Divers Temptations

Adam and Eve walked with God. They communicated with him daily and personally. He was good to them and he trusted them to be good stewards over all the works of His hand. He has done the same and more with us. He has translated us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, given us righteousness, joy and peace; and made us stewards in the household of faith. He has taught us how to love and care for one another. He made us our brothers’ keeper and encouraged us to wash one another ’s feet.

What has gone wrong? Why is the light that is in the church so dim? Why does darkness rule most of our assemblies? The truth is, Satan has done a fantastic job of evangelizing the church. We have talked about this before. But here we need to discuss in more detail the methods he uses to seduce the children of light. How does he lead us back to the darkness of this world? Well, one of his methods remain the same today as they were in the Garden. He uses our own kinsmen to beguile and deceive us into abandoning the truth and forsaking our relationship. This is deja’vu. Satan seduces the serpent, the serpent seduces man, man seduces saints; and finally saints seduce saints. The story never changes.

However, Paul warns Timothy of some who will depart from the faith because they will follow after others who have departed.

1 Timothy 4:1-2

1. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

It is certain that the church needs to be concerned about the infiltration of seducing spirits in the household of faith. These seducers are people who have forsaken the truth and taken on the mind of the devil and his doctrines. They are hypocrites using feigned words to deceive the simple minded. They are forever lost because they have seared (cauterized or rendered insensitive) their conscience. Therefore, they are unable to come to any conviction regarding sin.

No matter how much others may minister, counsel, or plead with them to repent they are unable to find that godly sorrow needed to truly reconcile with God and man. The Kingdom of Light is a place of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Its presence on earth is the Body of Christ. Those of us who enjoy this peace and righteousness do so because we obeyed the commandment; Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)

But the option to do the opposite is still available to us. We have the ability to forsake the truth and go after the things of this world. The apostle Peter saw this mind in the people to whom he wrote.

2 Peter 2:9

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Everything in this world targets the flesh. Whether it be radio, television, theaters, music, dance, even war; flesh is exalted. One might feel overwhelmed by the amount of temptation that is in the world. If so, we need to be very honest here. The struggle to avoid yielding to sinful temptation begins with the fact that one is tempted. Sin or worldliness is not a temptation to those who walk after the Spirit. Let us establish that fact first and foremost. Secondarily, it is the indwelling of the Comforter that gives us peace when we abstain from sin or the chasing of mammon.

Temptation:

The truth is, there are many types of temptations that could befall a saint. By definition temptations are trials, a proving or simple adversities. But I thought it very interesting to find that this Greek word also means the putting forth of proof by experiment (as God did with Job), or by the experience of evil. It is also a solicitation or provocation to bring forth the good or evil in our character. If we have any other mind other than that of Christ, the Lord will reveal it to us. This revealing oftentimes is in trials or tribulation.

The Purpose of Temptations:

If the Father assures us trials will come our way, then they must have a purpose.

James 1:2-4

2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James clearly declares our encounters with divers temptations as the trying of our faith. This is consistent with the definition given above. These trials are designed to bring forth character, whether it be good or bad. He goes further to say temptations work or develop patience in us. Patience is the ability to endure; however, it is cheerful endurance and constancy in waiting on the Lord’s will to be implemented in any situation or the cheerful acceptance of his will in a situation even if it is contrary to what you initially desired.

Divers temptations develop patience and patience brings us to a spiritual place wherein we want nothing. We will not pine after the things we don’t have from this world. We will learn to satisfy ourselves with the supply of the Lord. These trials come to strengthen this resolve in us. They come to make us strong and steadfast in the Lord. They are the proving of our faith.

So my brother, my sister, count it all joy when these things happen to you. They are working together for our good. You will never know what you are able to bear until you have been placed in position to bear adversity, persecution, affliction and need. Don’t listen to the doctrines that teach a “no suffering for the saints message”. This is a doctrine of devils and is designed to lead you back to the world. If you continue to listen to such teachings you will be seduced by them and will forsake the simplicity of the gospel to chase after the mammon of the world. The faith of Jesus Christ came with a commandment for us to enter into the fellowship of his suffering.

Philippians 1:29

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

This is the cross we must bear if we are to be counted worthy of the kingdom. But we are the children of light. We have a Comforter within who gives us the power to endure all things. Let this be our testimony when the Master breaks the clouds to come back for us.

The passage below reveals the progression of evil we will become if we despise the trials ordered by God.

2 Peter 2:10-22

10. But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

11. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

12. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

13. And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

1.4 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

15. Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

16. But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

17. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

18. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

19. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

20. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.