Start off with a few questions. How easy is it for us to give into temptation? If the Holy Spirits job was to draw us away from trials and temptations, how could we grow? What’s rather sobering here is some trials and temptations are life threatening and life changing, both of which can be very painful. As much as I would also want to live pain free, especially from trials and temptations, I cannot reject it. As what Job tells us during his trials, “Shall we not accept good from God, shall we not also accept adversity?” But in attempting to understand how we can have Faith in Conflict, the solution to the puzzle, we must learn early that when it comes to Gods truth, conflict comes with the territory, its unavoidable. The path to follow Christ does NOT seek conflict; it doesn’t have to. Demonic opposition seeks it out first, all those who are opposed to the worldly views and follow the truth are exposed to conflict.
In 1799, Conrad Reed discovered a seventeen-pound rock while fishing in Little Meadow Creek. Not knowing what it was made of, his family used it as a doorstop for three years. In 1802, his father, John Reed, took it to a jeweler who identified it as a lump of gold worth about $3,600. That lump of gold, which was used as a doorstop for three years in North Carolina, is one of the biggest gold nuggets ever found east of the Rockies.
Until its composition was determined, its value was unknown. Even so, until the composition of our faith is determined, its strength is unknown. God allows trials in our lives, not to hurt us, but too strengthen and prove us.
Today’s scriptures portray how easily we succumb to temptation and sin. Genesis tells the story of Adam and Eve listening to the serpent and eating the forbidden fruit in the garden. The psalmist tells how happy we are when our transgressions are forgiven and when our sin is covered. Romans claims that just as sin came into the world through one man, so salvation also came through one man, Christ Jesus. Finally, Matthew’s Gospel tells of Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness before he began his ministry. Temptation and transgression may be ever present, but mercy and grace define who we are in the life of God. Finding for sure and for certain that we can have Faith in the midst of conflict.
In starting our journey today, we begin in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 4. Jesus has just been baptized, and now, starts His journey into the realm of ministry and Gods prophecy being fulfilled. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.
What I would like for you to notice, is the word led. In Greek the verb an-ag'-o means to lead up, bring up. Just in case you may get the idea or presume that Jesus’s identity as the beloved Son of God means that He is immune from testing and tempting, we see right off, after His baptism, the spirit led Jesus not to a oasis of riches and beauty, but to the wilderness of dust, fasting and desolation. This shines brightly to the testimony that trials and temptation is part of who we are as Gods saints, Gods chosen. Just as the beloved son of God is tempted and tried, so are we, all who follow Him. No exemptions. Health concerns, finances, family and relatives quarrels, personal issues from personality traits to down right evil actions; notice trials and temptations comes in so many forms, in so many ways that I couldn’t list them all today. Notice though that when it comes to trials and temptations, they are personal! Intimate to you as a individual! Its what affects you, not someone else. Yes the same trial or temptation that you encounter, someone else will also, but its designed to draw you into the trap. Listen to Pauls first letter to the people of Corinth. No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Remember friends, the master deceiver, the devil himself, attempts to drive a wedge between Jesus and the father, to separate His mission from his own desire. Its what satan does that trys to draw doubt right before us, just as he did with Jesus. Lets continue with our Journey.
And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”5 Then the devil *took Him along into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and he *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written: ‘He will give His angels orders concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will lift You up, So that You do not strike Your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written: ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil *took Him along to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus *said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” 11 Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to serve Him.
In these three temptations, notice what satan says by using the word if! If you are the son of God, if you worship me all of this will be yours. Satan attempts to draw Jesus into the realm of doubt, twisting Gods words to make it satans own, just as he does today. But notice something very important. Both Jesus and Satan cannot change Gods living word. Satan says to Jesus for it is written: and Jesus responds with ‘it is written.’ Gods word cannot be altered, changed or modified.
We read Gods word, we hear Gods truth, we see God at work, yet doubt draws too close for comfort. Faith is tarnished and our testimony or witness of the living God seems to fall short from us. Trials and temptations friends put us at a fork in the road. One road leading to the Spirit of God, eternal life, and the other giving way to the opportunity of what the devil attempts to draw us to: Doubt, faithlessness and ultimately separation from God.
Friends, there is hope to succeed during trials and temptations. We have the power within us by way of Gods Holy Spirit to avoid doubt, faithlessness and separation from God. Its at our fingertips. Like the old saying says, “When the fight begins within ourselves, we are worth something.” Romans tells us Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
How could you possibly find joy in suffering, in trials, in temptations? Its designed to shine Gods light upon us and in us knowing we are to grow in Gods likeness, not be stagnant, which those who heard me say before. Just like there is no light without darkness, there is no trial or temptation without liberation. Listen to what James tells us, Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Friends, what trial or temptation do you struggle with? Do you struggle with it alone or do you bring it before God? Do you try to fix it on your own power, or by power of God through the Holy Spirit? Trials and temptations are real friends. It’s a genuine concern for us who follow Christ. Like Jesus, trials and temptations are real, not just shadow boxing. Real hunger affected Jesus in the wilderness with wild beasts along with the realm of loneliness, just like us today. What hunger do you starve for? What wilderness are you in that is surrounded by mighty beasts and what loneliness do you experience, all the while testing your faith? By no means will I try to convince you that the powers of evil will subside even though we follow Christ. Just as evil followed Jesus even to the cross, it did NOT conquer Him; we are not to be overwhelmed by evil, as we are to prepare our ways, our journey with Christ by resistance, conflict, opposition and struggles. We will encounter each of these, but not blind sided, but by preparing ourselves. Let us look at ways to respond to trials and temptations with faith friends, so God can give us a precious message.
Know that faith releases more blessing into our life circumstances - We read in Matthew 9:29 that according to your faith it will be done to you. You will not be tried or tempted beyond what you are able. You will be given a means to escape.
Don’t be consumed with trying to figure everything out - Cultivate a trusting attitude of faith in God and His goodness even when you don't understand.
Watch your thoughts and your tongue - Our thoughts follow wherever our mind goes. Our tongues can reinforce the negative, so speak positive words and worship God, knowing that He is in control. Learn to sing in the dark.
Let go of unproductive thinking about your problems - Don’t keep asking “Why God” or “When God.” Remain quietly listening, learn to hear God's voice, and ask Him to show you Himself. He wants to reveal Himself to you. In due time, in Gods timing, all will be revealed. Trust in Him.
Don’t listen to the devil’s lies - Listen to God’s Word instead. Learn the truth and it will set you free. Don’t let lies become your reality.
Meditate on God’s Word and talk to Jesus about it - Let God speak to you as you meditate. Then pray with our eyes on God and not on your difficulties. Look to Jesus and not the storm.
Talk yourself into faith instead of anxiety - Don’t talk yourself into a negative mood by rehearsing your problems apart from God’s promises. Learn to declare His promises from His Word. Trust what you know to be true over what you feel to be true. You will begin to see a change.
Learn what God’s Word says - Especially study about who you are in Christ and how God will work in your life. The enemy will always strike at our identity in Christ when we are facing fiery trials. Study Psalm 139.
Be confident that God is working - Even when you cannot see or feel his work know that God is working in your life (Philippians 1:6).
Friends, you may feel like you have failed in your response of faith but remember, life is a process, not an event. You can start now. It is never too late for a new beginning or to start believing the right things. Push delete and rise up in new faith. Let us all step out afresh in faith and entrust ourselves into God’s loving hands. Some storms God lifts His hands to calm it. And some others, He takes your hand and walks you through it. Let me close by reading Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.