Do you know the same One?

The Vineyard

Dear Friends,

“Jesus was made human in every way”—-that’s what the book of Hebrews tells us. Why is that so important to know? Later on the author says: “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

That’s the point. Recently I was a little frustrated that my prayers were not being answered as expeditiously and precisely as I had hoped. I was feeling the pressures around me mounting and for the first time in my life I asked God is He really understood what a difficult situation He had allowed me fall into. I thought to myself, “What’s the point of all these weeks and months of prayers? God, you never worry or get anxious because you are God and have no reason to be apprehensive!”

But these verses from Hebrews reminds me that such assumptions on my part are dead wrong. Jesus was made human in every way——that means He was vulnerable to attack, sickness, injury, the need for sleep, water, food and so forth. But we’re also told, most significantly, that He suffered when He was tempted. I really don’t recall ever reading or studying that verse before! Jesus suffered through His temptations precisely because He did not surrender to those temptations!

I am guilty of doing, bad, selfish, unking and reckless things I did that are patently wrong —but Jesus, who was far MORE tempted than I ever will be, never committed these sins.. But He was tempted to do all the dumb things I surrendered to and more, yet He never got suckered in to disobedience…. He never gave in——but it caused suffering in His life.

Staff, it is SO much easier to give in to temptation and then admit it was wrong, confess it and ask for forgiveness! To resist temptation is HARD and will lead to personal suffering!

The Bible tells us that terrible struggles are on the way if we choose to do the right thing—-not immediate blessings! Suffering that is real and severe follows all those that chose obedience and it is amplified from what the enemy throws our way! Do we preach and teach this enough to new Christians enough!!! It’s easy to be saved——it’s all the work of God! But it’s tough to follow Him some days because we live in a corrupted, upside-down world where the subtle temptation to live a life free from God and His expectations is “cool” and glamorously advertised and recommended; whereas resisting temptation and telling Satan to return to hell is considered passé and anachronistic.

Jesus understood pressure, lust, losing friendships ,the satisfaction of being popular, the passion of wanting to be properly understood, and on and on.

But He chose to please God and the man of God never struggled with peace, joy and love. He knew what mattered more and He knew WHO allowed, caused or permitted all things for good purposes. Do you know the same ONE?

Warmly,

Dean Barley

The Vineyard

Dean@VineyardCamp.com

336 351 2070

919 360 8493 (Mobile)