TEMPTATION & TESTING (Lenten9)

I want to continue on with some thoughts from my last blog about temptation and testing. Every Believer is tempted, end we must be convinced that we have been given all the necessary weapons to deal with every temptation, and that as James tells us, “we are to count it all joy when we are tempted and tested” James 1:2 KJV. Paul tells us that IN EVERYTHING (including temptation) we are to give thanks 1Thess. 5:18 KJV.
I want us to look at the three temptations of Jesus, Theologians tell us that all temptations fall into three categories, so we can look at these three to get a better understanding of temptations. There is a set of three words that will help us to understand this.
THE FIRST TEMPTATION
Matt. 4:3 NKJV Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
These are the temptations that seek to give us PLEASURE.
THE SECOND TEMPTATION 
Matt. 4:5-6 NKJV 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”.
These are the temptations that seek give us PRESTIGE
THE THIRD TEMPTATION
Matt. 4:8-9 KJV 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.”
These are the temptations that seek to give us POWER
Another Scholar has suggested the three area of temptation can be described as :
GOLD
GALS (OR GUYS)
GLORY
The challenge during this Lenten period is for us to get a fresh  revelation of the power of the Word of God as the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, and for us to learn to use it against every temptation as Jesus did. Let me remind you that the Sword of the Spirit is the Rhema Word of God, so what must we do?
We must spend quality time in the Word of God EVERY DAY
We must learn to meditate on the Word of God EVERY DAY
I suggest we read the same passage in various translations
We have also prepared out heart to receive the Word by PRAYER & WORSHIP
We pray and ask the Holy Spirit TO TURN THE LIGHT ON AND LET THE LOGOS BECOME THE RHEMA WORD.
Let us never forget that in every temptation (without exception) THERE IS A WAY OF ESCAPE 1 Cor..10:13 NKJV 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.
Temptation begins in our mind, and we must learn to quickly KICK THE THOUGHT OUT Paul says in 2 Cor.10:4-5 KJV (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) CASTING DOWN imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; This is how the devil started with Eve.
She did not immediately reject the lies of the devil, and her EMOTIONS WERE STIRRED.She saw the fruit looked good to eat. So she made a DECISION OF HER WILL and took the fruit.
By the time the emotions are stirred, we have just about lost the battle, that is why we must deal with it as soon as the temptation enters our mind.
This is why Paul tells us that we must CONTINALLY SURRENDER our body to the Lord
With its Drives, HUNGER, SEX, SURVIVAL
With its senses, SEEING, HEARING, TOUCHING, TASTING, SMELLING.
Then our SOUL MAN
Our MIND which is the battlefield of the soul
Our EMOTIONS, unless God controls them we will shipwreck our lives
Our WILL we must learn to let Jesus become.
The Lord
The Boss
The Master
The King
The Ruler
The Owner
The President OF OUR LIFE 24/7
Let me encourage you to read this blog two or three times, and let this truth get into your heart, and as we learn to deal with temptation, then we will have moved into a deeper relationship with the Lord. Amen.