Transcript: God's Protection from Temptation: Understanding Satan's Tactics

Music Music Music Music Music Music Our message today is entitled, God does not tempt us, but Satan will certainly try. When we look into the scripture for our answers regarding this subject today, we see that Satan attempts to tempt us with every kind of evil, and he lays snares for us, even in our best actions. He lays incentives or influences before our minds in hopes to cause us to sin against the Most High God. For example, in 1 Thessalonians chapter 3, when Apostle Paul was speaking to the brethren, he told them in verse 4, For even when we were with you, you know, we warned you plainly beforehand that we were to be pressed with difficulties and made to suffer afflictions, just as to your own knowledge it has since happened. Verse 5, that is the reason that when I could bear the suspense no longer, I sent that I might learn how you were standing in strain and the endurance of your faith. For I was fearful, lest somehow the tempter had tempted you, and our toil among you should prove to be fruitless and to no purpose. well you see Satan is called the serpent of old he is called the devil and the tempter he tempted our first parents Adam and Eve our savior and he also tempted Ananias and Sapphira to lie to the Holy Spirit the account is told in Acts chapter 5 verse 3 now tempt or test means to try or test the word is used in different senses and it does not always involve an evil purpose with an inducement to sin God tested Abraham as we're told in Genesis chapter 22 God commanded him to offer up his son Isaac purely for the purpose of proving his obedience and faith to confirm and strengthen him by his trial. This great trial was to provide him an example of perfect obedience for all future ages. When it is recorded for future generations that God tested his people for the purpose of whether they would walk in his way or not, and that he allowed false prophets to rise up among them who prophesied vain and empty lies and things to try them to see whether or not they would seek the Lord with their whole hearts. Well, we have to interpret these acts by what was spoken in James 1, beginning in verse 13. Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God. For God is incapable of being tempted by what is evil, and he himself tempts no one. Verse 14. But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed, and baited by his own evil desires, lusts, and passions. Verse 15. Then the evil desire, when it is conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death. you see people are said to tempt God when they unreasonably require proofs of his divine presence his power or his goodness all we have to do is look around at his astounding creation and beauty of what he has miraculously created and spoken in Romans chapter 1 verses 19 and 20 which declares for that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner conscience because God himself has shown it to them for ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature and attributes that is, his eternal power and divinity have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made his handiworks so men are without excuse altogether without any defense or justification. Well, let it be known that it is proper and fitting for us to seek our loving Father's divine assistance and to pray to him to give us what we need. But we are not to tempt him or expose ourselves to dangers from which we cannot escape without miracles. So, I share a personal experience which happened to me many years ago when I was learning about the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit. my husband Lee and I were in a prayer meeting and I pressed the Holy Spirit for something that I felt was very important and proper for the time for his immediate help in my impatience do you catch that in my impatience I pressed him so much at that time that he withdrew his presence from me dear listener This was the most awful and horrible and empty experience that I have ever had in my entire life. God withdrew himself from me, and I felt naked without his presence and covering. This must have been how Adam and Eve felt in the garden when they sinned against God. I fell on my knees I begged God to forgive me and I cried out like David in Psalms 51 when he said cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit I learned a hard lesson that day you see God is not obligated to work miracles in our favor and he will certainly not be ordered around by immature childish faith there is a testimony that deals with patience in tribulation which reminded me of myself back in that day It begins by telling that there was a certain lady who prayed a great deal for patience She complained to another Christian that while she prayed for patience, all she seemed to get was trouble. The reply was, The Lord is sending you trouble in order to produce patience in you. The testimony goes on to say, How many times have you prayed for patience and the Lord sent along your way a child that was naughty or disobedient or a boss who was demanding and or a husband and or a wife who was difficult to live with? The testimony ended by the Christian lady telling the impatient woman, It was all an answer to your prayer for patience, so that you may have the opportunity to exercise and practice it. Accept it from the hand of God, for that is your part in training. You see, the Israelites frequently tempted God in the desert, as if they had reason to doubt his presence or his goodness or his power after all of his appearances and miracles on their behalf. They were a hard and stiff-necked people. In Psalms chapter 78, beginning in verse 17, we read of how they tempted and tested God by demanding that he provide for them on their terms rather than by simply trusting and obeying him and standing in awe with grateful thanksgiving and praise. Verse 17 tells us, But they sinned even more against him by rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness. And they tested God in their hearts by asking for food of their fancy. Yes, they spoke against God. They said, Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Behold, he struck the rock so that the waters gushed out and the streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Can he provide meat for his people? Therefore the Lord heard this and was furious. So a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also rose up against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust in his salvation. Yet he had commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of heaven, had rained down manna upon them to eat, and given them of the bread of heaven. Men ate angels' food. He sent them food to the full. He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he brought in the south wind. He also rained meat on them like the dust, feathered foul like the sand of the seas. Verse 28. And he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. So they ate and were well filled. And he gave them their own desire. They were not deprived of their craving. But while their food was still in their mouths, the wrath of God came against them, and slew the stoutest of them and struck down the choice men of Israel. In spite of this, they still sinned and did not believe in his wondrous works. Therefore their days he consumed in futility and their years in fear. Verse 34. When he slew them, then they sought him, and they returned and sought earnestly for God. And then they remembered that God was their rock. and the Most High God was their Redeemer. Nevertheless, they flattered him with their mouths, and they lied to him with their tongue, for their heart was not steadfast with him, nor were they faithful in his covenant. Verse 38. But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and he did not destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, and he did not stir up his wrath, For he remembered that they were but flesh and a breath that passes away and does not come again. Even the scribes and the Pharisees often tested Jesus and endeavored to catch him in their snares. For example, we see this in Matthew chapter 22, verse 18. But Jesus perceived their wickedness and he said, Why do you test me, you hypocrites? Now, the meaning of the word tempt and temptation means experience or trial to perforate or pierce through in order to find out the character or the constitution of someone or something. You see, if steel is going to be used for a building its character or solidness must be tried to see whether it is strong enough for the job that it is destined for. The devil tempts us with the precise purpose of showing that we are failures. And his main effort is to destroy the trust we have in God and his son Jesus Christ. His main purpose and thrust is to destroy mankind. Jesus tells us in John chapter 10 verse 10 that the thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy and have it in abundance to the full till it overflows. God never tempts us in this way. He tries or tests us to prove to us and others so that we might grow and mature in righteousness and can be used with greater trust by him. Jesus allowed himself to be tempted to show the world that there is a devil and that he is very active in this world. God's word is called the book of life, and the activity of the devil is clearly shown in this heavenly book which shows mankind that he is real, vicious, wicked, and cunning. Apostle Paul calls him the prince of the power of the air. Jesus endured this temptation to prove to us, since the devil tempted even Jesus, who is the author and creator of life, there is not a single one of us that Satan will leave alone. he tested Jesus he will test us and we learn and we're taught in this wonderful book of life that as Jesus faced the devil victoriously so can we with his word and his power as genuine believers who live in him though Jesus temptation by Satan we learn also that whatever is suggested by the devil cannot possibly be for our eternal good or welfare And we see clearly also through Jesus temptation that giving priority to material prosperity, which is symbolized by the making of bread out of stones and premature fame and by ruling over kingdoms of the world are all of the devil. God never desires that we have material prosperity at the expense of our salvation and our spiritual relationship with him. We learn that our focus and desire and longing as believers must be for God's kingdom and righteousness first. then all of our physical needs will be added as taught by our dear Savior in Matthew's gospel in chapter 6 verse 33 and 34 when he says but seek and aim and strive after first of all his kingdom and his righteousness his way of doing and being right and then all these things taken together will be yours besides. So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble. You see, Jesus' temptation also shows us that out of every temptation of the devil, we can become stronger. then Jesus will entrust us with greater responsibilities in his kingdom. There's a wonderful testimony that I read that tells about an old saint in the days past. His name was the Venerable Bede, B-E-D-E, who lived a life of such, who lived in such purity and serenity that his young students whom he was teaching marveled. The wonder grew upon all of them so greatly that at length they resolved to approach the Master and asked to be told the secret of his purity and his peace. They came one day and said, Father, we are harassed with many temptations which appeal to us so often and so strongly that they give us no rest. You seem to be untroubled by these things. and we would like to know the secret. Do not the temptations that harass our souls appeal to you? Do they never come knocking at the door of your heart? The old man listened, and he smiled, and he said, My children, I do know something of the things of which you speak. The temptations that trouble you do come, making their appeal to me. But when these temptations knock at the door of my heart, I answer, the place is occupied. That is awesome. Probably not one of us who are listening to this message today and all others who will hear it at a later time have not been spared of the temptations and the harassments of the evil one at one time or another in our lives. But dear listener, you must not despair or be troubled. Remember, our dear Savior taught us how to pray. Lead us not into temptation. In Matthew's Gospel, in chapter 6, verse 13, which is called the Lord's Prayer, let's read that to refresh our memories, beginning in Pray Therefore Like This. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this daily bread and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven left remitted and let go of other debts and have given up resentment against our debtors and lead us bring us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Verse 13 declares, Lead us not into temptation. If we look at the preceding scripture, which says, Forgive us our trespasses or sins as we forgive others. We have actually prayed that the guilt of sin may be removed and that we may not be tempted to do it again. It's not as though God tempts anyone to sin. And that is scriptural. And because it is scriptural, it is indeed a fact that you can believe in and trust. King David prayed in Psalms chapter 19, verses 13 and 14. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless and I shall be innocent and clear of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my firm, impenetrable, rock my Redeemer. This is like praying, Lord, do not let Satan loose upon us. Chain up that roaring lion because he is wicked, subtle, and deceitful, and spiteful. Dear Lord, please do not leave us to ourselves, for we are very weak. my lord please do not lay stumbling blocks and snares before us nor put into circumstances things that may cause us to fall oh lord please have mercy upon us your weak ignorant and fragile children you see dear children in christ temptations are to be prayed against both because of the discomfort and trouble they bring and because of the danger we are in by being overcome by them. And not only that, but the guilt and the grief that follows afterwards. Our part is to pray and trust the Lord for his protection and deliverance from evil. Lord, please deliver us from evil, from the evil one, the devil, the tempter. keep us that neither we may not be assaulted by him nor we may not be overcome by his assaults. You see, Satan leads people into sin by various means. Sometimes he does it by direct suggestion. In the case of Judas Iscariot and sometimes through his agents who disguise themselves as messengers of God. And sometimes he leads people into sin through a person's own weakness. He tempted Christ directly, trying to lead him into compromise by promising him worldly authority and power Along with his work of tempting mankind Satan also delights in deception In 2 Timothy chapter 2 verses 25 and 26 we see the qualifications of those who serve the Lord Verse 25, he must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge. Verse 26, that they may come to their senses and escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, henceforth to do his God's will. And also we must add that the scripture speaks about the sins of the flesh. And these are things as well that in overcoming the sins of the flesh, these also qualify us to serve the Lord. Hallelujah. Dear ones, this is a big issue in our day today. Many, even those who sit in the church, are held captive by Satan's deception and lies and their own weak preferences and inclinations. Satan's evil methods are designed ultimately to silence and destroy the gospel he seeks to stop the spread of the gospel God's word in the parable of the sower we see this in Matthew chapter 13 verses 18 and 19 when he teaches listen then to the meaning of the parable of the sower while anyone is hearing the word of the kingdom and does not grasp and comprehend it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. And this is what was sown along the roadside. We see that when the gospel is preached, Satan tries to blind God's people in understanding so they cannot grasp the meaning of the message. We must remember that the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is the basis for Satan's final defeat. This event is the grand climax to a sinless life during which Jesus triumphed over the devil repeatedly. Satan hates purity and righteousness. Christ's death upon the cross defeated Satan's hold over those who have come to him for repentance and forgiveness of sin. And life promised to live in his holy standard of righteousness which is found only in him alone. Our strength for Christian victory over sin again is provided through the death of Christ. We have assurance that the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet in Romans chapter 16 verse 20. But now we need to understand that such personal victory depends on our will to offer resistance to Satan's temptations. We are told in Ephesians 4, verses 25-32 that the resistance that we need to continually work on to live in this victory. So we're going to read that, beginning in verse 25, again chapter 4 of Ephesians, verse 25. Therefore putting away lying, let each one of you speak in truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one body. Be angry and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who is in need. Verse 29, let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, for what is good and necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for in the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. And also, in 1 Peter 5, verses 8 and 9, we are reminded, Be well-balanced, temperate, sober-minded. Be vigilant and cautious at all times. For that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring in fierce hunger, seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him, be firm in the faith, against his onset, rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined, knowing that the same identical sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood and the whole body of Christians throughout the world. You see, to help Christians win this battle against Satan, God has provided the power of Christ's blood and the continuing prayer of Jesus Christ in heaven for believers and the leading of the Holy Spirit and personal weapons for spiritual warfare. He did not leave us as orphans without provision and protection and guidance. This short, in a nutshell study on showing that God does not tempt us, but Satan will surely try, describes how easily we can misunderstand God's purposes in the experiences and situations that he permits in our lives. What we think to be temptation can actually be an exercise for acquiring strength. In James chapter 1, in verse 2, we are told, count it all joy when you fall into different temptations. Let us recognize God's hand of strengthening and training in what we would rather shun and run away from. This all shows us where God will lead us. He will not abandon us, but he walks with us, and he provides all the guidance and protection that we need, dear listeners. Jesus Christ has provided it all by his death, burial, and resurrection on the cross. Let us be eternally grateful forever and ever. Hallelujah! .