SUFFERING AND TEMPTATION
Monday – Aug 14, 2017
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Saturday the 12th of August was my birthday, and a much too large of a number for me to grasp so I cannot disclose it here. However, doesn’t it look like I had a good time at my birthday party in the featured picture? I am the second from right in the front row. Unfortunately, this particular party was sixty years ago, good night, how did this happen?
Well, welcome back to The Three Minute Word publication and our Bible Study from the Book of Hebrews. God is so good, He is nothing but good. So, let’s turn to our primary text for today’s study. The Word of God is so wonderful, it is life and health.
Hebrews 2:14-18 (KJV)
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Oh, brother and sister, before the Cross and Jesus taking His precious (and that word does not even start to convey the proper magnitude of the value of His Innocent Blood) Blood to the Mercy Seat of Heaven to seal this New Blood Covenant initiated with Abraham we were a people with zero hope. Now we are a people with an expansive hope without any limits. The love of God stretches one’s imagination to our very limits with only flashes of the full extent of this love. Consider Who He is and what He did. Consider who we were and what we had done in the Garden and beyond. And still, in the face of it all, He loved us, He had a plan of redemption, He knew who we were when we did not, and He paid a price only He could pay. I was a wretch but now I am a child of the King, a Son of the only living God, a shining trophy in the House of God to show the goodness of God forever, and so are you my precious brother and sister.
As we examine our text and focus our attention on the eighteenth verse I want to address three ideas presented in this verse and those ideas have to do with suffering, being tempted, and to succor. I will deal with suffering first. I think for the most of us the word suffering does not bring good ideas into our thinking. Perhaps our first thoughts are associated with psychological and physical pain, sickness, and disease. When we look at the root meaning of the Greek word translated as suffer in our text we find it means, to experience. So, Jesus experienced temptation, Scripture says He was tempted (or experienced temptation) at all points just as we are tempted.
Hebrews 4:15-16 (KJV)
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
The word ‘tempted’ in the preceding Scripture is the same as in our primary text. A convenient tool that I use when this word ‘tempt’ comes up is to substitute the phrase ‘to put up with’. Temptation is to be considered a nuisance, something the devil will never tire of presenting to us and we deal with victoriously every time just as Jesus did in the wilderness and other times.
Matthew 4:1 (KJV)
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Remember God does not at any time tempt any person to do evil, that is the work of the devil and it is not at the behest of God at any time. And I will throw in here that God does not test any person at any time with sickness and disease to perfect them or for any other purpose.
James 1:12-15 (KJV)
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
We are empowered (by Grace and the Blessing) to endure (experience and put up with and conqueror). James 1:12 suggests that the very crown of life (eternal life) is in jeopardy for those who do not exercise their God given empowerment to deal with temptation. On the other hand, those who love (are obedient to the Word, leadership of the Holy Spirit) God do possess the promise of eternal life. After all, succumbing to temptation is a violation of light (which is a volitional choice), a violation of what we know about the Word of God. It is a sin on purpose in our minds way before the physical act. There are times when we may not know why it is wrong, can’t think of a verse in the Bible or example, but we know it is wrong. That is our conscious, for the Christian the still small voice of the Holy Spirit.
I will continue with our discussion of suffering, temptation, and succoring tomorrow, Lord willing.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
MAILING ADDRESS: 3 Rosswood Green Lane, Unit Two, Oakland, Maine 04963
