BUT IT TASTES, FEELS,
LOOKS SO GOOD
Samson didn’t
“mess-around”
with a ton of
woman, just a few
women: the
woman of Timnath
in Judges 14:1-2;
the harlot in Gaza
in Judges 16:1;
and the famed
Delilah in Judges
6:4. But the “bite”
nevertheless
comes as Samson
ends up sightless
and in shackles in
Judges 16:21.
God offers to assist at the first
whiff of sin providing, “…a way
out, so that [we] can stand up
under [the seduction of sin]…”
(1 Corinthians 10:13).
Realize: Sin Is An Allusion; A
‘Bald-Face’ Lie.
Satan himself, who
“…was a murderer
from the beginning”
-- Jesus reminds us
in John 8. “Not
holding to the truth,
for there is no truth
in him. [And so]
when [the devil] lies
[declaring sin,
harmless] he
speaks his native
language -- for he
is a liar and the
father of lies…" John 8:44.
Affirm God’s Sovereignty and
Strength, Even When You
Have No Strength.
“God is faithful; he will not let you be
tempted beyond what you can bear.” (1
Corinthians 10:13);
“…God is faithful…and He [can be
trusted] not to let you be tempted and
tried…beyond your ability and
strength…of resistance -- and power
to endure…” – through Him
(1 Corinthians 10:13, The Amplified Bible).
And so Hosea is blunt:
“…you have reaped
evil -- you have eaten
the fruit of deception -because you have
depended on your own
strength…”
(Hosea 10:13).
But there’s an alternative,
Hosea notes: you can
“…reap the fruit of
[God’s] unfailing love… [if
you depend on Him,
seeking]…the Lord…
[allowing God to] shower
righteousness on you…”
(Hosea 10: 12).
“There is no
circumstance…no
testing… [no
temptation]…that can
ever touch me until
first of all, it has gone
past…Christ…If it has
come that far, it has
[then] come
with…great purpose…
[Therefore, I will not
panic; rather]…I lift up
my eyes to [the Lord]
… [trusting Him -relaying on His power
and strength]…”
Alan Redpath
Rely On God To Instruct
And Guide When Exiting
Temptation.
For as the writer of Hebrews notes: “…we
do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weakness -- but we
have one who has been tempted in every
way just as we are – yet without sin.”
(Hebrews 4:15).
Three times Satan tempts Jesus in
the severest way, alluring Jesus
• 1) first, to turn from the power of God
toward the power of self-satisfaction:
• 2) then, to turn toward the power of selfaccomplishment
• 3) lastly to turn toward the power of self
glorification:
But all cases – Jesus
relied on God’s
sovereignty and
strength -- and resisted
temptation.
• 1) Jesus Didn’t Knee-Jerk,
Becoming Impulsive.
• 2) Jesus Established The Truth.
• 3) Jesus Got Assertive, Taking
Action.
“Away from me Satan”
Jesus declares in Matthew 4:10.
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near
to God and he will come near to you. Wash your
hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you
double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail…Humble
yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
(James 4:7-10, NIV).
“Resist the devil and he will flee from
you. Come near to God and he will
come near to you. Wash your
hands…purify your hearts…grieve,
mourn and wail…humble
yourselves…” (James 4:7-10).
Away from me Satan
(Matthew 4:10)