1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
INSIGHT
-Temptation in Hebrew is written as maccah which means trial or test. It is also an enticement to evil thoughts, words or deeds, or a severe trial or affliction. In the Bible we find several citations of the word temptation with a wide range of meaning; in a sense of self examination; Job was tempted (Job 1:13-2:10), Christian character is tested (Rom 5:3-4 ; James 1:2-3), to denote testing & correction (Gal 6:1), Abraham’s faith was tested (Heb 11:17), Christian believers are encouraged to test themselves (2 Cor 13:5), people are tested by others to prove their truthfulness (Gen 42:15), knowledge (1 Kin 10:1), or character (Job 34:36). Those who desire to be rich often fall into temptations (1 Tim 6:9), In Jesus’ ministry Satan stands out as the great choreographer of temptation for he is referred to as the tempter (Mat 4:3), in the Lord’s Prayer we ask God not to lead us into temptations (Mat 6:13), temptation conceived leads to sin causing death & those who endure receive the crown of life (Jam 1:12-15), when temptation is yielded to, forgiveness is available through Christ (Heb 2:18 ; 4:14-16) etc.
-Job was an upright & blameless man, he feared God & was richly blessed. As the above scripture denotes; God knew that Job would not give into the temptations of the devil when all his livestock were wiped out, all his ten children were killed & he became sick. He remained strong in faith & praised God despite the confrontations by his wife to curse God & die. This was a difficult time for him & his family but God gave him the strength to persevere. After so much pain & suffering, God restored his health back & he doubled all that he had. Through these temptations, Job emerged stronger & victorious amid all the affliction he went through, he became a testimony that God is sovereign & we should give thanks to Him in all situations even when we undergo persecutions; with firm confidence that He will deliver us from them all.
PRAYER
Lord You are good & Your mercies endure forever. Thank You for the gift of life & this far You have brought us, we give You all the glory & praise. We humbly ask You Jesus to heal all the sick & suffering, & strengthen those who have lost their loved ones. Have mercy Father on all those who are homeless, all the street children, drug addicts, those who are jobless, hopeless, depressed, unmarried, childless, all our children, all those who serve in the armed forces, all our leaders, those struggling financially, emotionally & psychologically, settle all our hearts Lord through Your eternal peace. Bless our nation Father & cover us all Lord with Your precious blood. We thank You for Your care & protection Lord upon our lives; be exulted on high now & forever. Amen
James 1:12-15
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
INSIGHT
-This scripture reminds us that God does not tempt anyone nor can He be tempted by evil; for in Him there is no darkness. But through one’s own desires & enticements he/she gives into temptations which gives birth to sin & end up in death. King Solomon cautions us against being overly wicked lest we die before our time (Ecc 7:17). Temptations usually originate in our minds; are conceptualized in our hearts & end us in sin causing death. To overcome temptations we need to recognize its source & its force. Through Gods’ word we are required to resist the devil by avoiding any occasions of sin & he will flee from us. God calls us to stay alert by making the right decisions; draw closer to Him & He will draw close to us; to holding fast His love which overcomes the love of the world; & we will endure temptations & receive the crown of life.
PRAYER
All Your paths are mercy & truth Lord, help us to keep Your covenant & Your testimonies, for Your name’s sake. On our own we cannot make it Lord but only through Your righteousness we are made whole; have mercy on us Jesus & cover us by Your precious blood. Teach us to fear You loving Father; strengthen us to endure temptations & shepherd us in the way we should choose. Your secrets are with those who fear You; show us Your covenant Jesus. You are the light of our lives merciful Father; remove everything from us that is displeasing to You & pardon our iniquity for Your name’s sake. Create in us clean hearts & renew Your steadfast Spirit within us Lord. Our eyes are forever toward You loving Father; pluck our feet always from the net; for Your name’s sake. Amen
1 Timothy 6:9
“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
INSIGHT
-Ones desire to get rich often presents many temptations, snares & through his lusts; he is swallowed into perdition & destruction. The love of money always presents competing needs to the love of God; for when we love one we despise the other. Jesus therefore cautions against these tempting desires when He says that we cannot serve two master, we can either love Him or love mammon (Mat 6:24). Most often the love of money presents tempting needs to break all the commandments for instance; one may love mammon more than God, love of money/greed may pose as an idol in our lives, when one looses money he/she is tempted to curse God & call His name in vain, we are called to keep the sabbath day holy but sometimes money presents many temptations to undertake gainful labour, some may quarrel, kill & dishonor their parents because of their inheritance, many kill their neighbors to gain wealth, others steal from individuals & institutions to gain the whole world but loose their souls, some commit adultery with rich men & women for they desire to become rich, others bare false witness against other to get ahead financially & some times we covet other peoples wealth & spouses in our hearts. These are the realities of life & God calls us to godliness. The temptations of Jesus also touched on money & when the love of money is not addressed; it can become a stumbling block in our lives. God reminds us to take heed to His word for His sovereignty does not negate our ignorance. We also note that there is nothing wrong with becoming wealthy but the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, & pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Tim 6:10). We also know that money is fleeting; today You have it, tomorrow only God knows, but the love of God leads us to eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus. Jesus reminds us of the greatest commandments that; “you shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind & with all your strength, & you shall love your neighbor as yourself”(Mk 12:30-31). Jesus demonstrated the greatest act of love by sacrificing Himself for us all so that we have life everlasting, & through this we learn to also sacrifice for the sake of our brothers & sisters who need us most.
PRAYER
You are good God & Your mercies endures forever. Have mercy on us Father & forgive us for the many times we have exulted money instead of seeking to love You first & our neighbours. Fill our hearts with Your love & deliver us from the love of money; we humbly ask You. Our Father who at in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread & forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power & the glory; forever & ever. Amen
Hebrews 4:15-16
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
INSIGHT
-We face temptations in our everyday lives; sometimes we fall & other times we endure. Like the high priest who was typified for atonement of sins through a lamb, Jesus the Lamb of God became the Sacrifice once & for all, & bore our sins so that we may be justified to God through His precious blood. Through this sacrifice we have been qualified as co-heirs with Christ & God has made us His children; so that we have the boldness to approach Him & obtain mercy & grace; which only He can dispense to help us in times of need. Our God of grace is always present to help us in times of temptation, Who was tempted yet without sin & calls us to seek Him as He is always ready to shower us with His grace; which is sufficient for us all. Jesus died for our sins & we have obtained victory through Him by His resurrection & He is seated at the right hand of the Father in glory forever & ever. God made us alive together with Christ when we were dead in trespasses, raised us up together & made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace we have been saved through faith & that not of ourselves but this is the gift of God, & not by our works lest anyone should boast (Eph 2:5-9).
PRAYER
Our God of grace; we thank You for Your divine graces upon our lives, families, relationships, marriages, children, work places, businesses, institutions & nation, we magnify Your holy name. Many are the temptations & weaknesses that have driven us away from You Lord but You have always revealed Yourself merciful to us & strengthened us in our weaknesses; we exult Your holy name. Journey with us Jesus in all our decisions, convictions, desires, weaknesses, challenges, calling, leadership roles, purpose, gifts, responsibilities, visions, innovations, insights & shepherd us in all things. You are our Father, our Friend, our great I Am, our great High Priest & our sure Foundation Father; we bless Your holy name; now & forever. Amen
Luke 22:46
“Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”
INSIGHT
-Jesus was on the mount of Olives in the garden of Gethsemane when He was about to be betrayed. He was extremely sorrowful & His sweat was like great drops of blood. He prayed with His disciples who were falling asleep & asked them to pray so that they may not fall into temptations three times; indicating the importance of prayer in overcoming temptations. Through prayer we invite God to intercede & help us; as we place our trust in Him & rely on Him entirely so that we may overcome the snares of the evil one. Earlier when Jesus was asked by the disciples to teach them how to pray, He included the phrases “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Mat 6:13); which drives the point home that to overcome temptations is not only focused on our own consciousness but the consciousness of God through grace.
SUMMARY
Temptations come in many diverse ways & forms, originating from the tempter/devil who attacks the mind & sin is conceived in the heart. We are reminded to avoid all occasions of sin as we flee from the devil & he will flee from us. Jesus tells us that He does not tempt anyone with evil for in Him there is no sin but one is driven to sin by his/her own desires & enticements. It is therefore important to study & know our vulnerability status, to avoid any place or situation causing us to sin, to have a predetermined decision to follow Christ despite the enticements that come with temptations & to entirely trust in God Who delivers us from all evil. The love of God out-crowds the love of the money & things of the world with the futuristic focus on eternal life through faith in Christ as we store our treasures in heaven where it cannot be stolen, rot or rust. Through the parable or the sower, Jesus tells us of the seeds which fell on the rock & are compared to the people who receive the word of God with joy having no roots & when temptations come they fall away (Lk 8:13). In conclusion, to overcome temptations we need to avoid all occasions of sin, to pray without ceasing & take heed to Gods’ word, & the God of grace will always help us when we call on Him despite our weaknesses.
PRAYER
Lord You are good & Your mercies endures forever. Teach us to do Your will for You are our God & Your mercies endures forever. Lead us in righteousness & forgive us our trespasses; for Your mercies endures forever. Cover us with Your precious blood, lead us not into temptations & deliver us from all evil; for Your mercies endures forever. Prosper the work of our hands & answer all our prayers Lord; for Your name’s sake; for Your mercies endures forever. Shower us Father with Your fruit & gifts, & may Your grace always dwell in our hearts; for Your mercies endures forever. Lord You are good & Your mercies endures forever. Amen