27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
01 Acts 05 01-11 THE FEAR OF GOD IN HIS CHURCH 04 Acts 05 03-04 Victory over temptation
📖 Acts 05:01-11
04 – 20Mar2023 – *Victory over temptation* - _Acts 05:01-11_ - THE FEAR OF GOD IN HIS CHURCH - Bible reading: _Luke 22:31-32_
"Lord Jesus, thank You that You are praying for us to be strengthened in our faith as we face the temptations of the devil. In Your name, we pray. Amen."
_Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, "*Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit* and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? (4) While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."_
We continue to consider the sad event of Ananias and Sapphira. The Lord in His sovereign design allowed them to be tested by the devil. This may sound controversial because the Bible tells us that God does not tempt anyone. _James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for *God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone*._ God is not the source of temptation. It is the devil who tempts us.
We ought to be certain that the Lord is sovereign and that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to bear. He also provides us with a way out of temptations so that we will grow in our faith in Him.
We must trust Him even in the midst of our temptations that He will never leave us but has provisioned a way for us to overcome the temptation and grow more into His nature.
*I Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it._*
The words test and tempt are used interchangeably. The Lord allowed the Israelites to go through difficult experiences in the wilderness so that they would know that man does not live by bread alone but by faith in God.
_Deuteronomy 8:2-3 And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, *to humble you and test you*, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. (3) So *He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD*._
God intended good for the Israelites even though He allowed them to be tested in the wilderness. *_Deuteronomy 8:16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end—_*
We must keep in mind that *the Lord always intends good for us*. Whereas, the devil will try to plant a lie in our hearts and will cause us to doubt God.
God took Abraham through a very difficult test. _Genesis 22:1-2 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." (2) Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."_ The outcome of this test, which Abraham passed, was of eternal reward.
*_Genesis 22:16-18 and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— (17) blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. (18) In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."_*
This is the reason that the Lord asked us to pray, *_Matthew 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen._*
When we rise victoriously over the temptations of the devil, we will experience the power and glory of His kingdom.
Ananias and Sapphira could have experienced the power and glory of God’s kingdom if they had overcome the temptation of the devil, but they yielded. Aren’t we also often succumbing to the temptations of the devil, when the Lord has provided the resources to overcome temptations and experience the power and glory of His kingdom?
The Lord is calling us to be watchful so that we can overcome the temptations of the devil. *_Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."_*
The Lord did not pray for Simon not to be tempted but the Lord prayed for Simon to be strengthened in his faith in Christ and overcome the temptation of the devil. _Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. (32) But *I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail*; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."_
```The Lord is always praying for us to be strengthened in our faith to overcome the temptations of the devil.```