Seasons of Temptation
From the Series—Transitions
November 12, 2002Some of the most important transitions in Scripture happen in the Wilderness. Wilderness seasons serve different purposes--there are seasons of doubt, seasons of discipline, seasons of temptation, seasons of testing. And God uses those wilderness seasons to transition us geographically, occupationally and spiritually. The most significant occupational transition in history happens during a season of temptation in Luke 4. Jesus transitions from carpentry to ministry.
Luke 4:1 says that the Spirit led Jesus into the desert where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Luke 4:14 says he “returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit” and started his earthly ministry.
You Never Outgrow Temptation
If Jesus experienced temptation, it’s a pretty good bet that you’re going to experience temptation too. Hebrews 4:15 says, “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.”
I think some people think that committing their lives to Christ will take care of temptation, but the truth is that part of becoming like Christ is being “tempted in every way” just like Jesus. Temptation is normal. I Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.”
It’s not a sin to be tempted. Rick Warren says, “Many Christians are frightened and demoralized by tempting thoughts, feeling guilty that they aren’t ‘beyond’ temptation.” You never outgrow temptation. You can grow in your ability to resist it, but you never get beyond it. I think we’re naïve if we think that getting married or getting elected or getting saved or getting baptized or getting ordained will take care of temptation. Temptation never goes away.
Temptation is dangerous, but it also has an upside. In a sense, temptation is a compliment. If the enemy didn’t see you as a threat, he wouldn’t waste his time trying to tempt you. And temptation is an opportunity. Every time you make a choice to obey God in the face of temptation you grow spiritually!
Spiritual Breakthroughs
Temptation often happens right before or right after a spiritual breakthrough. Last week’s evotional looked at Elijah’s season of doubt. It follows on the heels of the greatest victory of his prophetic career. It’s natural to experience a letdown after a mountaintop experience. I don’t think it’s coincidental that Jesus’ season of temptation follows a spiritual milestone in his life--his baptism. And he’s not the only one. I know lots of believers who go through a season of temptation after baptism because the enemy wants to discourage or discredit them for “going public” with their faith.
Sometimes seasons of temptation happen right before a spiritual breakthrough. When I’m on the verge of a breakthrough, the enemy often tries to discourage me. But it’s happened so many times that I’ve learned to endure those spiritual attacks with a degree of excitement because I know that something great is right around the corner.
I think this season of temptation in Luke 4 led to a spiritual breakthrough for Jesus. Verse 14 says he returned to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit.” This season of temptation strengthened his resolve. When you’ve been personally tempted by the devil for forty days in the desert you’re pretty much ready for anything that comes your way!
A Season and A Reason
Why does God allow temptation? In his book, The Purpose-Driven Life, Rick Warren says, “This next sentence is one of the most important spiritual truths you’ll ever learn: God develops the fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you’re tempted to express the exact opposite.”
God teaches us patience by putting us in situations that require lots of it. God teaches us peace by putting us in situations that are stressful or contentious. God teaches us self-control by putting us in situations where everything seems out of our control. God teaches us goodness by putting us in some bad situations.
Rick Warren says, “Character development always involves a choice and temptation provides the opportunity….You can’t claim to be good if you’ve never been tempted to be bad. You can’t claim to be faithful if you’ve never had the opportunity to be unfaithful. Integrity is built by defeating the temptation to be dishonest.”
God will never tempt you. James 1:13 says, “When tempted no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.” But sometimes he leads us into the desert for a season and for a reason--to develop character.
Kryptonite
The enemy always attacks us at our weakest point. Luke 4:2 says, “Jesus was hungry.” So where does the devil attack? He says, “If you are the son of man, tell this stone to become bread.” He tempts Jesus where Jesus is most vulnerable. The enemy is pretty predictable. If your struggle is with sexual temptation that’s where the enemy is going to attack. If your struggle is with anger or addiction or esteem or materialism or pride or depression that’s where the enemy is going to attack.
Temptation isn’t rocket science. It says Jesus was hungry. That was his unmet need. Unmet needs open us up to temptation. I Corinthians 7:5 says, “The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.” So when you get married you no longer belong to you. You belong to each other. And then it says, “Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
When I counsel couples who are getting married I tell them that one of the greatest safeguards against infidelity in their marriage is a great sex life. If your sexual needs are being met in the context of a God-ordained marriage, then you’re less likely to fall into temptation.
Here’s a definition of sin--meeting a legitimate need in an illegitimate way. The need is legit, but when we try to meet the need outside the guardrails of God’s will it’s sin. The devil makes a legitimate offer in Luke 4. He offers Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world.” There’s nothing wrong with that, but the key phrase is “in an instant.” The devil offers Jesus a shortcut--a much quicker and easier way.
Temptation is all about taking the easy way out. The devil offers Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world” without having to go to the cross, but there’s always a catch. The devil says, “If you worship me it will all be yours.” This is all about “ends and means.” Satan offers Jesus the right end--"all the kingdoms of the world"--but it’s the wrong means. And the ends never justify the means!
The Temptation Trap
In Matthew 26:41, Jesus says, “Watch and pray so that you do not fall into temptation.” The word “watch” is a throwback to the Old Testament “watchmen” whose job it was to sit on the city wall and scan the horizon for enemy attacks. They acted as a “lookout” so the city could muster a defense if the enemy attacked. That’s how we need to treat temptation. We need to anticipate it so that we can avoid it. Here are a few helpful questions:
When are you most tempted? Is it when you’re bored or stressed or fatigued or frustrated? Is it late at night or week ends? Where are you most tempted? Is it when you’re home alone or at the club or in your office? What is your weakness? That varies from person to person. If you’re a recovering alcoholic, alcohol is your kryptonite.
You need to identify when and where and what tempts you. All of us have a predictable pattern of temptation. We are creatures of habit. And most of us fall into the same trap over and over again. We need to identify the pattern so we can interrupt the pattern.
Dr. Milton Erickson was a genius at identifying and interrupting patterns of behavior in his clients. The Pheonix tells one of Dr. Erickson’s counseling stories about an overweight police officer who came to Dr. Erickson for help. He said, “I’m a retired policeman--medically retired. I drink too much, I smoke too much, and I eat too much. Can you help me?” Dr. Erickson said, “All right. Where do you buy your cigarettes?” He said, “There is a handy little grocery store around the corner from where I live.” Dr. Erickson said, “How do you buy them?” The man said, “Usually three cartons at a time.” Dr. Erickson said, “Where do you shop?” The policeman said, “At a handy little grocery around the corner.” Dr. Erickson asked, “Where do you dine out?” The man said, “At a very nice restaurant around the corner.” And finally Dr. Erickson asked, “Where do you get your liquor.” The man said, “At a liquor store around the corner.”
Dr. Erickson was identifying the patterns of behavior. The biggest problem was that the temptation was right around the corner! It was too convenient. Here was Dr. Erickson’s solution. He said, “You’re an ex-policeman and you want to correct your blood pressure and your obesity and your emphysema, and you buy your cigarettes three cartons at a time. Now your therapy isn’t going to require very much. You can do all the smoking you cant but you have to buy your cigarettes one package at a time by walking to the other side of town to get the package. As for you cooking, you must go shopping three times a day and only buy enough food for one meal and no leftovers. As for dining out, there is a good restaurant a mile or two away. That’ll give you a chance to walk. I see no objection to your drinking. There are some excellent bars a mile away. Get your first drink in one bar, your second drink in a bar a mile away. And you’ll be in excellent shape before you know it.”
Extreme Measures
Some tempting situations are unavoidable, but nine times out ten we get into trouble because we allowed ourselves to get into a tempting situation. In Matthew 5:29, Jesus says, “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.” He’s using hyperbole. Don’t take this passage literally, but you better take it seriously. Jesus is saying: take extreme measures to avoid tempting situations.
If TV is a temptation, then you may need to cancel your cable. If the Internet is a temptation, you may need a filter or some sort of accountability system. If being on the road by yourself is a temptation, you may need an accountability partner to travel with you. If you’re tempted when you’re bored, you may need to find some healthy ways to stay busy. Ephesians 4:27 says, “Do not give the devil a foothold.” If you give the enemy an inch he’ll take a mile!
The Mental Battle
Solomon said in the Proverbs 23:7, “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” In other words, your life is shaped by your thoughts. II Corinthians 10:5 says, “Take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.” The battle is won or lost in the mind. And here’s the problem most of us run into. We try not to think about what we shouldn’t think about. And that doesn’t work. Rick Warren says, “Resisting a thought doesn’t work…It only intensifies our focus on the wrong thing…by resisting it you actually reinforce it.”
In psychology is called a double-bind. If I say “be spontaneous” I’ve created a double-bind because you can’t be spontaneous since I suggested it. If I say “don’t think about the white house” you think about what I’ve asked you not to think about it.
What we need to do is practice the principle of replacement. We need to refocus or redirect or replace our tempting thoughts with other thoughts. Philippians 4 says we are to “guard our hearts and our minds.” How? Verse 8 says, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”
The Daily Battle
I heard a great prayer a few years ago. “Lord, it’s be a great day. I haven’t lied or lusted. I have cheated or lost my temper. I haven’t gossiped or complained. But I’m about to get out of bed now so I’m really going to need your help!”
The fight against temptation is a daily battle. In Genesis 39, Joseph is seduced by Potiphar’s wife. It’s not a one-time occurrence. It says, “day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.”
Luke 9:23 says, “If anyone would come after me he must take up his cross daily and follow me.” I wish we could win the battle against temptation once-and-for-all, but the battle is won day in and day out. You may have won yesterday’s battle, but that’s no guarantee that you’ll win today. And you may have lost yesterday’s battle, but that’s no guarantee that you won’t win today!
“Day after day” Joseph avoided this tempting situation. He refused to “even be with her.” When it couldn’t be avoided, he ran away and left his cloak behind. He took extreme measures to get out of a tempting situation. I Corinthians 10:13 says, “God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.”