Beloved, I glad to share with you today on the encouragement toward those who go through temptation. In the previous teaching, we saw Eve completely losing perspective in a situation that was bound to challenge her. Encouragement is essentially to urge you to follow the footsteps and to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who took our transgressions upon him by his supreme sacrifice on the cross, and through a life of endless obedience.
Our Lord Jesus Christ knows our abilities and knows to what intensity of trial he can subject us, intensity bearable by humans. And because we invite fear when temptation occurs, we tend to make it easier for the tempter. Yet the Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 10.13: ” No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” This is to say that we have the means to face it.
Let’s also remember that in the desert, the children of Israel were almost all dead because they had quickly forgotten that the Almighty Lord opened the Red Sea to bring them out of slavery, and that He swallowed under the waters the powerful army of Pharaoh. They did not fear the Lord and disobey him by committing idolatry. Fortunately, several centuries later, the Lord Jesus redeemed us by ruling over death and the devil; he also dominated temptation in the desert. This is why it is written in Hebrews 2.18: “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
So, we should invoke the Lord Jesus to encourage and support us at the moment of temptation, with the conviction that with him we will be more than winners. On the other hand, our choice to resist by faith develops our patience, as written in James 1.2-3: 2 “2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
It is precisely this patience that lacked to the children of Israel who did not wait for Moses to come down from the mountain where he went to receive the tables of the law from the Lord. That’s why they perished, whereby patience would have allowed them to receive the crown of life that was promised. This is written in James 1.12: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
It is therefore important to note that all pious men are always delivered from trial by the Lord, as 2 Peter 2.9 tells us: ” if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.”
And last but not least is the encouragement we read in Revelation 3.10: “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. “
Indeed, we live end times and it is essential that we always keep the word of the Almighty Lord so that in turn he keeps us at the time of temptation and thus, preserve our crown at the end of the fight of which we will have been victorious. Our prayers are with all of you.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows :
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all adoration, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to revert on your queries and comments as necessary, before sharing with you next week on the temptation of Christ.
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you in abundance.
David Feze, Servant of the Lord of armies.