Temptation

"For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)

Perhaps you have heard the joke, "I can resist anything but temptation!" Unfortunately, that is all too often true in our lives. Learning how to successfully resist temptation is vitally important, for we sin only when we yield to temptation.

The overriding theme of the past week has been issues of giving in to temptation. Whether it be a child at the orphanage succumbing to taking something not his own or a married man coming in to the Christian Resource Centre to express his remorse for actions he took against his wife and the feeling of desperation that he has walked outside God's sphere of influence and love, to the Bible teacher who has been working on his Sunday sermon suddenly convicted, realizing that before he asks the people to walk "in His light" he must deal with issues at hand in his own life and clear his conscience .all have one thing in common, at some point they yielded to temptation and gave in to sin. The solace that one and all can have is the fact that Jesus Christ provides us with the perfect example of how to defeat temptation.

In the situations mentioned above, we were able to encourage each that there is a way to successfully resist temptation as modelled by our Lord Jesus Christ. We must first understand our enemy's plan of attack and, secondly, make use of our spiritual resources. Satan made a three-pronged assault on Jesus Christ-the same three ways he tempts us. First, he tempted Jesus to doubt God's goodness by commanding the stones to become bread (Matthew 4:3). That implies that God did not care enough about Him to provide for His physical needs. Second, he tempted Jesus to doubt God's love, suggesting that He test that love by leaping from the pinnacle of the temple (Matthew
4:5-6). Finally, he tempted Jesus to compromise God's truth, promising Him the kingdom without the cross if Jesus would worship him (Matthew 4:8-9).

To each of Satan's temptations, Jesus replied, "It is written" (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). He thereby showed us the resource for defeating temptation: the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). Pray for each of those who sought our help this week. Pray that they will sincerely turn to the Word and gain the help and strength necessary to overcome the temptations that cross their paths. Pray for us as we, too, seek to do the right thing and take to heart what we share with those who seek our help from day to day.

The building program out at the Kafubu village church is progressing. The men of the church are doing all the labour and have asked me to come this Sunday to "inspect" the work and to provide a word from Scripture. The rains will soon be upon us and we need to get the roof phase completed as soon as possible. Pray that the work will continue until the job is finally done.

In His Service,
Patrick & Sherry