You're following Jesus , you've got an accountability partner or two and you've set up boundaries , so this should all be adding up to a racing temptation , right Wrong . I know that's annoying and frustrating , but there is no . X plus Y equals zero temptation . So what do we do ?
Let's consider another set of variables , because temptation plus isolation , now that's an equation to be aware of . Together we'll flip back through the Old Testament to see how it points to your temptation and Jesus and a weapon . First we have Eve . I think that we forget that Adam and Eve were the only two humans living among animals in a lush garden .
So maybe a serpent moving towards Eve wouldn't have been so shocking to her . But Satan was on a mission and his goal was to get her alone From the beginning . This first story of lies and deception shows us it's important to recognize temptation as a slippery beast slithering through humanity since the beginning of time to get you alone .
Even now , staying in the book of Genesis , we have two brothers , jacob and Esau . Jacob is the quiet home body and Esau is the expert outdoorsman . Esau has been hunting , he's starving , and Jacob is cooking a stew of lentils . Esau begs him for some of the stew and Jacob says sure , give me your birthright what ?
He finds himself one-on-one with his brother , who has food . And Jacob , starving for power , finds himself one-on-one with his brother who needs food . Esau agrees to sell his birthright , to give up his inheritance for some bread and lentils .
So let's park it here for a second , because how many times have you been in the midst of temptation and find you can't think of anything other than what is right in front of you ? Yes , that bowl of lentils seems small and insignificant , but you can feel the weight of it .
When we say yes to anything other than God , we can find ourselves trading in our inheritance the inheritance God sets you apart for for something less . These two examples alone reveal and connect us to the brokenness in all of us from the beginning of time . They highlight how isolation is the key to temptation , and we see that with Jesus .
Matthew four shows us that as Jesus , newly baptized hair still damp from the waters of the Jordan follows the spirit's lead into the desert , and Jesus is alone in the desert , notice how the equation changes now that temptation plus isolation meet Jesus . Satan has Jesus one on one and he's trying to seduce his body , his identity and his calling .
Jesus knows what it feels like to have that temptation hunt you down . Jesus endured his enemy . He fought back with scripture . He pressed into the deception with truth about his body , his identity and his calling . He did that for you . So Jesus gets it .
He gets the powerful pull of Satan's offer in such a real way that later on , when the disciples asked Jesus how to pray , he teaches us to say and do not lead us into temptation , but deliver us from the evil one . Jesus sympathizes and understands our weaknesses and teaches us to fight our temptations . Jesus gets what it's like to be tempted .
He knows exactly how it feels to be human in every respect , as we are , yet without committing sin . In Christ , with Christ , because of Christ is when you can recognize that something pulling you away from who you are called to be , that there's a tension there . You can feel it .
The tension of temptation exists because you hear , you know , you believe deep down . God wants something better for you . This is a perfect opportunity to say out loud God , I want this , I want him , I want her . But I feel a tension . It's mud in my feet , it's a swirling in my head , it's a clenching in my gut . What do you want from me ?
I believe you want something better . Okay , let's talk practical . What does this fight against temptation look like in real life ? Community is good and necessary . In this fight against temptation , get in community with other believers . Faith plus community , equal strength . There's an equation .
Let's turn to Ephesians 6 , because we're going to see one way to move against temptation . But let's go beyond memorizing the armor of God to put the armor of God into action , specifically , your shield . I want to focus on the shield because it covers your body , your torso and your heart . Your shield is a vital covering .
Scripture says in every situation , take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one . When the evil one wants to get you , his first move is to isolate you , get you one on one . He loves a lonely environment to work his manipulation so he can try seducing you away from who you are working to be .
He will aim flaming arrows at your body , your identity and your calling . Extinguish those arrows . Take up your shield and assume the turtle formation . Okay , the turtle formation . This is so good .
I learned this from Priscilla Scheyer in the study the armor of God , when the flaming darts of the enemy started to fly , roman soldiers would dip their shields into water , huddle together and hoist their shields over their heads . Their shields had hooks on them so that they could link together Together .
Shields linked , not a shield on its own together , shields linked in turtle formation . They not only deflected the arrows , they extinguished the arrows . We are designed for community . We are better together . And when seduction comes calling , take up your shield and have other soldiers on call to help you in battle .
Fight Satan's equation of temptation and isolation by busting through with Jesus , with your shield , and take up the turtle formation . Jesus knows to expect temptation for you and he is ready to meet you . In the midst of our temptation , when we endure through it , we place ourselves with mighty , holy men and women of God . This is you .