The church’s consistory felt they were stuck between a rock and a hard place. We certainly could not allow the leaking septic to water our front lawn, yet we did not have the money to replace the failed system. What were we to do?

One member suggested that we do like many Staten Island home owners, whose property bordered the Staten Island Rapid transit, do. We should run a pipe to the trains storm drain. This would have sounded like a good inexpensive solution, but there was one problem. It was against the law.

Granted a large number of home owners were doing this but, that didn’t make it right. A second person, while agreeing it wasn’t the best thing to do, did point out that the new sewer line was going to be installed within the next couple of years. This would mean that the church would no longer use the septic system because we would be connected to the city’s sewer line.

A person on the finance committee, did remind us that we were already running in a large deficit. He told us that we did not have the money for a new field. A new septic system could cause some financial problems.

The picture that was being painted was that our hands were tied. We really didn’t want to do it the cheap way, because it was wrong, yet it would only be for a year or two.

Then another person expressed these sentiments. I hear what you are a saying and it seems like that is our only solution, however we are a church. I know we have to answer to a congregation, but we have a greater responsibility to God and to the congregation to resist the temptation of doing something wrong just because it is more financially feasible. We have the responsibility of setting the example and doing it right.

Those words ended discussion. A motion was made to fix the septic problem correctly and legally. It passed unanimously.

It was not as though those persons who suggested fixing the septic system were bad people. It just that the financial pressures tempted them to consider a cheaper solution, a solution which although illegal, was already being done by many home owner.

"The tempter came and said......"

Temptation is strong. It sometimes seems it has a life of it own. It’s voice at times becomes a louder voice than conscience and reason. We start to rationalize why it would be OK to do it.

I deserve it.........
No one will know.........
I can get away with it.........
Everyone does it.

The impeachment trial, is a prime example of giving into temptation. It began with giving into sexual temptation and it lead to perjury. The trial itself is an example of giving into temptation. Any senator who votes strictly on the basis of party lines is giving into temptation.

I would be willing to say, that every negative head line in the news paper is an example of humanity giving into temptation. It is a story using his or her own power or position to satisfy their own normal desires.

This was the situation Jesus found himself in. The devil’s temptation of Jesus focused on 3 areas: physical desire; possession & power; pride.

After having not eaten for 40 days, the devil tempts Jesus by suggesting that he could turn those rocks in loves of bread. He tempts Jesus again by suggesting that he prove God’s love, by throwing himself off the temple. He tempts Jesus a third time by saying, why wait to rule the kingdom of this world, you can have now. The devil was offering Jesus something he couldn’t even give Him. The world is God’s possession.

Jesus was tempted as you and I are to satisfy perfectly normal desires in the wrong way or at the wrong time. If we indulge in sex before marriage or if we steal to get food, we are trying to satisfy God-given desires in wrong ways. By resisting temptation Jesus reaffirmed God’s plan for His ministry. By resisting temptation we affirm God’s plan for living.

"The tempter came and said to Him....."

The devil will attempt to distort your perspective in the same way he attempted to distort Jesus’. He tries to get us to focus on worldly concerns and power and not on God’s plan.

If you are going to be successful at resisting temptation, you need to know God’s Word. This was Jesus defense. He used it against the tempter even when the tempter tried to misuse scripture and get Jesus to disobey God.

Resisting temptation comes with a trust and a desire to obey God’s commandments. We do this by obeying God with.....

Our Heart - by loving him more than any relationship, activity, achievement, or possession.

Our Will - by committing ourselves completely to Him.

Our Mind - By seeking to know Him and His Word, so His principles and values form the foundation of all we think and do.

Our Body - By recognizing that our strengths, talents, and sexuality are given to us by God to be used for pleasure and fulfillment according to His rules, not ours.

Our Finances - By deciding that all our resources we have ultimately come from God, and that we are to be managers of them and not owners.

Our Future - By deciding to make service to God and humanity the main purpose of our life’s work.

(This obedience chart came from the The Life Application Bible.)

I guarantee, you will be tempted. Sometimes the tempter will be a person, sometimes a situation. Temptations challenge you and I to make a choice between God’s will and our will. Often we are tempted when we are most vulnerable, under physical and emotional stress, lonely, tired, weighing big decisions. We can also be tempted where we are most susceptible - pride.

The time of testing clearly revealed that Jesus is the Son of God.

Will the time of your testing clearly reveal that you are a Child of God? Will it clearly reveal that you are a follower of Christ? Will you say as Jesus said, "Away with you, Satan."

Amen

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