Tale of Two Temptations

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12)

The Bible is very clear. We all wrestle. Whether we believe it or not, or want to or not – we are told that each of us wrestles against the armies of darkness. There is much to say about this subject and how to be a better wrestler, but for now, I would like us to contrast two examples of how to handle the temptations of our mortal enemy. Which “technique” you employ will ultimately determine how successful you become as a wrestler.

Eve. The mother of us all, the very first woman – was perfect in every way. I am sure she was one of God’s greatest masterpieces. She didn’t, however, know much about wrestling. When she was tempted in the Garden of Eden, the enemy cleverly and diabolically twisted God’s command to her and her husband, and used every means at his disposal to get her to question God’s goodness and plan for the young couple. The first six verses of Genesis, chapter 3 tell the sad tale.

Satan began to plant doubt in her mind and made her question God’s authority, His words and His goodness. He convinced her that God didn’t really didn’t mean what He said, and that He must be holding out on them. Then you can almost feel her pondering and evaluating as it says, she “saw the fruit was good and pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for wisdom”. She was mulling over what the serpent had said and weighing her options. Next, she reached an agreement in her mind that this guy must be right. Then, she decided to choose against God and turn her back on Him. She decided that she knew best what was best for her, and for her husband. She was then thrown to the mat and  pinned.  One, two, three – match over.

Now, compare that situation to another we find in Luke 4:1-13. This time, Jesus has been led out into the wilderness to be tempted. He has been fasting for forty days and very vulnerable and weak. Then, in typical fashion, Satan comes to offer a convenient and “easy” way out. Let’s see how he handles it:

Jesus had been tempted by the devil himself for 40 days. At the end of this time he was obviously tired, thirsty, hungry and vulnerable. Satan came to him at his weakest point – hunger. He was starving. Have you ever tried fasting for three days? A week? Longer? It is excruciating. And here he is after forty days, and Satan comes along and says “all you have to do is…..”. What did Jesus do? How did he respond?

KEY POINT – You don’t see any evidence that Jesus gave any thought to what Satan was offering. Unlike Eve, Jesus didn’t stop to ponder the “what if’s” of the proposition. He didn’t even give it the time of day. He immediately and forcefully quoted God’s word and rebuffed the temptation. One Point for Jesus.

With each of the next two temptations, Jesus’ response was again the same. Nothing pondered. Nothing considered, weighed or calculated. Nothing agreed to. He immediately rebuked the thoughts with God’s appropriate word, and the round was over. Points #2, #3 and MATCH. Jesus wins!

Satan gives up and leaves – for the time being. He will be back. There will be more matches.

Eve tried to overcome the temptation using her own logic, reasoning and willpower – no can do. Satan has the advantage every single time.

Jesus overcame quickly and completely by responding verbally with God’s word and authority. He showed us how we can do the same when it happens to us.

James 4:7

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Jesus was submitted to God. He resisted (instead of pondered) immediately using God’s word – and Satan fled from him. He tells us to do the same. Be sure and notice the promise that accompanies this action – he WILL flee from you. Not “he might” flee, or “will eventually” flee – he WILL flee.

Match Over !

Victoria’s Secret

Actually, it’s no secret at all. Man’s primary sex organ is our eyes – and today’s marketing firms and retail outlets know it full well. We are instinctively attracted to beauty – and not just female beauty. We love being outdoors, fishing, hiking, camping, hunting, biking – because we are drawn to God’s beauty in creation. The cool, crisp Fall air. The sight of mallards cupping to land in your hunting hole. A beautiful rainbow trout on the end of your line. Mountains, beaches, rivers, etc., – these are things of beauty. Something deep in our masculine soul shouts “Yes!” when we experience things like these.

Trouble is – one of the most beautiful things God ever created is called “woman”. When Adam laid eyes on her, he exclaimed “WOW”. I am sure Eve was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen – and he had seen them all. Ever since, man has been magnetically attracted to beautiful women. It truly is in our DNA to look. Our wives don’t really understand because their DNA isn’t like that. They notice attractive men, but they are not as tempted to linger as we are, and there in is the potential problem.

It’s not the looking that is the problem, it’s the lingering, the pondering, the imagining that entices us. Remember what James tells us in James 1:14-15 – But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 

Looking is not the temptation. Looking is not the sin. It is actually possible for a man to look upon a beautiful woman and say “wow, she is beautiful” and not sin at all.

The danger is what happens in our mind. See the words in the above verse – lured, enticed by his own desire. If we are not walking in the Spirit, and actively taking our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ, we will not be able to withstand the enemy’s luring, justifying voice of temptation. It is our mind that is the primary battlefield for this, and all other, spiritual battles. That is why it is critical for all of us to constantly renew our minds with the Word, and actively practice taking our thoughts captive.

The Word tells us very plainly and emphatically – “Above ALL else, guard your heart (mind)”. Above all else is a pretty bold statement. In Romans 12:2 we are instructed to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that God’s Word judges the thoughts and attitudes of our heart (mind). The way to freedom over lust and sexual temptation is to do just that. We must marinate our minds in God’s Word every single day. We have to know what He says and what He offers us in order to even be willing to take our thoughts captive.

If you are being lured away by looking, or lingering….. the Bible is very clear – flee.

Don’t think, just run. Turn away and run to the Word. Guard your heart.

Victoria knows our secret. But we also know hers.

Huz

Noise

        A few years ago my wife and I traveled back to one of our favorite places – Jackson Hole, WY. One morning we drove up to Yellowstone National Park and were once again completely captivated by God’s grandeur, His majesty, and creativity. The mountains, the rivers, geysers, wildlife (moose, elk, buffalo, etc.) make us want to get a job, pitch a tent (you can’t afford a house) and move there. We love it!

The Falls in Yellowstone are huge. They are majestic and beautiful – and LOUD. You can walk down a trail right beside them and get very wet from the spray. You can’t hear a thing.

I thought about the Falls the other day as I was struggling to pray and hear from God. There seemed to be so much “noise” in my head that blocked out what God might be speaking. I couldn’t quit thinking about my busy day at work, the couple we needed to hook up with for counseling, the blog post that needed to be written, the website I’m working on, my kids, my grandkids, etc., etc. My mind was flooded with noise. I knew God was present. I knew He was speaking. I just couldn’t hear Him.

I hate it when that happens. I so want to hear from God about all my life issues, but I can’t dial in His frequency. All I hear is static.  He reminded me that I have an enemy who desperately doesn’t want me to meet with God, and who produces most of the static in my life and in my mind. I spoke out loud a brief prayer to rebuke him from my time, and to flee from my mind. And, just like the Word says, he fled from me. What a relief. It was as if someone had turned off the Falls. All of a sudden – silence. Blessed stillness – and a one-on-One dialogue with my Father.

What noise is playing in your head? Work, yard work, do-list, vacation, in-laws, finances, politics, evening news, soccer tournament, heat and humidity…? There seem to be thousands of things that the enemy uses to occupy or distract our minds from what really matters in our life and in our marriage. Ideas that work for me (feel free to comment about what works for you) include:

1. Pray out loud to God. Silent (mind) prayers get the most disrupted for me. Thinking prayers instead of praying prayers tend to get interrupted more often for me. Use of a crafted prayer can keep me on track when I am being sidetracked. (Email me if you want a copy)

2. Resist the enemy and he WILL flee from you (see James). He cannot hear your thoughts, so remember to speak out loud. Simply tell him to leave your mind and thoughts in the name of Jesus.

3. Listen to more worship/Christian music throughout the day, and watch less news and sports. “as a man thinketh, so is he”.  “Above all else, guard your heart” – above ALL else guard what goes into your heart (mind).

If you can’t hear what God is saying because of the noise in your mind – do something about it. Don’t miss another day. You’re missing vital information….

Huz