TEMPTATION

A WEEK OF LENT STUDIES: FROM THURSDAY NIGHT @ COOPERS

Last Friday Psalm 27 – we were reminded that we have choices in life

· To despair or hope

· To be bitter or to accept experiences as they are and grow

QUESTION: what do you choose naturally?

In making our choices, we need to remember what Jeremiah 29 told us on Saturday:

God’ plans are to prosper you – to give you hope and a future.

QUESTION: do you remember this when hardship comes? And do you look at how to work WITH God?

On Monday we read from Psalm 62

We see that the basis of David’s life is trust in God even while men assault him.

There is a contrast between vision of sense and vision of faith

vision of sense -David felt like a ‘leaning wall / a tottering fence’: not very secure

vision of faith – but David KNEW God was his ‘rock, fortress, high tower’ – security.

QUESTION: Do you put more faith in your own feelings than in what you know of God?

Tuesday gave us Psalm 25 with the words ‘show me, teach me. Guide me’

QUESTION; do I desire guidance from God?

The psalmist says’ show me your ways, your truths, your paths’ – not show me the answers.

QUESTION: when you pray, do you ask for answers or guidance?

And so Wednesday brought us to the temptation of Jesus in Mark 1

Quite a short account of the temptation: the questions Jesus was asked and how he answered are not here but in the other gospel records

Yet we know Jesus had a ‘scripture test’

QUESTION: how would I fare in a scripture test? How do I fare in daily life calling to mind appropriate scriptures?

Mark tells us that the spirit sent (DROVE) Jesus into the wilderness

The Greek for this word ‘drove’ is EKBALLO

- To drive forth with a force that cannot be resisted

- - to compel one to depart

From Matthew 4 v 1-11

· is not bad for us / giving in is.

· Is an opportunity to disobey – if you never have temptation you never get the chance to show true obedience.

· Your convictions are only strong if they hold up under pressure.

· Often comes after a spiritual high – satan chooses his moments

1. PHYSICAL TEMPTATION / HUNGER / UNBELIEF

Will God provide?

The temptation here is impatience – to prove I can do it?

Turning a stone to bread is inconsistent with the creative powers of God.

2. EMOTIONAL TEMPTATION / SECURITY

Will God protect?

The temptation here is the need to test God – to demand His presence.

3. PHYSCHOLOGICAL TEMPTATION / IDOLATRY

Who will rule?

The temptation here is for quick power, an easy solution.

HEBREWS 4 V 15: we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.