WHERE TEMPTATIONS COME FROM

James 1:12-15

We have all heard such trite sayings as, “The Devil made me do it.” Adam even blamed God when he said, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” Genesis 3:12 There was no denying that he had sinned, so he blamed the only other person there, Eve, and then indirectly God, for God had given him woman. Where did the temptation come from in the beginning?

To be human, means that there will be temptations. Even our Lord was tempted as soon as he was baptized and began to fulfill his ministry, but being tempted does not automatically mean that sin follows. Our Lord lived a sinless life, even though he had taken on a physical body with all its needs and desires. His greatest temptations were those brought to him directly by Satan; not through an agency such as the serpent, or even one of his followers later, as when he said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan.” It was Satan, Peter was being used. Having said that, let us look at the words of James, the physical brother of Jesus

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:12-15.

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.” It is a fact that temptations are going to come to every Christian, and Satan is not going to delay. In nature, there is great loss when the very young are decimated. They become the prey of others in the food chain. Thousands of tiny turtles are hatched on the beaches of the world, but many never survive the short trip to the sea. Tiny fish are eaten before they can mature. Likewise many new born Christians never make it to spiritual maturity. They need spiritual nourishment from the Word, and the care of their concerned brothers and sisters in the Lord. That is why churches have Elders. They are to be caretakers, not only of the very young in the faith, but until the Lord calls his children home to be with him.

It is not that Christians just survive, but they look forward to that “crown of life” that the Lord has promised to all those who love him. This is the eternal life that will be the result of being able to eat of the “tree of life” that will be available in heaven. Revelation 22:2, “on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded the fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

Now Adam had said, “whom thou gavest.” This was an attempt to transfer the guilt to someone else, even God who gave Eve, but James tells us, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:” No, we cannot cast the blame at the feet of anyone else, not even the one used as the means by Satan. Jesus spoke to Satan, not Peter even though the words came from Peter who said that Jesus would not die for the sins of mankind.

The guilt for submitting to temptation is laid directly upon the individual as he has permitted his “lust” to lead him astray. It may be physical lust, lust for wealth, lust for power, or fame, or whatever, but it all traces back to a weakness. “Every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.”

So, that is where the blame lies. The wages of sin is death. Let us rejoice in our Lord who willingly gave himself to pay that price for us. It was he, our Savior who said through Peter on Pentecost to the sinners, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38 In another place he also said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH THIS YEAR

NOVEMBER

24th  Sunday  -  Ezekiel 42,43,    1 Peter 2,    Proverbs 28:15-28

25th  Monday  -  Ezekiel 44, 45,    1 Peter 3,   Psalm 133

26th  Tuesday  -  Ezekiel  46, 47,    1 Peter 4,    Psalm 134

27th  Wednesday  -  Ezekiel 48,    1 Peter 5,    Psalm 135:1-12

28th  Thursday  -  Joel 1, 2, 3,    2 Peter 1,    Proverbs 29:1-9

29th  Friday  -  Habakkuk 1, 2, 3,    2 Peter 2,    Psalm 135:13-21

30th  Saturday  -  Obadiah,    2 Peter 3,    Psalm 136:1-12

MEMORY VERSE

“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.”  2 Peter 2:9

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ONE-LINERS

To err is human, to blame it on everybody else is even more human.

Wat a good thing Adam had: When he said a good thing, he knew nobody had said it before.

If your left hand doesn’t know what your right hand is doing, you should consider running for a job in Washington D. C.

Some people think that the Great Commission is what the real estate agent gets when their house is sold.

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MELCHISEDEC

Hebrews 7:1-11

The name Melchisedec means “King of Righteousness,” and he was the king of Jerusalem which translates as “Peace.”  We know nothing about his parentage, but he lived in the time of Abraham who paid a tithe to him from the spoils after he rescued his nephew.  He is called “high priest” before the priesthood was reserved for the tribe of Levi. He was a type of Christ who was also not a Levite, but his priesthood is far superior to that of Levitical priests as we shall see. His name is sometimes spelled with a “z” in place of the “s” I have used as that is the spelling of my King James Bible.   

1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

(Genesis 14:18-20, Hebrews 7:6, Mark 5:7)

A TITHE

A tithe is one tenth of the total income before any deductions. Abraham gave a tenth of all that was taken in the battle. God defines that portion as his, says, “Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation, Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in  in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”  Malachi 3:9,10  God is the same, yesterday, today, and for ever. We don’t owe it to Him. It is His, and he has, if anything, lent it to us as a test. Here, He tells us to test him.  Our first check of the month, should be to him. I personally make it a habit to write the tithe and the offering checks, then the one for the month’s rent, followed by other accounts as they arrive. I have never found that there is not enough to pay them all so that I “owe no man anything.” I also never have to worry about rising interest rates on my credit card that way. There is no interest.

2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

(Hebrews 7:6,  Matthew 4:3, Hebrews 7:1, Hebrews 7:28)

HIS PRIESTHOOD WAS UNIQUELY SUPERIOR

When it began, the priesthood was limited to Levites, and among them the high priest. Like a royal birth, one had to qualify, then be ordained and set aside. In our lifetime, most of us have seen and understand how the Catholic church chooses a new pope. For them, of course, he must be first a priest, and the cardinals choose one from that limited field. I only use that illustration because we are more familiar with it having witnessed it unfold on television in great detail recently, than we are with the customs of Judaism.

Melchisedec was a priest, a type of Jesus Christ, who serves in a similar way for Christians. He carries our petitions to God; thus we pray in Jesus name. “No man cometh unto the Father but by me,” I  really believe that today, only Christians have the right to approach the Lord, and they through Jesus Christ. Prayer is a precious heritage, let us treat it reverently. The Jewish High Priests had to make sacrifices for their own sins and be ritually cleansed, before they could enter the Holy of Holies, and even then he could do so only once a year. Sinless, Jesus Christ, died for our sins, and the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place, became one. The veil was torn down between them by God. All Christians can now approach God as often as they wish.   

4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

Acts 2:29, Acts 7:8, Genesis 14:20)

5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

(Numbers 18:21, Numbers 18:26, 2 Chronicles 31:4)

6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

(Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 6:20)

9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

CHRIST IS SUPERIOR AS ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST

The Levitical priesthood was passed from father to son and consequently there were many priests who lived far from from Godly lives. This is clear in that it was the priests, led by the High Priests, who paid Judas to betray Jesus, and laid slanderous charges, hiring false witnesses, that they might be rid of Jesus.

In stark contrast, Jesus gave his life on the cross of Calvary that we might have life, He will never die again. Our high priest after the order of Melchisadec, is alive and will be for ever.

11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

(Hebrews 9:6, Hebrews 9:10, Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 7:17)

12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR HIGH PRIEST FOR ETERNITY

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto

God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH THIS YEAR

NOVEMBER

10th  Sunday  -  Ezekiel 16,    Hebrews 9:15-28,    Psalm 122

11th  Monday  -  Ezekiel 17, 18,    Hebrews 10:1-18,    Psalm 123

12th  Tuesday  - Ezekiel 19, 20,     Hebrews 10:19-39,    Proverbs 27:11-20

13th  Wednesday  - Ezekiel 21, 22,    Hebrews 11:1-22,    Psalm 124

14th  Thursday  -  Ezekiel 23,    Hebrews 11:23-40,    Psalm 125

15th  Friday  -  Ezekiel 24, 25, 26,    Hebrews 12:1-11,    Psalm 126

16th  Saturday  -  Ezekiel  27, 28,   Hebrews 12:12-29,   Proverbs 27:21-27

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MEMORY VERSE

“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all of them that obey him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”  -  Hebrews 5:9-10

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When John found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided that he needed a wife to enjoy it with him so one evening he went to a singles bar where he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Her natural beauty took his breath away. “I may look like an ordinary man,” he told her as he walked up to her, “but in just a few days, my father is going to die, and I will inherit his twenty million dollars.”

Impressed, she went home with him that evening and three weeks later she became his stepmother.

GOD'S WITNESS IS CERTAIN

1 John 5:1-11

1 whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Every time I turn on my computer to look at the email, in case one our daughters has written, I must also wade my way through piles, sometimes a hundred or more, of pure junk. They have one thing in common, most of them are filled with lies. “Lotteries” of many sources none of which I entered, and then there are numerous scams supposedly written by well known persons. I have had personal letters from the Secretary of State, the head of the UN, the presidents of numerous banks, the FBI, the Interpol, Scotland Yard. Email is not where you go to learn truths. Probably all of those have been scams.

But there is one place that you and I will always be told the truth. That is the Bible. God’s book is always true, and there is one who offers great rewards. He has said, “I am the way …”  The vital truth is that “Jesus is the Christ,” and that he alone “is born of God.” His credentials are true. God Himself has spoke, “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him.”  God’s witness is true!  

(1 John 2:22, 1 John 4:2, 1 John 4:15, John 1:3, John 3:3, 1 John 2:29, 1 John 5:4, 1 John 5:18, John 8:42)

WE CAN BELIEVE THAT

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

When God speaks, we know it is truth, whether he speaks audibly as he did at Jesus’ baptism, or through the Holy Spirit and the written word. Unlike email, we know the author.

The letter from “The Secretary of State” is probably questionable. There are usually dead give aways. If it is from a government official it will use”gov” in the address. If t is from a bank president, it will not use a free carrier such as yahoo, or gmail. Banks use “secure” email.

(1 John 2:5, 1 John 3:14)

WE CAN KNOW

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

We can know that God loves us, and we can know if another loves him. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  If we love God, Father or Son, we will keep his commandments. We will not question if it is necessary to do this or that. Jesus’ commandments are simple to understand. If Jesus said to do it, it is necessary. And, he has given direct commandments. Trough Peter he told those at Pentecost in Jerusalem, “repent and be baptized.’ There is nothing unclear. We know what “repent” means. It is a direct command. Stop doing this, and do that. Change the kind of life you have been living.

“Be baptized.” This something someone else does to us. It means be washed clean. (Acts 8:38,39) Jesus did not just tell us, but he included through the Spirit an example that is impossible to not understand, both the Greek word used and the illustration.

But, there are other commands. “Do this in remembrance of me,”  “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together.” ‘Go ye unto all the world and teach all nations.”

None of them are difficult to understand, we know if we are keeping them.

(John 14:15,  2 John 6, 1 John 2:3,  Matthew 11:30, Matthew 23:4)

OVERCOME THE WORLD

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

We are overcoming the world if we are doing them. The way to increase our faith is through the word, and we know if we are reading it.

(John 1:13, John 3:3, 1 John 2:29, 1 John 5:1, 1 John 5:18, 1 John 2:13, 1 John 4:4)

5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

The evidence is that we believe Jesus is the Son of God, evident both to ourselves and to those around us.

( John 4:15, 1 John 5:1)

BE BORN AGAIN

6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

This is called a new birth, because of the combination of the water, and the blood of the Lord Jesus shed for us. Just as a birth marks the a new life, so this new birth marks a new life, a life for the Lord Jesus.

(John 19:34, Matthew 3:16, John 15:26, John 16:13-15)

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Just as more than one witness are required to establish a truth in court, there are three witnesses of these facts, God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Word he has led through the inspiration of the writer.

Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthian church, pointed out that the prophecies are fulfilled, even knowledge shall perish. Sometimes, to our embarrassment, but that there is that which when it is to come, at that time, he written word.

(Matthew 18:16)

8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

(John 5:34, John 5:37, John 8:18, Matthew 3:17, John 5:32, John 5:37)

THE GREATEST WITNESS OF ALL

10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

None of us would call God a liar.

(Romans 8:16, Galatians 4:6, Revelation 12:17, John 3:18, 1 John 1:10)

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

(John 3:36, 1 John 1:2, 1 John 2:25, 1 John 4:9, 1 John 5:13, 1 John 5:20, John 1:4)

Our eternal salvation can be a known fact, it is up to us!

We don’t hope we are saved, we can KNOW we are saved. Jesus has gone ahead to prepare our real, eternal, home. “I go to prepare a place for you.”

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH THIS YEAR

NOVEMBER

3rd Sunday  -  Lamentations 4, 5,     Hebrews 3,    Psalm 119:153-160

4th  Monday  -  Ezekiel 1, 2, 3,     Hebrews 4,    Proverbs 26:21-28

5th Tuesday  -  Ezekiel 4, 5, 6,     Hebrews 5,    Psalm 119:161-168

6th  Wednesday  -  Ezekiel 7, 8,    Hebrews 6,    Psalm 119:169-176

7th  Thursday  -  Ezekiel 9, 10, 11,    Hebrews 7,    Psalm 120

8th  Friday  -  Ezekiel 12, 13,    Hebrews 8,    Proverbs 27:1-10

9th  Saturday  -  Ezekiel 14, 15,    Hebrews 9:1-14    Psalm 121

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MEMORY VERSE

“He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son”  -  1 John 2:22b

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Joy comes not to him who seeks it for himself, but to him who seeks it for other people.