Almost Persuaded

Almost Persuaded
Brian Reid, NTUBC, February 17, 2008

(Story; The Perfect Gift)

God uses us, in extraordinary ways; as we serve, give, and help those around us. But, he also uses our mistakes as well.

John the elderly carpenter, had lost his glasses, a stupid thing to do, after spending all the money his family had on them. But, God used that mistake, as a blessing to someone else.

God works in mysterious and amazing ways.

Could it be, that God wants to use your mistake, in an extraordinary way? Could it be, that the purpose of your mistake, is to serve as a warning for someone else?

God uses our sin, for noble purposes. A mistake I make, the punishment I receive, and all that I loose, sets an example, and provides a warning for someone else. A ‘don’t do this’ message.


Temptation is an enticement, a lure, bait, to get you to do something (that you wouldn’t normally do), something you know is wrong, something you don’t want to do, but the appeal and attraction is too strong to resist.

James 1:14 tells us;
“Temptation comes from the lure of…our own evil desires.”

And even though we may be new creations in Christ, some of our old sinful ways linger – mainly, because they serve a purpose. Either, as a connection back to sin, or, a path that leads to God’s strength.

Temptation is a test; a test of our self-control. Christians often wonder, after becoming a follower of Christ, why they still have such attractions.

God (sometimes) allows Satan to tempt us, in order to refine our faith, and to help us grow in dependence on Him. We can resist the temptation to sin, by turning to God for strength and choosing to obey His Word.

We must defend ourselves against these attacks; also, we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into situations, where our self-control is weakened, and the danger of sin awaits. This is where temptation is born, and develops, into sin.

Temptation comes when we least expect it, and it can, and often does, disguise itself as a need or a want. It comes, first as a simple thought, then as that idea lingers, it evolves into a pulling and a longing. Left unchecked, this idea will be amplified, into a full-blown deception; resulting in a sin.

So, how do we defend ourselves against such trickery?

Exactly how Jesus did: through prayer, by the support of our Christian friends, and by going to the scriptures.

In the new Testament, we find many examples of how Jesus got away from the crowds, and separated Himself from His disciples. Luke 5:16; “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

Jesus also visited with His friends, as a way to renew and rejuvenate Himself; such when He visited with Martha and Mary – in Luke 10.

Sometimes, that is all that is needed, a time away, to regain one's composure and recapture one’s self-control. Such when Jesus heard about the death of John the Baptist - in Matthew 14, He went off by Himself to be alone.

But, the most secure way, we can defend ourselves against such temptations, is to search the scriptures, return to the Word, seeking refuge in the Good News of the Gospel. Your Bible is your greatest protection against temptation.

(The Temptation of Christ)

As we look at our scripture lesson for today, let me set the scene for you:

Just before this, John baptizes Jesus, in the River Jordan; and just after this, Jesus begins His ministry in Galilee.

So, here, is Satan’s last ditch effort to derail, disable, and destroy Jesus’ ministry; and all the wonderful things that will come from it. And that’s what we’re looking at today.

Verse 1;
After Jesus was baptized, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted by the Devil.

This temptation was actually, a testing - for the purposing of proving. God tests the faith of the righteous, and Jesus was no exception.

The Devil hoped to prove Jesus, unfaithful to His Father, but God allowed Jesus to be tempted, to show that He was the Son of God, able to overcome the Devil - and all his tricks and lies.

God also led Israel into the Wilderness, to humble and test them. We, too, will be tested, and it is through, true obedience to God that our trails will short-lived.

Verse 2;
Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights, and the tempter came and said;

“If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

Hunger is one of the most, basic, human, needs, and since Jesus was fully human, Satan thought this might be Jesus’ breaking point.

But Jesus answered;

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’”
Next, in verse 5;

The Devil took Him to the Holy City, Jerusalem, and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said;

“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will give angels charge over You, and on their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.’”

Here, Satan was counting on Jesus’ human condition of dissatisfaction with God’s methods and timing. Often, we loose faith, and (almost) demand, that God do something to prove His existence, and His love for us. We should never try and manipulate God, by asking for signs; when they’re all around us.

In verse 7, Jesus responded;

“Again it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord your God.’”

Then, the Devil took Jesus to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the Devil said;

“All these I will give You, if You will fall down and worship me.”

Here is another one of the many lies from Satan. He had no power what-so-ever, to give Jesus (or anybody else) the nations of the world. Satan was trying to distort Jesus’ perspective, by making Him focus on worldly power – and not on God’s divine plan.
Also, Satan was trying to trick Jesus into worshiping him.

Jesus then replied; verse 10;

“Begone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and Him, only, shall you serve.’”

Finally, Jesus rebuked Satan by telling him that only God deserved worship and service; thus Jesus overcame, conquered, and crushed Satan’s last and final temptation.

The Devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.


The temptations of Satan are strong, many and relentless, but through the scriptures we can conquer all of them – just as Jesus had done.

Conclusion
But, what about those times when temptation is too strong to overcome, and you slip and fall – you sin.

Well, God uses us in extraordinary ways, and, he also uses our mistakes as well. Remember, John the elderly carpenter, and his mistake, and how God used those glasses to bring a blessing, to someone else, half-way around the world.

Your mistake, your sin, your giving in to temptation, could be a blessing (in disguise) for someone else.
Also, your mistake could set an example for someone else – not, to follow. What a gift, what an amazing gift you could give to someone else.

In essence, your example of wrong-doing has said to that person; “I have made this choice, I have done this, and it was the wrong thing to do – so be warned, and don’t make the same mistake that I have made.”

Even though you may have done something so very stupid, God has taken that and used it for good.

As Phyllis, Larry, and April will agree;
“The whole point of teachers, is for those being taught, to get along without a teacher.”

For those of us, who make a bad choose, who sin, or give in to temptation, we can be called teachers, if we turn to God; repent and ask for forgiveness.

There is no shame in sinning and asking for forgiveness; as we learn and teach from our mistakes. But if we sin, feel no remorse, do not repent, and no one ever learns from those mistakes - there is shame.

It is so very easy to blame others, and make excuses for our evil thoughts and wrong actions. We can rationalize, justify, and minimize our giving in to temptation; but these are nothing more than excuses.

But the good news is that through repentance, we can all have forgiveness.

But the good news is that through prayer - focused, directed prayer, and lots of it, we can overcome any temptation.
But the good news is that by the support of our Christian friends, their guidance, the examples they set (both good and bad), we can overcome any temptation.

But the good news is by going to the scriptures, as Jesus did, searching out those passages that strengthen, encourage and deliver us, we can over come any temptation.

And you, then, can say, I was “Almost Persuaded,” but God saved me.

Let’s pray: