dress. We always talk about the women. But what about the men. Tight shirts which reveal the physic. Buttons opened. Tight trousers or pants that are nearly coming down. Jeans which are torn.  Either the girl sees the physic of the boy and is picturing life with such a boy.

So from the young age they commit adultery. Boys are a little stronger. They will not just commit adultery in their mind, they will just take the girl out. Sometimes children run away from their homes. And in the case of those who leave their homes and work outside, either the spouse who has gone out or the spouse who has been left behind enters into an extra marital affair. Family life is ruined. Very common in the estates, especially where the wife has gone to the Middle East to work.  The result as said in Pr 6:32 a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.

5) Phil 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. The temptation is to think only I am better. Only I can. My time, resources and money is valuable than others. Only my views and ideas have to be accepted. Only I have good qualities, and characteristics. This is what is called “superiority complex”. Such people are “egocentric”. They are driven by the ego and not by Christ. To consider others better than you, humility is the key. the result of pride and such an attitude is destruction and fall. Pro 16:18

6) This leads us to one of the greatest temptations that many have and openly claim. “I am not a sinner, I have no sin me me, I am perfect”. This goes contrary to the bible. 1 John 1:8, 10. To say I have no sin in me itself is pride, just as the Pharisee did. Such a claim is deceiving, is false, makes God a liar.

There is so much more which we can see in the bible. Listen to what the bible tells us about temptation. “but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:14,15. It is because of this falling into temptation and thereby sinning Jesus returns from the wilderness experience and calls everyone to repentance.

The purpose of God is not death and destruction. The purpose of God for believers is life and life eternal. That is why he tells Noah, never again will the waters of the flood destroy life. Gen 9:11. God is not looking forward to destroying life. He wants everyone to have life. Life eternal.

To fall into temptation is to sin and lose approval before God. Today because of sin, because you are not willing to give up the sinful attitude, that hard heart, many of you are seated here with bitterness, hatred, anger, wounded and behind many smiles and laughter are hurt, unable to forgive and forget. So rather than cling to the cross, you prefer to cling on to the garbage (sin by falling into temptation) of life. The call of Jesus is to repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.

To overcome temptation is to emerge holier, humbler and stronger than before. To overcome temptation is to prove to the tempter who is satan, that he is a defeated fore, and God’s grace is far superior to the power of the evil one. This is the experience that every believer in Christ ought to have.

And when you fall into temptation, we are able to be saved and forgiven. Peter says the waters that saved Noah is the water of baptism. Which pledges a good conscience toward God (1 Pet 3:21). So Baptism is an outward sign of that change. It is a new life lived according to the God’s ways and words.

At baptism we exchange our sins for Christ’s forgiveness and Grace. (Crosses reminder, candle in sand pot) We die to sin and rise to Christ. And we are signed with the cross on our foreheads. Such an experience, where you emerge holier, humbler and stronger than before, washed in the waters of baptism and redeemed by the blood of Jesus will give you a joyful Easter experience.  

Easter is not just a day we celebrate. The resurrection of Jesus is an everyday event we have to experience in our life. Because we are to live as an Easter people.

As we journey with Christ during this period, may we heed his call to come to him. May God give courage and strength to do so.