Saturday – December 14, 2024, Kislev 13, 5785
THE KINGDOM OF GOD – PART SEVENTEEN
TEMPTATION IS A CHOICE
Video link: https://youtu.be/sNYoMnehZTo
Greetings dear ones and welcome back to this essential study of the Kingdom of God and repentance. Why is it essential? It is essential because this is what Jesus talked about most of the time. If it was important to Him, it is vital that we seek to understand every aspect of the Kingdom of God and repentance following in His footsteps. As we move forward let’s again review our anchor, Scripture.
Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Last Sunday we left off examining the following Scripture concerning the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 6:13 (KJV)
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
We can see here that we are to implore, even command the Father to not lead us into temptation but instead help us to avoid evil. As we will see when we pick this up this coming Saturday, God does not actively tempt anyone. Temptations come to us all whether they become a temptation or not is our choice. One may point to Jesus being led of the Holy Spirit to be tested of Satan. This is a very special case. Jesus had to pass the tests that Adam and Eve failed. And he did indeed pass with flying colors. Being led into temptation and temptations coming to us are very different. Also, as we will see we sometime of our own freewill go where we should not go. First, temptations come to us.
1 Corinthians 10:12-14 (NKJV)
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 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 of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
First, we are warned not to be proud, thinking it cannot happen to us. Next, we find that the Lord will not allow something to come to us that we cannot handle (our choice) and with the temptation He provides a way of escape. He, God, did not bring the temptation but brought a way of escape. Then we are told to flee from idolatry. So, we see here that pride (thinking it can’t happen to me) and idolatry (putting something, some activity, or someone ahead of God) are keys to failing in a temptation. Before I end for today in our study of repentance and the Kingdom of God let’s look to the Book of James.
James 1:13-16 (NKJV)
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
It is clear here that God is not the tempter but we ourselves.
TAKE HOME:
- God never tempts us to do evil, but He allows those temptation but not beyond what we could resist if we chose.
- Pride and idolatry are keys to failure in temptation.
- In temptation we are our own worst enemy being drawn away of our own lust (inordinate desire for something contrary to the will of God). This brings death of various sorts into our life.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here with our study of the Kingdom of God tomorrow. The Lord is good, He is not the source of our problems, neither is the devil, and He cannot lie! God loves you; we love you, and there is nothing you can do about either one.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
REMINDERS
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