Faith, Temptation, and Strength

Faith, Temptation, and Strength

(For the prodical who is returning to God, by His mercy and grace)

Feb 28, 2020

This is written to a new Brother or Sister who may have grown-up Catholic, but then came to faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, then back-slid, and now have returned to Jesus in repentance.

 

It is part of a 3-part series:

Part 1: Returning To God, and Dealing With Temptation

Part 2: Faith, Temptation, and Strength (For the prodigal who is returning to God, by His mercy and grace)

Part 3: The Flesh-man, The Spirit-man

 

Dear Brother or Sister,

1) The Scriptures teach us to be strong in faith- that means to believe God. The Scriptures also teach us, that "in our weakness, He is made strong" (2 Cor 12:9, 1 Cor 2:3, 1 Cor 15:43, 2 Cor 11:30, 2 Cor 13:4, Heb 11:34, 1 Cor 1:25, Rom 8:26, Heb 4:14-16)– that means when we don’t have the ability in our own self to follow God, we can rely on God’s strength or resources to make up the difference that is needed. The Bible never says to ‘be strong in your own abilities’ but by faith, to be strong in His abilities. It says “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might”. Be strong in your confidence in God- faith. "For without faith, it is impossible to please God. For whoever comes to God, must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Heb 11:6).

2) When you have been giving in to temptations for a long time (sinning, living in sin), there will be a whole lot of temptation when you leave the sin behind- this is normal. The more you resist sin and temptation, it will get easier and easier to resist it- it takes time, but it will not absolutely completely go away. Luke 4:13, speaking of Jesus’ temptation, said this:

KJV: "And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season."

ESV: "And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time."

Although Jesus never sinned, He was tempted just as we are. This gives us a bit of insight into the recurrence of temptation. The Devil does not need to tempt you much when you are living in sin, except maybe to get you deeper into it- because "whoever sins is a slave to sin", Jesus said. But when you come away from sin and give Jesus your life, temptation will come, sometimes very heavy temptation- but only for a time, then it will pass if you do not give in to it. Consider this verse:

1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,[complaining about God, in unbelief and distrust, Num 21:4-9]
10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Along with these warnings is also a wonderful promise, that God is faithful to us not to allow us to be tempted beyond our ability, and to provide a way of escape. You must remember this is true. There will be times it feels like the temptation will bowl you over, but you must hold on to Jesus and this promise. There are weaknesses in our life that must be submitted over and over to Jesus, even the inclinations to sin, til they are gone. Just keep doing this- keep going to Jesus, with everything. Also in this verse, it is saying that your temptations are experienced by other people too, other Christians, everywhere, all over the world, we are not an odd case. Sometimes the enemy would like us to feel isolated and that our temptations are exceptional, but that is a lie.

Hebrews 4:14-15 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession [of faith].
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

This is one of the great and precious promises we have from God, that when we need help or mercy, we can come boldly to the throne of grace, by faith in the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins to be able to approach the Most Holy God, and obtain help in times of need- during times of temptation and our old man’s desires needing to be put to death- see the next paper, The Flesh-man, The Spirit-man, about that.