A Way Out

Looking inward helps us to repent of the things we’ve done or left undone. It also helps us to have new strength in taking on the challenges to come.

In Matthew 4, we see how Jesus, himself, prepared for difficult times ahead. The Spirit led Jesus into the Judean desert, into the wilderness, where he fasted for forty days. Although he had recently been baptized by John the Baptist and the Spirit of God had descended on him like a dove, filling him, this time in the wilderness would prove to be a time of testing.

Jesus was tired, alone, hungry, and weak after forty days without food.

And that’s when the enemy showed up.

That’s how he often times shows up in our lives; when we are weak.

He starts with the simplest of temptations—Jesus’s physical hunger and weakness.

Often times he starts with our simplest temptation.

Maybe we’re feeling defeated, cynical or frustrated. This is the enemy’s place of entry into our lives.

In Matthew he says to Jesus “If you are the Son of God,” “command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

But Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

The devil then took Jesus to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”

Did you see that? The devil switched tactics: shifting from the weakness of Jesus’s physical needs to trying to exploit Jesus’ strengths.

The temple was the religious center of Jewish faith, where people expected the Messiah to appear and restore Israel. That would have been the perfect place to “show off” his glory!

The devil had succeeded in tempting Adam and Eve away from God’s plan for humanity and he hoped to do it again; to divert Jesus from his mission as the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of God, who would restore us into right relationship with God.

He hoped. But he failed.

Jesus said, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Then the devil took him to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

Jesus replied, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Then, the devil left him, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Jesus always followed the will of God. He used Scripture in response to every temptation. He not only knew it; he obeyed it under the most extreme conditions.

Unlike Adam and Eve, Jesus did not succumb to temptation. He withstood the attacks on his physical human weaknesses as well as his divine strengths.

He set an example of the standard for how a human can overcome temptation.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we too have the strength of Jesus within us.

Soon after this testing in the desert, Jesus began his public ministry. He was ready.

Testing will undoubtedly come our way, too.

Temptations come in the form of physical desires, possessions, power, and pride.

The enemy hasn’t changed his tactics.

He will try to exploit our weaknesses as well as our strengths.

He will not only pursue us in times of discouragement, but try to build up unhealthy pride within us in our days of accomplishment.

We know that knowing and obeying God’s Word is a weapon to wield. It’s a way out of these difficult places that we become cornered in at times.

Thankfully, God promises to provide a way out of temptation.

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”– 1 Corinthians 10:13

We can’t withstand the enemy on our own; we need God’s strength to do it. Notice it says there’s, “a way out.”

When we let ourselves stay in situations of temptation we’re putting ourselves in danger. Eventually, we will stumble and fall.

Don’t stay when you have a way out.

Yet as we all know, there will be times that we will get stuck; times when sin gets the best of us. It’s then, that the enemy uses one of his tried and true tactics. He tells us we have messed up so much that God will never forgive us.

Remember….the enemy is a liar.

Even when we fail, God’s grace allows us to confess our weaknesses and return to his open arms.

This time of Lent is meant to remind us of that during this season….and each day of our lives.

A reminder that it’s never too late to fall into the arms of the Lord.

Repent and believe the Gospel.

 

-Pastor Patti