Podcasts about tempter

Pastor Tim Hartwig preaches on Matthew 4:1-11 with the theme Jesus Triumphed Over the Tempter.

Read OnlineAt that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” Matthew 4:1–3In His great humility and compassion for us, Jesus, the Incarnate Son of God, allowed Himself to endure something that we sinful human beings encounter every day—temptation. God's glorious plan from the beginning included the creation of both humans and pure spirits—angels—to form one glorious Kingdom of God. Original Sin, the fall of the angels, and our struggle against temptation were not part of God's original intention, but they became realities due to the misuse of free will, both by angels and by humans. Free will was necessary for both angels and humans to love God freely, which led to a third of the angels and many humans turning away from Him.Theologians such as Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Augustine offer profound insights into God's original plan for His Kingdom. In that plan, angels were believed to have been tasked with assisting humans in their journey toward perfection through enlightenment and contemplation. Some choirs of angels were tasked with the governance of the cosmos, guiding the physical world in harmony with God's will.Tragically, the fall of a third of the angels, along with the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve, has resulted in a world filled with struggle and sin. The fallen angels—now demons—use their natural gifts to deceive, confuse, and tempt. Those who were once responsible for guiding the cosmos now seek to sow chaos, contributing to the existence of natural disasters, disease, and death. While Catholic angelology is speculative, based on a limited amount of biblical revelation, it is important to recognize the role of angels and demons as we enter this sacred season of Lent.Today's Gospel focuses on the activity of the most powerful fallen angel—satan, originally named Lucifer, meaning “Light-Bearer.” Tradition holds that he was among the highest of the angels, possibly a Seraphim. According to Saint Thomas Aquinas, Lucifer's fall resulted from pride: He desired to be a god unto himself, to create and govern according to his own will, refusing to serve God. This cosmic reality, of which both Jesus and satan were fully aware, sets the stage for and adds profound significance to their encounter in the desert.In this dramatic confrontation, Jesus, by allowing Himself to be tempted, begins the ultimate defeat of satan, a victory that will culminate in Jesus' Passion, Death, and Resurrection. This is the only recorded instance in which Jesus permits satan to tempt Him directly. While satan remained active throughout Jesus' ministry, seeking to disrupt His mission, this moment in the desert addresses temptation specifically. By rejecting each temptation, Jesus not only demonstrates how to overcome the devil but also empowers humanity with the grace needed to resist temptation through His triumph on the Cross.As we enter into the first full week of Lent, reflect today on the temptations you face in your own life. Though satan is powerful and highly intelligent, he is no match for the grace of God. By uniting ourselves to Christ, we are strengthened to resist all that satan and his demons throw at us. Victory over temptation is not achieved by our own strength but through Christ's grace, which He freely offers to all who turn to Him. My victorious Lord, You faced satan with courage, the once-beautiful angel who fell from grace through pride and envy. Now he seeks to destroy those whom You love. Give me Your strength and courage this Lent as I confront my own temptations, so that united with You, I may share in Your victory. Jesus, I trust in You.Image - Carl Heinrich Bloch - Jesus TemptedSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Pastor Kurt takes a deep dive in 1 Thessalonians 3:1-7 where we see Testing through Tribulation and the Testimony of True Faith woven together. Unable to return, Paul sends Timothy to strengthen and encourage the church so they won't be shaken by trials he had already told them to expect. That testing is real, but the report back is brighter: their faith and love endure, and they long for Paul as he longs for them.

THE TEMPTER CAME TO HIM Matthew 4:1-11 I. Jesus is Led to The Wilderness; vs.1-2 II. Jesus is Tempted; vs.3-10 III. Jesus is Comforted; vs.11 The temptation of Christ proved Jesus to be without sin and affirmed that He was truly the Son of God.

Title: Appointed For Affliction Text: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 FCF: We often struggle believing God's promises in the midst of opposition. Prop: Because true believers will suffer affliction for the sake of Christ, we must not allow our faith to be shaken by it. Scripture Intro: NKJV [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 1 Thessalonians chapter 3. In a moment we'll begin reading from verse 1 in the New King James Version of the Bible. You can follow along in the pew bible or whatever version you prefer. As promised, since we are beginning a new chapter, let me briefly review what the letter has been about up to this point. In chapter 1, Paul summarizes everything he is going to say in the entire letter. He expresses his thankfulness to God for the Thessalonian church because he knows they are elect of God, because the gospel came to them in the power of the Spirit and because he has observed how the Thessalonian church has become imitators of Christ amid affliction. In chapter 2, Paul zooms in to affirm that their visit among them was profitable. Probably to counter claims of unbelieving Thessalonians, Paul insists that it was a profitable visit because God gave them boldness to speak, they became a spiritual family, and because it produced results they had seen in previous outpourings of the gospel. Paul concludes chapter 2 assuring them that he greatly wished to visit them but had been hindered by Satan. But he assures them that they are his hope, joy, and glory in that they stand firm in their faith. And it is that topic that actually propels him into chapter 3. So please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Father, the Only Wise God, we come to You this morning in faith and in trust that Your promises are true. It is by Your promises and your absolute might to keep them that we can face all manner of difficulties, trials, and afflictions in this life, knowing that You will never forsake us. Help us today to see in Your Word, truths that will keep our faith steadfast and built up. May our faith thrive in adversity rather than die. And may you be most pleased with your servants and our attending to Your Word today. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] “Endurance and perseverance are qualities we would all like to possess, but we are loath to go through the process that produces them.” Jerry Bridges “We persevere through faith and never apart from it.” Sinclair Furgeson “Perseverance is the hallmark of a genuine interest in Christ.” Geoffrey B. Wilson “The question is not one of the retention of salvation based upon a persistence of faith, but of the possession of salvation as evidenced by a continuation of faith.” Kenneth Wuest “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” Charles H. Spurgeon Meditate on these words, as we embark upon the text this morning. I.) True believers will suffer affliction from men for the sake of Christ, we must not allow our faith to be shaken by affliction. (1-3) a. [Slide 3] 1 – Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, i. Paul doesn't relay all the details to us. ii. We aren't sure to what lengths he went to try to visit the Thessalonian church. iii. We aren't sure how many times he had tried. iv. We aren't sure exactly what the circumstances were that prevented him from going back to the city, although a good guess would be the Jews in the city continuing to threaten Paul's life should he return. v. Paul's desire was to visit with the whole team. But since he was not going to be welcomed back to Thessalonica any time soon, that simply wasn't an option. vi. So by way of a concession, Paul chooses to send someone in his stead while he stays in Athens. vii. Here he uses the plural pronoun we. viii. Although Luke does not record that Silas and Timothy joined Paul in Athens in the book of Acts, we can reasonably assume that they did and both were dispatched before he went to Corinth. ix. Silas was probably sent to Berea or possibly Philippi and Timothy was sent, as we will see, to Thessalonica. b. [Slide 4] 2 – and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, i. Although this certainly is not the option that Paul wanted, we should not, and the Thessalonians should not think that this was Paul sending in the third stringers. ii. In fact, Paul extols the virtues of Timothy here. 1. Timothy was a co-worker with Paul and Silas. 2. Paul elevates Timothy to the same status and job description that he and Silas had. He does not call Timothy an apostle, because Timothy had never seen Christ, nor been commissioned by Him. Still – his job is the same as an apostle. 3. Some translations translate “minister of God” as “God's co-worker” but this doesn't seem to be the right use of the genitive construction. 4. Rather he is Paul and Silas's co-worker FOR God and in His service. 5. Specifically in the proclaiming of the gospel of Jesus Christ. iii. But that leaves us asking the question, why did Paul send Timothy? Wouldn't Timothy draw just as much heat and hate from the Jews in Thessalonica since he was Paul's companion? iv. Actually, sending Timothy has everything to do with Timothy's ability to blend in as either a Gentile or a Jew. If you remember, Timothy had a Jewish mother and a Gentile father. His father was probably dead, but his mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, taught him in the Scriptures as he grew up in Lystra. v. However, since religious affiliation tended to follow the father at this time, Timothy, up until joining Paul on his most recent missionary journey, was not circumcised, which means he was not active in the local synagogue and was perceived by the Jews as a Gentile. vi. Timothy then is the ideal candidate to go back to Thessalonica to check on the church. He would probably pass unnoticed by the Jews there, and be able to spend some time with the Thessalonian church. vii. But what is Paul sending him to do? c. [Slide 5] to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, i. To establish means to strengthen, to fix, to solidify, or to shore up. Like shoring up the foundation of a house, or a floodwall against a coming flood. This is Timothy's first responsibility. He is to shore up and bolster their faith. ii. Second, he is to encourage them about their faith. iii. The word encourage has two branches of meaning in the New Testament and they are determined by context. One meaning used often by Paul is to urge or exhort. But considering the context, this seems to be less likely the aim of Timothy's ministry to the Thessalonians. iv. More than likely this word adopts the second meaning which is to encourage, build up, or cheer up. v. Bringing these two concepts together, Timothy was sent to make sure that they were standing firm in their faith against doubts and fears and that they were trusting in God's promises and joyfully resting in that peace. vi. But why is this necessary and what is Paul trying to shore up their faith against? d. [Slide 6] 3 – that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; i. Paul again, for the third time in the book, mentions that the Thessalonians are experiencing some kind of opposition or affliction. ii. Although we are never overtly told what these afflictions are, the best guess seems to be that the Thessalonian believers were experiencing the opposition of friends, family, co-workers, neighbors who have begun opposing their new found faith. iii. No doubt this ranged from light jibes to actual shunning and ostracizing. Perhaps even people refusing to do business with them while they still claimed the name of Christ and continued to turn from their ancestral gods. iv. You could see how such things, to new believers, would be quite difficult to bear up under, especially when those whom you would see as spiritual leaders were not able to be with you to guide you and care for you. v. This is Timothy's role. He has arrived to help them. To Pastor them. vi. But he has not arrived to pull them out of these afflictions or to “heal” them from these afflictions. vii. He has arrived to be sure they are not shaken by them. viii. Why should their faith not be shaken by affliction? e. [Slide 7] For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. i. Paul assures the Thessalonians in their own personal knowledge. ii. He assures them that they, like all other believers, are destined, ordained, or appointed for affliction. iii. Jesus himself told us that we would experience trouble, since no student is greater than his master. iv. All that He experienced we should expect to experience and perhaps even more. v. Indeed, investigating church history quickly proves this to be true. vi. Those who have claimed the name of Christ and stood for the true gospel of Jesus Christ, have suffered the most humiliating, excruciating, and diabolical things at the hands of wicked men throughout the last 2000 years. vii. We should know ourselves that we are destined for affliction while this world is still the way it is. f. [Slide 8] Summary of the Point: Paul speaks to these Thessalonians as his own children in the faith. He is sure that their visit was profitable. He is sure that they are genuine believers. In this, he affirms once again that it is normal for them to suffer affliction for the sake of Christ. Indeed, they are already suffering affliction from unbelieving Thessalonians. Although the affliction is acknowledged and difficult, Paul's primary concern is not that they are comfortable or that the affliction ceases, but that their faith in Jesus Christ and His promises to them, remains unshaken in spite of affliction. From this we conclude that experiencing affliction from men for Christ's sake is a normal part of the Chrsitian life. We should not be shocked that we are afflicted by unbelievers, nor should we despair. Rather we should expect this affliction and prepare ourselves to not allow our faith to be shaken by it when it comes. Transition: [Slide 9(blank)] But are unbelievers the only source of affliction we should expect? Are there other opponents that seek to shipwreck our faith? If so, what must we do? II.) True believers will suffer affliction from the tempter for the sake of Christ, we must not allow our faith to be shaken by affliction. (4-5) a. [Slide 10] 4 – For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. i. Here Paul explains the two reasons that they should know that they were destined for affliction. ii. First, because the evangelists warned them of this, probably prior to many of them receiving the gospel. 1. An honest and clear presentation of the gospel must include the plea for those hearing to count the cost. 2. Many today try to woo people to the gospel with grand promises of health, wealth, and prosperity. It is odd to see this, since the apostles preached a message almost exactly the opposite. 3. Jesus and His apostles warned that you could lose your health, wealth, prosperity, family, friends, and be left with nothing if you follow Christ. And they warn those listening to count the cost before following Christ. 4. Certainly, salvation is a gift freely given by grace through faith, but it is a gift that alters your life forever. 5. Like a person who receives a heart transplant. Though they did nothing to earn it, and it was given purely by the compassion of someone who decided to be a donor after they expired, once received the gift changes the receiver's life forever. 6. In a similar way, when we receive the gift of the gospel by grace and through faith, though it costs us nothing to get it, once we receive it, it will cost us everything. 7. One of those things it may cost us – is the discomfort of affliction. iii. But the second reason they should know that they are destined for affliction, is because everything that the apostles warned them about, has come to pass. iv. They have seen it unfold with their very eyes. v. They came to Christ and were immediately opposed by Jews and Gentiles, by those they had never met and by those who were their closest friends and family. vi. Such is the nature of the gospel. It divides. It knows no loyalties save loyalty to Christ. b. [Slide 11] 5 – For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, i. Paul once again reiterates his zeal in sending Timothy to them. ii. Having told them that they would experience affliction, Paul himself knew it would be so. iii. And their time with them being cut short, and being since prevented from returning, Paul knows that it is only a matter of time for that affliction to begin and for their faith to be tested. iv. But Paul is not merely anxious that wicked men may afflict them and damage their faith. v. As Paul alluded to last week, and as he has experienced in his own ministry, Paul knows that there is something greater out there than mere wicked men who oppose the faith of believers. c. [Slide 12] Lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. i. Paul alluded before that Satan had prevented him from coming to them. In this, we noted last week that God's people have an enemy. Not merely men. But an ancient, powerful, malevolent, and intelligent evil, a being that had come to be known simply as “The Adversary” which is what the word Satan means. Or “The Accuser” or “The Slanderer” which is what the word Devil means. ii. Paul now references one he calls “The Tempter.” Rather than seeing this as another evil spiritual entity, we should probably identify this as the same one who opposed Paul from returning to the Thessalonians. iii. Although this is not a title often used to describe the entity we know as Satan or the Devil, it is used in 1 key passage in Matthew 4 where “The Tempter” tempted Jesus. Later Jesus says, “Be gone Satan” to this being and then Matthew says that “The Devil” left him. Using this passage we can see that all these titles, at least by the New Testament, are applied to one specific evil spiritual entity. iv. But we should spend some time thinking here about what exactly Paul is afraid that Satan is tempting the Thessalonians to do. v. Oftentimes, we think of Satan tempting us to lie, to cheat, to steal, to commit adultery, to fornicate, to covet, or other such sins. But I'd encourage you to consider all the times we see Satan tempting people in the scriptures and notice a common thread. vi. Satan is not found tempting people to do something sinful. At least, not that alone. vii. Instead, Satan tempts people to do something sinful – but only as a necessary application of some doctrine or teaching he has tempted them to reject, disbelieve, or accept pieces or parts of. viii. In the garden – it wasn't a temptation of the fruit that Satan foisted upon Eve. If we notice from the text the temptation of the fruit came from WITHIN Eve herself. Satan didn't need to extol the tantalizing virtues of the fruit. ix. His temptation was focused on questioning the truthfulness and the goodness of God. He called God a liar and insinuated that God was keeping them from being like Him. The fruit… well Eve tempted herself to eat the fruit. Satan tempted her to distrust God. He attacked her faith. x. The temptation of Jesus follows the same diabolical pattern. 1. God's Spirit told Jesus to go to the desert and God's Spirit told Him to go without food. Satan pits The God-Man's human desires against the will of the Triune God. If you are the Son of God, he said, you shouldn't be hungry. Make bread and eat. But God's Spirit led Him to be hungry. And Man's desires and God's Will are not always the same thing. Jesus responds to Satan in this temptation and says you shall not live by bread alone but by the Word of God. Meaning of course, that man should not live by what he desires, but by the will of God revealed in His Word. 2. In his second temptation, Satan keys in on Jesus' words about being led by God's Word. And he quotes a Psalm which indicates that God will not allow those obedient to Him to be harmed. In application, Satan beckons Jesus to prove He is God's Son by testing if God saves him from a fall from the top of the temple. But Jesus' quote from Deuteronomy and Exodus references the time when the children of Israel said to God, “if you are with us then you will give us water.” This is not faith. We do not bargain with God in this way. True faith believes even if… there is no proof. Jesus believed God that He would suffer no harm, because God said it, not because God had to prove it first. And to test God's promise to see if it is true… is not faith. 3. Finally, Satan tempts Jesus with all the kingdoms of the earth. It is unclear how much Satan knew of the actual mission of Christ. But he seems to know what the Father has promised Jesus if He is successful. That He will be made King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Perhaps Satan is familiar with the Passage in Daniel about the Ancient of Days welcoming a Son of Man who rides on the clouds to His throne and gives Him a place to rule with Him? In any case, in order for Jesus to be given this throne, He must be successful in His mission. But Satan gives him the microwave answer. For these kingdoms belong to him at the moment. Or at lest he has been given them for a time. Satan gives him a shortcut. Much like the short cut to learning good and evil he offered Adam and Eve. Just reach out and take it for yourself by worshipping him. But Jesus says – You are to worship only Yahweh. xi. We take this deep dive into the temptations of Adam and Eve and the temptations of Christ to reveal that Satan is never really tempting you to merely sin. xii. I've said it before, and I keep finding evidence that it is true. Every sin we commit stems from a faith problem, not a behavioral problem. xiii. Meaning when we sin, it is primarily because we have chosen to trust our flesh, our tempter, our world, our culture, or something else… instead of trusting what God has said. xiv. Meaning of course, that every sin is at its core… idolatry. We put something else on the throne to govern our heart. xv. Paul is afraid that the tempter has tempted them… not to sin… but to forsake Christ. xvi. And we should make no mistake – that is his aim with us… always. Not merely to sin… for sin has been paid for at the cross. And God has a nasty habit of taking an erring child and restoring them beyond the place they were prior to falling. xvii. No if mere sin was the devil's aim, he would be very frustrated indeed. But forsaking Christ… that is his higher goal. xviii. Paul is afraid that they will forsake Christ and render all the labor for the Kingdom to be empty and fruitless. xix. But isn't this a baseless fear? Don't we believe in once saved always saved? 1. It is no contradiction to say that those who are truly God's elect will endure in faith to the end but also that many will claim Christ as their Lord and remain unknown to Him. 2. The reason it is no contradiction is because the Scriptures teach both. 3. The warnings of falling away and forsaking faith are heard and heeded by the elect of God but just like not all Israel was Israel – so now not all the church is The Church. 4. There are Christians who are merely Christians in name. They do not have true faith. They have not been unmade and remade by the grace of God. 5. Furthermore, the elect of God can be deceived for a time. Not ultimately, but for a time. 6. Paul himself saw this happen less than 5 years before writing this letter. He had just returned from a missionary trip to Southern Galatia, when he heard reports of the church there believing the Judaizer's version of the gospel which taught that a gentile must become a Jew before he could become a Christian. 7. Paul wrote a VERY strong letter correcting their error and in that case he says “who bewitched you?” 8. So no, this is not a baseless fear. Paul doesn't know whether these people are real Christians or not because one of the tests if they are real Christians is that they will endure in faith. 9. And so, he sent Timothy to see if the Tempter was able to draw some of them away. xx. One final question. Paul expresses concern here for the genuineness of the Thessalonians' faith. Isn't this worry? 1. Should Paul be anxious about this? 2. Doesn't he say in another letter to be anxious for nothing? 3. Would not Paul advise others to trust the Lord and to pray fervently? 4. Is it sinful for Paul to fear that the tempter had made shipwreck of their faith? 5. I actually went back and forth on this myself. 6. Although it leads to a somewhat ill-defined line, it seems like the scriptures draw a careful line between godly concern and ungodly worry. 7. We see a similar line drawn between anger not accomplishing the will of God, and be angry and do not sin. We see a similar line where it says that wine is a mocker and that wine is good to cheer a man's heart. 8. In this case, I think Paul actually demonstrates for us the appropriate kind of godly concern that does not venture into worry. 9. Paul obviously has prayed fervently and in faith for the spiritual safety of the Thessalonians. He says so in chapter 1. Paul trusts the Lord. Paul will very shortly write a book called Romans where he talks about the unbreakable chain of redemption where if someone is elected of God, they will be glorified. Paul believes in eternal security. 10. But, he has also seen many who convinced him that they were believers… who have deserted the faith. 11. So no, I do not think Paul is sinfully anxious here. He is trusting the Lord, while doing what he knows to do to check on those he was forced to leave in a spiritually vulnerable position. This is godly and pastoral concern, not worry. d. [Slide 13] Summary of the Point: So Paul again makes it plain that affliction is always going to be part of the Christian experience. We will be afflicted for the sake of Christ. But not all affliction comes from unbelieving people. Our affliction also comes by way of Satan and his angels. Satan seeks to shipwreck the faith of any person who has professed faith in Jesus Christ. He targets those especially who have a false faith, knowing that from a human perspective we can only see the outside of the person and we cannot see whether they are truly believers. And the damage that he can cause by leading a mere professor of Christ to abandon the faith, is quite severe. Therefore, in order to prove our faith is genuine, we must not allow our faith to be shaken by afflictions, no matter where they come from. We must continue to trust the promises of Christ and stand firm in our faith. Conclusion: So CBC, what broad concepts have we learned today that correct and inform our beliefs and shape and guide our actions? Broad Concepts of Faith and Practice: [Slide 14] Paul states quite plainly in this text that we as true believers have been appointed for affliction. It has been God's plan from the beginning for us to suffer for the name of Christ. Indeed, Jesus actually says that someone who suffers for His name, is blessed. And this affliction comes from two sources in this text. First, from unbelieving men and women and Second, from the Devil and his cronies. But the reason Timothy was sent to Thessalonica is our application today. We must not allow afflictions of any kind, from any source, to shake our faith. To be afflicted for Christ's sake should not only be expected, but it should be an honor and a joy. An honor because we get to share in Christ's sufferings, and a joy because we know the end of those afflictions produces enduring faith. But let me zoom in a little and give you some more detailed applications this morning. 1.) [Slide 15] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that it has been appointed for us to suffer affliction for the sake of Christ. a. The New Testament teaching on this topic is clear and without dispute. b. Suffering for Christ's sake is i. A blessing from God ii. A gift of God iii. An appointment from God iv. A guarantee v. A necessary part of our growth vi. The natural outcome of being Christ's disciple vii. Follows naturally from how the world treated Christ, we will be treated c. My friends, even if the scriptures did not teach it so plainly, we must still arrive at this conclusion based on other doctrines. i. If God is absolutely sovereign yet we still suffer affliction – it must be because God has designed it to be this way for us. ii. And if all things truly work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose, then all the afflictions we suffer are ultimately for our good. iii. And if all the things we suffer are planned of God and ultimately for our good – then the afflictions we face are a gift of God and a blessing. d. And even though the scriptures are so clear and definitive on this subject, it remains one of the more difficult things to prove to Christians living in the west. e. We have enjoyed relative freedom to worship God the way He has told us to worship Him for the last couple hundred years. f. But the Christian faith is still, easily, the most persecuted faith on the planet today. Across the globe a conservative estimate shows that 13 Christians are martyred every day for their faith. That is 1 Christian every 2 hours. That is almost 5,000 Christians a year dying because of their faith. g. And keep in mind, these numbers are only talking about deaths. They are not factoring in Christians being persecuted, ostracized, imprisoned, beaten, tortured, and/or abused for their faith – but have lived through it. h. But since these afflictions are a blessing from God – perhaps we ought to wonder if we truly are better off? We shouldn't yearn for affliction. That is ridiculous. But can we truly say that the health and the purity of the church has increased with our freedoms? It doesn't seem like that is the case. i. But Western Christians are starting to wake up to the reality that they will be afflicted. Each year our culture descends more and more into madness and the lies of the evil one. j. Each year we see more and more ground given over to wicked ideologies. And more and more Christians turn to unbelieving politicians and godless parties to stop it from happening. k. While it is not wrong for us to use political means to attempt to slow the degradation, ultimately as the whole of our culture shifts, even these politicians and parties won't be available to us. It has already begun. Which political party do you turn to who promotes traditional marriage as the only legal marriage? Which political party do you turn to who promotes abortion being illegal and punishable by death? l. The fact of the matter is, that no political party represents the Christian position on these issues. And it is only the beginning. m. We would do well to wake up to the fact that as followers of Christ… even in the land of the free and the home of the brave… eventually and even now we suffer affliction for the sake of Christ. n. Why? o. Because if we are genuine believers – we have been appointed for affliction. Indeed… it is a blessing from God. 2.) [Slide 16] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that our affliction can come from both the physical and the spiritual plane. a. So far this morning in the application we have focused primarily on unbelieving men afflicting followers of Christ. b. But we must recognize that affliction against believers comes from both the physical and spiritual plane. c. But we should not think that these function independently of one another. d. When unbelieving men harm the body of Christ and afflict them for their faith, it is safe to conclude that behind the scenes, whispering in the darkness is the evil one and his minions. e. They deceive, they twist, they pollute and wicked men are easily deceived and happy to be deceived. f. This is so true that Paul tells the Ephesians that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and rulers of this dark world. g. Paul doesn't deny that wicked men oppose Christians. Nor does he suggest that wicked men are not culpable for their opposition of God's children, as if they were innocent victims. h. Paul simply desires to get the Ephesians, and by extension, all believers, to recognize that although wicked men oppose them, the true battleground is not here on earth with them, but rather in the spiritual plane where this dark world is guided and ruled. i. And Satan and his minions do not aim at merely getting us to sin. Such a goal is too shortsighted. j. Instead, they aim to topple the faith of believers. As Satan did in the garden with Adam and Eve, they continue to do so today. To mistrust and question who God is and what He has said. k. And lest we think that God will always ride in to rescue us from these afflictions… we must… 3.) [Slide 17] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that it is always God's will for our afflictions to be relieved. a. Timothy came with a pastor's purpose. He came to strengthen the Thessalonians faith and to cheer them up and encourage them in the Lord's promises. b. But Timothy did not come to relieve them of their afflictions. c. Persecution and afflictions ebb and flow. Some countries notorious for terrible Christian persecution have lessened over time. Others have increased. d. God does not always see fit to relieve us of our afflictions. At least in this life. e. But there is one day when our race is run and we finish our course. On that day, it will truly end and we will know these afflictions no more. f. But for now – God does not always give healing. Nor does He promise that He will. He doesn't always give relief, nor does He promise He will. g. But He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. And He has promised that His grace is available to us in times of trouble. h. So since relief is not always God's will… what must we do against such afflictions from demons and unbelievers? 4.) [Slide 18] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must not allow our faith to be shaken by affliction. a. Knowing what God says and trusting what He says is the cure for keeping our faith strong and our spirits up. b. God's sovereignty is uncomfortable to consider given the ramifications it has toward salvation. c. But my friends, God's sovereignty is the ONLY reason we can have unshaken faith through affliction. d. If God is merely all powerful, we would wonder if He was truly good because we suffer affliction. e. If God was merely loving and good, we would wonder if He was truly all powerful because we suffer affliction. f. But because God is all of these and has said that HE has destined us for affliction – we can rest in knowing that any affliction we endure for His name is not only appointed by Him, but it is a gift, a blessing, and something He will use for our good and His glory. g. Notice also that the Thessalonians needed flesh and blood Christians to help them strengthen their faith and encourage them. h. In a real sense, we should be able to endure in our faith through affliction, only clinging on to Christ and His promises. i. I think we can all recognize that were we to have our God alone, He would be enough to sustain us through any affliction. j. BUT… God, knowing our weakness, has given us His church. We have been given pastors, teachers, servants, and friends who know what we are going through and who can help to strengthen and encourage us. k. And so one sure fire way to be susceptible to your faith being shaken, is to forsake the gathering of God's people and the ministry of those God has given to His church. 5.) [Slide 19] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” God says we are blessed when we suffer for Christ's sake. a. Paul mentions in Philippians that not only are we granted the ability to believe on Jesus, but we are also, in the same way, granted the privilege of suffering for Him. b. But we often do not perceive suffering for Christ as a comfort or a blessing. c. So, who will you believe? Your thoughts and feelings or God's Word? d. Should we try to escape affliction? Of course. e. But if we are not able, should we despair? Of course not! f. God has us exactly where He wants us and what He has given is a gift. We should rejoice. 6.) [Slide 20] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” You must count the cost if you are going to follow Christ. a. Since affliction for His name is certain, let me speak to those among us who are not followers of Jesus. b. You may hear of all the benefits of following Christ. c. You may see all the glories of the church and the power and love that is found here. d. You may be enticed to desire the great mercies of our God and the wonderful love He offers in the sacrifice of His Son. e. But know this… f. You don't get the bull without the horns. There is a cost to following Christ. And the cost is, that if He is to be your Savior… He must also be your Lord. He takes top priority and because He does – just as the world hated Him, they will hate you. g. You will have to reject much of what the world holds dear. You will have to disagree with what everyone believes and feels. You will be thought of as odd, out of touch, and dangerous. h. You don't get eternal life without appointed affliction. i. So count the cost. j. If you truly understand what Christ offers as both a Savior and Lord – it is a cost you will gladly pay. [Slide 21 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the reformer Peter Martyr Vermigli, an Italian former Augustinian priest and abbot who helped to write the 42 Articles of the Anglican church and revise the Book of Common Prayer. Most benign and merciful God, we yield to you the greatest and most thanks as we are able. You have ingrafted us in Christ, your true and natural son-not by the ministry of angels, or of any other creature whatsoever, but by the power of your own Spirit. And through Christ you have renewed and sanctified us, setting us apart. You have so much enriched us with the knowledge of your son, and with other heavenly gifts. So now we lack neither strength, energy, light, or any ability to will or do what pleases you. And thus we will live a cheerful and quiet life, even in the midst of persecutions, which often the world and Satan do stir up. And we are most fully persuaded by that Holy Spirit that we will obtain eternal life, and that not of our own merits, but by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, which lives and reigns forever. It is in His name we pray this, amen. Benediction: Now may God grant you such that you may say like the psalmist, You are my hiding place; you protect me from all trouble And surround me with songs of deliverance. So that your work is produced by faith, Your labor is prompted by love, and your endurance is inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Until we meet again, go in peace.

Jesus SpeaksMatthew 4:1-11Bryce Hotchkiss, Lead Minister

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 32—especially explaining how Satan deceived the woman, tempting both her and the man. Q32. Who tempted them to this sin? The devil tempted Eve, and she gave the fruit to Adam. The lesson emphasizes that, while the serpent deceived Eve, Adam was not deceived and thus bore greater culpability due to his passive failure to lead and protect his wife spiritually. It highlights the importance of male responsibility in spiritual instruction, drawing from Genesis 2–3 and 1 Timothy 2 to argue that Adam's failure to actively guard his wife from deception—despite being present—constitutes a grave dereliction of duty. The passages underscore the divine order of creation and leadership, where Adam was given the covenant, and thus bears primary responsibility for teaching and guarding the household. Ultimately, the Fall is a cautionary example to affirm the necessity of male leadership in the church and family, rooted in divine design and order.

Send us a text On this episode we are joined by Guitarist/Vocalist Tony Thomas, aka Tempter (Witch Vomit, Torture Rack) to talk about the history of Portland's Witch Vomit and much more. See you at the Morgue!music:1) Witch Vomit-Funeral Sanctum 2)Torture Rack-Decrepit Funeral Home 3)Witch Vomit-Circle of Blood  4)Witch Vomit-Vomit Ritual  5)Witch Vomit-Screams From Purgatory  6)Torture Rack-Festering Castration  7)Witch Vomit- Crawl To My Grave 8)Torture Rack-Lord of The Massgrave  9)Witch Vomit-Black Wings Of Desolationcontact: thetampamorgue@gmail.com The Tampa Morgue Podcast can be found on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and most places you listen to your podcasts. 

What is the connection with the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness and Psalm 91? Join us as we dive into the Scriptures to examine how appropriate and adept Jesus's answers were to the tempter and how we can follow in his footsteps that lead to the Lord our refuge.

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In this episode of From the Pasture with Hired Hand, we visit with Trevor Maxwell of Lone Chimney Longhorns at Maxwell Ranch, located in Glencoe, Oklahoma.Trevor shares what it's like to still consider himself a new breeder, how he works to help others just getting started, and why raising Longhorns is such a true family affair at Maxwell Ranch. When he's not out in the pasture, Trevor also serves as a baseball coach at the local school, balancing ranch life with community life.Since starting their herd in 2013, the Maxwells have grown to about 45-50 Longhorns, blending original Vanizm bloodlines with genetics from Cowboy Tuff Chex, Coach, Drag Iron, Tejas Star, and Tempter. Trevor talks about his passion for the breed, the joy of sharing Longhorns with others, and the excitement of continually diversifying their pedigrees.Whether you're a seasoned breeder or just starting out, this conversation is a reminder of why the Longhorn community is so special.Lone Chimney Longhorns at Maxwell Ranch: http://www.lonechimneylonghorns.comSend us a textFrom the Pasture with Hired Hand:Hired Hand Websites (@hiredhandwebsites): https://hiredhandsoftware.comHired Hand Live (@hiredhandlive): https://hiredhandlive.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiredhandwebsites/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiredHandSoftwareTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hiredhandwebsitesNewsletter: https://www.hiredhandsoftware.com/resources/stay-informed

Scripture: Various

First Time?Start Here: https://bit.ly/MarinersconnectcardCan we pray for you? https://bit.ly/MarinersPrayerOnlineYou can find information for all our Mariners congregations, watch more videos, and learn more about us and our ministries on our website https://bit.ly/MarinersChurchSite. Support the ministry and help us reach people worldwide: https://bit.ly/MarinersGiveFIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marinerschurch• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marinerschurch• Twitter: https://twitter.com/marinerschurch• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinerschurch

Series: N/AService: Sun PM WorshipType: Bible ClassSpeaker: Caleb Daniels

Series: N/AService: Sun PM WorshipType: Bible ClassSpeaker: Caleb Daniels

Luke 4:1-14

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Overcoming the Tempter Have you ever felt like you're on the mountain top in one area of life, only to be in the deepest valley in another area? How do you handle going from heaven's approval, to hell's attack? The account of Jesus in the gospels being led in to the desert and tempted by Satan provides a clear and resounding example of understanding the right response and posture to have when we are at a low point and the enemy's temptations come calling!!!!!First of all, anchor yourself in the knowledge that being in the wilderness isn't punishment, it's preparation.

Overcoming the Tempter Have you ever felt like you're on the mountain top in one area of life, only to be in the deepest valley in another area? How do you handle going from heaven's approval, to hell's attack? The account of Jesus in the gospels being led in to the desert and tempted by Satan provides a clear and resounding example of understanding the right response and posture to have when we are at a low point and the enemy's temptations come calling!!!!!First of all, anchor yourself in the knowledge that being in the wilderness isn't punishment, it's preparation.

We all know what it feels like to be pulled toward something we know isn't good for us. James reminds us that temptation works like a lure—it looks appealing but hides a nasty hook. This Sunday, we'll review the Tempter's playbook for tempting God's children. To support this ministry, visit www.waynesborofm.com/give  

Start Artist Song Time Album Year 0:00:33 Factory Of Art Overture: Adam's Theme 3:04 The Tempter 2002 0:04:30 Factory of Dreams Voyage To Utopia 4:29 A Strange Utopia 2009 0:08:59 Donald Fagen I.G.Y. 5:53 The Nightfly 1982 0:14:52 The Fair Sex Not Now, Not Here 5:29 Machine Bites 1994 0:20:21 Fair To Midland April Fools […]

What's the point of PepsiCo's new sub-line of prebiotic colas? Is it addressing genuine consumer demand for functional ingredients, or just riding the wellness wave? The hosts once again weigh in. They also highlight emerging shot brands gaining traction and take a closer look at how the viral “WaterTok” phenomenon may have influenced Keurig Dr Pepper's acquisition of Dyla Brands. Show notes: 0:25: Take Two. Fun > Function. We Gotta Have More Ginger. Sturring The Pot. Thin Or Thick? Mike Takes A Hit. – The team kicks things off with behind-the-scenes banter, including a powdered drink spill mishap and Ray's failed frother. The hosts dive into PepsiCo's introduction of a prebiotic cola and debate its real consumer appeal, questioning whether health claims like “prebiotics” are more about marketing than meaningful function. They also discuss the rise of functional shot brands like GNGR Labs and Canada-based Slapp, and highlight Keurig Dr Pepper's acquisition of Dyla Brands, the maker of Stur drink mixes. Ray previews upcoming Taste Radio meetups in Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, and London., before John samples a new flavor of Xochitl tortilla chips. Mike is tempted to try a cannabis beverage  and everyone celebrates UK-based soda brand Something & Nothing, praising its minimal, flavorful approach and expanding U.S. footprint. Brands in this episode: Slapp, Mio, Chomps, Xochitl, Cholula, Doritos, Hoste Cocktails, Something & Nothing, Tip Top Cocktails, Caulitos, Ritz, Triscuits, Tempter's, Roar, Plift, Forto, Stur, Valley Isle Kombucha

SO MANY ERRORS are taught about the serpent in Eden! See if you can count how many there are as we read from Chapter 4 of The Book of Eden on Genesis 3:1-13. GO DEEPER? The Book of Eden is available on Audible and on Amazon!Go even deeper? We offer Tru School workshops! One is starting very soon. Contact Mimi@Tru316.com for the next one. There are four of them that cover the seven key passages on women and men. Sign up here: Tru316.com/workshop The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn't curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on women and men. Are you a reader? We invite you to get from Amazon the four books by Bruce C. E. Fleming in The Eden Book Series (Tru316.com/trubooks). Would you like to support the work of the Tru316 Foundation? You can become a Tru Partner here: www.Tru316.com/partner

The conclusion of the Ephesians’ series focuses on spiritual warfare and how to combat the evil we are faced with. As we put on the whole armor of God, we can stand against the wiles of the devil. 2 Corinthians 4:4   Spiritual warfare Matthew 13:19 – The wicked one; Mark 4:15 – Satan; Luke 8:12 – The devil 1 Peter 5:8 – Adversary; 1 Thessalonians 3:4 – Tempter; Revelation 12:10 – Accuser Ephesians 2:1-3   Three fronts 1. The world, 2. Demons, 3. Lust of our flesh   Air is unseen by influential Ephesians 6:11-13   Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. He functions undercover, cleverly camouflaged in secrecy. People end up as puppets Ephesians 1:18-23   Jesus already won the battle. 14 – 4:17-23   This is now your lie; 1:1-14 your truth now 14 – 4:21-24   Righteousness is the new you. Live right, 15 – Peace 1:2; 6:23; 2:14-17; 4:3 16 – Faith 2:8-9; 3:12, 17 – Faith is a full realization of your own inability and absolute confidence in God's ability. 17 – Helmet of salvation – 1:13 -14, 2:7, 3: 9-11 17 – The sword of the spirit; the Word of God 18 – Pray – Matthew 6:9-13: 1:15-23; 3:14-21The post Ephesians Part 12: Dress for Battle first appeared on Living Hope.

There are two quotes that have stuck with me that have helped me over the years: The first is from AW Tozer who said, It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply. The second is from John Bunyan who said, Conversion is not the smooth, easy-going process some men seem to think... It is wounding work, this breaking of the hearts, but without wounding there is no saving... Where there is grafting there will always be a cutting, the graft must be let in with a wound; to stick it onto the outside or to tie it on with a string would be of no use. Heart must be set to heart and back to back or there will be no sap from root to branch. And this, I say, must be done by a wound, by a cut.[1] Throughout the Bible, I see the wisdom of Tozer and Bunyans counsel as it relates to the hard stuff we experience in life. As much as God has used AW Tozer and John Bunyan, the real question is this: What has God said about the trials that will come and do we trust and believe Him enough to turn to Him even when we do not understand how He will work it out of our good? It is to James that we now turn our attention to discover what God has said about it. Gods Will for the Christians Life is to Finish Well Gods will for the life of the Christian is to receive the crown of life. What is the crown of life you ask? Ironically, it is a type of victors crown that the Christian will receive after he/she has died. During the Isthmian games a crown in the form of a wreath would be awarded the victor who finished whatever event a Greek male athlete participated in. Like the Olympics of today, only the best of the best would compete after training harder than anything else in their lives in the hope that they could receive the coveted crown. Borrowing language from the games, Paul wrote of the Christian life: Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as to avoid hitting air; but I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified (1 Cor 9:2527). Just before he was executed, Paul wrote to Timothy: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing (2 Tim. 4:7-8). The crown of life is eternal life with Jesus. At first glance, it sounds like James is telling us that in order to receive the crown of life, we have got to dig deep and persevere. This makes our salvation sound like we have to work for our salvation. This is not what James is saying at all, and we know this because of verse 18, which states: In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth... The word of truth is the gospel of Jesus Christ that saves. It is of this gospel that Paul wrote in Romans, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes... (Rom. 1:16). It was because of Gods will that we went from spiritual death to spiritual life, and the evidence that we are now spiritually alive is with the life we are living today. Listen to what Jesus said in John 1:12-13, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God. In John 10:16, Jesus said that the evidence of those who belong to Him is in how they respond to Him: And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd (John 10:16). So here is the rub that is very important that you not only hear me say, but that you take it to heart. The one who perseveres to the end... even under and through various trials, is the one who was truly born again when they heard the gospel of Jesus Christ; it was in the moment that you were born again that you went from being spiritually dead to being alive with Christ! The crown of life is given not based on your merit, but because of your relationship with Jesus. It was His sinless life, His sacrificial death, and His victory over death that secured, secures, and will secure your salvation. The crown of life is awarded on the basis of your relationship with Jesus with the understanding that His merit is all that you need! The crown of life is not given to those who have good intentions, it is not given to those who are religious, it is not given because of some prayer you said, it is not given because you started out well, for it is given because you have been born again! Here is what the apostle John said of those who do not persevere until the end: They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be evident that they all are not of us (1 John 2:19). If you are wondering how you can know that you belong to Jesus and that you are indeed born again, James provides us with four words: ...those who love Him. The evidence that you have been born again besides the fact that you will persevere under trial, is that you love Him. This is why Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed (1 Cor. 16:22). If you have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and have been born again as a result, you will love Jesus... which is evidence that God first loved you (1 John 4:9-19). Now, when it comes to the trials in life (v. 12) and the temptation(s) we all face, what purpose do they serve in the Christian life? James seems to indicate that trials are both allowed and designed by God while temptation comes from within and is used by the devil and his demons. What you cannot see in your English Bible is that the root of the Greek word for trial (peirasmos) and the root for temptation (peirazō) comes from the same Greek root and both words can be translated test or tempt. Trials are Designed by God to Ultimately Bless the Christian (vv. 12-13) So how do we make sense of these verses? Permit me to offer you an alternate translation of verse 13 that I think will open these verses up for you in a way that ought to help. Here is what I think is a better and more helpful way to translate James 1:13, No one is to say when he is tested, I am being tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. How do we know that God does not tempt us? We know because He is a God of love, we know because He is good, and we know because He is holy! Because God is infinitely good, James states in verse 17, Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. Not only is God good, but because He is God, He has not, does not, and will not change. Because God is good, every trial that God brings or allows into your life is designed to strengthen your faith... not destroy your it. This is why James can say in verse 12 that when the trials do come, you can receive them knowing that such trials will ultimately serve for your blessing. How do I know that? For starters, it is the pattern we see with God in the way that He has always dealt with His people. Consider Abraham as one example of how God will use and bring trials into the lives of His people to do the kind of thing that needs to happen in the life of the one who belongs to Him. After Issac was born and old enough to know better, God told Abraham to take his only son and to offer him as a burnt offering (Gen. 22). What was the purpose of the testing? For starters, to show Abraham that his identity was not to be found in the son he and Sarah had longed for and prayed for their entire lives. Did God make Abraham go through with the slaughtering of his only son? Nope. Abraham would have done it, but God stopped him and then said to him: For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me (v. 12). For most of Abrahams life, he struggled to trust God. All throughout Abrahams life God used the various trials in Abraham and Sarahs lives that God brought, allowed, and even the trials Abraham brought upon himself to temper his faith to the point that by the time we come to Genesis 22, he knew he could trust God even when doing so did not make sense, such as Gods instructions to sacrifice Isaac. How do I know this, besides the fact that Abraham was so committed to obeying God that God had to stop him from following through with sacrificing Isaac? Here is how I know: When Abraham, Isaac, and his servants arrived at the mountain where Abraham was to follow through with Gods instructions, Abraham said to his servants something that reveals that something had changed in his heart; here is what he said: Abraham said to his young men, Stay here with the donkey, and I and the boy will go over there; and we will worship and return to you (Gen. 22:5). God told him to sacrifice Isaac, and the reason why Abraham was willing to go through with it was because over the years God was tempering Abrahams faith to the point that he knew God well enough to know that the God who told him to kill his son was both good and able to raise the dead. Abrahams action was the evidence that his faith in God was not just lip service (see Jas. 2:20-23). Temptation to Sin Comes from Within and Is Used by Satan to Destroy the Christian When the trials come, the primary danger we face in such moments is from within. Suffering can serve as a catalyst to deepen your relationship with God, or it can cause you to doubt the wisdom, goodness, and sovereignty of God. To be tempted is not sin, but it is what you do with the temptation. Notice what James says in verses 14-15, But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death (Jas. 1:1415). God does not tempt, but He does test. His testing often comes in the form of trials that serve to temper our faith for the purpose of making it stronger. Sin comes from within us, and whatever forms the temptation is that we are faced gives birth to sin when we are carried away and enticed by our own sin nature. Facing the temptation is not the sin, but giving into the temptation is. James tells us that when temptation comes (and it will), the downward progression leading to the act of sinning begins with a decision that involves both the mind and the heart. Giving into the temptation to sin begins when you decide to dwell on the temptation instead of run from it. The next step is to be carried away and enticed by your own lust (this is when both your heart and mind are lured by your own lust). Our lust comes from the sin nature that is within all of us, and when left unchecked... it gives birth to sin. Robert Plummer put it this way in his commentary on James: ...just as conception leads naturally to childbirth, giving free rein to sinful inclinations naturally results in discrete moral transgressions. Just as water runs downhill, so evil desire, if allowed to pursue its gravitational inclination, runs down into sinful activity.[2] Where does unchecked sin inevitably lead? It leads to death. Listen, most of the temptation we face comes by way of our own doing because of our own lustful desires. The devil is just one person and can only be at one place at a time. His demons are many, but they are also limited by their number and ability. However, Satan is also known as the Tempter for a reason. He is real and he wants to use temptation as a way to destroy your faith. The greater threat you face through is not the devil but your own heart and passions. To follow your passion is horrible advice if it is not tethered to the will of God for your life that you can only know and discern through His word and prayer. Conclusion Every time Abraham trusted his own heart or caved to his own fears, he was carried away and enticed by his own lust. The same can be said about Adam and Eve, the Hebrews in the wilderness, King David, and every other person we read about in the Bible. It wasnt until Abraham trusted in a good and sovereign God to lead him that he experienced the blessing God wanted for him. For Abraham, that blessing did not come when he wanted, but arrived when God knew Abraham was ready for it. All sin comes by way of trusting what you think is right, instead of believing God and trusting Him for what He has declared is right. So, how do we face the trials of life and at the same time resist the temptation to sin? James offers us some help in verses 16-17. Dont be deceived. Instead of trusting in what you desire, trust in the goodness of God and what He had declared to be good. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above... (v. 17a), so trust the One who is good and wants good for you. Focus on Gods unchanging character instead of your desires. James tells us that all that is good comes from, the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow (v. 17b). We change all the time, our emotions ebb and flow, what we think is right one day may change the next day, but God does not change!His character remains the same. Instead of being carried away by your sin, turn to the God who does not change and trust Him. Trust Gods Word. It is because of His word that you have been born again when you heard the gospel. Tony Evens put it this way: For many, the Bible is like the queen of England. Its held in high esteem but wields no power over them personally. What Scripture accomplished for your salvation, though, it can accomplish for your sanctification.[3] When faced by temptation, Jesus used the Word of God to combat the devil; you can and ought to do the same. Know that God loves you. God called you by the word of truth, and He did it because He loves you. According to James 1:18, God gave you a new birth for the purpose of being His first fruits among His creatures. God instructed His people to give the first fruits of their possessions back to Him; for the Hebrew people, the first fruits were the best and first from their harvest. To be Gods first fruits among His creatures means that you are loved and treasured by Him! What He is doing in your life today, is for the purpose of something greater tomorrow that will ultimately lead to your sanctification and then glorification as His son/daughter. His no from His Word is for your good, your joy, and ultimately your thriving. [1] John Piper, The Hidden Smile of God (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books; 2001), 65. [2] Robert L. Plummer, James, in HebrewsRevelation, ed. Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, vol. XII, ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018), 234. [3] Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1339.

There are two quotes that have stuck with me that have helped me over the years: The first is from AW Tozer who said, It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply. The second is from John Bunyan who said, Conversion is not the smooth, easy-going process some men seem to think... It is wounding work, this breaking of the hearts, but without wounding there is no saving... Where there is grafting there will always be a cutting, the graft must be let in with a wound; to stick it onto the outside or to tie it on with a string would be of no use. Heart must be set to heart and back to back or there will be no sap from root to branch. And this, I say, must be done by a wound, by a cut.[1] Throughout the Bible, I see the wisdom of Tozer and Bunyans counsel as it relates to the hard stuff we experience in life. As much as God has used AW Tozer and John Bunyan, the real question is this: What has God said about the trials that will come and do we trust and believe Him enough to turn to Him even when we do not understand how He will work it out of our good? It is to James that we now turn our attention to discover what God has said about it. Gods Will for the Christians Life is to Finish Well Gods will for the life of the Christian is to receive the crown of life. What is the crown of life you ask? Ironically, it is a type of victors crown that the Christian will receive after he/she has died. During the Isthmian games a crown in the form of a wreath would be awarded the victor who finished whatever event a Greek male athlete participated in. Like the Olympics of today, only the best of the best would compete after training harder than anything else in their lives in the hope that they could receive the coveted crown. Borrowing language from the games, Paul wrote of the Christian life: Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as to avoid hitting air; but I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified (1 Cor 9:2527). Just before he was executed, Paul wrote to Timothy: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing (2 Tim. 4:7-8). The crown of life is eternal life with Jesus. At first glance, it sounds like James is telling us that in order to receive the crown of life, we have got to dig deep and persevere. This makes our salvation sound like we have to work for our salvation. This is not what James is saying at all, and we know this because of verse 18, which states: In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth... The word of truth is the gospel of Jesus Christ that saves. It is of this gospel that Paul wrote in Romans, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes... (Rom. 1:16). It was because of Gods will that we went from spiritual death to spiritual life, and the evidence that we are now spiritually alive is with the life we are living today. Listen to what Jesus said in John 1:12-13, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God. In John 10:16, Jesus said that the evidence of those who belong to Him is in how they respond to Him: And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd (John 10:16). So here is the rub that is very important that you not only hear me say, but that you take it to heart. The one who perseveres to the end... even under and through various trials, is the one who was truly born again when they heard the gospel of Jesus Christ; it was in the moment that you were born again that you went from being spiritually dead to being alive with Christ! The crown of life is given not based on your merit, but because of your relationship with Jesus. It was His sinless life, His sacrificial death, and His victory over death that secured, secures, and will secure your salvation. The crown of life is awarded on the basis of your relationship with Jesus with the understanding that His merit is all that you need! The crown of life is not given to those who have good intentions, it is not given to those who are religious, it is not given because of some prayer you said, it is not given because you started out well, for it is given because you have been born again! Here is what the apostle John said of those who do not persevere until the end: They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be evident that they all are not of us (1 John 2:19). If you are wondering how you can know that you belong to Jesus and that you are indeed born again, James provides us with four words: ...those who love Him. The evidence that you have been born again besides the fact that you will persevere under trial, is that you love Him. This is why Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed (1 Cor. 16:22). If you have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and have been born again as a result, you will love Jesus... which is evidence that God first loved you (1 John 4:9-19). Now, when it comes to the trials in life (v. 12) and the temptation(s) we all face, what purpose do they serve in the Christian life? James seems to indicate that trials are both allowed and designed by God while temptation comes from within and is used by the devil and his demons. What you cannot see in your English Bible is that the root of the Greek word for trial (peirasmos) and the root for temptation (peirazō) comes from the same Greek root and both words can be translated test or tempt. Trials are Designed by God to Ultimately Bless the Christian (vv. 12-13) So how do we make sense of these verses? Permit me to offer you an alternate translation of verse 13 that I think will open these verses up for you in a way that ought to help. Here is what I think is a better and more helpful way to translate James 1:13, No one is to say when he is tested, I am being tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. How do we know that God does not tempt us? We know because He is a God of love, we know because He is good, and we know because He is holy! Because God is infinitely good, James states in verse 17, Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. Not only is God good, but because He is God, He has not, does not, and will not change. Because God is good, every trial that God brings or allows into your life is designed to strengthen your faith... not destroy your it. This is why James can say in verse 12 that when the trials do come, you can receive them knowing that such trials will ultimately serve for your blessing. How do I know that? For starters, it is the pattern we see with God in the way that He has always dealt with His people. Consider Abraham as one example of how God will use and bring trials into the lives of His people to do the kind of thing that needs to happen in the life of the one who belongs to Him. After Issac was born and old enough to know better, God told Abraham to take his only son and to offer him as a burnt offering (Gen. 22). What was the purpose of the testing? For starters, to show Abraham that his identity was not to be found in the son he and Sarah had longed for and prayed for their entire lives. Did God make Abraham go through with the slaughtering of his only son? Nope. Abraham would have done it, but God stopped him and then said to him: For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me (v. 12). For most of Abrahams life, he struggled to trust God. All throughout Abrahams life God used the various trials in Abraham and Sarahs lives that God brought, allowed, and even the trials Abraham brought upon himself to temper his faith to the point that by the time we come to Genesis 22, he knew he could trust God even when doing so did not make sense, such as Gods instructions to sacrifice Isaac. How do I know this, besides the fact that Abraham was so committed to obeying God that God had to stop him from following through with sacrificing Isaac? Here is how I know: When Abraham, Isaac, and his servants arrived at the mountain where Abraham was to follow through with Gods instructions, Abraham said to his servants something that reveals that something had changed in his heart; here is what he said: Abraham said to his young men, Stay here with the donkey, and I and the boy will go over there; and we will worship and return to you (Gen. 22:5). God told him to sacrifice Isaac, and the reason why Abraham was willing to go through with it was because over the years God was tempering Abrahams faith to the point that he knew God well enough to know that the God who told him to kill his son was both good and able to raise the dead. Abrahams action was the evidence that his faith in God was not just lip service (see Jas. 2:20-23). Temptation to Sin Comes from Within and Is Used by Satan to Destroy the Christian When the trials come, the primary danger we face in such moments is from within. Suffering can serve as a catalyst to deepen your relationship with God, or it can cause you to doubt the wisdom, goodness, and sovereignty of God. To be tempted is not sin, but it is what you do with the temptation. Notice what James says in verses 14-15, But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death (Jas. 1:1415). God does not tempt, but He does test. His testing often comes in the form of trials that serve to temper our faith for the purpose of making it stronger. Sin comes from within us, and whatever forms the temptation is that we are faced gives birth to sin when we are carried away and enticed by our own sin nature. Facing the temptation is not the sin, but giving into the temptation is. James tells us that when temptation comes (and it will), the downward progression leading to the act of sinning begins with a decision that involves both the mind and the heart. Giving into the temptation to sin begins when you decide to dwell on the temptation instead of run from it. The next step is to be carried away and enticed by your own lust (this is when both your heart and mind are lured by your own lust). Our lust comes from the sin nature that is within all of us, and when left unchecked... it gives birth to sin. Robert Plummer put it this way in his commentary on James: ...just as conception leads naturally to childbirth, giving free rein to sinful inclinations naturally results in discrete moral transgressions. Just as water runs downhill, so evil desire, if allowed to pursue its gravitational inclination, runs down into sinful activity.[2] Where does unchecked sin inevitably lead? It leads to death. Listen, most of the temptation we face comes by way of our own doing because of our own lustful desires. The devil is just one person and can only be at one place at a time. His demons are many, but they are also limited by their number and ability. However, Satan is also known as the Tempter for a reason. He is real and he wants to use temptation as a way to destroy your faith. The greater threat you face through is not the devil but your own heart and passions. To follow your passion is horrible advice if it is not tethered to the will of God for your life that you can only know and discern through His word and prayer. Conclusion Every time Abraham trusted his own heart or caved to his own fears, he was carried away and enticed by his own lust. The same can be said about Adam and Eve, the Hebrews in the wilderness, King David, and every other person we read about in the Bible. It wasnt until Abraham trusted in a good and sovereign God to lead him that he experienced the blessing God wanted for him. For Abraham, that blessing did not come when he wanted, but arrived when God knew Abraham was ready for it. All sin comes by way of trusting what you think is right, instead of believing God and trusting Him for what He has declared is right. So, how do we face the trials of life and at the same time resist the temptation to sin? James offers us some help in verses 16-17. Dont be deceived. Instead of trusting in what you desire, trust in the goodness of God and what He had declared to be good. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above... (v. 17a), so trust the One who is good and wants good for you. Focus on Gods unchanging character instead of your desires. James tells us that all that is good comes from, the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow (v. 17b). We change all the time, our emotions ebb and flow, what we think is right one day may change the next day, but God does not change!His character remains the same. Instead of being carried away by your sin, turn to the God who does not change and trust Him. Trust Gods Word. It is because of His word that you have been born again when you heard the gospel. Tony Evens put it this way: For many, the Bible is like the queen of England. Its held in high esteem but wields no power over them personally. What Scripture accomplished for your salvation, though, it can accomplish for your sanctification.[3] When faced by temptation, Jesus used the Word of God to combat the devil; you can and ought to do the same. Know that God loves you. God called you by the word of truth, and He did it because He loves you. According to James 1:18, God gave you a new birth for the purpose of being His first fruits among His creatures. God instructed His people to give the first fruits of their possessions back to Him; for the Hebrew people, the first fruits were the best and first from their harvest. To be Gods first fruits among His creatures means that you are loved and treasured by Him! What He is doing in your life today, is for the purpose of something greater tomorrow that will ultimately lead to your sanctification and then glorification as His son/daughter. His no from His Word is for your good, your joy, and ultimately your thriving. [1] John Piper, The Hidden Smile of God (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books; 2001), 65. [2] Robert L. Plummer, James, in HebrewsRevelation, ed. Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, vol. XII, ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018), 234. [3] Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1339.

When we focus on the temptation we are not resisting the one who is tempting us. Jesus was resisting the devil not the "rock."

Here are some of Pastor Windham's notes on small groups:Benefits of a Small Group 1. Immediate connection with others2. Fellowship (Koinonia) happens3. Increases knowledge — becomes knowledgeable4. Learning is Active — not Passive5. Participation in edifying conversations6. Comradere7. Knowing others and being known8. Accountability9. Opportunities to serve, bless, help, and share10. Imitation takes place11. Spouse & Children have common ground/language12. Communicate understanding to others 13. Learn to read a book14. Learn to study 15. Becoming a possible Small Group leader Individual & Group Transformation Colossians 1:27-28 Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.What is Jesus Like?Godly, confident, faithful, content, wise, on mission, happy, content, stands firm, compassionate, teaches others, builds other up, weeps with those who weep, contra mundum, does God's will above His own, influences others, hates hypocrisy, leads well, corrects others, fights the Tempter, disciples others, impervious to Wall Street, Hollywood, the NFL, and Fifth Avenue.Transformation as a church member:Involved but not divisive Tithe's cheerfullyReady to serve Worships enthusiasticallyHumbleFilled with the SpiritResponsible in the marriage and familyCultural Transformation:-Salt & Light-Evangelism through life, words, and actions-Sanctified neighborhoods-Righteous voting bloc-Entrepenureship

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Lying is Sin Author Evangelist Laverna Spain.Even a little bitty lie is still a SIN. Do not be fooled, Lying is SIN.These are the three scriptures Jesus quoted to the Tempter [Satan]. Write them on your heart, write them in your mind. The day is coming when you will want to use them!Deuteronomy 8:3, Deuteronomy 6:16, and Deuteronomy 6:13-16.Joyful!Evangelist Laverna Spain. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faith-of-a-mustard-seed-messages-of-faith-through-challenges--4257220/support.

Systematic and Expository Monday Bible Study at the Deeper Life Bible Church Gbagada, Lagos. for 14th April

The NT Church is Primarily a place for God. It's a place for God's Word to be established. It's a place for God's Son to be exalted. It's a place for God's people to be equipped. It's a place for God's plan to be engaged.  I. The Foundation of God's Church - The Worldview of our Faith is TRUTH. The Truth of God is found in His Word:a. In the Spoken Word - Genesis 1; Matthew 4:4 (mouth of God); II Timothy 3:16b. In the Written Word - Exodus 20 (finger of God); I Peter 1:16-21c. In the Word Made Flesh - Jn 1:1,14 II. Two Worldviews - Truth & Lies(As in Crete so in every place people gather corporately - You will either hear the Word of God or the word of man, I Thessalonians 2:13. There will be truth or tales. Why should truth be so important to us? 1. Satan seeks to destroy truth through deception and doubt - In John 8 he is called a liar and the father of lies.  a. The truth sets people free – John 8:32b. The truth makes people holy - John 17:17c. The truth leads people to Heaven - John 14:6d. The truth fights off the Tempter and his temptations - Mt. 4:1-11 III. What a Pastor Must & Must not be - (Looks can be deceiving - Most of you know who David is. Many of you know who Samuel is. Few know much of anything about Eliab - I Samuel 16:6-7. He was the oldest son. He was the obvious choice. But he wasn't. 1. What a pastor must NOT be - 1:6-72. What a pastor MUST be - 1:8-9 3. A lover of strangers (hospitable) - “never met a stranger (philoxenos vs xenophobia); Luke 10:25-37; Romans 1:8-13; Galatians 6:9-104. A lover of good things - II Tim 4:6-85. A sensible man - Level-headed, Keeps a cool head - Acts 23:56. Just - upright; a stand-up guy 7. Devout - practice what you say you believe8. Self-controlled -

Matthew 4:1-11

In light of Tempe’s aggressive crackdown on non-aggressive people trying to help the homeless in public parks, another Tempe-tian, Tempe-ite, Tempter? Is trying to beat the city at their own game.

Join us every Sunday at 10am at River of Life church in Guilderland, NY Find us online at facebook.com/riveralbany or riveralbany.com. Podcasts of the Sunday message can be found on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, YT music, or Soundcloud.

We just found out that the publish button for PART 1 was not pushed so we just released Part One of the Temptation Series and now this is the Follow up As PART2! Today we will look at the LIMITATIONS of the tempter...Satan and his demons.Pleases SUBSCRIBE and Join Our Community TODAY! at: www.StevenGarofalo.ComThis will help us immensely no matter where in the world you live.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reason-for-truth--2774396/support.

Christ and the Christian in Temptation - "To be tempted of the Devil"—The language of the inspired narrator admits of no reasonable misconception. He speaks of the Tempter in terms perfectly intelligible. There are individuals who, in their judicial blindness and supercilious self-conceit—influenced, perhaps,in their opinion in many cases by the terror which guilt inevitablyinspires have found it convenient and soothing to ignore the positiveexistence of Satan altogether, affirming that there is no Devil!

A new MP3 sermon from Trinity Bible Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Tempter Subtitle: Genesis Series Speaker: Dr. Greg Mazak Broadcaster: Trinity Bible Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 10/27/2024 Bible: Genesis 3:1-3 Length: 41 min.

Pastor Christian Powell preaches to the Faith Church congregation on Wednesday night, September 25, 2024. His message is titled "Resisting The Tempter" and it comes from Matthew 4:1-4.

I overcome temptation by identifying the lie and inserting the truth.

Ephesians 2:1-2 King James Version 2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

"Tempter" by Stereolab from Little Pieces of Stereolab (A Switched On Sampler); "Inverted Vertigo" by Heith from The Liars Tell; "New World" by Swanox from Rhodyrunner; "Tai" by Gnoomes from Uletai; "Bitterroot Valley Suite III: Wind" by Jim White and Marisa Anderson from Swallowtail "19-14" by Esmerine from Lost Voices; The "NPC" single by Tanukichan; "Northernland Lady" by Heldon from Electronic Guerilla; "Nice Town (Metronomy Remix)" by Metronomy x Pan Amsterdam from the Nice Town single; "Kiteki (Colloid Version)" by Satoimagae from Colloid; "Where the Bough in Broken" by Hilary Woods from Acts of Light

"Satan Explained: Top Questions About Satan Answered" | Watch This Episode on YouTube {"@context":"http://schema.org/","@id":"https://straighttruth.net/satan-explained-top-questions-about-satan-answered/#arve-youtube-v_naemail1e65fed5591edca189710035","type":"VideoObject","embedURL":"https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/v_naEMAiL1E?iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&autohide=1&playsinline=0&autoplay=0","name":"Satan Explained: Top Questions About Satan Answered","thumbnailUrl":"https://straighttruth.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/STP-S27-EPED-01-Satan-Explained.jpg","uploadDate":"2024-02-22","description":"Satan Explained: Top Questions About Satan Answered"} Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel Support Our Podcast Join Our Mailing List Watch Us On Rumble Related MessagesFor further thought on this, consider listening to the following sermons:The Marvelous Mind of God - Parts 1 & 2Praise of the Age to ComeGloryBehind the ScenesResisting the Devil: A Neglected ResponsibilityThe Christian's Armor - Pts. 1-6Christ's Triumph Over the Tempter "Satan Explained: Top Questions About Satan Answered" | Watch this episode on Vimeo {"@context":"http://schema.org/","@id":"https://straighttruth.net/satan-explained-top-questions-about-satan-answered/#arve-vimeo-91388124265fed5591f7aa214132077","type":"VideoObject","embedURL":"https://player.vimeo.com/video/913881242?dnt=1&app_id=122963&html5=1&title=1&byline=0&portrait=0&autoplay=0","name":"Satan Explained: Top Questions About Satan Answered","thumbnailUrl":"https://straighttruth.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/STP-S27-EPED-01-Satan-Explained.jpg","uploadDate":"2024-02-22","description":"Satan Explained: Top Questions About Satan Answered"} Follow Us On Vimeo Listen to the Audio Podcast Subscribe on iPhone Subscribe on Android Subscribe on Spotify Satan Explained: Top Questions About Satan AnsweredWhy did God create Satan? Why was he allowed in the Garden of Eden? How is Satan allowed to be in God's presence if God cannot look upon sin? Didn't God toss him out of heaven and down to earth? The New Testament tells us that he prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. The Book of Job reveals some of his strategizing. We gain other insights about him from Jesus' ministry, like when he tempts Jesus in the wilderness, and even a conversation that our Lord has with Peter reveals something about the devil's scheming ways. So Satan really exists and is a very real, spiritual enemy. But what can we really know about him, and how can we know it? If we are in a spiritual war and are to battle our enemy, Satan, and his demonic forces, how are we to do it? Are we to rebuke and bind Satan, even cast demons out? Are we commanded or ever taught to do these things? Join us this week on the Straight Truth Podcast as we've compiled several episodes to give you some Biblical answers to these and other questions that will help Believers to be appropriately armed for a battle that is also very real. As Dr. Caldwell begins to answer these questions, he reminds us that there are things that God has revealed, and there are things He has not. There are things He has told us that He wants us to know and things that we won't ever know (Deuteronomy 29:29). The answer to many of these questions, as unsatisfactory as it will be to many, is that it's for God's glory. Everything that God has done and is working out is according to His will and, ultimately, for His glory. There are a myriad of things that God is doing and a myriad of decisions wrapped up in all that He does. So even as God created Satan, there was a purpose for Him making him, and Satan is fulfilling that purpose. And while we know that God does not delight in evil, He had a reason to decree the fall of Satan and the fall of man. There are certain things that God has decreed that involve things that do not please Him. Dr.

"Satan is the Tempter" / Michael Cummins / Omegaman Episode 10735 Recorded 2-7-2024 on OMEGAMAN