WHAT IS TEMPTATION

1. In the garden, the knowledge of evil was exposed to mankind by eating of the forbidden tree: Genesis 2:17; “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

• The devil tempted the woman with a desire she was already privy to before eating of the tree: Genesis 3:6; “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

The devil used the woman’s submissive nature against her to make her desire his plan instead of YAHWEH’s plan.

1. A woman is vulnerable to submitting to the wrong plan without the presence of a strong man: 1 Corinthians 11:10; “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.”

Once mankind’s eyes were opened, they saw that they were naked and hid from YAHWEH.

This is the origin of visual lust.

1. Mankind did not view one another this way before this lust was born into them:

• Genesis 2:25; “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”

It’s our own lust that tempts us.

1. This is why the devil opens our eyes to things at an early age to birth lust in us for those things and be tempted by them later on in life: James 1:14; “But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.”

• Parental protection is in its most passive state today because schools, daycares, and childcare facilities have become breeding grounds for sexual vice and various lusts to be introduced to children at a young age:

1. Mark 3:27; “No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.”

When these temptations are birthed in us, they plague us for the rest of our lives.

1. When we stray from YAHWEH or venture away from His plan, we are tempted with these same lusts: Galatians 5:17; “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

The law was given first to tame the flesh and then the Spirit of Yeshua was given to strengthen us and keep us from falling.

1. We must yield our members to YAHWEH in order to overcome the will of the flesh:

• Jude 24; “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.”

Even when we overcome, we will be tempted.

1. The enemy will use people, familiar places and things, or even memories to draw us back into youthful lusts: 2 Timothy 2:22; “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the ADONAI out of a pure heart.”

The devil tempted Yeshua after His fast because He was in a flesh-weakened state. At His most vulnerable moment, Yeshua still resisted the devil’s offers, but this was the example we all need to defeat the youthful lusts that plague us. Because Yeshua did it, it is possible for us to do it. The same Spirit that was in Yeshua is now operating in us so that we can follow the will of YAHWEH instead of the will of our flesh. We must train our flesh to not return to our youthful lusts!

Those sins that attacked us during our childhood must not gain victory over us. We are adamant believers, so that means we must be unmoved, unshaken, and unbreakable by the lusts of our past. Just as Yeshua defeated sin in the flesh, we must by the Spirit, defeat the temptations that come and do the right thing according to YAHWEH’s way.

1. Taming the flesh is a must and fleeing youthful lusts is an acquired ability that comes with practice and mastery: James 1:12; “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the ADONAI hath promised to them that love him.”

• James 1:13-16; “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of YHWH: for YHWH 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. Do not err, my beloved brethren.”

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• Luke 4:1-13; “And YESHUA being full of the Holy Spirit returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days, he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, if thou be the Son of YAHWEH, command this stone that it be made bread. And YESHUA answered him, saying, it is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of YAHWEH. And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, all this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou, therefore, wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And YESHUA answered and said unto him, get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the ADONAI YAHWEH, and him only shalt thou serve. And he brought him to Jerusalem and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, if thou be the Son of YAHWEH, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands, they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, it is said, thou shalt not tempt the ADONAI YAHWEH. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.”

1. The first step in enduring temptation is to be filled with the Power of YAHWEH, and the Bible states that Yeshua was filled with this power before He was tempted:

• Ephesians 5:18; “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”

1. He made sure His spirit man was strong enough to strengthen the natural man that was weakened and hungered because of the fast: Matthew 26:41; “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

There was nothing wrong with Yeshua making bread out of stone because he was hungry.

The issue was that Satan wanted Him to do it at his command so that it could be written!

1. The devil always attempts to rewrite the Word to cause confusion in the minds of others: 1 Corinthians 14:33; “For YAHWEH is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

The second step in enduring temptation is to secure yourself.

1. Any desire for attention, accolades, approval, validation, affirmation, or affectation will make you easy prey for the enemy: James 3:15; “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.”

Insecurity in who we are causes us to be discontent with who YAHWEH made us be. When we feel this way, we are disappointed in the true and living YAHWEH and we replace Him with a godlike being that submits to our wants and approves of us.

1. Many are worshipping the wrong god: 1 John 4:6; “We are of YAHWEH: he that knoweth YAHWEH heareth us; he that is not of YAHWEH heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

Yeshua said “Get Behind Me Satan” which illustrated the proper chain of command.

1. Yeshua made sure the devil knew exactly who the real YAHWEH was, and He alone deserves worship and accolades: Exodus 20:3; “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

The third step in enduring temptation is to not tempt YAHWEH.

1. We cannot do what we want and expect YAHWEH to acquiesce to it:

• Psalms 78:18; “And they tempted YAHWEH in their heart by asking meat for their lust.”

1. We must never place ourselves in voluntary danger and then appeal to YAHWEH for protection or toy with His promises: Proverbs 3:6; “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

The devil knows that if we tempt YAHWEH with unreasonable demands against His plan for us, he himself can answer us and make us think it was YAHWEH that answered us.

1. This causes people to pray and believe in the wrong god for the rest of their lives in most cases: 2 Thessalonians 2:11; “And for this cause, YHWH shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.”

The record of the wilderness experience was seen several times in scripture, and the children of Israel were tempted for 40 days in the wilderness. Moses was upon the mountain for 40 days waiting on YAHWEH’s words without food, and in the New Testament, Yeshua has a 40-day experience of His own. These occurrences allude to the fact that all of us will experience a testing period in various seasons of our lives. We may be tested in our flesh by youthful lusts, or we may be tested by opportunities that are good, but not good right now, and we can even put ourselves to the test because of our discontentment with who we are or what we possess. But whatever the test, we must endure it and pass it. It is vital that we strengthen our spirit man so that when our flesh is weak, the spirit can prevail. We must realize that our prayer and fasting will overcome any and every test that the enemy brings our way. If we are tempted by our own desires, then the best thing for us to do is to allow the Power of YAHWEH to change our desires and align our wants with what YAHWEH wants for us.

The worst thing we can do is to change YAHWEH to match our desires. People that do this will serve the wrong god and be very sad when they stand before the true and living YAHWEH.

1. When our desires reflect His desires, we will endure temptation and win the crown:

• James 1:12; “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the ADONAI hath promised to them that love him.”

Yeshua prepared for His season of temptation by first being baptized by John.

1. His baptism was symbolic of being cleansed from sin even though He had no sin:

• Mark 1:4; “John did baptize in the wilderness and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”

1. Because Yeshua was in constant communion with the Father, He knew what He needed for each season that was approaching: John 5:30; “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

He was never unprepared or caught off guard by anything because He was aware of His call and who He was.

1. Being prepared is the key to conquering temptation: Proverbs 3:6; “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Just as Yeshua was bragged on by His Father ABBA, He was led away to be tested.

1. When we are elevated to new levels, we become greater targets for the enemy:

• Luke 12:48; “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

The devil tempts us to see if we are really who YAHWEH says we are!

1. This is why it’s important not to yield to his temptations: Luke 8:13; “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.”

• We cannot truly move forward if we do not pass the seasons of temptation, and the same things cannot continue to make us fall or we will never advance:

1. Hebrews 3:8; “Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness.”

During Yeshua’s confrontation with the devil, He kept the Word of YAHWEH as His weapon.

1. He never used His own feelings or human side to fight the temptation:

• Ephesians 6:12; “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Because temptation is usually a carnal desire, we must overcome it with spiritual principles.

1. Knowing and applying YAHWEH’s Word is necessary when we are making a stand against the enemy: Hebrews 4:12; “For the Word of GOD is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Fasting and prayer are required to pass certain tests that try to keep us from what YAWEH has for us.

1. Relentlessly pursuing YAHWEH is the ONLY way to overcome these types of temptations: Mark 9:29; “And he said unto them, this kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting.”

Our generation loves instant gratification. We do not like waiting for anything. But when it comes to YAHWEH and His growth process, we have to wait on Him. But this waiting is not just sitting around wishing and hoping, it’s actually going hard after Him!

That is how you wait. Temptation comes to block this waiting period and make you act entitled rather than steadfast. In order to truly resist the devil, you have to get in a very uncomfortable posture and seek YAHWEH!

Yielding to temptation sets you back, but when you endure temptation without yielding, you will receive the prize. Desperate times call for desperate measures!

1. If you really want it from YAHWEH, you have to defeat the temptation and adamantly seek after Him! 2 Peter 2:9; “ADONAI knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.”

I WOULD RATHER BE UNCOMFORTABLE IN YESHUA...THEN COMFORTABLE WITH SATAN!!

"IF YOU'RE NOT WINNING SOULS FOR YESHUA...YOU DON'T WORK FOR YAHWEH...YOU'RE SELF-EMPLOYED!!"