03/04/2020
Sometimes we are tempted in places that should be safe. Jesus was tempted in His safe place, on the pinnacle of the temple, the house of God, and we can be tempted in our churches as well. Have you ever had a squabble on Sunday morning with someone at church, and found that you couldn’t sleep at all that night... or did you go home smug in the fact that you had really told that so and so a thing or two?
“Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple”
Matthew 4:5 ESV
We are no less human within the church walls than we are in a seedy bar downtown; the only difference is that the company we keep downtown might not judge us as harshly. Do statements like this make us uncomfortable... well they should.
“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”
2 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV
I heard a pastor preach a powerful sermon one Sunday morning about a very similar topic, and when he felt us squirming in the pews he said “Are you all Christian Soldiers? Well it has been said that the Christian army is the only one who shoots its wounded!” Then he asked us if we gossiped, and judged those on the pew next to us... you could have heard a pin drop in that church.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene...”
2 Timothy 2:15-17 ESV
We are certainly tempted in our safe places, and church is not exempt. So how do we combat that sly and sneaky Satan who whispers some of the juiciest gossip into our ears, and says “Don’t tell anyone!” instantly knowing that we have already taken his bait. Or that sly orator Lucifer who tells us that we are more righteous, or give more tithes, or do better works, or are closer the pastor than that person down the pew who makes our skin crawl with jealousy every time we see them.
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
Matthew 5:22-24 ESV
There are other places that should be safe too, places like our marriage, our home, our place of employment, school, and even in our leisure activities. All of these should be ruled by our faith, and free of evil, darkness, and temptation. In this way we will walk with the God of peace, and in safety, but in each of these places we are tempted.
“Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the Lord your God. Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety.”
Leviticus 25:17-18 KJV
So I ask again... How do we combat the dark one’s whispers, or do we even realize that we are being spoken to? How do we insure that our safe place is really safe? How do we stop fighting long enough to call for the medic, Jesus, to take His wounded soldier from the battlefield? Do we help Clean his wounds with the blood of Christ, and shore up our own defenses with contrition, and prayer... do we don the armor of God’s Holy Word, and anoint our own hair with the oil of His Love? Jesus used scripture to put Satan in his place... shouldn’t we be doing that as well?
Prayer:
Father thank you for the peace you intend for us to experience in our safe places. Thank you for the calm that let’s sleep find us at the gates of our enemy, and the safety that remains with us there. You are ever vigilant, and your angels gather around us to stand guard day and night. Your peace is like a warm oil dripping from our beards, and by it we are anointed, and made safe. Help us Lord Jesus to sin no more, and to find peace, and safety in those places where we abide in you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who makes us safe in the presence of the worldly. Praised be your name for the goodness you have revealed to us by your Holy Spirit. Your mercy and a grace bring you glory now and forevermore, and you pour it out into us through your Perfect Son Jesus. Hear my prayers, as I cry out to you from within the prison of my pride, and arrogance, pleading for forgiveness, and longing to be Righteous and safe before you once more.
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Psalms 4:8 ESV
Rich Forbes