Life Capsule for Today Date 9th August, 2022
Theme: Overcoming Temptation (3)
Text: Matt 6:13
13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. NKJV
Topic: Biblical examples of temptation
Today’s Reading: Acts 5:3-4
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. KJV
Words of the Ministry:
Amen, still on the theme overcoming temptation, we have learnt that temptation is common to all, we have also seen few reasons why God permits temptation. We took some time to distinguish between suffering, testing and temptation. We learnt that while suffering is a natural consequence of this fallen world, avoidance of it could be the reason why many are easily tempted. Obeying God could also result in suffering as that is why many try to cut corners. Testing like we learnt yesterday also comes from God and the goal is to improve on our relationship with God unlike temptation whose goal is to make us sin. Today I would be considering about 3 examples of individuals in the new testament who were tempted.
The first example I like to consider is our Lord, Jesus Christ, in Luke 4.1-13. We would immediately notice that Jesus the Son of God despite being sinless and at that time just completing a 40 days fast was tempted by the devil and verse 13 says after 3 trials the devil left him for a while, this would tell us that we can never be too holy to be tempted neither is there a time the devil can’t come tempting. We would see from this account that the evil used Jesus’ greatest need which was food, again knowing Jesus wanted to win the world to his father and for the world to be won, one of the requirement was that they believe he is the son of God (1 John 5.1), so the devil against tempted him based on his mission and lastly he was tested based on the glory he was to restore for mankind. Jesus was to restore what Adam lost to the devil in the garden through high treason. So we see the devil tempting Jesus on those things that were of value to him, his purpose for living, those things that really matter, just as he tempts many of us today on the matters of finance, marriage, career, health etc.
The second example I like to point out here is Judas (Luke 22.1-6), the bible said while the Chief priest was planning to kill Jesus, Satan entered into Judas to connive with them to kill his master. Again we see the tempter in action, because he (Judas) couldn’t resist the thought, the tempter pushed him to sin. Satan again came as a thought in Judas and had already prepared some accomplice to carry out the evil plan with some other benefits like money and influence with the chief priest and political class. Here we see the lust of the world and the pride of life. Judas preferred money fame and recognition to the Lord. Check with your experience, why are you easily tempted to sin, is it not because of fame, money, recognition and respect, many today are still selling their Lord because they want to keep their relationships with those of the opposite religion. They are not bold to stand up for Jesus.
We have seen an example of the devil tempting Jesus within himself and all he was to do was to done alone within himself, we also saw Judas who needed some accomplices to carry out the tempters proposition, the third example I like to consider is in Acts 5.1-10, A couple named Ananias and his wife connived with the devil to lie to the church for vain glory, they wanted to appear religious and boost their ego before the church. The devil deceived them to lie to the church and that led to their premature death. Again we see the devil tempting the member of the church over religious activities. Many today has become an instrument in the hand of the devil but are been deceived by religion, when an individual steals to give the church, steal from the offering box, use the proceed of the church for personal benefit because you are the pastor or even tell lies to motivate member to give, you are in the same situation like Annanias, we must be careful as the devil seeks who he may devour.
Bible in One Year: Isiah 43-46
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