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.