Message from Pastor Leo

December 01, 2007

     Temptation has ruined a lot of people’s lives.  They start their day with good intentions, and end up sinning because they don’t understand what temptation really is and how it works.  Even Christians end up sinning when circumstances arise, or something happens for which they were not prepared.  It’s like rolling a boulder into their path and they have to figure out how to get around it.  The world tells us, “The end justifies the means, and if you have to cheat or steal a little bit so overall good can result, that’s okay.”  How many times have you lied because telling the lie would take care of that other lie, and then that other lie?  That’s how people get themselves into so much trouble, even Christians, because they don’t understand how temptation works.

     Right in the beginning, the Bible tells us, “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made..” Genesis 3:1   Satan is subtle, so it follows that his methods - temptations - are subtle.  We need to know the enemy and his methods so we can watch out for them.  One sure-fire thing to keep in mind: when you have to break God’s law to do a good thing, it will very quickly turn into a bad thing.  

     Sadly, I believe every one will have a deep personal experience with temptation in their life.  All mankind does.  Everyone who’s ever lived knows what temptation is.  And don’t be fooled, temptation is a real part of our Christian experience.

    I wish we could become Christians and then all sin, temptation, and evil would just go away and leave us for good.  Wouldn’t that be great?  But it’s almost as if the opposite happens.  Once we become Christians, Satan unleashes all Hell against us, and we are tempted.  But his temptations start out subtly.  Remember, “the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.”

     Jesus said of Satan, “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44   Satan is a subtle liar.  He lives to taunts us and to oppresses us.  He hinders us, he beguiles us, he tempts us all the time, around the clock.  That’s what Satan does.  Even when we, the believers, are trying our best to worship, to read the Bible, or to spend time in personal prayer, our thoughts go haywire.  Many times filthy thoughts arise as distractions.  Why?  Because Satan wants to distract our heart from truly loving and worshiping the Lord.  Don’t get angry at yourself.  Don’t give up and stop reading or praying.  That’s exactly what Satan wants!  He doesn’t want you to grow in your relationship with God, because if you are closer to God it will be harder to lead you into sin.

     What can we do?  How can we ever stand up under the pressure?  How do we keep from falling into temptation?

     We can’t.  Not by ourselves.  We are led into temptation because of our sin nature.  Our sin nature makes us easy prey for temptation.  Sin is usually the easy way through life.  It’s often the more immediately exciting path, and that’s what our nature craves.  But Jesus told us, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him.” I John 2:15   Is there anything you don’t understand about that?  There are two loves: the love of the world, and the love of the Father.  You’re either strong in one or you’re strong in the other, but you can’t have both at the same time.  There’s no way.

     We need to be strong in the Father.  We can’t fight temptation unless we are strong in the Father, unless we have a solid relationship with Him.  The stronger our relationship, the more quickly we’ll recognize temptation.  Then we can stop and pray and ask God to protect us from the subtleties of Satan.  We can cry out to the Holy Spirit to take control of our hearts and minds and to show us the lies.  When we draw closer to Jesus, we can stop what we’re doing or thinking and ask Him to show us the deceit and the temptations of the moment, and to fight for us.

     How do we develop those relationships with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?  By reading the Bible; by taking in more of The Word than of the world.  Jesus told us, “You have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true.  For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie.  So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ” 1 John 2:27

     Remain in Jesus Christ.  Draw closer to Him and seek His wisdom and His guidance when distractions come and when you’re tempted.  Draw closer to Jesus by reading your Bible.  Expect distractions and temptations while you’re doing it, but just keep reading.

May the Lord Jesus Christ Be Magnified!

Pastor Leo A. Giovinetti