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Sunday, January 25, 2009

WEEK THREE

Come prepared to discuss the “it is written” lists as well as this blog.

It’s about time that we defined temptation, don’t you think? If you look into various Bible translations you will discover that the words tempt, try, and test appear in temptation contexts. Why is it that such a variety of translations exists? Which is the correct term to use in each place? Well, here’s the reason—the very same Greek word can be translated any one of these three ways. There is only one way, therefore, to determine which word best fits a context.

That being so, you will translate the New Testament this week! (I don’t mean the whole thing!) Haven’t you always wanted to do that? You see, you have as much right to use one of these words or another depending on the context, as I said. So, here’s what you’ll do:
1. Get out your trusty concordance. If you don’t have one larger than the one that you find right before the maps in the back of your Bible, you ought to get one.
2. Now, look up the passages where each of these words appears in the New Testament (If you want to look at the Old Testament as well—then that’s OK too. But don’t bite off more than you can chew!).
3. Next, determine which word should be used in each instance according to the context.

Well, how did it go? Was it fun? Biblical translators have not always agreed on how the original word ought to be translated, so you were free to decide for yourself. And, since context alone must determine the way it is used on a particular occasion, your translation is as valid as anyone else’s.

4. The final thing that you will want to do is to write out the reasons why you think that the particular word you decided to use is a better translation in any given context than the others.

Homework for next week: do the concordance study assigned in the blog.

Monday, January 19, 2009

WEEK TWO

Come prepared to discuss this blog on how to meet temptation. Note that you are also given some homework to prepare for Week 3.

Last week we took up the first question: why Jesus/you are tempted. We saw that the devil wanted to divert Jesus from His work. How often has he diverted you from doing things for the Lord?

This week we take up the second question: How ought we to meet temptation?

There are several factors to consider in response. First, we ought to meet it head on. Jesus certainly did. He understood the temptations—all three of them—and dealt with them head on. If we minimize them, as people sometimes do, we can avoid the direct response that is necessary. He acknowledged the temptations as such and met them for what they were—attempts to lead Him into sin. Sometimes people will say such things as, “Oh, I don’t think that’s what she meant . . .” thus minimizing the temptation. Minimized in that fashion, it is easier to fall into it. After all, if what she said isn’t what she meant, then it may be something less than a temptation to sin. Let’s stop kidding ourselves and others by minimizing what, down deep, we know is a temptation to sin. If there’s any question it is better to err on the side of caution!

Now, how did Jesus meet the three temptations? I Peter 5: 9 provides the clue. Jesus did precisely what Peter tells you to do. What was that? write out the key word in the verse___________.

OK. So now you know exactly what to do. How do you go about doing it? That’s the question. The word you wrote down can mean many things. What are some of them?
You probably thought of such things as oppose, refuse to do, defy, stand firm against, fight, withstand, refuse, and the like. OK. Most of those terms speak about some aspect of what to do. But look at what Jesus did. How, exactly, did He withstand, defy, refuse and so on? There was one thing He did in respect to each of the temptations. What was it? Three times (in vv. 4, 6, 10) we see Him refer to something, using three words: Write them here “:__ __ ______________.”

If you are going to meet temptation head on you too will need to be well-versed in the proper passages of Scripture that refer to the temptation. But, notice, He countered not with verses that warned against the temptation, as sometimes we are prone to do, but with verses that asserted the opposite to it. “Yes,” you say, but how do you expect me to be able to come up with such passages on the spot? Here are two suggestions to do before next week’s meeting:

Homework for next week:

A. Make a growing written list of verses that set forth the opposite of all the things that you are tempted to do.

B. Memorize the verse that opposes your most severe temptation, and refer to it in times when the temptation arises.

What is the result of opposing the temptation? Turn again to the verse in I Peter to find the answer. It also occurs in the account of Jesus’ temptation in Matthew 4: 11.
There, two things are stated. What are they?
List them 1_____________________________________________________
2_____________________________________________________

Can you also expect these two results of resisting temptation in your case? Certainly you can expect the first, as I Peter clearly asserts. The second may or may not happen in precisely the same way. But surely, you can expect some sort of help in the outcome—whether angels are employed or not. And, in addition, you will be stronger for having overcome the roaring lion!

Think about the last time you faced temptation successfully—did you receive help? Did you find that for a time thereafter temptation fled from you? Were you stronger after that? If not, why not? Did you become overconfident? If you have questions about this you might want to consult your elder and get assistance from him. At any rate, you will want to instruct and support others who face temptation so that they, too, may experience these same results.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Week 1: Why are you tempted? (Matthew 4:1-11)

Redeemer Men

For the next several weeks Jay Adams will be providing a series of posts on the subject of temptation. This is an opportunity to learn from someone with rich biblical understanding about something that each of us face every day.


Men . . .
Over the next few weeks we will be studying the biblical teaching about temptation. Pastor Slattery thinks that this is an important subject to consider since we are all tempted all the time in any number of ways. So . . . here we go!
WEEK ONE We’re going to begin by looking at the supreme example of how temptation ought to be met. As we see Jesus in the desert, dealing with the wiles of the devil, we can understand at least three things about temptation:
1. Why temptation comes to us;
2. How we ought to meet it;
3. What the outcome of properly handling temptation is.
Before going further, read Matthew 4: 1-11 and see if you can find the verses referring to the three matters mentioned above. Having looked up the passage and reached your conclusions, let’s talk a little more about these questions.
1. Notice the first sentence in this section: Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. The devil is “the accuser” of the brethren. How do we know that? [Use a concordance or Bible dictionary if necessary.] Scripture verse:_______________ What do you think that means?

2.Answer:______________________________________________________________________________________________
We are tempted for the same reason Jesus was—God sees fit to test us just as He saw fit to lead Jesus into temptation. It was at His weakest point, after fasting 40 days that the temptation took place. Certainly, we ought to be especially on guard at times of physical weakness. But we shall see also that such weakness doesn’t mean that we will necessarily be overcome when tempted. Indeed, Jesus, Who was far weaker than you will probably ever be (when did you fast for 40 days?), shows that succumbing for this reason is far from inevitable. He shows also that we cannot use physical weakness as an excuse for giving in to temptation.

But, again, why are we tempted? First, let’s ask, why was Jesus tempted? The Lord had just been baptized as the “Anointed One” (Hebrew: “Messiah”; Greek: “Christ”) for His ministry. According to prophecy (Daniel 9), He was to be baptized (“anointed”) precisely on the date promised to Daniel. This happened. The devil seemed to know something about this schedule (perhaps he reads Scripture) and came to divert Him from the death that would take place, (also according to Daniel 9, exactly 3 ½ years later in the midst of the last “week” or 7-year period predicted). He wanted to keep Him from the cross. So, he tempted Him to take a shorter route to possessing “all the kingdoms of the world,” as prophecy had predicted He would. The temptation was arranged by God’s Spirit, who led Jesus into it. God and the devil each had a purpose in the temptation. The devil wanted to keep Jesus from His mission, the Father wanted to prove (test) Him for it.

OK, then. The first thing we see is that it’s when the devil knows that you intend to do something for God he is likely to tempt you. He will do this in order to keep you from accomplishing the task. And, it is especially true that you seem vulnerable if you are physically exhausted or otherwise weakened. Remember, God wants to test you for the work. If you pass the test, you will be stronger in the wake of it. The devil wants to stop you.

Think about it for a while. Are you about to do something for God? Are you also tired or physically weak? If so, then especially at this time you may be most subject to temptation. In surviving it you will be strengthened. But if you fail you will probably mess up royally in attempting to serve Christ—unless you repent. You may even give up on your best intentions. Think about this the next time you set out to achieve something for Christ. That’s one time to especially be on guard for temptation.

Next week we’ll take up the second matter.