Your Responsibility
Jesus told us all in Scripture, “temptations [are] sure to come.” Satan’s first temptation to Jesus dealt with overcoming the flesh. Our Lord overcomes the temptation by informing the devil that man lives by the whole counsel of God’s Word. (Matthew 4:4)
To prepare God’s children for service to Christ’s church, the Holy Spirit has given gifts (1 Corinthians 12) to the servants of the Lord. A mature Christian must ask these questions, “Am I exercising my gift for myself?” or, “Do I sacrificially use my gift for the good of Christ and others?” No Christian is beyond the temptation of using Spiritual gifts selfishly. Christians must depend upon the Holy Spirit to enable them to use their Spiritual gifts for Jesus Christ and exercise their gifts sacrificially for the good of others.
Jesus’ second temptation from Satan was to use sensationalism to prove He was the Son of God. (Matthew 4:6) God expects us to take risks in order to be true to Him, when called to, but He does not expect us to take risks to enhance our own prestige. Ministries have often used glorified testimonies to draw attention to their church. They often let people know of the risk they take to accomplish their vision. Jesus quoting “..do not put the Lord your God to the test” shows us that “God’s rescuing power is not something to be played and experimented [with;] it is something to be quietly trusted in the life of everyday living.” (Daily Bible Study Series)
Satan’s third temptation to Christ was to not stay on course of His Father’s plan. Satan was saying, “If you just worship me, you can by pass the cross and all its pain.” Since Satan is the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4) and the prince of this world, (Ephesians 2:2) he was telling Jesus, “I can accomplish God’s will for you.” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) Jesus’ answer, “Away from me Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only’” (Matthew 4:10) This rebuke is the Christian’s victory. God’s word, His Son and walking instep of the Holy Spirit, requires Christians to worship the Triune God in Spirit and truth, trusting the whole of Scripture.
God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit had met before the creation of the world – they made a plan for the redemption of mankind and the earth. (Ephesians 1:4) Jesus knew the plan; He was not going to change the plan, no matter what.
If Christians seek the Lord wholeheartedly, God will reveal His plan to them. Do not let anyone change that plan. Do not let any temptation turn you from achieving His high calling upon your life. God’s Word has a promise, “…in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Let the Holy Spirit examine your heart with these questions? 1.) Do you take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ? 2.) Do you make decisions based off the whole counsel of God’s Word? 3.) Are you a good “Berean” one who takes what you hear and compares it to the Word of God? 4.) Is what you say, do, and envision for the Lord’s glory, or yours? 5.) Do you sacrificially exercise your Holy Spirit gifts to point people to Christ and for the good of all mankind?
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