Temptations Increase When We’re Souled Out to Christ

Siblings,

We know it as a fact. If all others before us faced temptation, there’s no exemption for us. As humans, we face temptations daily, whether we claim Y’shua Jesus as personal Saviour or not. But the temptations seem to increase when we’re souled out to Him. There’s one thing we really ought to be aware of, and it’s found in Today’s Holy Nougat.

Luke 4:13-14 AMP

[13] When the devil had finished every temptation, he [temporarily] left Him until a more opportune time.

[14] Then Jesus went back to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the news about Him spread through the entire region.

Still under the Spirit’s Power

A songwriter once wrote that the Blood of Jesus will never lose its power. The same must be said for the Spirit of God. Our actions may suggest the contrary, but our actions do not determine the truth. Nothing and no one can diminish the power of God’s Spirit.

What can happen, and might have happened with us, is that we can opt to ‘quench God’s Spirit ‘, or reduce our response to the Spirit’s presence and influence in our lives (see the warning in 1 Thessalonians 5). When we grieve or quench God’s Spirit, the likelihood of the manifestation of the Spirit and God’s influence in our lives is reduced. But that is another choice we make.

Self-Check

Could our current actions be grieving God’s Spirit or reducing the scope for God’s influence over our actions?

Application

The Nougat is clear. When the season of temptation was ended, Jesus left the wilderness in the power of God’s Spirit! But Jesus was also led into the wilderness by God’s Spirit. From my perspective, God’s Spirit didn’t take Y’shua to the babysitter’s and left for work or vacation. Rather, God’s Spirit was working with Jesus while Jesus was in the wilderness.

But that’s Jesus, so we expect that to be the case. Despite His humanity, we know Jesus was fully God, and God’s Spirit remained with Him all the way to the Cross. [There was a moment at the Cross, which seems as though the presence of God was removed, but God was still present]. We’re blessed because it is actually God’s Spirit that leads us to acceptance of Y’shua as Lord of our lives. So there’s no doubt that God’s Spirit is deeply invested in our success.

For me, it is therefore logical that if God’s Spirit introduces us to Christ, dwells in us after we choose Christ, manifests gifts in us to glorify Christ, leads us to the wilderness to assure us of our strength in Christ (for that is what temptation affords us); there is no way that God’s Spirit would leave us unattended in the wilderness.

Absolutely not.

Not even when we choose to ignore God’s Spirit. Not even when the Adversary returns after a while. Not even when we feel lonely, dismayed, discouraged, and despondent. And especially not even when we feel like God has forsaken us.

You see siblings, I believe it’s actually the contrary. I believe God’s Spirit keeps our hearts and minds in and on Christ Jesus during our trials and wilderness experiences (see what Philippians 4:7 says). I also believe that because God’s Spirit isn’t bound by time and space, God’s Spirit is also interceding for us in those wilderness moments, right there in Heaven alongside Y’shua (see Romans . Ain’t that something?!

Because of that, I believe that God’s Spirit is the escape route offered in our moments of temptation (see 1 Corinthians 10). But believing is only half the battle. We have to act on that belief. We have to renew our minds, tuning it daily [or perhaps hourly], to focus on that good and perfect gift God’s given us, namely, Y’shua Jesus. We remind ourselves of Jesus’ faithfulness, recognizing that He’s with us, so He can take us through. We invite His input in all aspects of our lives and wait on Him. He will allow His Spirit to guide us. Let’s cry out – we will get attended to.

Point to Ponder

If at any point we succumb to temptation, including despair, let us remember, God’s Spirit Who transformed Saul, awaits our decision to receive forgiveness.

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May all we seek be found in Christ