Temptations Can Be Overruled For Good By the Children of God - by Thomas Watson

Temptations

 

 

Satan observes the temperament and the constitution: He lays suitable baits of temptation. Like the farmer, he knows what grain is best for the soil.  Satan will not tempt contrary to the natural disposition and temperament.  This is his policy, he makes the wind and tide go together, that way the natural tide of the heart runs the way the wind of temptation blows.  The devil cannot know men's thoughts, yet he knows their temperament, and accordingly lays his bait.

 

Satan observes the fittest time to tempt in as a cunning angler casts in his angle when the fish will bite best.  Satan's time of testing is usually after an ordinance: and the reason is, he thinks he shall find us most secure. Just as a soldier, who after a battle leaves off his armor, not once dreaming of an enemy, Satan watches his time, and when we least expect, then he throws in a temptation.

 

Satan can tempt by proxy. Thus he handed over a temptation to Job by his wife (Job 2:19).

 

Satan tempts to evil by them that are good, thus he gives poison in a golden cup. He tempted Christ by Peter--- Peter dissuaded Christ from suffering.

 

Satan tempts to sin under pretense of religion. He is most to be feared when he transforms himself into an angel of light.  He came to Christ with Scripture in his mouth. "It is written." If you compare Matthew 6:6 and Psalm 91:11, you will notice Satan omitted part of the Scripture. When in Matthew he quoted, "For he will command his angels concerning you" but omitted ... to guard you in all your ways.  (Satan adds to, takes away, and twists Scripture).

 

Satan can instill blasphemous and evil thoughts into one's mind, as well as use subtle arguments to dispute us into sin. He will also use a weakness to incline us toward temptation.

 

Temptations can be overruled for good by the children of God. A tree that is shaken by the wind is more settled and rooted; so the blowing of a temptation does but settle a Christian more in grace.

 

Temptations are overruled for good in the following ways.

 

Temptation sends the soul to prayer. When Satan shoots his fiery darts at the soul, it then runs faster to the throne of grace.

 

The more a child of God is tempted, the more he fights against that temptation. The more Satan tempts to blasphemy, the more a saint trembles at such thoughts and says, "Get thee hence, Satan!"  That temptation that the devil uses as a spur to sin, God makes a bridle to keep back Christians from it.

 

Temptation works for good as it abates the swelling of pride. Paul said "Lest I should be exalted above measure, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan to buffet me (2 Corinthians 12:7).

 

Temptation works for good, as it is a touchstone to try what is in the heart. The devil tempts that he may deceive; but God suffers us to be tempted, to try us.  Temptation is a trial of our sincerity, it argues that our heart is chaste and loyal to Christ when we can look at a temptation in the face and turn away from it. Also it is a trial of our courage when rather than yielding to the temptation, the Christian brandishes the Sword of the Spirit against Satan.

 

Temptations work for good when God makes those who are tempted fit to comfort others in the same distress. A Christian must himself be under the buffetings of Satan, before he can speak a word in good season to him that is weary.

 

Temptations work for good as they engage the strength of Christ. Christ is our Friend, and when we are tempted, He sets all His power working for us. In that He himself has suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted (Hebrews 2:18). "And through Him we are more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37).

 

 

Question:  But sometimes Satan foils a child of God. How does this work for good?

 

Answer:  Through the suspension of divine grace, and the fury of the temptation, a saint may be overcome; yet this foiling by a temptation shall be overruled for good. By this foil God makes way for augmentation of grace. Peter was tempted to self-confidence. He presumed upon his own strength; and when he would needs to stand alone, Christ let him fall. But this wrought for his good. It cost him many a tear."He went out and wept bitterly"  (Matthew 26:75). And now he grows more modest. He durst not say he loved Christ more than the other apostles. "Do you love Me more than these"? (John 21:15). He durst not say so. His fall broke the neck of his pride.  The foiling by a temptation causes more circumspection and watchfulness in a child of God.  Though Satan did before decoy him into sin, yet for the future he will be more cautious. He is more shy and fearful of occasions of sin. He never goes out without his spiritual armor, and he girds on his armor by prayer.  He knows he walks on slippery ground, therefore he looks wisely to his steps.

 

This is all the harm a devil ever does when he foils a saint by temptation. He cures him of his careless neglect; he makes him watch and pray more.



From All Things For Good by Thomas Watson

 

 

 

 

~Annie~



What Are the Lord's Requirements

Deuteronomy 10:12-22

 

The secret of rest and victory lies in ceasing to struggle against

the requirements of God.

 

Here is a question which should come with searching power to the heart of every child of God; what does the Lord require of me?  Surely such a question ought to constrain us honestly to make this inquiry: Lord, what will You have me to do?

(Handfuls on Purpose - James Smith)

 

 

He is our Creator and every good thing comes from Him. For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb (Psalm 139:13). What do we have that we have not received from Him?  Therefore we should be joyful always; pray continually; and give thanks "in all circumstances," for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus (1Thessalonians 5:16-18).

 

He is our Redeemer.  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.  We were bought at a price, therefore we are to glorify God in our body and our spirit, which are His. We belong to Him.  He only, shall we serve (Matthew 4:10). For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14).  In Christ we are new creations. God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ Jesus and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. God made Him who was sinless, to be sin for us, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God.  ( 2 Corinthians 5:17-20).

 

 

What are some of these requirements...

 

A Reverent Fear of Our Holy God.  Fear the Lord your God, not as a slave who fears his master because of the lash, but as a loving son or daughter fears to grieve or dishonor their father.  God is our Father, but He is also Judge and we each, as His children, will give account for everything whether good or bad (Hebrews 12:13) This has not to do with our salvation but rather what rewards will be given or with-held according to our heart and our ability with the gifts He has given us.

 

An Obedient Walk.  "To walk in all His ways" (Deuteronomy 10:12). What does this mean? Colossians 1:10 tells us we are to ask God to fill us with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Why? in order that we might live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way. How? By bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in our knowledge of God. By doing this we will be strengthened with all power according to His glorious might. Why? So that we can have great endurance and patience in every test and trial, and joyfully give thanks to the Father for giving us His Son and His Spirit. Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God (2 Corinthians 7:1).

 

An Affectionate Heart. He who looks upon the heart requires truth in the inward parts             (Psalm 51:6).

Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself (A neighbor is anyone you have contact with). On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:38-40).   Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13:34).

 

A Forgiving Heart.  In Matthew 6:5-14 after teaching His disciples how to pray Jesus ends with this...(v.14) "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but... if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Check back at the top under fear of God re- we must give account of everything whether good or bad. We often need God's help in order to forgive and to keep forgiving.  He is waiting to hear our cry so He can help us.

 

A Whole-Hearted Service.  We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men (Ephesians 6:7). Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly... and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Colossians 3:12-17). Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men... it is the Lord Christ you are serving (Colossians 3:23-24).

 

A Submissive Will.  A submissive will is a will surrendered to God. It is a desire to do His will rather than our own. When Jesus separates the sheep from the goats it will be those who do the will of God who Jesus will recognize as His own (Matthew 7:21).  What does it mean to do the will of God?  It means to have compassion on others and do for them what you would have someone do for you or your loved ones if they were in desperate need (Matthew25:31-46).   It means to obey Christ's teachings.  Everything in the New Testament (Covenant) comes from the teachings of Christ Jesus.  Before Jesus ascended back to heaven He told His disciples He would send the Holy Spirit who would bring to their minds all that Jesus had previously taught them. Jesus also taught the apostle Paul. Therefore everything in the New Testament comes from the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament teaches about Jesus Christ in types and shadows and prophecies. Jesus, Himself gave evidence to this when He said,  "Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and the enter His glory?"  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself (Luke 24:26-27).

 

A submissive will desires to do God's will by obeying His Word and trusting Him to work things out for our benefit and His glory. God wills that we grow in grace and knowledge of His Word and to put it into practice in our daily lives with the help of the Holy Spirit. In John 17:17 in Jesus' high priestly prayer Jesus prays that all God's children would be sanctified by the truth. His Word is truth. We need both the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to enable us to live godly lives in Christ Jesus. We need to be in God's Word and reliant on the Holy Spirit daily in order to walk in the will of God. We need also to be in a spirit of prayer for opportunities God may bring across our path. And we need to be prepared to give an answer to any who ask us, what is the reason for our hope, and to do this in gentleness and respect ...                                                                 (1 Peter 3:15).

 

A Tenacious Faith.  By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible (Hebrews 11:24-27).

 

For Christ's love compels us... He died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again (2 Corinthians 5:14:15).

 

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). We fix our eyes on Christ Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith...(Hebrews 12:1-3).

 

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21).

 

 

~Annie~

 

 





The Almighty Shepherd

 

 

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1)

This is a fountain of Living Water, an unfailing star in the night of sorrow and suffering.  Look at it as the language of---

1.    Real Confession.  The Lord is my Shepherd, because I have taken my place at His feet as a sheep---

·         Acknowledging my ignorance--- Mind blinded.

·         Acknowledging my waywardness--- Gone astray.

·         Acknowledging my helplessness---Undone.

·         Acknowledging my dependence--- I will trust.

 

2.    Peaceful Assurance.  The Lord is my Shepherd. He is mine---

·         Because He has purchased me with His blood.

·         Because He has led me by His Spirit.

·         Because He has fed me by His Word.

·         Because He has kept me by His power.

 

3.    Unwavering Confidence.   I shall not want.---  Because whatever He thinks, will  be for my highest good and for His glory---

·         Because His riches are unsearchable.

·         Because His power is almighty.

·         Because His faithfulness is unfailing.

·         Because His love is unchanging.

 

Taken from ”Handfuls On Purpose” by James Smith.  First published in 1947 – Re-printed in July 1984 by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

~Annie~

I AM the Door (Gate)

Jesus said, I AM the Door (Gate). If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:9).

 

There is a Gate.  Jesus Christ is that Gate.  What a dark world this would have been had there been no way of entrance into the knowledge of and into fellowship with God!  “Behold, I set before you an open door” (Revelation 3:8).  But note that there was but one gate. The Gate said, “I AM the Way” (John 14:6). There is no other name under heaven given by whereby you may be saved (Acts 4:12).

This was a wide Gate. What it lacked in height it had in width. Height means more or greater spiritual experience; breadth means great liberty of access. Whosoever will may come!  The Gate of atonement is as wide as the world (1John 2:2). The way of substitution is as straight as the new birth.  If few find it, it is because few there be that seek it (Matthew 7:7).  You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart, then I will be found by you, declares the LORD (Jeremiah 29:13).

This was a strongly-supported Gate. It hung on four pillars. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is supported by four infallible pillars.  Each holds up a different aspect of Him who is, “The Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6). Their names are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

This Gate was the way into life. Immediately, in front of the Gate stood the altar of sacrifice. It was impossible to pass in without coming in sight of God’s provision for the sinner.  Passing through the Gate meant the acceptance of God’s Way of salvation.  What do we learn from this?  (Even though there are two steps before this, such as recognizing we are sinners in need of a Savior, and the humble, sincere willingness to turn from known sin and live for Christ). Salvation is but one step. When the sinner trusts the Lord Jesus Christ as the Way to the Father, at that moment he comes into personal contact with the atoning blood of the Lamb. Christ is both the Gate and the Altar. We decide at the Gate and are justified at the Altar.

The word “altar” simply means “high place” or that which lifts up. The altar with its sacrifice is profoundly significant of Christ on the Cross (John 14:6). At the Cross the sinner comes into contact with the goodness and the sincerity of God --- condemnation of the sin, but mercy for the sinner. This Altar of burnt offering ”lifted up” all that was laid upon it. The “burnt offering” represented Christ as the wholly devoted One.

The brazen altar standing at the Gate of entrance represented the claims of God.  As a holy and righteous God He had claims that must be satisfied before He could, in mercy, meet with man and bless him. The altar was filled, and all the demands of a holy God fully met when Christ cried on the Cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30).  Here the “sin- offering”  was  slain, then carried without the camp, but its blood was poured out at the “bottom of the altar.” The value of the sin-offering lay in the blood.  “The blood is the life,” or, “the life is in the blood.”  This was left at the foot of the altar.  Here we see Christ as the sinner’s  substitute, pouring out His soul unto death. “They overcame by ‘the blood of the Lamb’ and the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Revelation 12:11).

The altar was positioned right in front of the Gate. This reminds us that atonement is the first necessity in our approach to God. The first blessing our God desires to give us is the forgiveness of our sins, but “without the shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). See also, Hebrews 9:12-14;  10:19-23).

Those who refuse “Christ Jesus and Him crucified” as their sin-atoning Substitute have no liberty of access to God. To approach God disregarding the altar meant death. Cain tried it; he ignored the blood, and brought the curse of God upon himself.  Cain knew it had to be a blood sacrifice, and God reminded him if he does it the right way he will be accepted. (Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Hebrews9:22). Cain was angry and did not repent. Therefore God warned Cain that if he doesn’t offer a blood offering, sin would be waiting at his door to have him, and that he must rule over it. Cain let his anger rule him and went out and killed his brother (Genesis 4:1-16).  “A sin-offering lies at the door” (Genesis 4:7). God has laid it there; it is there for us. It has a voice, “Look unto Me and be saved…for I am God” (Isaiah 45:22). Do not trample on it.
 

 This was taken from - Handfuls On Purpose - by James Smith

 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door (of your heart) I will come into him, and eat with him and he with Me (Revelation 3:20).
 

~Annie~