TEMPTATION AND TESTING (lenten8)

I want to write about TEMPTATION & TESTING today as it is an important matter we need to give consideration too, and may we have greater understanding and appreciation for it and its purpose as we journey through Lent this year.
Many of us as children learnt to pray what is called the Lord’s prayer, which is better called the Disciples prayer. included in the prayer are the words “And lead us not into temptation”, which is a strange prayer suggesting that God can lead us into temptation.
Other translations express it this way:
Don’t bring us to temptation
Don’t let us yield to temptation
Rescue us from temptation
Keep us safe from ourselves and the devil.
Jesus in Matthew 26:41 says to the Disciples Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” As our flesh is weak Jesus is saying unless we WATCH AND PRAY we can cause ourselves to be tempted.
Temptation is a very subtle thing, and can so easily sneak up on us, so we need to be alert (watch) and recognise when the potential of temptation and sinning arises, we turn to the Lord in prayer
Let us not forget Jesus understood personally all about temptation we read in Matthew 4:1-11 NKJV of the Lord’s experience.
​ Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
But He answered and said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:
He shall give His angels charge over you,’
and,
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
Jesus said to him, “It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
Interestingly, we read that the Holy Spirit LED JESUS INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL, as we have seen God does not lead His people into temptation, but because He is Sovereign then God will PERMIT temptation to happen so we can learn how to deal with it in every situation.
Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 10:13 NKJV have come.
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 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.

IN THE MIDST OF EVERY TEMPTATION (WITHOUT EXCEPTION) GOD HAS A WAY OF ESCAPE FOR US, THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO YIELD TO IT.

Some Christians joke “THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT, but through the Grace of God and prayer, and using the spiritual weapons God has given us, we do not have to yield to temptation.
James tells us in his letter 1:12 NKJV Blessed is the man (happy and to be envied) who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 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. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Temptation  is God’s plan FOR TESTING US, He permits it because He loves us, and like Jesus in the wilderness we can also be VICTORIOUS.
I mentioned in a recent blog, the importance of having a Mentor in our lives, as often through lack of teaching and Biblical Discipleship many Christians do not know what God has available for them, so they can pass every text with an A+.
If you look at the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness in Matt.4. you will see Jesus used the weapon of the Word of God, (The Sword of the Spirit) and every time He was tempted His response was IT IS WRITTEN. His very first response in Matt. 4>4 NKJV Jesus said It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (RHEMA) that proceeds from the mouth of God.’
During this Lenten period, let us decide to be Men and Women of the WORD, and as we meditate more and more on it, FAITH WILL ARISE IN YOUR HEART MORE AND MORE AS YOU RECEIVE THE RHEMA WORD AND USE IT AGAINST THE EVIL ONE. Rom. 10:17 NKJV So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (RHEMA) of God.
As you use the Sword of the Spirit and RESIST THE DEVIL AND HIS TEMPTATIONS HE MUST FLEE.
I have only skimmed the surface regarding this whole area of temptation, I may have created many thoughts and questions in your mind, please write ([email protected] and let me help you answer them.
I do trust this blog has been an encouragement to you.