OVERCOMING TEMPTATION

The lesson of Temptation in our life is one in recognition and then avoidance. There are other words we can use in our vocabulary that denote a more positive meaning of the consideration of something - like persuasion. But the word Temptation carries along with it the enticement and alluring of one to something forbidden.

For many of us, I feel sure that we remember the first great temptation in The Garden of Eden. Because of the human failure in that temptation, other temptations would arrive on the scene quicker than one can blink. The Knowledge of Good and Evil now gave the power to individuals to persuade someone to follow God's ways or tempt people to choose a sinful or rebellious lifestyle.

Many years later, the Holy Spirit would lead Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. Let us be clear. The Holy Spirit was NOT the tempter. That role falls to Satan. The Holy Spirit had just anointed Jesus at His baptism and Christ's ministry was beginning. 

However, this temptation was supernaturally specific to Christ. In the wilderness for forty days and forty nights, Jesus was enticed with all kinds of seductions. The reader is shown only three, but with forty days and nights you know there were plenty more. The outcome here and throughout the rest of His life is said best by Paul in Hebrews 4:15 -

"For 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."

This was Christ's burden for our sake. Later when Jesus is teaching His disciples how to pray, He includes the request - "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil [or the evil one in some translations]" (Matthew 6:13). Jesus desires us to affirm in our prayers to Father God that Jesus has taken care of all temptations and to not allow them to come near - "and lead us not into temptation". But even moreso totally liberate us from the presence of evil in our lives - "but deliver us from evil".

This does not mean temptations will not come and we will not fall into them from time to time. So for that the Holy Spirit uses Paul once again and says -

"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." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

There are some wonderful things to take notice of in this promissory passage.

1. You will not be thrown a curve-ball of a problem. The temptation you will experience is "common to man".
2. God is faithful in being by your side and only allowing the amount of temptation you can bear.
3. God goes the step further and provides a way out of the temptation, even though you may have to endure the tempting for a spell. God is still with you as He points and says, "This is the way out".

Whatever may come before you on a daily basis the first step is recognition. Recognizing that temptation is the scheme being used against you gives you the advantage. Then with God's help avoidance altogether is the best practice, but sometimes we get ensnared. Fear not - admit your mistake to Jesus, He understands and He will help you in Overcoming Temptation.

A CERTAIN TABLE

God loves Family, Fellowship and Food. Everyone of these is portrayed as Fortified or protected in The Passover event when the families are inside eating and protected by the Lamb's blood on the doorpost. This love for a protected gathering of family and food is also seen in The Last Supper event when the disciples are inside eating that meal and protected by Father God, except the one that would betray Jesus.

Now, I come to A Certain Table that my Lord is arranging. The word "table" in this verse actually means a meal. And what a glorious victory meal for believers in Christ it will be. Reminiscent of The Passover and Communion, The Table or meal will occur in the presence of - to name a few - cancer, discouragement, fear, death, the worldly spirits, fleshly desires and the devil – my enemies. The actual verse from Psalm 23:5 states unto God -

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."

Even though you may count yourself to be among those that do not have enemies, while in the human world that may be true, in the spiritual world it is not true. 

"The Bible teaches that there are three sources of evil in life: the world, the flesh and the devil. The world is the physical environment, and system of culture, that distracts us from God, and provides an alternative view of reality from the Gospel. The flesh is that conscious and unconscious inner life that operates out of our egos, our dispositions, and our addictions. The devil is that spiritual power who plays on these elements to tempt us to rebel against God and despair. All three are our enemies."

One of the schemes of the devil is to keep you defeated. If you do not know you are already victorious in and through Christ then you are powerless to the devil's devices. Praise God our enemies are defeated! Did you hear what word and tense I used - defeat in the past tense. 

Regarding the Lord's victory over fleshly matters, the Word of God had to become flesh and did by being born as the only begotten Son of God. Some of the fleshly mindsets, attitudes or spirits that may attack us are sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like (Galatians 5:19:21). And so Paul, in Romans 8:3-4, offers the following explanation of how Jesus destroyed the fleshly powers.

"For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." 

Paul says it another way in Hebrews 4:15. "For 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."

Therefore, not only is Christ's payment on the cross important, but His Resurrection is crucial. If Jesus had merely died on the cross for our sins and not risen from the dead then we would just have another martyr for a good cause and not the Savior of all humanity. However, Jesus proclaimed after His ascension to Father God through a vision to John - "I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." (Revelation 1:18). 

Still keeping with John, 1 John 2:16 records what The World is - (1) Lust of the flesh (body), (2) Lust of the eyes (coveting everything) and the Pride of life (out of balance boasting in one's abilities and general life). But in the writing of John's gospel, he records Jesus declaring the following on our status with the world - "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). 

Concerning the devil, 1 John 3:8 states - "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.". At the cross, Christ Jesus has "disarmed the spiritual powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." (Colossians 2:15).  The ultimate manifestation of this is seen later on according to Revelation 20:10 - "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

"The 23rd Psalm reminds us that the Good Shepherd prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies. The sheep are able to safely graze because they are under the protection of the shepherd who stands guard over them. He nourishes us in the midst of conflict. The Table stands for the saving action God has taken to protect us."

The Communion Table then for Christians becomes an incredible Worship experience AND meal - remembering The Lord's sacrifice for us. However, Communion is only a foretaste of the banquet that is mentioned here in the 23rd Psalm. This banquet is also referred to in Revelation 19:9 - "Then the angel said to me, 'Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' And he added, 'These are the true words of God.'"

"The Good Shepherd has done everything that is needed to protect us from our enemies. He has disarmed them, and defeated them. They have no power over us. We can feast at his Table and celebrate our deliverance. When the Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion, is celebrated, and we genuinely participate by faith, the kingdom of God is advanced, and the kingdom of darkness is diminished."

Good Christian, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, I encourage you to know who you are because of Christ's continuing love for you. I implore you to acquire this knowledge if you do not have it already. And if you know who you are in Christ already, firm this knowledge up in your heart and mind everyday. The enemy of our souls is on a mission to steal, kill and destroy the mere knowledge of Victory(ies) in Jesus and we can start pushing back by worshiping God, fellowshipping, and celebrating at A Certain Table.

[Quoted Source - https://www.virtueonline.org/you-prepare-table-me-presence-my-enemies-psalm-235]

GOD'S WARDROBE

In an effort to stress the importance of not worrying, Matthew 6:28-34 records Jesus speaking about clothing as one of the preoccupations that can divert people's focus away from God. Clothing is not a bad thing. In fact, it is encouraged for a number of reasons - sanitary/health just being one. But when worry enters the picture constantly and consumes you concerning how you want to portray yourself everyday, then there is an issue. Read how Jesus explains this-

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?"

Here are the main points -

1. Don't worry
2. Trust God and what He wants to clothe you in
3. Seek Him first (verses 31-34)

Notice God desires to clothe us in better things than mere physical, material, eye-catching clothing. He wants to clothe us in His mental, spiritual and physical Wardrobe!

You have heard the saying, He wears his emotions on his sleeve (or she). In Galatians 3:27, the thoughts, words and actions of Christ should not only be on our sleeve but should be our entire outfit!

"...for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."

We might have come a long way from being clothed by animal skins (Genesis 3:21), but we still desperately need to trade our old, mental and spiritual rags (Isa. 64:6) in for Christ's Line-Up of Spiritual Apparel.

We find main characters of Christianity in the Bible clothed in different things. Job was clothed with physical sores and worms (Job 8:22). David was clothed in sackcloth (1 Chronicles 21:16).

Then David turned his description of clothing to more of a mindset and/or lifestyle instead of material or physical things. David describes "joy" to be something to be clothed with from the Lord in Psalm 30:11. Also "shame" and "grace" were to be worn for his enemies in Psalm 35:26. David continues to share this emotional description of clothing with nature when he says in Psalm 65:12 - "The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness."

David sings to the Lord a desire from his heart that a holy characteristic of the priests be worn as clothing - righteousness.

"May your priests be clothed with your righteousness; may your faithful people sing for joy." (Psalm 132:9) 

Isaiah proclaims this truth over his own life, but throws in "salvation" as a garment when he said in Isaiah 61:10 -

"I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."

Now let us consider our Fashion Conscience God. God is clothed with Creation in Proverbs 30:4 – “Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!”

God is clothed with Majesty in Zechariah 6:13 – “It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne.”

God is clothed with Splendor and Majesty in Psalm 104:1 – “Praise the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.”

Christ Jesus clothed Himself in humility – “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8)

God is clothed with empathy. He knows and shares what we have been through and are going through. Matthew 25:36 – “I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

Jesus was clothed by man in a Royal color – Purple. John 19:2 – “The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe.”

Jesus transfigured was clothed brilliantly. Matthew 17:2 – “There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.”

The revealed and Glorified Jesus is someone to behold! Revelation 1:12-14 describes Him like this - “…among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.”

Present and Future clothing of Christ displays His price for our eternal redemption.  Revelation 19:13 says, “He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and his name is the Word of God.”

God is clothed as a Warrior in Isaiah 59:15-17 who does the fighting Himself. Then in Ephesians 6:11 we observe the armor spoken of is not mine or yours, but The Armor of God (perfect fittings available by the Holy Spirit). 

If you notice, God had many splendid things He arrayed Himself in. But everything He clothed Himself with, including humanity, had a grand purpose. We get up and may or may not put a lot of thought into the clothes we wear for the day. God has an entire Closet that He has drawn from and would like to see us wear. 

Getting in God's dresser, as studied above, means that we should be daily clothing ourselves with the likes of the joy of the Lord, righteousness, His continuing saving favor, love, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Also, His truth, faith and revealed word is in His attire. And these are not just to wear on our sleeve, remember? We are to wear entire outfits with the threads of His Likeness interwoven into our clothing. 

Some of His clothing is made only for Him. But I believe there is, as I alluded to before, a whole Line-Up of Spiritual Apparel that the Holy Spirit desires to fit us with perfectly - God's Wardrobe.

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

Repentance not only means to recognize your misdirection or error and turn around and go in a different direction with a different mindset, but it means to choose God's Way when you do turn around. We all can turn around and select another direction that seems opposite to our original heading, but the key is to plot your course with The Morning Star, Christ Jesus, as your Guiding Light in life.

This call to Repentance is what John the Baptist was proclaiming prior to the start of the ministry of Jesus. However, God's Guiding Light was The Law at that time. John desired people to turn away from their wicked lifestyles and follow God wholeheartedly. John's baptism was an outward and inward expression of that devoted turn or repentant heart for God's statutes and commands.

However, there would be an even better Baptism which Jesus would provide that John the Baptist encouraged all to be submerged under. 

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11)

John brought people a message of repentance and kingdom nearness, but what set his message apart from all others was that within months, weeks, days or perhaps hours of John's ministry starting, John would be meeting and introducing The Messiah! 

"after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.".

John knew that his cousin was special. But evidently John had not seen his cousin in perhaps many years. The Scriptures indicate that John did not know what Jesus looked like but that John had insight into who The Messiah should be by a confirming sign. 

"Then John gave this testimony: 'I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.'" (John 1:32-34)

Notice this sign happened post baptism of Jesus. Can you imagine the conflict inside John as he met Jesus, confirmed who He was, then realized Jesus was coming to him "to be baptized" (Matthew 3:13)? That is exactly what Matthew 3:13 says and implies - the taking of a purposeful action. But isn't John's baptism for sinners? If Jesus was and is the spotless Lamb of God, from inception by the Holy Spirit, then why is a baptism needed?

Is it any wonder that Scripture records - "But John tried to deter Him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?'"

"...it all seemed bizarre. It all seemed somehow wrong. What John is declaring here in his unwillingness to baptize Jesus is foundationally important to the identity of Jesus because John is saying this: 'You need no repentance. You need no baptism of repentance, this is a baptism for sinners. You’re not in that category.'" https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/41-3/the-significance-of-jesus-baptism

So, why was Jesus baptized? Jesus answered (Matt. 3:15) - 

1. "Let it be so now;" - [Paraphrased] John, allow this to go forward. I realize it is not normal, but the timing is perfect, trust me. 
2. "it is proper for us to do" [Paraphrased] John, your role and my role in this baptism is as it should be for My Mission to begin and succeed. 
3. "to fulfill all righteousness" [Paraphrased] John, this is the why - to obey Father God - by becoming the Carrier of humanity's sin and fulfillment of The Law.

2 Corinthians 5:21 states - "For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

"Paul’s intended meaning in 2 Corinthians 5:21 is that Jesus was always without sin actually, but at the cross He was made to be sin for us judicially. While Jesus never committed a sin personally, He was made to be sin for us substitutionally. Just as the righteousness that is imputed to Christians in justification is extrinsic to them, so the sin that was imputed to Christ on the cross was extrinsic to Him and never in any sense contaminated His essential nature. As one Bible expositor put it, 'The innocent was punished voluntarily as if guilty, that the guilty might be gratuitously rewarded as if innocent.'" (https://www.equip.org/article/how-was-jesus-made-sin/)

Just try to imagine all of History's sicknesses and rebellion against God place on Jesus. Jesus is SO cloaked, soaked and/or baptized with our wrongs upon The Cross that He calls out to Father God - “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) - Matthew 27:46. The Lamb does not become a sinner, just the carrier of all our sin outside the camp or city. The only thing that can penetrate this enveloped covering and satisfy the requirement for our right standing in body, mind and spirit with God is Christ's Blood. And He shed all of it for us.

However, the beginning of taking on our infirmities and sins does not seem to occur all of the sudden in The Garden of Gethsemane, but here at the beginning of His ministry with His Baptism. From what I have studied, The Baptism of Jesus was The Coronation of Christ The King.

Up to this point the Scriptures have drop-in accounts or snippets of the early life of Christ. When Jesus reaches around the age of thirty, this event, The Baptism of Jesus, was Christ's act of obedience to begin taking on the sins of the world - past, present and future.

So, Christ's Baptism is all about identification. He identifies with us in being baptized into our mistakes and sufferings SO THAT later He will pay for them with His life on The Cross. In addition, Jesus identifies as The Son of God here at His Baptism when Father God declares immediately after the Baptism - “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17). This leaves no doubt to John who The Messiah is and declares to everyone who Jesus truly is - Son of The Most High God.

The next occurrences in Christ's life after His Baptism were The Temptations in the wilderness by the devil. This declared relation of Sonship is challenged right after Christ's Baptism of Water and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness where we see the devil threaten in the first two attacks - "If you are the Son of God..." (Matthew 4:3, 6).

Baptism is a strong declaration for one's own heart concerning their faith but also a physical and spiritual symbolic EXCLAMATION POINT (!) to others watching - be it humans or the spirit world. As you can see, the devil did not like this event in Christ life and attacked the identification of Sonship that came with it immediately following the Baptism. Jesus experienced and conquered a devil-filled wilderness at this particular time So That we will be Overcomers through Him also.

Our baptism should be viewed as an outward expression of an inward passion - the beginning, wholehearted pursuit of Christ in all areas of our lives. The verbal and heart-meant prayer of faith in Christ is great, but to add baptism to your profession of faith makes it - Your Most Excellent Faith that declares your Identity In Christ.