Pastor Marie brought forth a message concerning temptation during Saturday night's Celebration Service

Temptation - is defined as the desire to have or do something that you know you should avoid; Desire - the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state.

Temptation is something that will be present throughout our Christian life.  Temptation is the desire to do something wrong!  In our daily walk, the opportunity presents itself daily. 

The temptation of our Lord took place "in the wilderness" Luke 4:1-13. Therefore, there will be times that Lord will guide us through the wilderness in preparation to become the person He wants us to be. 

In the scriptures, Luke explains to us that our Lord was being tempted by the devil. The Lord went out to the wilderness to confront Satan, and be confronted by him, He returns victorious. Even in temptation our Lord is in control, not Satan.

Satan's effort at temptation is the enemy's attempt to cause a person to sin. However, "temptation" when viewed from God's point of view is a "test," an opportunity for his chosen people to be proven righteous.  God develops your character as you experience circumstances which tempt you to operate in the opposite quality than what God wants to grow in you.

The Bible teaches us how to defeat temptation.  Defeat temptation, not resist it.  Our Father wants us to do more than stand up against temptation. He wants us to defeat it, have victory over it - and we can.

• His Word explains:  "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it".  1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV. 

• In Psalms 119:11 David expresses when God's word is engrafted in our hearts, we will be more able to resist the assaults of Satan: and therefore we must desire God to instruct us daily more and more in it.

In every Christian's walk with the Spirit through the wilderness, the enemy is guaranteed to form an attack.  Victory overcoming temptation is assure to us by applying the Authority of the Scriptures.

Ron Rhodes, President of Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries asserts:  "The authority of Scripture cannot be separated from the authority of God. Whatever the Bible affirms, God affirms. And what the Bible affirms (or denies), it affirms (or denies) with the very authority of God."