Hi,

I was reading an article where it struck me that the Holy Spirit actually led Jesus into the desert to be tempted. Matt 4:1

Now, if I take the Word literally, it means there may be instances where the Holy Spirit will lead us into temptation.

Maybe that is why Jesus taught his disciples to ask God not to lead them into temptation?

Is that why Jesus fasted 40 days? To overcome?

I think that if God is going to use you, He will get you into circumstances of temptations and when you overcome, He uses you.

What do you think?

BE

Hello Erdard,

In James 1:13-15, we learn that God will never tempt us Himself. If he does not tempt us, it must be that the enemy does so. God does allow the enemy to test us, and in the process provides us a way to refine our faith to resist that temptation.

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, God tells us this:

1 Corinthians 10

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.


I believe Jesus allowed Himself to be tempted to provide us an example of how to resist that temptation. Notice what He said:

Matthew 4
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.


Jesus was led to the 40 days of fasting by the Holy Spirit after he was baptized. This was to prepare him for his 3 year Earthly ministry, which included his temptation by satan.

Yes, Erdard, it does seem that while God does not create the temptation, he allows us to be tempted in all manner of ways, in that He may be glorified as we resist that temptation. The more we resist, and command the enemy to get behind us, the stronger we become. Tragically, as we have seen, the more we give in to that temptation, the weaker we become.

God bless you, Erdard.

Nick P.