GOD’S WORD FOR  SEPTEMBER 18

We are using Charles Spurgeon book, “The Risen King.”  It’s a collection of well chosen excerpts from Spurgeon’s  “Easter” sermons in devotional form, put together by Jeff Medders.   Pastor Spurgeon lived from 1834 to 1892  in London, England, and had a unique gift of understanding and showing the depth of our faith.  Thus, his reverential title as the Prince of Preachers.   Even though we’re not in or near that season, every day is a good day to focus on Christ’s sacrifice and victory for us!

*** ***

TEMPTED IN THE WILDERNESS

Matthew 4:1-2

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness (desert) to be tempted by the devil, and after fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.

The Savior’s public life begins and ends with temptation. 

It commences in the wilderness in a close contest with satanic craftiness, and it ends in Gethsemane in a dreadful battle with the powers of darkness.  There are a few bright spots between, but the gloom of the desert deepens into the midnight darkness of the cross as if to show to us that we also must begin with trial and must reckon upon ending with it.

Martin Luther learned the art of spiritual navigation from having done business himself in deep waters of spiritual tribulation.  Luther’s remark stands true; that prayer, meditation, and temptation are the three best instructors of the gospel believer, and since I have lately experienced much of the latter, I must use what I have learned.  But whatever we do, we shall be tempted.

God had one Son without sin, but He never had a son without temptation.  “The natural man or woman is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward”, Job says in Job 5:7, and the Christian is born to temptation just as certainly and necessarily.  It is our duty to be always on our watch against Satan because we do not know when he will come.

He is like a thief, and he gives no hint of his approach.  Like the assassin, he will sneak upon his victim.  If Satan always acted aboveboard – if he were a bold and open adversary – we might deal with him.  But because he meets us unawares and besets us in dark and miry places on the way, we need to pray against temptation, and we need to hear the Savior’s admonition, “What I say to you, I say to all:  Watch”.

If you know anything of the spiritual life, you will have observed that the most likely times for Satan to attack a Christian are those they deem unlikely.  In such an hour as you think he will not, the prince of this world comes.  Just when you would say, “I am safe,” then it is that you are in danger.  Beware, dear friends, of the devil; beware of him most when you think you have least need to beware of him.  Then be all the more aware of your Christ , the one who defeated the devil.

*** ****

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

James 1:3-5

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Genesis 3:1

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Notice, all he did was instill doubt in the Word of God—-he didn’t actually tell them to eat…………that was their decision.  That’s how he works.  That’s why James says: “ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.(James 1:14-15).)

Luke 8:13

But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

Ephesians 6:11-17

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

View all posts by liveinthelightofourlord