Steven Garofalo
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THE PURPOSE OF TEMPTATION(S)
By Steven Garofalo, November 27, 2023, (Copyright 2023)
November 27, 2023

Why does God allow us to be tempted? Why does God allow temptation in our lives? All of us have and daily deal with temptation. Besides the obvious abuse of modesty leading to sexual temptations, there are temptations such as eating unhealthy food and the temptation to each in larger quantities that we ought. There is the temptation for us not to work as hard as we can or not to work at all when we are supposed to be while being paid to do so. Then there are those tempting moments for us not to not speak the entire truth! And the list goes on. Today, I want to show you through the Book of Mark, chapter 1, that while God does not/cannot “cause” temptations (James 1:13), He does allow our temptations and trials for our own good. Let’s get started.

If we are being honest with ourselves, we will admit that there is an overwhelming amount of temptation in today’s world; especially in America, Europe and the West. It’s important to establish that God is not the “cause” of temptation, but does allow those temptations in our lives. James 1:13 says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one”.

Today’s Truth Text is straight out of the Book of Mark, Chapter one, verses 12-13. Right after Jesus was baptized and came up out of the water, “the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove” (vs.10), “The Spirit IMMIDIATELY drove Him (Jesus) out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to Him” (Mark 1:12-3). What’s going on here? Why would God allow for this? What is God trying to accomplish? Let me explain:

FIRST: NOTICE THAT THE SPIRIT “IMMEDIATELY DROVE HIM” JESUS INTO THE WILDERNESS. Mark declares that “the Spirit drove” Christ into the wilderness. The verb used for “DROVE” was frequently used to describe Christ’s EXPULSION of demons and appears two other times in this chapter (VSS. 34, 39). The word “DROVE” also reflects Mark’s forceful style of writing as the other gospel writers used the word “LED”. To “drive” is to push from behind while the word “lead” is to pull from the front. Either way, it was God who was behind allowing Jesus himself in the flesh to be tempted by Satan himself.

SECOND: The word “TEMPTED” means both “TESTED” to prove what the person is (in this case God tested Christ) and tempted to solicit to evil (which was Satan’s goal). Mark writes of this event of “testing” as a very real experience of conflict that Jesus experienced personally. Being “TEMPTED BY SATAN” is something that all believers face, but Jesus triumphed completely over his adversary. It’s important to note that only Mark writes of the “ANGELS” who were ministering to Christ during His forty days of grueling temptation in the wilderness with the wild beasts. Mark speaks of the “WILD BEASTS” Jesus faced in the wilderness. Wild beasts were a very real thing in the wilderness and the Roman Christians who had seen those terrors first hand in the Roman Colosseum-arena made this very real to the reader.

IN APPLICATION: The “temptation” coupled with the very strong word “IMPELLED” or “DRIVEN” begs the question as to WHY God would drive Jesus to a position of temptation and testing.

TEMPTATION IS PART OF GOD’S WILL: It’s important to understand that the temptation of Jesus here in Mark 1 was part of God’s will. And this intense temptation was no ordinary temptation, as Jesus was tempted for FORTY DAYS. He was “tempted by Satan” for quite some time.

A TEMPTING-HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT: Jesus was “with the wild beasts”, which stresses the hostile environment. Temptations come in many forms. It’s important to understand that financial, sexual and even having access to power and authority over others certainly lead to the temptation and the testing of our flesh, strength, faith and belief in God. When we see godly leaders fail (i.e. Ravi Zacharias), it should become abundantly clear, that none of us are immune to temptation. This is why God allows different levels of temptation in that He is building us up with each temptation so that we can face larger temptations and trials. Without the testing, trials and temptations in life, we would not be able to be able to face our adversary on any level.

THE LENGTH OF OUR TEMPTATION AND TESTING. The number FORTY is used in Scriptures is commonly used of a time of testing (Deuteronomy 8:2; Numbers 13:25, 14:33-34). You and I might face a fleeting moment of temptation or a period of time of temptation and testing. It’s important to understand why Jesus was tempted for 40 days as a symbolic representation that “temptation” is really a time of “testing” of our soul, carnal desires, and the strength of our faith.

WE MUST UNDERSTAND WHO OUR ADVERSARY IS: The word “SATAN” is the name of our enemy, and means “an adversary” or “opponent”. When we face trials, temptations and stress, we often want to blame others in our time of stress, pain and trials. Let’s make sure in such times to stop, pray for the help, protection, provision and blessing of the Holy Spirit to take us THROUGH and not FROM those times of temptation and trials because God allows for such times in effort to build us up and mold us into greater men and women of God.

LASTLY, GOD IS OUR HOPE AND WILL HELP US: The specifics of Satan’s temptations are not given to us, but we know that when they were complete, the angels ministered to him (Jesus) with sustenance and encouragement. God met Jesus in His physical, emotional and spiritual needs. God didn’t just show up and tell Jesus to get moving, but He met Jesus’ needs as a human being who had just been tempted and tried for 40 days and nights. God will do the same for you and I. I want to leave you with a few encouraging Scriptures to pray through, meditate on, and apply to your life.

WILL GOD ALLOW YOU TO BE TEMPTED BEYOND YOUR ABILITY TO RESIST? The answer is NO. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13.

GOD’S SOLUTION-SIMPLY FLEE: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). When temptations come our way, we are wise to simply flee. By doing so, in most cases, we avoid the trials that will come as a result of our giving into such temptations.

IN CLOSING: Remember that we serve a God and High Priest who understands our suffering, temptations and trials because He (Jesus) himself has been templated and tried in human form (Hebrews 4:15). Lastly, because Jesus himself suffered and was tempted in human form, He is able to help you and I when tempted (Hebrews 2:18). And He sends His Spirit (Holy Spirit) as our Helper in such time.

Let’s remember that we will never face temptations and trials that take God by surprise or that are new to Him. All of us have to face all sorts of daily trials and temptations. God has seen it all. Besides the obvious abuse of modesty leading to sexual temptations all of us will face temptations relating to eating unhealthy food and temptations to skimp on our work ethic, speak the truth, to use our influence and power uprightly, and the list goes on. In such times, let’s remember the model Jesus gave us in how to respond to temptation and trials in the Book of Mark, chapter 1. God does not and cannot “cause” temptations (James 1:13). He does so for a reason. And that reason is to make us stronger in our faith and raise us up into greater, stronger men and women of God.  “Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” ― G. Michael Hopf

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When I was in seminary, the question was raised as to if pets or animals in general go to heaven. Our professor, Dr. Norman Geisler said this: “Jesus Christ came to earth and died on the Cross for the human race, not animals.” I was working out at the gym one day when one of the regulars, who had just moved to Charlotte, NC from California told me that one of her beloved dogs died; and would that dog go to heaven. I have her the same answer. But, was that the whole story? That’s what we are going to look at today.

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His answer was short but the animals not having souls maybe up for debate.

We can use general biblical principles to develop some clarity on the subject though Housman wrote. The Bible states that both man (Genesis 2:7) and animals (Genesis 1:30; 6:17; 7:15 and 22) have the “BREATH OF LIFE” that is, both man and animals are living beings. Furthermore, the primary difference between human beings and animals is that humanity is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), while animals are not.

Being made in the image and likeness of God means that human beings are like God in some ways; they are capable of spirituality; they have a mind, emotion, and “will”; and part of their “being” continues after death.

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Another factor to consider regarding whether pets will be in heaven is that animals are a port of God’s creative process in Genesis. God created the animals and said they were good (Genesis 1:25). Therefore, there is no reason why there could not be pets and animals on the NEW EARTH as described in (Revelation 21:1). 

In the end, there will most definitely be animals during the millennial kingdom (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25). It is impossible to say definitely whether some animals of these animals might be the pets we had here on earth. We do know that God is just and that when we get to heaven, we will find ourselves in complete agreement with His decision on this issue, whatever that turns out to be.

So, there you have it. I think that’s the best answer on the subject in all honest. Please remember to SUBSCRIBE to our channel and check out StevenGarofalo.Com for exclusive content and early release of our two weekly podcast.

Until next time, I’m your host Steven Garofalo, and this is your reason for truth for today.

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AN ETHICAL ECONOMY IS GOOD FOR ALL
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WHAT MAKES A GOOD ECONOMY

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The Vanity of Wealth and Honor is an interesting subject in light of wealth, corruption, and the human heart. This subject effects many things, including what makes a good economy. 

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 5, verses eight to nine, Solomon says the following:

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9
“8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

COMMENTARY: There are two things king Solomon is saying here within the theme of the vanity of WEALTH and HONOR. Wealth and honor are two different things, as one can have wealth with or without honor or honor with or without wealth. That being said, let’s look at verses 8 and 9 independently to see the simple message God provides us today through Solomon.

BREAK DOWN
Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY & WEALTH
 “8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them." 

COMMENTARY: Verse 8 clearly illustrates that there is a corruption at every level of government, with higher level oppressors plundering the equally oppressive lower-level magistrates. This perhaps explains the st state of America and the world. With blackmail running. Rampant and the public sector unchecked, they have been robbing the everyday citizen of their hard earned money. As a result, the system became insulated and division between the haves and have nots became more defined. When the high level government officials rob and abuse those below them, someone above that person robs and abuses the higher level person himself.

In America, where we print money out of thin air for the world, in this short period of history, there is little need to plunder those under one authority because there is so much to steal that those in authority can simply pay them off or blackmail them; whichever is most convenient. Either way, Solomon makes abundantly clear that when there is nobody minding the ship, evil perpetuates to the point of overtaking the government in whole. As a result, we end up with a 2024 government, riddles with corruption, immorality, blackmail, lawlessness, and all other things evil due to the lack of God-ness which equates to “goodness”. 

Economically speaking, when this happens to a country, its own economy begins to decline into debt due to their insatiable desire and emotional need for more money and resources. When resources are stripped and money is squandered, the elite few are smart enough to collect those resources and money and we end up with a U.S. Stock Market where only 5% holds up to 80%  of the entire market wealth. 

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?
The answer and solution is to keep to return to the system we created in the first place which is free market capitalism that allows those who desire to work hard, to have a fair chance at success, making money and turning a fair profit. This is called “honor for everyone”.

HONOR FOR EVERYONE
"9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

CONCLUSION:

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, devours one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Solomon (Qohelet) considered goverment to be frustrating becuase it was a necessary evil, something deply flawed but indespsnsible. On the one hand people sould "not be shocked" when they see OPPRESSION and injustice in a governmental province (v.8). After all, bloated government bureaucracy tends to frustrate justice (v.8b). On the other hand, government has it advantages (v.9). Many hold to the belief that this verse continues the negeative assessment of government. Others see this passage better understood more positively since it fits with Qohelet's normal pattern of "on the one hand, on the other.." way of teaching. 

Even a corrupt government is better than anarchy, which devastates a country, it's culture and in Solomon's time, an agrarian economy that would lead to starvation. Keeping to God's ways is the only solution to man's sinful nature; especially in governmental rule. In the end, a king who devotes himself to developing the resources of the land ushers in a systems that brings the opportunity for profit to all, not just the corrupt few.

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A Protestant & Catholic View Comparison

I grew up Catholic and now go to a Protestant or non-Catholic church in Charlotte, NC. Michael Houdmann, Founder and CEO of GotQuestions.Org writes that a major difference between the two boils down to believing in the Bible alone as God's word verses believing that God's word plus man's input as the divine inspired word of God.

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A major difference is the issue of sufficiency and authority of Scripture. While Protestants believe that the Bible alone is the source of God's special revelation to mankind, it also speaks to everything we need to understand as necessary for our salvation from sin.

Protestants view the Bible as the STANDARD for Christian morality and ethics which governs our behavior. This is called sola scripture and is one of the five Solas in Christianity. (Solas meaning "alone" in Latin. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 makes clear that "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (ESV).

WHAT DO CATHOLICS BELIEVE?

Catholics do not believe in sola scriptura hence do not believe that the Bible alone is sufficient. They see both the Bible and sacred Roman Catholic tradition as equally authoritative and binding on the Christian. While not all Catholics hold to doctrines such as purgatory, praying to the saints, worship or veneration of Mary, etc., the Catholic doctrine hold to them even though they have little or no mention or basis in the Bible. In truth, these doctrines are based on Roman Catholic traditions based on the Catholic Church's insistence that the Bible and tradition are equal in authority. The problem with this is that it undermines the sufficiency, authority, and completeness of the Bible. The view of Scripture is at the root of many, if not all, of the differences between Catholics and Protestants.

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