07/08/2019
The world looks at the strength of the faithful, and not only marvels at it, but fears it, and looks for ways to subdue it. When you were first saved, and returned to your everyday life as a changed person, full of a new life and joy, how long did it take before those around you asked what made you so happy, and strong? Then... how long was it before they started trying to stick knives in your faith? Those living without a faith in God and Jesus Christ either want to be like us, or they look to bring us low once again so that they can feel safe in their lack of faith.
“So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you."”
Judges 16:6 ESV
In the story of Samson and Delilah, she was an agent of those who feared Samson, and was offered a great reward for finding out how to defeat him, and lay him low. His strength not only made them afraid, but they were also jealous of it... men who value the strength of the world want all others to be less than they are.
“And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, "Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver."”
Judges 16:5 ESV
From the very beginning this has been true; what gain did the serpent have in promoting the fall of Adam and Eve, except jealousy? And every story has an element of temptation somewhere in it... David was tempted to kill Saul, and Elijah who was hiding fearfully in a cave, claiming to be jealous for the Lord when he was told to anoint his own replacement. This must have caused him concern don’t you think?
“And the Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.”
1 Kings 19:15-16 ESV
Then there are the greatest of all stories of fear, and jealousy; the stories of the Pharisees, and others who sought to undermine, and bring down the faith of Jesus. Even Satan himself joined in the attack against His faith in the greatest story of temptation in the Bible... The Temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness...
“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil...”
Luke 4:1-2 ESV
As a person of faith we too will be brought under attack, and our faithfulness tempted; sometimes by subtle snares like the one Delilah set for Samson in our previous scripture, sometimes by our own jealous nature when it looks like God is shining His light more brightly on another, and quite often by direct assault as others jeer at our faith, and attack the source of our joy as the attempt to drag us back into the darkness of the world. Whenever our faith is rising, Satan looks to lay it low.
In each of these attempts to destroy our faith we can claim victory by armoring ourselves in the Word of God, but in every case Satan merely retreats as he awaits another opportunity to confront us, or ensnare us in our own natures. He might concede the battle, but He never ends the war. The Bible warns us of this following the temptation of Christ when it says...
“And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.”
Luke 4:13 ESV
So we should not be surprised when we come under repeated attack by Satan, or his minions in the world around us, but we should rejoice in the fact that our faith is considered strong, strong enough that it threatens, or makes those without faith jealous, and we should fight back... resisting temptation shielded by the steadfast Word of God.
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
1 Peter 4:12-13 ESV
We hear of our coming temptation throughout the Bible. We hear of it from the likes of Peter, who is the rock on which Jesus built His church, and we also hear it from Paul, in his letters...
“For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.”
1 Thessalonians 3:4-5 ESV
So following our conversion, and in the midst of our ongoing transformation and quickening, we can expect to be confronted by darkness. We can also expect to be asked about our faith by those who sincerely desire to join us in it, so be prepared to share the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ with those who see our strength, and the joy which radiates from us; with those who honestly want to partake in what we have come to know. Pray that God strengthen you in your faith, gives you victory over temptation, and makes your voice an example and a light unto the world.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for my faith, and strengthen me in it so that I can withstand all forms of temptation and cutting sword. Thank you Holy Father for providing me an escape through your Word in every situation that confronts me. Thank you Merciful Father for the righteous examples that you have shown me through your Son Jesus as he was challenged, attacked, and tempted at every turn. Keep me Lord, and build a hedge of protection around me, but never let that hedge be so strong that I can’t reach through it to deliver the gospel of Jesus, and that I can’t tell others of your amazing strength and grace. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who allows us to be placed on the lion’s den... only to draw us out unscathed. Praised be your name as we flit like moths around the flame, protected by solely by your hand as we seek souls for your Kingdom. Open our eyes wide to your glory, and let your grace, administered through the blood of Jesus, be the salve that heals them. Open our eyes as you did Saul’s and call us too by a new name. Great are you our God, and great is your Son Jesus who obeyed your will, and redeemed my soul.
“And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed,”
Luke 22:39-41 ESV
Rich Forbes