| July 19, 1998 |
Vol. I, No. 12
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“Now, when the tempter came...” (Matt. 4:3). It’s not a question of IF he comes. Sooner or later he always does. And WHEN he comes, a critical time has come for the soul. James says, “...each of us is tempted...” (James 1:14). And John tells us in 1 John 2:16 the avenues of temptation: (1) the lust of the flesh, natural desire, (2) the lust of the eyes, that which appeals to the senses, and (3) the pride of life, the desire to be looked up to and praised.
The Bible does not tell us all that our curiosity might lead us to ask about the origin of Satan, but it does indicate that he is the “father” of lying, murder, and other sin (John 8:44; Matt. 13:38).
As the Scriptures relate the story of creation, Satan soon appears, using the serpent to entice Eve to sin. Once Eve had sinned, Satan was able to use her to tempt Adam, Gen. 3:1-6. Since that time he has never had a shortage of human servants, enticing and encouraging one another to sin. Each of us has sometimes been involved in such devilish activity.
In ages past, Satan had the ability to overpower some individuals against their will and afflict them with demon possession. Jesus, during His earthly ministry, began to restrict or bind Satan in this particular area, casting out demons and assigning them to an abyss, Matt. 12:28-29; Luke 8:31; 2 Pet. 2:4. After ascending to heaven, the Lord empowered His apostles to finish this task, and by the time the New Testament had been completely revealed, confirmed, and committed to writing, the evil spirit had been subdued and the special spiritual powers given to God’s servants had served their purpose and had ceased, 1 Cor. 13:8-10; Zech. 13:2.
Even though Satan no longer possesses the power to control folks against their will, he still has no scarcity of servants. He exercises a powerful influence, 1 Cor. 7:5. He is a master of deception, 2 Cor. 2:11; 11:14. Simon Peter warns us, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet.5:8). We are also mindful of the warning Peter himself had received from Jesus in Luke 22:31. Satan would like to sift us as wheat, sifting out the good and leaving the bad.
And so there is good news and bad news. The good news is that Satan has been bound to the point that he absolutely cannot overpower and control us without our own cooperation. Paul writes, “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 to escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13). James encourages us, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Note that God will not allow the devil to tempt us beyond our ability to resist. God will supply the ability for us to overcome the devil’s enticements and escape. But WE must do the escaping.
The bad news is that the devil is well aware of our weaknesses, both moral and intellectual, and he appeals to us in our weakest areas and at the times when we are least likely to be prepared and on guard. He uses the same three avenues of temptation with which he so successfully overcame Eve. He knows our appetites, our weakness for that which appeals to the senses, and our desire for worldly success and attainment.
Jesus’ victory over Satan in the wilderness of temptation must serve as our example of how to resist and escape the devil’s snares. Satan unsuccessfully used the same three areas of temptation in trying to appeal to Jesus that he had previously used with Eve. These temptations are the ones he repeatedly uses against us. Two principles assured Jesus of victory. (1) He knew God’s will. When tempted, He responded by saying, “It is written...” (2) He was totally committed to doing the will of the heavenly Father above any desire that life in the flesh might produce. See Matt. 4:1-11; 26:36-44. Jesus is the only person with whom the devil has met with total failure. He will also fail with us to the extent that we follow the Lord’s example.
On the other hand, to the extent that we fail to LEARN God’s will, or fail to put His will above our own, Satan will succeed in leading us astray. And sometimes we all fail. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is no in us... If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8, 10).
Some years ago, a popular comedian made millions with the slogan, “The devil made me do it.” The truth of the matter is, the devil can’t MAKE me sin. But he can entice me. He can persuade me. And often he leads me to WANT to do things that do not harmonize with the will of God. “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” (James 1:14-15). When temptation comes, the devil is always in on it, but he can’t defeat us without our own cooperation. So, “resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleans your hands you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:7-8).
--CRJ
“...Thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall these things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20). The man spoken to was addressed as a fool. Any man who lives this life without regard to meeting death is a fool. The wise man will make preparation for eternity. He will also be mindful of those whom he will leave behind.
When you are dead and gone, you may not leave very much in material possessions, but you can leave your husband or wife the memory of a faithful mate. It does not cost anything financially to “pay” your marriage vows. Not only must we abstain from adultery to have hope of heaven, Rev. 21:8, but we must also do so if we desire to leave our marriage partner the memory of a faithful mate.
You can leave your children the memory of a good father or mother; one who provided for their physical needs, 1 Tim. 5:8, and for their spiritual needs, Eph. 6:4. You can leave them the memory of a parent who set the proper example before them This IS something you CAN do.
You can leave to the community in which you live the memory of a good citizen; one who was honest and industrious; 2 Thess. 3:10; Eph. 4:28, obedient to the laws of the land, Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13; one who was interested in the welfare of others, Gal. 6:10.
You could leave to the Lord’s church the memory of one who obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine delivered in the New Testament and was added to the church by the Lord Himself, Rom. 6:17-18; Acts 2:47; and who was faithful in the work and worship of the Lord, Heb. 10:25; 1 Cor. 15:58; Rev. 2:10, etc.
These things are not without cost, but it will cost you far more to neglect them. “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).
--CRJ
Patience is the ability to let your light shine after you blow your fuse.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6). We understand that in the physical realm. Those who are in good health usually have a good appetite. Those who are sick often have little or no appetite, yet proper nourishment is one of the things they need to regain their strength.
Again, an appetite is important in the physical realm because growth is absolutely dependent on nourishment. In some cultures, the survivors place food in the casket with the body of their deceased loved ones, or place food on the grave, much as we do flowers. Of course, we are aware that those who have died no longer have any appetite for food. They no longer need nourishment. They no longer grow. So in the physical realm, hunger and thirst are good signs. They indicate life, and at least to some extent, vitality.
The same principle is true in the spiritual realm. Hunger and thirst are not enemies, but friends. They assure that we will seek nourishment from the word of God, and that like Jesus, we will be sustained by seeking and doing the will of God in our lives. Jesus assures us that those who truly seek to know God and His will, will find spiritual fulfillment. In John 7:17, He said, “If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.” As His servants, we seek to find those who are hungering and thirsting for righteousness, that we may help them to the extent of our own ability, to come to know Jesus and His will. God will use us and other servants in His providence to help you increase your understanding of His will, and then God will use you to help others.
Truly blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. They will be filled and nourished by the word of God in the here and now -- and satisfied for4ever in the realm that is yet to come.
--CRJ
The difference between stumbling stones and stepping stones is how you use them.