TEMPTATION

Time with Jesus - 27 Nov 2013

Hi all,

Whenever the word “temptation” appears, I react. The reaction is to declare that the temptation didn’t come from God. Jesus’ brother James made this very clear.

¹³ When someone is tempted, he shouldn't say that God is tempting him. God can't be tempted by evil, and God doesn't tempt anyone. ¹⁴ Everyone is tempted by his own desires as they lure him away and trap him. ¹⁵ Then desire becomes pregnant and gives birth to sin. When sin grows up, it gives birth to death. James 1:13-15 GW James makes the process clear. The only part missing is the role of Satan and his gang. However, in the final analysis, it’s not so much the temptation that’s the problem. Each and every one of us gets tempted. Indeed, Jesus was tempted in every area and did not yield to sin. So we need to get used to the idea that Satan will tempt us with whatever is available.

Satan’s cunning is that he seems to know our character very well. He knows what will tempt me and what won’t. For example, I stopped smoking in 1981, at the time I met Phyllida. I was a fairly heavy smoker. I smoked cigarettes and a pipe. (not at the same time). Today, Satan has more sense than to try and tempt me with a box of cigarettes or pouch of pipe tobacco. He would be wasting his time. I can’t be tempted in that area. But I must confess there are areas in my life in which I can and am tempted. My solution is to avoid those situations and to ask the Lord to help me when I have to move into such areas. The Lord’s model prayer expresses this in Matthew, ¹³ Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted. Save us from the evil one.' Mat 6:13 NIrV

Perhaps the biggest temptation experienced by men generally is the allure of women. Don’t be surprised at this. Men are aroused by what they see. If they weren’t, it would be pointless draping a scantily clad female over the bonnet (hood) of a car to boost sales. The advertising agencies know this only too well, so they focus on this “weakness” in men. If men were sexually aroused by the sight of kippers in custard, that’s what you would see on the car’s bonnet. Unfortunately, as we can see from the plethora of advertising hoardings, a multiplicity of other things from insurance policies to paint brands also increase sales by the strategic positioning of “beautiful babes”. If you don’t believe me, take a drive round Jo’burg and you will see what I mean.

Of course, the gentle sex wants to look beautiful. I don’t blame them. I actually appreciate them! The sight of a youngish “Aphrodite” wearing as little as possible has real appeal, even to men in their 70’s. Needless to say, that’s part of the problem for the men. Traditionally, the homo-sapiens male has been the hunter. He has hunted for food and anything else he could find. The homo-sapiens female has been the hunted. Furthermore and naturally, she wants to be found! Don’t blame her; it’s the way she was made. The real question is how to go about getting found! She already knows that a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. 

Does that mean she perambulates where she can be seen with a large dish of kippers and custard? Not if she wants her man to find her. First she establishes what attracts him. Then she tries to appear the way she knows will do the trick. It’s been this way since the fall.

There is a slight difference. Once men were hunter gatherers and met together in hunting groups. They still do. Once it was in the bush or the jungle. They would meet around their favourite tree, or what have you, and make plans about how they would “thrash” the adjoining tribe. Then the talk would revolve women and the plans they had for them. It hasn’t really changed. Today, the tree has been cut down and turned in a bar counter and stools. They no longer want to murder the adjoining tribe. They just want to get them on the rugby field. Furthermore, they now focus their attention on the bar-maid and what they would like to do with her! Not much has changed!

Adonis & Aphrodite
430 BC

Historically, the ladies of the tribe did the cooking for fathers and family. Then the nubile ones would dance in a group showing everyone, particularly the unattached males, as much as modesty and chastity would permit. The men would watch spellbound. Of course that was the plan. Today, the young girls roam the street in groups. Each one determined to be as fashionable and alluring as possible. Being in groups provides them with a certain amount of mutual support and protection. Except when they spot a man they fancy. That’s when they try and move with all the grace and allure of their nubile predecessors.

In the days of yore, the parents decided who would marry whom. It seemed to work reasonably well for both gender. At the same time, the “bride price” was required by the parents of the bride. This varied depending on many conditions. For a young and very beautiful girl, the cost would be very high. The price would decrease with the passing of each year until the woman was no longer marriageable. At one time, these “surplus daughters”, would be sold to anyone who wanted them. For the woman, this was the ultimate indignity. Consequently she would ensure that she was “seen” by all the available young men. The idea was that the young men would fix it with the parents and they would marry. So the young woman would make herself look as attractive as possible so that everyone would look at her. That hasn’t changed.

Aphrodite on the Beach

Pay a visit to our beautiful beaches. What do you see? Perhaps I should rephrase the question. What don’t you see? If the ladies could get away with wearing anything less, they would do so. It becomes a sort of nakedness contest. “Anything you can show I can show better. I can show everything better than you!

All this is called the battle of the sexes. All it is, is temptation, dressed or undressed to suit the mind of (wo)men!

Shalom

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus –  27 Nov 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	TEMPTATION
In 1789, Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy, wrote: In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. He may or may not be the originator of this well-known saying. But the facts are, it is true! I cannot say for certain whether or not he was a Christian. If he was, surely he would know that death is a by-product of sin. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NLT So Ben Franklin would have put it better if he had written, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except sin and taxes”. But “death and taxes” sounds better than “sin and taxes”. For our purposes, they are the same. Talking about sin, Dr Ken Stewart told a story some 35 years ago. It seems his deacons had come to him and complained that all he ever preached about was Jesus Christ! “What about some teaching about the wickedness of sin”, they asked? Somewhat nonplussed, he agreed. So the following Sunday morning he got up and said. “I’ve been asked to talk about sin. God’s against it. The deacons are against it and I’m against it. So let’s talk about Jesus.” One thing we must admit about sin. It seems to be the most popular activity in the world today. The vast majority of people on this planet are either committing it or thinking about committing it. According to Jesus, thinking about it is the same as committing it. The other fact is, we are incapable of not committing sin. According to Paris Riedhead, we are all “monsters of iniquity who love our sin”. I don’t like it, but have to admit that it’s true. It takes a miracle from God to change it. Each and every one of us was falling into the bottomless pit until God intervened. If He hadn’t, it would have been “game over” for all of us. Oscar Wilde, in his play of 1892, “Lady Windermere's Fan” wrote, “I can resist anything but temptation”. It’s a fair assessment of the power of temptation and sin in our lives. I’ve deliberately emphasised the power sin holds over us. The only “way out” is in and through the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit; through our being born again. There is no other way! Yes, the words have been cheapened by overuse and bad interpretation. But that does not make them any less true than they were when Jesus spoke them ±2000 years ago. The prophet Isaiah stated, 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 ESV It describes us all perfectly. I don’t know how He did it. I don’t really care why He did it. The fact is, He did it! Now we must walk in it. But we can’t unless He enables us to do so. He has and He will for you. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			10 My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! Proverbs 1:10 NLT	It’s just like a miasma, that flows up through the grate, Of hell and tries to harm the folk and leave them in a state. It’s terribly insidious. It wants your heart and soul. Given opportunity, destruction is its goal. If it can annihilate or smash you to the ground, It’s achieved the purpose, the one the devil found. You know what I’m speaking of. The miasma is sin. If it can defeat you, then Lucifer will win. You will be his prisoner; and far beyond a doubt, You will never find a way whereby you can get out. It starts off with deception. He makes it look so good. “Try a little sample. You know you really should. Jesus told you something that’s not completely true. A little bit of evil, is very good for you. The difference you have heard about, you’ll never know for sure, While you’ve this obsession for always being pure. Here’s a bit. Just try it. And then you’ll really know, That what the Lord was telling you is not the way to go. To know something is evil, you have to try it first. Then your eyes will open and you will not be cursed” Can you sense the wickedness of what is written here? Eve and Adam tried it. That’s why they are not here. Sin looked so inviting, according to the snake. Both of them were tempted; with all this world at stake. They succumbed and listened. They ate forbidden fruit; And Satan captured both of them. Creation was his loot. So do not trust a sinner. Far better, turn away. Do not mess about with it or you will be its prey. Perhaps it does look tempting. But surely that’s the point. Give the devil half a chance and he will “own the joint”! We must always follow, the straight and slender way. Enter by the narrow gate and from its path don’t stray. Don’t think it’s acceptable to join in with the crowd. Jesus Christ has made it plain, that it’s not allowed. Set a good example for everyone to see. That is why the Saviour came. To set the captives free. Follow His example. It’s perfect and it’s good. If you are obedient, you’ll do the things you should. Jim Strickland Written 27th November 2012
			6 When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it--she'd know everything!--she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. Genesis 3:6 MSG
			20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah break faith in the matter of the devoted things, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? And he did not perish alone for his iniquity.'" Joshua 22:20 ESV
			2 "You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice. Exodus 23:2 NLT
			13 "Enter through the narrow gate because the gate and road that lead to destruction are wide. Many enter through the wide gate. Matthew 7:13 GW
			7 For we do not live to ourselves alone and we do not die to ourselves alone. Romans 14:7 TNIV
			13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 NIV
			9 But be careful that by using your freedom you don't somehow make a believer who is weak in faith fall into sin. 1 Corinthians 8:9 GW
			12 When you sin against other believers in this way and harm their weak consciences, you are sinning against Christ. 1 Corinthians 8:12 GW
			6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 ESV