Over the last few months , I have shared a couple posts about accountability. How is it going for you, if you have a person you can be accountable to? I have been on this journey since January 14, 2023 and it's not been easy.
I rejoice at my progress and length of new habits replacing the old ones. But those rough days where I slip back into old patterns of behavior are difficult. It's hard to stay strong when you're tired. When some trigger is particularly elevated, and sometimes I feel too worn down to even attempt to fight.
Those days where the thought that Jesus went through temptation without sin is amazing, but at the same time, "How did Jesus do this? This is so difficult."
I truly think we overlook simple details when we read the account of Jesus' temptation mentioned in Matthew Chapter 4 :4-11
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.’ ”*
5 Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and,
‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’ ”*
7 Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’ ”*
8 Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me,† Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’ ” *
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.
Or Luke Chapter 4:1-13
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”*
5 The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I want. 7 If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’ ”*
9 He led him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,
‘He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;’
11 and,
‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”*
12 Jesus answering, said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”*
13 When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time.
You see they are both similar accounts . Jesus led by the Holy Spirit to the wilderness to be tempted. Both record that Jesus used scripture to defeat the enemy. Matthew says angels attended to Him after the temptation. Luke says the devil left him until another time.
"Another time..." I think this is the most overlooked phrase in scripture about Jesus facing temptation. It wasn't like He lived 30 plus years and just on this one occasion He had to make a decision about whether He would sin or not. At least that's not how I picture it, because from childhood children and babies fight . Teens have their body changing and sexual struggles .
It is my opinion that He lived daily having to surrender Himself to the Father, to deny temporary sinful pleasures to honor Him and be the sacrifice to redeem us.
Scripture says in Hebrews 4:12-16
12 For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
14 Having then a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let’s hold tightly to our confession. 15 For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. 16 Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.
Jesus has been through our struggles . I don't think we can truly say that the event of Matthew and Luke was the only time Jesus was weak physically, that the devil tried to tempt Him.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.
13 No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
We may think where is that way of escape , when the temptation seems strong like an volley of arrows all at once? You may be using scripture and doing all the Lord has shown you, but you feel yourself weakening. Maybe it seems like a sword fight and the enemy is not giving up , trying to wear you out. What happens when what is usually a five to ten minute struggle to overcome, becomes an hour long battle? When you call out to the Lord, and there seems to be no answer?
What if you failed, because you didn't know how to handle that situation for that length of time? Are you ashamed, afraid to return back to the Lord's presence?
Run to Him. So many times, I fear we think that our habits will be replaced without little effort on our part, as if all desires that don't honor the Lord will be removed without a fight. Quitting Cold Turkey, is possible and sometimes God will do that for a person, but for me it's been different. If you read my last post when I talked about accountability, I mentioned that the Lord reminded me of a toddler learning to walk, and how stamina increases as they walk longer periods of time and distances.
What if we don't truly know the full strength of enduring temptation? We spent so many years in habit that going five minutes without something, can seem hard. I remember the years before my accountability and thought sin was impossible to overcome , but I wasn't seeking the Lord. I gave in at the first sign of temptation. There was no fight. No struggle.
I still have my struggles , but these last few months have been amazing to see how God has helped me. Anger has been a trigger, and to see a few days in-between outbursts may not seem like a lot. But there was a time, where I thought it was pointless to try to work on it , because I didn't know where to start to get a handle on what was out of control at times.
Along with the new habits , there is the process of withdrawal, depending on the habit or addictions that someone is dealing with. It's not a fast process.
Satan wants to keep us in shame and guilt when we sin, but God wants us to run to Him. He's promised that we will be whole and free completely one day, if we know Jesus as Lord and Savior. He knew every sin you would commit, and The Father and Jesus still chose the path that led to your redemption. It's a journey , not a sprint. Run to Him when you fall, let Him comfort you. Accept His discipline and remain teachable , because there may be a lesson in the wrestling and struggling. There may be roots/ triggers/ memories that you may not be aware of that need to be dealt with so He can heal you more fully.
I encourage you don't give up, God knows we won't be perfect this side of eternity; that standard is impossible for us. That is why He sent Jesus to do what we could not. Instead of using that as an excuse to give into sin, may we seek to walk and spend time with our Lord. Learning from the Holy Spirit , so we will be more ready and prepared for the battles that will come, especially those when we least expect it. In Christ , we will be victorious. He has won the war. We are fighting an already defeated enemy. Don't get too prideful, because that same defeated enemy still is on the prowl seeking those whom he can steal, kill, and destroy. Still dangerous for some , seeking those souls he can drag to Hell with him. Do not fear, God is greater. Rely on God's strength in your weaknesses. Be on your guard and ready, the enemy looks for those opportunities, those other times where he can hit a weak spot. Spend the time needed with the Lord, getting to know the battle plan, and your escape routes.
Luke 9:23-27 says
He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross,§ and follow me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self? 26 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.
A cross isn't easy to carry physically . Denying our desires and surrendering our will isn't easy. There are no promises that the Lord's path is without pain or a smooth path. Sometimes it's long, rocky and difficult , but the promise from the Lord from the time we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior to the time we see Him face to face, is that we will never walk alone. He will be there to help us carry our burdens and help us overcome sin.
I will leave you with this testimony of God's faithfulness and the value of help found in Exodus Chapter 17:8-16
Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us, and go out to fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with God’s rod in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed. When he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy; so they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side. His hands were steady until sunset. 13 Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 Yahweh said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under the sky.” 15 Moses built an altar, and called its name “Yahweh our Banner”.§ 16 He said, “Yah has sworn: ‘Yahweh will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.’ ”
Although this an account of a physical battle, from which God gave the victory, Moses had people who helped him do as God led.
Do you have friends who can help keep you accountable as you walk with the Lord? Pray that the Lord will show you what to do and whom to trust, to keep you accountable when you are struggling. We are not meant to live this life alone and isolated, like sheep away from a flock, vulnerable to wolf attacks. Surround yourself with support that will encourage your walk with the Lord. It's a journey, not a dash to the finish line. There may be more miles or years to go... only God knows. Trust the Lord, who is still working in our lives as we learn and grow in our relationship with Him. Don't give up!
All scripture from the World English Bible
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