Notes - 20th August 06

Bible passage:
Mark 7:21-23

When we think of 'temptation', we probably associate it, unreservedly, with evil. However, an experience of temptation need not lead to sin. Every temptation is also an opportunity to do good. 'My temptations have been my masters in divinity', said Martin Luther, reflecting his experience that it was through times of temptation that he learned how to grow in his dependence on God, to come through the test. Temptation then, is as much an opportunity to do the right thing as it is to do the wrong thing. Temptation simply provides the choice.

Of course, Satan uses every temptation when we are trying to make a choice between good or evil, in order to try and destroy us. God is seeking to use it to develop us into the character likeness of Jesus.

What is this character of Jesus like? The most concise description is Gal 5: 22-23: the fruit of the Spirit. How then does the Spirit seek to produce these characteristics in the life of a man or woman following Christ?

Warren startingly declares, 'God develops the fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you're tempted to express the exact opposite quality. Character development always involves a choice, and temptation provides that opportunity.'

This means that God teaches us love, by putting us alongside some unlovely people and looks for us to rely on his grace to love the unlovely. He develops real peace within us by allowing us to experience difficult circumstances in which we are tempted to worry or be afraid and learn, thereby, to choose to trust in God despite the circumstances. God uses the opposite of each fruit to allow us a choice.

Satan's destructive use of temptation is entirely predictable and follows a four step pattern:

DESIRE - Satan identifies a desire in us, which may be legitimate or illicit. He then targets a thought that we give in to an evil desire. All temptation thus begins within us, in our mind, not our circumstances.

(Read Mark 7:21-23)

DOUBT - Satan tries to get us to doubt what God has said about the particular sin: is it really wrong?

DECEPTION - No one will ever know, it's only a little sin, etc

DISOBEDIENCE - Acting on the thought

There are specific steps we need to take to overcome temptation:

REFUSE TO BE INTIMIDATED: We should not get demoralized because we have tempting thoughts, we shall never outgrow temptation, they are inevitable and part of what it means to be human. It's not a sin to be tempted, it only becomes a sin when you give in to it. Martin Luther again said, 'You cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair'. In other words, you can't keep the Devil from suggesting thoughts, but you can choose not to dwell or act upon them.

RECOGNIZE YOUR PATTERN of temptation and be prepared for it. Each of us will be more vulnerable in certain situations than others would be, according to our personal weaknesses. We need to be aware of these times, and guard and prepare for them or avoid them if we possibly can.

REQUEST GOD'S HELP: A 24hr helpline is available - it's called prayer

Points to ponder:

*Every temptation is an opportunity to do good

*What Christ-like character can I develop by defeating the most common temptation I face?

*When are you most vulnerable to temptation? Are there practical steps you can take to guard against the Devil at those times?