God Permits Temptation
God permits temptation to root us and make us permanent, like storms for oaks and fire for porcelain.
Charles E. Cowman preaches about Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost and yet tempted by the devil in the wilderness, emphasizing that temptation often strikes when one is closest to God. He highlights the intense conflicts with the devil experienced by notable figures like Martin Luther and John Bunyan, attributing it to their significant impact for God's kingdom. Cowman explains that God permits temptation to strengthen and root believers, revealing their true grip on Christ amidst the enemy's attacks.
Text
"And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil" (Luke 4:1-2).
Jesus was full of the Holy Ghost, and yet He was tempted. Temptation often comes upon a man with its strongest power when he is nearest to God. As someone has said, "The devil aims high." He got one apostle to say he did not even know Christ.
Very few men have such conflicts with the devil as Martin Luther had. Why? Because Martin Luther was going to shake the very kingdom of hell. Oh, what conflicts John Bunyan had!
If a man has much of the Spirit of God, he will have great conflicts with the tempter. God permits temptation because it does for us what the storms do for the oaks--it roots us; and what the fire does for the paintings on the porcelain--it makes them permanent.
You never know that you have a grip on Christ, or that He has a grip on you, as well as when the devil is using all his force to attract you from Him; then you feel the pull of Christ's right hand. --Selected
Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces. God hath many sharp-cutting instruments, and rough files for the polishing of His jewels; and those He especially loves, and means to make the most resplendent, He hath oftenest His tools upon. --Archbishop Leighton
I bear my willing witness that I owe more to the fire, and the hammer, and the file, than to anything else in my Lord's workshop. I sometimes question whether I have ever learned anything except through the rod. When my schoolroom is darkened, I see most. --C. H. Spurgeon
Sermon Outline
- God Permits Temptation
- Temptation as a means of rooting and making permanent
- Trials of extraordinary graces
- Temptation often comes when we are nearest to God
- The devil aims high
- Temptation roots us like storms do for oaks
- Temptation makes us permanent like fire does for porcelain
- Extraordinary afflictions are trials of extraordinary graces
- God uses tools to polish His jewels
Key Quotes
“The devil aims high.” — Charles E. Cowman
“You never know that you have a grip on Christ, or that He has a grip on you, as well as when the devil is using all his force to attract you from Him; then you feel the pull of Christ's right hand.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We can learn and grow through trials and afflictions.
- God uses trials and afflictions to polish His jewels and make them resplendent.
- We should not be afraid of temptation, but rather see it as an opportunity to deepen our relationship with Christ.