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The Spirit Helps Us Overcome Temptation
(Mt4:1-11)

God is the God of justice (Is30:18).
He judges with justice (Job8:3),
Examines the righteous (Jer20:12) and
Rewards justly according to their conduct (Jer17:10).
 
Faith is acknowledging Him and
The life of this faith is by the Spirit overcoming temptations and enduring tests.
 
Hades in the Bible, that is, the universe, is a testing ground, and
Those who stand the test and are acknowledged as right are promised the crown of life (Jas1:12).
While temptation is given by the devil (Mt4:3),
Test is given whether to be blessed by God or not (Ge22:1), whether one fears God or not (Ge22:12).
God allows the devil to tempt (Job1:4-12) and
The devil is used as the tempter (Jas1:13).
 
Falling into the devil’s temptation, Adam the ancestor of all men sinned (Ge2:17, 3:4-6) and
All mankind were labeled as wicked.
Nevertheless, through the test of giving his only son as a burnt offering
Abraham was acknowledged as righteous and became a blessing (Ge12:2, 22:12-18; He11:17).
 
But the history of his descendants, the Israelites, is one of restless suffering (Job7:18).
For they were tested to see whether they feared the LORD or not,
The Law, the water, manna, the wilderness path, the false prophets,
The neighboring nations remaining etc (Ex15:25-26; Ps81:7; Ex16:4; Dt8:2-16, 18:22; Jdg2:21-22).
 
Yeshua said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days,” because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body (Jn2:19),
He would stand the test and establish justice on earth (Is42:4) for
His weak flesh was subjected to constant testing (He4:15):
The devil/ to eat (Mt4:3), the people/ to become their king (Jn6:15),
The disciple/ to not die (Mt16:22-23), Pilate/ I will free you (Jn19:10),
The thief/ pleaded to be saved etc (Lk23:39).
 
As He died, He said, “It is finished” (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1)     Completed all tests and committed His soul to the Father’s just judgement (1Pe2:23);
2)     Judged the devil the wicked one (Ge2:17, 3:4-6); and
3)     Died to redeem the sins of all men and shed His blood to be received by those who believe for a second chance to overcome tests (Mt20:28; He4:15).
 
He resurrected and sat on the heavenly throne and
He is the tested stone, the Lamb who has the marks of overcoming test (Is28:16; Rev5:9).
 
The Holy Spirit whom He sent
Helps those who became justified by the blood of Yeshua (Rm5:9)
Overcome all kinds of tests, whether in the flesh, their family, financially or socially.
 
The man of the Spirit is he who
Destroys conditional faith and
Watches and prays so that he does not fall into temptation (Mt26:41).
When tested by fire,
Though troubled momentarily he rejoices greatly (Jas1:2-3, 5:11),
Never complaining, resenting or losing thanks (Jn16:33; 2Co4:17), and
He perseveres and overcomes (1Pe1:7).
For no man can escape test
God will not let anyone be tempted beyond what he can bear.
But when he is tempted, God will provide a way out (1Co10:13),
So when the Lord Yeshua reappears
He would be counted worthy of the kingdom of God (2Th1:5-9) and
Receive praise, glory and honor.
 
O Lord,
You know the way I take…
When You have tested me, I shall come forth as gold (Job23:10)!
Let me persevere through this test like fire so
I can show to the devil that Your judgement is certainly right and not let him celebrate.
Let us all successfully escape this testing ground, the universe, in that day! Amen.