TEMPTATION – PART 1

Although it can be used positively in Scripture, we most often associate temptation with giving in to sin and evil. The Bible teaches that temptation to sin is satan’s main activity in our lives -- although our own selfishness and appetites certainly make the tempter’s work easier.

EXPERIENCING TEMPTATION

WHY IS IT SO EASY TO GIVE IN TO TEMPTATION?

TEMPTATION IS PART OF A CRAFTY PLAN THAT APPEALS TO OUR NATURAL DESIRES IN ATTEMPT TO SEPARATE US FROM YHVH.

Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures YHVH Elohim had made. Really? he asked the woman. Did YHVH really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden? -- Genesis 3:1. Disguised as a crafty serpent, the evil one came to tempt Eve. He at one time was an angel who rebelled against YHVH and was thrown out of heaven. As a created being, the evil one has definite limitations. Although he is trying to tempt everyone away from YHVH, he will not be the final victor. In 3:14-15, YHVH promises that the evil one will be crushed by one of the woman’s offspring, HaMoshiach.

TEMPTATION IS AN INVITATION TO LIVE A SELF-SERVING LIFE THAT LEADS TO REBELLION AGAINST YHVH.

Temptation is satan’s invitation to give in to his kind of life and give up on YHVH’s kind of life. Satan tempted Eve and succeeded in getting her to sin. Ever since then, he’s been busy getting people to sin. He even tempted Yeshua - Matthew 4:1. But Yeshua did not sin!

TEMPTATION FEEDS OFF OUR OWN TENDENCY TOWARD SELF-RELIANCE.

The serpent, the evil one, tempted Eve by getting her to doubt YHVH’s goodness. He implied that YHVH was strict, stingy and selfish for not wanting Eve to share His knowledge of good and evil. Satan made Eve forget all that YHVH had given her and instead focus on the one thing she couldn’t have. We fall into trouble too, when we dwell on the few things we don’t have rather than on the countless things YHVH has given us. The next time you are feeling sorry for yourself and thinking about what you don’t have, consider all you do have and thank YHVH. Then your doubts won’t lead you into sin.

TEMPTATION IS SUBTLE; WHAT IT OFFERS MAY SEEM HARMLESS AT FIRST GLANCE.

Do not be trapped into following their example in worshiping their gods. Do not say: How do these nations worship their gods? I want to follow their example. -- Deuteronomy 12:30. YHVH did not want the Israelites even to ask about the pagan religions surrounding them. Idolatry completely permeated the land of Canaan. It was too easy to get drawn into the subtle temptations of seemingly harmless practices. Sometimes curiosity can cause us to stumble. Knowledge of evil is harmful if the evil becomes too tempting to resist. To resist curiosity about harmful practices shows discretion and obedience.

TEMPTATION OFTEN HITS HARDEST IN OUR AREAS OF WEAKNESS.

Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon and from among the Hittites. Elohim had clearly instructed His people not to intermarry with those nations, because the women they married would lead them to worship their gods. Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. -- 1 Kings 11:1-2. For all his wisdom, Solomon had some weak spots. He could not say no to compromise or to lustful desires. Whether he married to strengthen political alliances or to gain personal pleasure, these foreign wives led him into idolatry. You may have strong faith, but you also have weak spots -- and that is where temptation usually strikes. Strengthen and protect your weaker areas, because a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If Solomon, the wisest man could fall, so can you.

TEMPTATION CAN STRIKE ANY AREA OF LIFE.

Yeshua was led out into the wilderness by Ruach HaKodesh to be tempted there by the devil. -- Matthew 4:1. The devil focused on three crucial areas when he tempted Yeshua:

1 -- physical needs and desires
2 -- possessions and power and
3 -- pride -- see 1 John 2:15-16 for a similar list.

But Yeshua did not give in. Hebrews 4:15 says that Yeshua: faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did not sin. He knows first-hand what we are experiencing, and He is willing and able to help us in our struggles. When you are tempted, turn to Him for strength.

RESISTING TEMPTATION

HOW CAN WE RESIST TEMPTATION?

RESISTANCE BEGINS WITH BEING AWARE OF TEMPTATION WHEN IT STRIKES.

The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise! So, she ate some of the fruit. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. Then he ate it, too. -- Genesis 3:6. How could Eve have resisted temptation? By following the same guidelines, we can follow. First, we must realize that temptation in itself is not a sin. We do not sin until we give in to the temptation. To resist temptation, we must

1 -- pray for strength to resist,
2 -- run, sometimes literally and
3 -- say no when confronted with what we know is wrong. James 1:12 tells of the blessings and rewards for those who don’t give in when tempted.

So, our bus is in the shop for now. It needs some work to get it ready to pass inspection. So far, we have replaced the fuel pump, alternator, new belts and 2 new batteries. Rick fixed the hole in the floor in front of the drivers seat and was working of repairing some surface cracks in the fiberglass before it got cold.

While we wait for the bus, we have a LOT of other things to do in preparation to leave. One of the biggest challenges is letting go of stuff you can't take with you. We plan on living in our bus full time and what wont fit in the bus or jeep...it has to go. We are experiencing first hand what it must have felt like in Yeshua's parable for "a camel to fit through the eye of a needle." We are by no means rich, but over time...well, you accumulate a LOT OF STUFF.

Rick and I began our house purge last summer. We have already cleared out our storage unit, sold our second vehicle, given away most of our furniture and sold all our extra electronics and surplus music equipment. We both have whittled down our clothing and shoes to where everything fits in a single size closet and and 4 dresser drawers. Even with donating over have our wardrobe...we still have clothes we don't wear! Looks like another closet purge is due!

Just want to say, Morning to everyone. Hope you all will have a good day.

https://www.headcoveringmoveme....nt.com/articles/how- #daughtersofyah

"And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever." 1 Chronicles 28:9 "Yah is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

"And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever." 1 Chronicles 28:9 "Yah is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

"And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever." 1 Chronicles 28:9 "Yah is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it.
Exodus 20:25

The altar of unhewn stone contains a metaphor of our salvation: It is a work done solely by the power of God. No effort or device of man can remove the stain of sin from our souls.