TEMPTATION
Written in 2009
by Tony Alamo
aka Bernie Hoffman
Temptation or tempt has two meanings. One is for the good. An example would be when GOD tested Abraham’s fidelity, obedience, and faith by commanding Abraham to offer up his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice, so HE could see if Abraham’s faith and his obedience to HIM were strong (Genesis 22:1-18). All trials given by GOD are meant to strengthen, not weaken.1 Here we find Abraham is an example of perfect obedience throughout all generations. It is written that GOD tests HIS people to see whether or not they will walk HIS way (Exodus 16:4). GOD permitted false prophets to appear in the midst of HIS people to see whether they would seek the LORD with all of their hearts or turn away to follow these false prophets.2
Let us receive the WORD of GOD through James. James 1:13 states, Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by GOD; for GOD cannot be tempted by evil, and HE HIMSELF does not tempt anyone. Satan is the one who tempts, lures people to do every kind of evil. He does this, not to strengthen, but to weaken and tear down, and he sets up snares for everyone, no matter how innocent they may be.3 He sends temptations physically and into our minds, suggesting that we sin.4
Again, “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 1:13-15). This is why Satan is called the serpent, the snake, the red dragon, the slanderer, and the tempter.5
In the Garden of Eden, Eve was tempted and deceived.6 Her decision to follow Satan’s words and disregard the LORD have had grave consequences for all humanity ever since.7 Ananias and Sapphira were tempted by Satan to lie to the HOLY SPIRIT; they did—and they died (Acts 5:1-11).
The devil also tempted JESUS who is the SON of GOD.8 GOD became a man (incarnate).9 JESUS passed all tests with flying colors. HE “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). HE passed HIS first temptation or test immediately after HIS water baptism and before beginning HIS ministry. HE had to pass this most important test or HE could not have been the MESSIAH, the SAVIOR of the world. This event is referred to as “the temptation.” HE (JESUS) was first offered food (bread) after fasting for forty days, and then offered the entire world by Satan, if HE would worship him, but JESUS is the one who created the Heaven and the earth.10 GOD created Satan.11 JESUS came down to earth from Heaven to repossess HIS earth, to be a sacrifice for our sins, and to bring us back into communion with GOD.12 HE defeated sin, Satan, the world, temptation, and all of Satan’s evil angels (demons and unclean spirits) at the cross when HE poured out HIS sinless blood for the sins of humanity.13
The people of my church, which are leading multitudes of people to CHRIST and eternal life, are a target of Satan, the devil. In 2009, the devil’s one-world government, headed by the spirit of Satan and his church in Rome,14 was holding their children hostage. They told the parents that they could not have their children back, and threatened to adopt them out to homosexuals, lesbians, and other unsaved people unless they cut all ties with me and my church. They (Satan’s beast government) jailed some of the parents for ten months because they refused to turn their other children over to these unlawful reprobates. Of course, these parents have done nothing wrong. They have broken no law, nor have I, but these people doing these things have. These government workers hate GOD and hate GOD’S people, the Christians, who bring the gospel to the lost world. They have declared war on GOD, but the WORD of GOD says we win! They will lose, and it will be for all eternity.15
The Bible states, “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of CHRIST is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called GOD, or that is worshipped; so that he as GOD sitteth in the temple of GOD, showing himself that he is GOD. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only HE who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the LORD shall consume with the SPIRIT of HIS mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of HIS coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause GOD shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:2-12).
We must never yield to Satan’s temptations. If we do, our spiritual back will be broken, we will be spiritually weakened and may never recover.16 “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the HOLY SPIRIT, And have tasted the good WORD of GOD, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the SON of GOD afresh, and put HIM to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:4-6).
GOD cannot trust Christians who won’t discipline themselves, and fast and pray, because if they won’t control themselves that much, they will be too spiritually weak to endure the more severe temptations. As JESUS was, being meek is not weak (Matthew 11:29). Being meek is power under control.
Why should we yield to temptation when we are heirs of GOD, and joint-heirs of everything with CHRIST?17 Even though we receive sonship by adoption, we still receive all the same benefits with CHRIST as HE does.
Offer JESUS Heaven, earth, the sun, and the moon? What gall! It all belongs to HIM and us anyway, so don’t even try to make me forget who I am and what I possess! I have eternal life, and I am a co-owner of the new Heaven and new earth as is the entire body of believers in CHRIST.18
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). “Neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). “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” (1 Corinthians 10:13). The Apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through CHRIST which strengtheneth me,” and so can you! (Philippians 4:13).
Being born again of the SPIRIT is a requirement. JESUS said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of GOD” (John 3:3). You can do this by repenting of your sins and asking the LORD to cleanse you with HIS blood sacrifice. The HOLY SPIRIT will then dwell with you and in you to give you power to overcome all temptation. You can’t do it alone, but when you walk with GOD, you can have victory over every temptation the devil sends your way.19
GOD sees everything.20 HE has seen and recorded everything we have ever said, thought, and done, writing it in Heaven for the Day of Judgment.21 GOD knew when David committed adultery with Uriah’s wife. After Bathsheba became pregnant, GOD saw David send for Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. He called him in from the battlefield to be with his wife, hoping to cover up his adultery. (GOD saw it.) David tempted Uriah by getting him drunk, hoping it would ignite his passion for his wife, but it didn’t work. Then David sent Uriah back to the fiercest area of the war, and Uriah was killed. GOD told Nathan, the prophet, about it and sent him to David to tell him of his fate.22 GOD cursed David (2 Samuel 12:10-14).23 Bathsheba’s baby died.24 His many wives were given to another,25 his beloved son rose up against him, and he mourned the rest of his life. GOD saw it all!
I don’t question anything GOD says. People ask, “Did Satan actually bear CHRIST away to a pinnacle of the temple at Jerusalem?” “Did he also take HIM to the summit of a very high mountain, where he showed HIM all the kingdoms of the world?” “Did the temptation happen as written, or did they just take place in the mind of JESUS?” I don’t have to read commentaries to answer these questions. GOD let the devil do this with JESUS (Matthew 4:1-11)!
When my late wife, Susie, and I were living in Las Vegas, we used to get up early to see the beautiful sunrises and beautiful cloud formations. We were standing across the street from where we were staying, looking up at a huge, beautiful stack of very white cumulus clouds while holding hands. We were looking up at them. Then, all of a sudden, we were looking down at them. Susie asked me if I saw what she was seeing, and I said, “Yes.” She asked me, “What?” I told her, “We were looking up at the clouds, and now we are above them, looking down at them.” She dug her sharp, pointy fingernails into my hand and said, “That’s right!” I know GOD can take people that HE loves up in the SPIRIT and show them things that HE wants them to know.
If you really love the LORD JESUS as Susie and I do, if you would be as thankful as I am for HIS showing me all that HE has shown me, and if you were as devoted to HIM as I am, and not ashamed to preach the whole WORD as I do, HE will show you the invisible, supernatural world as HE has shown Susie and me. GOD is not a respecter of persons. What we sow, we shall reap (Galatians 6:7). The more you seek the LORD, and do what HE says, the more the LORD will draw near to you and reward you in magnificent, countless ways.
Get saved. Become born again of the SPIRIT before it’s too late by saying this prayer to GOD right this minute:
Prayer
My LORD and my GOD, have mercy upon my soul, a sinner. 1 I believe that JESUS CHRIST is the SON of the living GOD. 2 I believe that HE died on the cross and shed HIS precious blood for the forgiveness of all my former sins. 3 I believe that GOD raised JESUS from the dead by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT 4 and that HE sits on the right hand of GOD at this moment, hearing my confession of sin and this prayer. 5 I open up the door of my heart, and I invite YOU into my heart, LORD JESUS. 6 Wash all of my filthy sins away in the precious blood that YOU shed in my place on the cross at Calvary. 7 YOU will not turn me away, LORD JESUS; YOU will forgive my sins and save my soul. I know because YOUR WORD, the Bible, says so. 8 YOUR WORD says that YOU will turn no one away, and that includes me. 9 Therefore, I know that YOU have heard me, and I know that YOU have answered me, and I know that I am saved. 10 And I thank YOU, LORD JESUS, for saving my soul, and I will show my thankfulness by doing as YOU command and sin no more.11
After salvation, JESUS said to be baptized, fully submerged in water, in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY SPIRIT.12 Then study the King James Version Bible, and, for your benefit and the benefit of others, do what it says.13
CHRIST and GOD the FATHER now live in you through the HOLY SPIRIT. There is a way you can receive a fuller portion of the divine nature of GOD in you. The more the divine nature of GOD lives in you, the more you will be able to stand against the temptations that have so easily moved so many millions of Christians away from salvation. Pray for the baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT.14 For instructions on how to receive the baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT and to receive more of GOD’S holy nature, ask for our literature or call. For without holiness, no man shall see GOD (Hebrews 12:14).
The LORD wants you to tell others of your salvation (Mark 16:15). You can become a distributor of Pastor Tony Alamo’s Gospel literature. We’ll send you literature free of charge. Call or email us for more information. Share this message with someone else.
If you want the world saved, as JESUS commands, then don’t rob GOD of HIS tithes and offerings. GOD said, “Will a man rob GOD? Yet ye have robbed ME. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed THEE? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed ME, even this whole nation [and this whole world]. Bring ye all the tithes [a ‘tithe’ is 10% of your gross income] into the storehouse, that there may be meat [Spiritual food] in MINE house [souls saved], 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. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of HOSTS. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of HOSTS” (Malachi 3:8-12).
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footnotes:
1. Deut. 8:2-5, Judg 2:20-23, James 1:2-4, 12 return
2. Deut. 13:1-11, Isa. 9:15-16, Jer. 5:30-31, 23:25-27, 50:6, Lam. 2:14, Ezek. 13:2-10, Mal. 2:7-9, Acts 20:29-30, 2 Tim. 4:3-4 return
3. Isa. 14:9-17, John 8:44, 10:10, Eph. 6:10-18, 1 Tim. 4:1-3, 1 Pet. 5:8 return
4. 1 Thes. 3:5, 1 Pet. 1:13-15 return
5. Matt. 4:3, Rev. 12:9, 20:2 return
8. Matt. 4:1-11, John 1:1, 14, 3:16, 1 John 4:9 return
9. Isa. 9:6, Matt. 1:18-23, John 1:1, 14, Heb. 2:9-10 return
10. John 1:3, 10, Col.1:16-17, Heb. 1:2 return
11. Isa. 45:7, Ezek. 28:12-19 return
12. Matt. 20:28, 26:28, John 1:29, 3:14-17, 6:51, 10:11-18, 11:49-52, Acts 5:30-31, 20:28, 26:23, Rom. 5:6-11, 1 Cor. 15:3-4, Gal. 1:3-4, 2:20, 4:4-5, Eph. 2:11-22, 5:2, 1 Thes. 1:10, 5:9-10, 1 Tim. 2:5-6, Titus 2:13-14, 1 John 3:8 return
13. John 16:33, 19:28-30, 1 Cor. 15:54-57, Col. 2:13-14, 1 John 3:8, 4:4, Rev. 1:18, 19:11-16, 21:6 return
14. Dan. 2:28-43, 7:7-25, Rev. 12:15-17, chap. 13, 14:8-11, chaps. 17, 18 return
15. 2 Thes. 2:3-12, Rev. 14:9-11, chaps. 17, 18, 19:1-2, 11-21, 20:10, 15 return
16. Heb. 10:26-31, 2 Pet. 2:20-21 return
17. John 17:19-23, Rom. 8:17, Gal. 3:26-29, 4:3-7, Titus 3:4-7, James 2:5, Rev. 21:7 return
18. Isa. 64:4, 66:22, 2 Pet. 3:13, Rev. 21:1 return
19. Joel 2:27-29, John 14:12-18, Acts 1:8, 2 Cor. 13:4, Eph. 1:18-23, 3:20-21, 1 John 4:4, Rev. 2:25-27 return
20. 1 Sam. 16:7, 2 Chron. 16:9, Job 34:21, Psa. 44:21, 139:2-12, 147:5, Jer. 1:4-5, 23:23-27, Amos 9:1-3, Zech. 4:10, Matt. 6:8, 31-32, 10:26, 12:35-37, 25:31-46, Luke 8:17, 12:2, Acts 15:18, Heb. 4:13, 1 John 3:20, Jude 14-15 return
21. Dan. 7:9-10, 12:2-3, Matt. 16:27, 25:31-46, Rom. 2:5-16, Rev. 2:23, 20:12-13 return
23. 2 Sam. 11:2-25, 12:9-14, 13:1-39, 16:5-13, 21-22, 1 Kings 15:5 return
Prayer footnotes:
1. Psa. 51:5, Rom. 3:10-12, 23 return
2. Matt. 26:63-64, 27:54, Luke 1:30-33, John 9:35-37, Rom. 1:3-4 return
3. Acts 4:12, 20:28, Rom. 3:25, I John 1:7, Rev. 5:9 return
4. Psa. 16:9-10, Matt. 28:5-7, Mark 16:9, 12, 14, John 2:19, 21, 10:17-18, 11:25, Acts 2:24, 3:15, Rom. 8:11, I Cor. 15:3-7 return
5. Luke 22:69, Acts 2:25-36, Heb. 10:12-13 return
6. I Cor. 3:16, Rev. 3:20 return
7. Eph. 2:13-22, Heb. 9:22, 13:12, 20-21, I John 1:7, Rev. 1:5, 7:14 return
8. Matt. 26:28, Acts 2:21, 4:12, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14 return
9. Matt. 21:22, John 6:35, 37-40, Rom. 10:13 return
10. Heb. 11:6 return
11. John 5:14, 8:11, Rom. 6:4, I Cor. 15:10, Rev. 7:14, 22:14 return
12. Matt. 28:18-20, John 3:5, Acts 2:38, 19:3-5 return
13. Deut. 4:29, 13:4, 26:16, Josh. 1:8, 22:5, 2 Tim. 2:15, 3:14-17, James 1:22-25, Rev. 3:18 return
14. Isa. 28:11-12, Joel 2:28-29, Luke 3:16, 11:9-13, John 1:29-34, 7:37-39, 14:15-29, 15:26, 16:7-14, Acts 1:1-8, 2:1-18, 32-39, 5:29-32, 19:1-7, Rom. 5:3-5, 15:13 return