Don’t shop in Satan’s aisle

As we looked at the gospel of Lucifer yesterday, we read the text of the temptation of Jesus by the devil in Matthew 4.  Satan accuses us in the temptations we face, causing feelings of guilt and shame.  Yet remember all men are tempted: “No temptation has overtaken you except 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.” 
— (I Corinthians 10:13)

Yet temptation is not sin when we turn and trust God for escape.  James 1:12-15 tells us, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 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.”  Temptations are all shortcuts to the plan of God, the misuse of God’s commands, and an introduction to rebellion against God’s glory.  This whole issue of temptation is one of the greatest (to me) promises of Heaven.  There will be no more temptation in the resurrection!

I want to remind you of the quote of Richard Baxter:

Sin dwells in Hell, and holiness in Heaven.
Remember that every temptation is from the devil,
to make you like himself.
Remember when you sin,
that you are learning and imitating of the devil —
and are so far like him.
And the end of all, is that you may feel his pains.
If Hell-fire is not good, then sin is not good.

While usually there is a pleasure in the moment of sin, if the resulting consequence of the sin is held in mind, and the pleasure of God our objective, then our obedience and submission is so much easier and desired.  As I shared at the end of the sermon yesterday, whose aisle are you shopping for in your life?  Avoid the aisle of the gospel of Lucifer!

Pressing On…

Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor