THE GRAND DESIGN

Greetings and Salutations Oh Ye Tempted...

 Temptation is defined in various dictionaries as:


1. the act of tempting; enticement or allurement.
2. something that tempts, entices, or allures.
3. the fact or state of being tempted, especially to evil.

Strong's Concordance defines the Greek word:

TEMPTATION:  peirasmos (pi-ras-mos')=From G3985; a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication adversity: - temptation, X try.  G3985:  peirazō

(pi-rad'-zo)=From G3984; to test (objectively), that is, endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline: - assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt (-er), try.  G3984:  peira (pi'-rah)=(through the idea of piercing); a test, that is, attempt, experience: - assaying, trial.

 Many times...as a Christian...I have been TEMPTED... and feel so weak, vulnerable, and as if I was a failure.  In Paul Clark's song HAND TO THE PLOW...one of the first lines states:

"I've felt the pressure of TEMPTATION, how the devil twists my situation."

Over the years...I have come to learn that being tempted is not a sign of my weakness...but a sign of the Lord being strong in me.  If you are being tempted...the devil knows that you are a threat to his dark kingdom.

Larry Napier once stated many years ago and it still rings true to me today..."Temptation is NOT designed to pull you INTO something...but it is designed to pull you AWAY from who you really are."  Sure the side effect is pulling you into something (adultery, drugs, gluttony, etc)... but the GRAND DESIGN by the devil is to distract you from your true purpose in live...TO PLEASE GOD.

"Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed and were created." (Revelation 4:11)

 On this BALL OF CONFUSION (aka planet earth, the terrestrial ball, 3rd Rock From The Sun)...The TEMPTATIONS put their musical finger on the problems of this world.

As we see in the first picture...Jesus was tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13)  If Jesus was tempted...do you think that the devil will have any consideration for you...and give us a free pass. 

"Therefore, He (Jesus) had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He (Jesus) might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For since He (Jesus)
 Himself was TEMPTED in that which He has suffered, He (Jesus) is able to come to the aid of those (that would be you and me) who are TEMPTED." (Hebrews 2:17-18)

The devil tried to distract and pull Jesus away from His purpose on planet earth.  The question is...how can we resist this demonic temptation (that will use our fleshly lusts)?  Well...the same way that Jesus dealt with the devil.

Jesus used...(1) The Word of God (2) The Holy Spirit of God (3) The Authority of God.  Read the Matthew, Mark and Luke passages to see Jesus in action.

What really matters...is how did this temptation model turn out in the end?

1.  "Then the devil LEFT Him and behold angels came and began to minister to Him." (Matthew 4:10)

2.  "And he was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were MINISTERING to Him." (Mark 1:13)

3.  "And when the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.  And Jesus returend to Galilee  IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT..." (Luke 4:13-14)

Well...your Heavenly Father has a GRAND DESIGN for you...based on Christ in you...the hope of glory...BUT the devil...the liar and father of lies...the stealer, the killer, the destroyer...the tempter...also has a GRAND DESIGN (well orchestrated schemes...Ephesians 6:11-13) to TEMPT you and pull you away from who you really are. 

We are called to join the REISTANCE FORCE.  The first step to join is to humble yourself and then the rest falls into place.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the might hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.  Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  But RESIST him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." (I Peter 5:6-9)

FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY

If you are goint to be a disciple of Jesus...a follower of your Lord...then we must follow and imitate His methods.  One of the things we follow Him in...is to learn the ways of dealing with TEMPTATION.

Love and Power In The Spirit Kisses
Rodney "Member of the Reisistance Force" Boyd