We have seen in section four that Jesus showed us the clear and concise way to overcome temptation. In our attempt to be imitators of Christ, we must now realize that we need to place these same principles Jesus showed us in Matthew 4:1-11 in our lives. As Jesus did not sin, we too can experience this same freedom from transgression, taboo, and totem also. In Hebrews 4:15, the Scriptures state that "..We do not have a High Priest who is unable to symphasize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are --yet without sin." This scripture confirms two important concepts. The first concept is that Jesus overcame all temptations. This is good news. The second concept is found in the verse "...tempted in every way --just as we are". This verse is written in the present tense. This confirms the fact that we will experience temptation every day in every way, shape and form. It also confirms that we are not able to eliminate temptation. Instead, we must perform the will of our our Heavenly Father and also be the imitator of Christ by overcoming the temptations. This is diametrically opposed to many of the "feel-good" teachings laid out by many spiritual warfare, kingdom now, and dominionist teachers who try to convince us that we can, must, and will eliminate all evil, temptation, and Satan himself right now on planet earth.
Therefore, we can endure the temptation. In correlation to Hebrews 4:15, 1 Corinthians 10:13 reinforces Hebrews 4:15 by stating the temptation is common to man. However, this verse also states that God is so in control of the situations that God will not allow you to be tempted above and beyond what you are capabable of. The last part of this verse is even more powerful along with it's correllation to Hebrews 4:15 by stating that "God will provide a way out of the temptation to where you can bear the temptation". This also correllates with Matthew 4:1-11 where Jesus showed us how to conquer the temptation. Because, it's not how you conquer the temptation that matters, it's the fact that you conquered the temptation. Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11 was strong enough to tell Satan to depart and leave Jesus. Joseph in Genesis 39 fled from the temptation. Both Joseph and Jesus are victors and conquerors. In fact, the Bible states in numerous places to flee from idoltry, flee from sexual immorality, flee from the love of money, and flee from youthful lusts. Therefore, if you can fight and defeat the enemy and tell him to flee, good for you. If you have to run and flee to keep from submitting to temptation, good for you. The fighter and the one who flees from temptation are seen in God's eyes as pure and holy. I know that there are many who see people as weak if they flee temptation. There are some preachers who say that the reason Joseph went to prison was not because of the lies of Potiphar's wife, but because he did not make a bold stand and proclamation for God in Genesis 39. In other words, these people see Joseph as a coward instead of a conqueror. This is theological hogwash. God in his scriptues honors the man who flees temptation by running and encourages fleeing as a way to conquer temptation if needed.
James 1:12-15 states that the one who endures temptation will receive blessings and the crown of life. James states a very important concept about temptation, God is not the one tempting you, Satan is. There is a deception today that many people propogate with Christianity concerning the fine line between a trial and a temptation. The main difference between a trial and a temptation is that in the temptation, an outright attack for you to commit evil is present. In a trial, it is God that allows Satan to take things away or to tempt you to measure your character. Trials sometimes consist of temptations. Many people are tempted at the point of torment and the church sometimes call it a trial of "God is building your character". In the reverse perspective, some people mistake trials as temptations when they get gung-ho in spiritual warfare and try to eliminate the trial. The entire book of Job is the account of one man's refusal to curse God when God allowed Satan to do numerous things to Job. God was in full control to where Satan had to ask God what could he do to Job. Temptations usually come in short and instantaneous happenings in an attempt to destroy an individual. Trials come by the hand of God to test and develop Godly character and further defeat the works of totem, taboo, and transgression in order to be a pure and holy temple for God.
In verses fourteen and fifteen, temptation is where the external forces uses the lusts that appeals to the senses to influence your internal choice to become dragged away from the presence of God and temple and enticed to serve and partake in the rituals of totem, taboo, and transgression. We see that, in verse fifteen, the lustful thoughts when conceived help dull our spiritual senses to the point where the external forces gain more and more control of our internal choices to where we will commit sin in order to feed the desires of the flesh. Our internal choices are so deluded that we decide to do things to appease our flesh instead of our spirit. The last statement in verse fifteen correlates with Romans 6:23. Sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. In otherwords, the sin, taboos, and transgressions we partake of and the wide roads we travel to feed and satisfy our sinful fleshly desires leads to the state of totem. The organic becomes inorganic. Life becomes death.
In 2 Timothy 2:20-21, Paul advises Timothy that in the house (whether it's a physical house or a body) there are many things made out of wood, clay, gold, and silver. Paul tells Timothy to discern these items because some of these items are good and some of the items are bad. It is not the materials of gold, silver, wood, and clay that is bad in and of itself, it was the idols that some made using these materials that are wrong and evil in the eyes of God. Paul advises Timothy that if he cleanses himself from those items that are bad, Timothy will be used for noble purposes and useful to the Father to do the works of the Father. Here Paul warns Timothy to stay away from the idols (totem poles) of the various materials and flee the lusts of youth. In other words flee the idols, taboos, and transgressions that will lead one to the state of totem and death and pursue the temple qualities of righetousness, faith, charity, and peace and find a similar people who will do the same thing and encourage each other to pursue the state of being a holy temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell in.
In summary, the decision to resist or perform the temptation comes down to our willingmess or unwillingness to allow any external force (whatever it is), to influence or not to influence, the decisions we make. At the fork in the road is the decision block of a wide road to totem to the left and the narrow pathway to temple to the right. Whether the flesh or the spirit loses will depend on the external force you choose to listen to and also the external voice you choose to ignore. Jesus was victorious over all temptation, we can be also even though we will sometimes fail in that endeavor. We fall down. We get up. But in the long run, victory is ours.
Lord, right now in the name of Jesus, I ask that you would give us the strength to conquer temptations and also to understand what temptation really is. Help us to recognize when the external forces influencing our internal choices are not from you O Lord. I ask that we will learn from the many examples of people in the scriptures who yielded to temptation but also learn from those who did not yield to temptation like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego. May we progress and turn away from the taboos, transgressions, and totems and turn towards the pathway of temple. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN!
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