Anatomy of Temptation (And How to Fight Against Sin) Together We Make up the Body of Christ
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MARCH 2013 When you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 Anatomy of Temptation (And How to Fight Against Sin) Together we make up the body of Christ. And in the ministry of Moody The power of partnership. Dr. Tony Evans of Moody Radio’s The Alternative Radio, everyone plays a part. Moody Radio Share, an annual event, raises with Dr. Tony Evans describes how God multiplies our efforts when we funding from listeners to cover much of Moody’s expenses for programming work together: and annual operations. “God works through Christian radio to reach millions of people During Share 2013, we celebrate how God is weaving together the around the world with the gospel, changing lives for eternity. collective efforts of Moody Radio and His people to provide biblical Marriages are healed, friendships renewed, addictions conquered, programming for more than one million listeners each week over the and fears overcome…praise to our Father in heaven! airwaves and on the Internet. “For this reason, I count my partnership with Moody Radio as a great privilege. Together we… So let me invite you to join me as a Moody Radio partner. Step forward today • Teach and proclaim the message of salvation. and give a generous gift. Together, we can impact the world for Jesus Christ!” • Glorify God’s work in our lives. • Are united in Jesus Christ. Would you join us in the work of supporting Moody Radio? Call 1-800-DL MOODY, or give online at www.moodyradio.org. Share events are happening around the country at Moody’s 36 stations in February, March, and April. To find a station In appreciation of your Share gift, we will send you in your area, visit www.moodyradio.org. Together We, a two-CD set featuring 10 of Moody Radio listeners’ favorite songs and nine gripping messages from respected Christian leaders, including Ravi Zacharias, Inspirational messages and favorite Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Francis Chan, and Tony Evans. songs from Moody Radio This inspiring CD set was created exclusively for Share 2013 partners like you and is not available anywhere else. Together we make up the body of Christ. And in the ministry of Moody The power of partnership. Dr. Tony Evans of Moody Radio’s The Alternative Radio, everyone plays a part. Moody Radio Share, an annual event, raises with Dr. Tony Evans describes how God multiplies our efforts when we funding from listeners to cover much of Moody’s expenses for programming work together: and annual operations. “God works through Christian radio to reach millions of people During Share 2013, we celebrate how God is weaving together the around the world with the gospel, changing lives for eternity. collective efforts of Moody Radio and His people to provide biblical Marriages are healed, friendships renewed, addictions conquered, programming for more than one million listeners each week over the and fears overcome…praise to our Father in heaven! airwaves and on the Internet. “For this reason, I count my partnership with Moody Radio as a great privilege. Together we… So let me invite you to join me as a Moody Radio partner. Step forward today • Teach and proclaim the message of salvation. and give a generous gift. Together, we can impact the world for Jesus Christ!” • Glorify God’s work in our lives. • Are united in Jesus Christ. Would you join us in the work of supporting Moody Radio? Call 1-800-DL MOODY, or give online at www.moodyradio.org. Share events are happening around the country at Moody’s 36 stations in February, March, and April. To find a station In appreciation of your Share gift, we will send you in your area, visit www.moodyradio.org. Together We, a two-CD set featuring 10 of Moody Radio listeners’ favorite songs and nine gripping messages from respected Christian leaders, including Ravi Zacharias, Inspirational messages and favorite Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Francis Chan, and Tony Evans. songs from Moody Radio This inspiring CD set was created exclusively for Share 2013 partners like you and is not available anywhere else. TODAY WITH PAUL NYQUIST President of Moody Bible Institute The One Who Is in You Dr. James Dobson are—but because of the One who resides tells a story of a time within us. early in his marriage when he and Shirley When we claim Christ as our Savior, the had an argument. Holy Spirit comes to live within us and They both became so that, my friends, changes everything. John frustrated that he got wrote in his epistle, “The one who is in in his car and drove you is greater than the one who is in the around for an hour world” (1 John 4:4). to calm down. One day, there will be no satanic He was heading home when a woman influence on this earth. Christ will destroy pulled up beside him in her car. She Satan once and for all, and he will no gave him a smile and a wink and then longer be able to deceive the nations drove down a side street, inviting him to (Rev. 20:10). As those who have never follow. Dr. Dobson said, “I didn’t take the experienced this reality, we can only bait. I went back home and made up imagine what this will be like. with my wife.” None of us is immune to temptation. But that time has not yet come. Satan is still hard at work, and you and I face the Thousands of years ago, Satan tempted lure of sin every day. We can get weary Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, living in a world that is dominated by the and he is still deceiving people today. In evil one, and unfortunately, sometimes we 1 Peter 5:8, Scripture exhorts us, “Be self- yield to his traps, especially when we are controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil vulnerable to his deceit. Let us remember prowls around like a roaring lion looking that God has given us everything we for someone to devour.” Satan is a need to fight the evil one: He has given slanderer, the consummate liar, and he is us His Word and His Holy Spirit. working hard to accomplish his purposes on earth. Where might Satan be setting a trap for you? Be self-controlled and alert. Satan is God’s Word tells us that those who are vicious and powerful, but we do not have unsaved have no choice but to give to face defeat because the One who is in into Satan’s lies. They are enslaved to us is greater. May we keep in step with him (Eph. 2:2). We, however, can choose the Holy Spirit, allowing His power to whether or not to give into his schemes. help us in our day-to-day struggle with Not in our own power—because the sin and temptation as we eagerly await devil is smarter and stronger than we Christ’s glorious return. 1-800-356-6639 THEOLOGY MATTERS by John Koessler Was Jesus Attracted to Sin? Temptation is not sin. Jesus was “tempted the whole of his mission.” Jesus’ tempta- in every way, just as we are—yet he did tion is the reason we can approach the not sin” (Heb. 4:15). Jesus was tempted throne of grace with confidence when like us, but His experience with tempta- we struggle with sin. We can expect to tion differed from ours in one important find mercy because Jesus has shared respect. When we are tempted, our our experience (Heb. 4:16). He is able to own nature betrays us. We are dragged sympathize with us and will not turn us away by our own evil desire and enticed away. (James 1:14). Jesus had no sinful nature to lure Him to sin. This distinction raises But sympathy is not enough. When we an intriguing question. If Jesus’ nature was are tempted, we need “grace to help.” not drawn to sin, in what sense was He Jesus’ sinless obedience is the key to our tempted? victory over temptation. Because Jesus succeeded where we failed, we can hope Temptation is rooted in desire. The lure to share the Savior’s victory when we of temptation is that it appeals to ordi- appeal to Him during the time of tempta- nary appetites and legitimate desires. tion. Through Christ we can find “a way When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilder- out” when we feel the enticement of sin ness, he appealed to genuine need and (1 Cor. 10:13). When we place our faith in legitimate desire and then urged Jesus to Jesus Christ, His obedience is charged to satisfy them in an illegitimate way (Matt. our account and the power of His victory 4:1–11). This was the same strategy Satan over sin is placed at our disposal. Jesus’ employed when he tempted Adam and sinless obedience and death on the cross Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:5). provides forgiveness to all who turn to Him in faith. His victory over sin and res- The New Testament term that is trans- urrection provide the believer with power lated as “tempt” also means to test. The over the sinful nature and a new capacity point of Hebrews 4:15 is that Jesus did to resist temptation. not disobey when He was tempted. The trials Christ faced not only mirrored our The fact that Jesus had no sinful nature to own temptations, they exceeded them.