All Things For Good: Chap 2 Pt. 3

The Evil of Temptation Overruled for Good

So, this evening, we are still in chapter two. Chapter two's a long chapter. There's a lot to cover. But the last two weeks together, we covered the first part, talking about there's four evils that God works for good.

Chapter two is titled, The Worst Things Work for Good to the Godly. And so the first evil thing that we talked about was affliction. And we spent the last two weeks discussing that. And now this week, we'll be discussing the evil of temptation and how it's overruled for good to the godly.

So, as we go through it, I'm gonna read the paragraph right out of Watson's book. And then I'll have a couple comments here and there. If you guys have any questions or comments, feel free to raise your hand or just call out.

And wanna make sure that we address all those. So, number two, the evil of temptation is overruled for good to the godly. The evil of temptation works for good. Satan is called the tempter, Mark 4 .15.

He is ever lying in ambush. He is continually at work with one saint or another. The devil has his circuit that he walks every day. He is not yet fully cast into prison. But, like a prisoner that goes under bail, he walks about to tempt the saints.

This is a great molestation to a child of God. So, before we jump into, he's gonna talk about three things to consider about the temptations of Satan. But the evil of temptation working for good seems, again, like something that would be counterintuitive, especially temptation.

How possibly could temptation work for our good? And yet, we'll see. He says Satan is called the tempter, and that's in Matthew 4 .3. I really don't know who put this PDF together, but they got a lot of the verses wrong.

But it'll keep you guessing, because I'm sure you're looking up every scriptural reference and go, hey, wait a minute, that's not there. I'll go and find out where it says that. But if you have the Kindle version, the scriptural references are correct.

So, he is a tempter. He's always waiting to ambush. He's always at work with one saint to another. Now, we know, I hope, that Satan is not omnipresent. He is not everywhere at all times. He cannot attack every Christian at the same time.

In fact, most of us are probably, I'm sorry, but small potatoes for him. He's probably working on a larger scale, larger profile people, perhaps saints, perhaps just working behind evil in this world.

But we should be aware, there is a continual, constant raging of spiritual warfare going on. And we are giving ample reminders of that in scripture, ample reminders to be at war, to take up our armor of God, and to be fighting.

Because even though Satan himself might not be whispering in your ear, it could be a fallen angel, a demon, that is seeking to exert influence and cause you to be tempted. Remember that we struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil.

So, we know he goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. As we said before about, he mentions that he's not yet fully cast into prison. You know, when we think of Revelation 20, most of us would understand that Satan is bound, but that is one particular way.

He is bound for the specific purpose of not deceiving the nations anymore. And we see evidence of that. While he still does deceive, while he still does blind the eyes of those who are under the wrath of God, yet the gospel went from being in this one little postage stamp of piece of real estate in the Middle East, in Israel, to where the temple was, to where the people of God were, to now, across the globe, the church is reigning.

The church is all over the place. And so, Satan has been bound so that the gospel has been able to go out and be effective. So, we know that it's not that he has no power at all, it's just that he is limited more than he was previously.

And so, his aim is to bring down the saints, and temptation is a powerful and diverse tool in his arsenal. And as Watson says, it is a great molestation to the children of God. So, we have three things to consider about temptations, but does anyone have any questions or comments yet?

No?

Excellent.

You guys are just right there. Okay, so the three things. One, we're gonna consider his method of tempting. Two, the extent of his power. And three, how these temptations are overruled for good. Number one, Satan's method in tempting.

Here, take notice of two things. His violence in tempting, and so he is the red dragon. He labors to storm the castle of the heart. He throws in thoughts of blasphemy. He tempts to deny God. These are the fiery darts which he shoots, by which he would inflame the passions.

Also notice his subtlety in tempting, and so he is the old serpent. There are five chief subtleties that the devil uses. He's very methodical.

Watson.

And so, I thought that was a, I love the way he phrases things and explains things. He's the dragon. He's violent. He sometimes really tries to throw everything at us to get us to be tempted, to have blasphemous thoughts, to deny God.

The fiery darts that are warned about in Ephesians 6 that would inflame the passions. If you ever see some of those old war movies in terms where they're having these epic battles and they have the archers who will light their arrow aflame and then throw it, and they'll launch it and set people and places on fire when that thing hits, and that's our passions.

I think that's a very vivid image, but it's well said. And then the subtlety of it, he is that old serpent, just sneaking, twisting, a little here, a little there, as God really said. So, let's consider how he tempts in his subtleties.

Any questions about that before we get our first one? Okay, just throw up your hand. So, number one, he observes the temperament and constitution. He lays suitable baits of temptation. Like the farmer, he knows what grain is best for the soil.

Satan will not tempt, contrary to the natural disposition and temperament. This is his policy. He makes the wind and tide go together, the way the natural tide of the heart runs, the way the wind of temptation blows.

Though the devil cannot know men's thoughts, yet he knows their temperament, and accordingly, he lays his baits. He tempts the ambitious man with a crown, the lustful man with beauty. Any questions about that?

No?

I kinda have a question.

Sure.

So, I don't know if this is able to be answered, but how is it that Satan's able to, I guess, like it says he throws in thoughts of blasphemy, right? How is he capable of doing that? How does that, do we know how that works in any way?

Well, in the one sense, we have, God can work from within, but we can have leadings of the Spirit, right? The Holy Spirit giving us conviction, giving us, leading in one way or another. We wouldn't say, you know, there's nothing verbal.

We would not say, oh, I had a word from the Lord. It's not new revelation, but I'm a pastor.

You have?

Yeah, the devil uses external means. He may use a friend to come, you know, that he can't control, because you aren't controlled by the Holy Spirit. He can't dispossess the Holy Spirit from within you.

And as Watson said, he can't read your thoughts, but he can read your actions. He knows what you're thinking based upon what you're doing, right? And who you listen to. This is why it's so important that you have godly Christian counselors that you're gonna go to when you're looking for advice.

Otherwise, they can lead you astray. So the devil is almost totally designed to working through exterior means. How do you do that in this art society? How much television do you watch and what do you watch?

What are you watching in the movies? What literature are you reading, all right? What magazines are you looking at? Yeah, that's how the devil ordered one of his minions will ascertain where he's going to lead you.

So it'd be just those external things.

Like causing the flesh, I guess. Yeah, and once the flesh is ignited, what does James say? No, each man don't want to be tempted, right? He's led away by his own lust. And then the saint throws all the temptation in front of you to inflame that.

Pastor Anthony.

In Romans 1, we all know, ever since the creation of the world, God's invisible attributes and by nature, we've seen through what has been made so that man is without excuse. Man suppresses the truth in unrighteousness, right?

And then God gives him over to the desires of his heart.

To worship and serve the creation rather than the creator. So what is taken away is truth. What is left is worship. Man, in the absence of God, is going to worship something else because we were created to worship.

So when we suppress the truth, it's easy for the devil. All he's gotta do is present anything to you that's gonna entice you and you are going to worship it because you were created to worship. So it's the suppression of the truth.

Worship is the only thing that remains. You're gonna worship something, whether you're a Christian or not. The devil just puts those things in front of you in order to tempt you to worship something else, whatever that may be.

I'm tempted to ask a question, too. I don't know if it'll stir up more trouble than it's worth. All right, you can just edit this part out. Of course, it'll be on the tape for Shane. Would you say, you know, we hear, you know, we see those old cartoons about the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other and they're both kind of speaking.

Obviously, we don't see. If you do see those things, you should come and talk to someone. We wanna get you some help. But if, and I'll put it to the pastors first, to their consideration and perhaps others.

Do you think it's possible for, on some level, to be influenced by a spirit trying to whisper, as it were, and not whisper as, you know, you're hearing it verbally, but for some reason, you just feel like an inclination to go that way where you wouldn't normally think you would have an inclination one way or the other.

It's not a friend. It's not a remembrance of a song. It's, or, any thoughts on that?

Yeah, let's say as the external, which can raise up and tempt your inner self. And that's what you're against. Now, a non-believer can actually be possessed by an evil spirit, but not so of the believer.

Oh, I wholeheartedly agree there, yes. Yeah, greater is he who is in you than he is in the world. And yet we know that, God bless you, if you are not a believer, and we've seen it throughout the Gospels, there is much, many accounts of demon possession.

And I think it still happens today. I don't know if it's in lesser degree, or we just, we psychoanalyze it and say it's something else. The answer's always the Gospel. The answer's always Christ. But it is a interesting question.

But I won't start much more trouble there. Just wanna throw that out there. So he's subtle. And as Pastor mentioned, he doesn't know your thoughts. He's not omniscient. But he's got a lot of time on his hands.

And he's been around a long time, as all the rest of the fallen angels. And they are great observers of mankind. And they get to see based on their actions. And I've told people this myself. You get to a certain age, and I can sometimes say, hey, watch out for so-and-so.

How'd you know? I see enough people that look just like him, or just like her, to see that kind of pattern in behavior. And so you sometimes get a feel for how a person is, how much more so in the spiritual realm, and they're watching us all the time.

And so they know how we act, and they know how people like us act. And it's a lot easier for them to throw a temptation our way that'll be effective. So he is subtle that way. And he goes, he knows, like he said, that the farmer knowing his, what seed is best for the soil that he has, exactly.

Number two, he observes the fittest time to tempt. As a cunning angler, cast in his angle when the fish will bite best. Satan's time of tempting is usually after an ordinance. And the reason is he thinks he shall find us most secure.

When we have been at solemn duties, we are apt to think all is done, and we grow amiss, and leave off that zeal and strictness as before, just as a soldier who, after a battle, leaves off his armor, not once dreaming of an enemy.

Satan watches his time, and when we least suspect, then he throws in a temptation. And that's interesting, because most people, well, that's why you would be off your guard, right? It says he's like a fisherman who knows the best time to fish, right?

He goes when the fish are biting. He's a, well, yeah. And so, usually after an ordinance. We engage in worship, we engage in service. We have served, we think we have fulfilled our duties before the Lord.

And so, in a way, we are like a soldier taking off his armor, ah, you know. Or it's quitting time, right? We clock out, and we can relax. We have served, and what strongest spiritual state could we be in?

And then, yet, that's when we're most vulnerable, because we have served, and we do think, perhaps, a little bit more of ourselves, because we've been with God, and so we walk out. And that's when the temptation is very likely to strike.

Any question before I move on to the third one?

Just an illustration, look at Elijah right after Mount Carmel.

Right, good example. Elijah has that huge victory on the mountaintop, and destroys all these prophets who are so false. Gets the people to admit the Lord, he is God. And then, he goes running, and he's hiding.

Falls to the temptation of thinking that all is lost. Number three, he makes use of mere relations. The devil tempts by a proxy. And this was something the pastor mentioned already. Thus, he handed over temptation to Job by his wife.

Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die, Job 2 .9. A wife in the bosom may be the devil's instrument to tempt to sin. Job's wife, who, I've talked about this before, I try to remind people, who is probably under normal circumstances, a very godly woman.

Keep in mind, having those children, all that stuff, and Job was this godly man. But under duress, she forgot herself. So Job says, you speak like one of the foolish women. Not you foolish woman, or whatever.

He's like, you're talking like them. You know better. But it is possible that one as close as our spouse, never mind other family members and friends, can be used as temptation to sin. How often do we just want to go along and have peace?

And this happens a lot for us, right? We want to have peace in the family, so we just kind of go along with what they want. But there could be times where this is causing us temptation to sin. Poor Job's wife being mentioned over Delilah.

How'd she escape notice of the temptation? Yes, so we'll continue. Number four, Satan tempts to evil by those who are good. Thus, he gives poison in a golden cup. He tempted Christ by Peter. Peter dissuades him from suffering.

Master, pity yourself. Who would have thought to found a tempter in the mouth of an apostle? And what does Jesus say? Get thee behind me, Satan. And Peter was used to tempt Christ unwittingly, but all the same.

And so, pastor gave the wise admonition to surround yourself with godly people. But we still have the responsibility in ourselves to know God's word, to know what he expects. And even if one of our friends should fail us and give us poor counsel in a moment of weakness, for whatever reason, we need to know God's word.

Someone's bad advice to us does not excuse us from sin. And so, we need to be diligent. Any questions or comments about that? Okay, number five, Satan tempts to sin under a pretense of religion. He is most to be feared when he transforms himself into an angel of light.

He came to Christ with scripture in his mouth. It is written. The devil baits his hook with religion. He tempts many a man to covetousness and extortion under a pretense of providing for his family. He tempts some to do away with themselves, that they may no longer live to sin against God.

And so, he draws them into sin under a pretense of avoiding sin. These are his subtle strategems in tempting. And yeah, how scary is that? Most to be feared when he transforms into an angel of light and taking scripture to Christ, but of course, twisting it, perverting it, the creeper, perverter, and denier.

And yet, under the guise of being godly, of being holy, of being religious. And so, he baits the hook with religion. He tempts man to covet what other people have and think, that's what I need to have in order to provide for my family.

And yet, what do the scriptures say? Tempting others to suicide, and we've heard that. And I've seen that argument be put out there on Facebook and stuff like that. You know, I don't want to sin against God anymore.

You're gonna continue to sin, you know? And so, we have to bring the truth to these situations, but this is how Satan tries to tempt us, that he'll draw us into sin trying to avoid sin. It's a subtle, but deadly way of going about things.

Any questions on that before we go to the extent of his power?

No?

Any questions, comments?

Erica.

So, the wording of that last slide, where it says that Satan, he is most to be feared when he transforms into an angel of light. So, are they shapeshifters?

Are they shapeshifters?

What is?

Right.

Yeah.

So, does he appear differently now?

Does he appear differently now? That's a good question. I mean, we're told in the New Testament to, you know, that even Satan appears as an angel of light. We're told to be careful about practicing hospitality because somehow entertain angels unaware.

So, is that still a possibility? It would make it sound like it's a possibility. That's your hand? No, I was just scratching my head. You go ahead. I'm not touching that. I don't know them to be shapeshifters.

I mean, well, you know what it is funny though? Because I think of, I shouldn't say that. Maybe I do to a degree. I'm thinking about UFOs and stuff like that. I'm thinking about aliens. I'm thinking about what people have claimed to see and experience, and I don't believe that there's actual extraterrestrial beings from another planet who are visiting us.

I think that this is probably demonic in some way. And actually, there are podcasts and stuff that go into that realm, and you see a lot of things that go together with UFOs and the occult and the things that they see.

So, is it possible that they, I don't know, maybe, be careful. Again, we're believers. We don't have to, we shouldn't be afraid, but we should be aware, because there is a spiritual warfare. Pastor's gonna bail me out.

Go ahead.

I don't think that the shape or whatever, what they look like, how they transform themselves is what's main concern is.

Thank you.

What's the message that he's coming with?

Right.

He's transformed into an angel of light. In other words, he's coming with what sounds like the truth, but there's an error involved with it which will lead you astray from the truth. All you gotta do is look at any of the televangelists on the TVs these days, and they come, and at first glance, when you listen to them, they're using all the Christian terms, you know?

But then, when you listen to the message, what does it boil down to? Oh, this is your best life now. You deserve, you know, you live like a king's kid. You deserve all of this now. This is not a pie-in-the-sky religion.

You hear all of this type of stuff. That's the subtlety of Satan, not what he looks like.

That's a much, much better answer. So, yes, the substance of what he's bringing. So, thank you for that. The extent of his power is the second thing to be considered. How far Satan's power in tempting reaches?

One, he can propose the object as he sets a wedge of gold before Achan, and we talked about that before, right, the Valley of Achor. That's where Achan was stoned to death. That's him and all that belonged to him because he stole what belonged to God.

It was under the ban. Everything in Jericho was to be destroyed. Nothing was to be taken. No profit was supposed to be had from it, and he took gold and some other items and hid them, right? So, he can somehow bring the object that he knows is gonna cause a temptation before us, and so try to use his power in that way to exert influence.

Number two, he can poison the imagination and instill evil thoughts into the mind. As the Holy Spirit casts in good suggestions, so the devil casts in bad ones. He put into Judas's heart to betray Christ, and that was John 13, two.

And so, this is what I was thinking of before when we asked the question about putting things into our mind. We can have no doubt that he does so, but it would be a case of how he goes about it. Judas probably overheard the Pharisees, you know?

I mean, first of all, Judas was not born again, and so Satan was able to enter him where he would not have been able to enter another believer, and so, but he had originally put that thought into his mind.

Knowing his temperament, knowing that he was stealing, because Judas was talking about this gift that was given, and he, what about the poor people? And he goes, he didn't care about the poor people. He was stealing from the purse as he was in charge of the funds, and so the demons are aware that he's stealing.

The demons are aware of what his heart motivation can be, even if they don't know every thought, and so he probably was aware that there was a price on his head if it could be found, and so it's still an evil thoughts.

Number three. Satan can excite and irritate the corruption within and work some kind of inclinableness in the heart to embrace a temptation. Though it is true Satan cannot force the will to yield consent, yet he, being a cunning suitor, by his continual solicitation, may provoke to evil.

Thus he provoked David to number the people, 1 Chronicles 21 .1. The devil may, by his subtle arguments, dispute us into sin. Again, flip Wilson, the devil made me do it. That doesn't work, right? Satan can't make you do anything, but he is a very masterful salesman, and he will try to come at you again and again and again and wear you down, and so by that continual solicitation, it's interesting.

I had a job for a short time that I did not enjoy at all as a telemarketer, and we had a guy who was just like a legend in his own time, and it was for lawn care, and not even like landscaping. It was for like chemical treatments to make your lawn grow and kill the weeds, and I just couldn't get into it, into the idea of even selling it, but there it was, it was a job, and so I was trying to do this, but this guy would continually call people over and over again until he got the sale.

He knew that for every no, every certain amount of no's, there'll be a yes that's coming, and he would just keep driving. My boss would say, he would get stopped at the store and say, would you tell Steve to stop calling me?

Tell him to stop calling about the thing because he was just un, what's that? He was incredibly persistent, and he got his sales, and so the Satan, the accuser, he also is very persistent until we give in, and so there's that, and that's the last one.

That's the last one as far as the extent of his power. He can propose the object. He can poison the fancy and instill evil thoughts. He can excite and irritate the corruption within knowing that we're corrupt, knowing that we're bent towards sin, and so he can try to work on us continually until we give in.

Any more questions or comments about that before we move on to the third thing to be considered?

No?

All righty.

So number three, the third thing to consider is that these temptations are overruled for good to the children of God. A tree that is shaken by the wind is more settled than rooted. Just so, the blowing of a temptation does but settle a Christian the more in grace.

Temptations are overruled for good in eight ways, and so a tree that grows and is used to the storms of life just gets more firmly planted and more rooted in, and so we can look at these temptations and find he gives us eight examples for the way that they're overruled for good, and so the first one is, temptation sends the soul to prayer.

The more furiously Satan tempts, the more fervently the saint prays. The deer being shot with the dart runs faster to the water. When Satan shoots his fiery darts at the soul, it then runs faster to the throne of grace.

When Paul had the messenger of Satan to buffet him, he said, for this I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Second Corinthians 12, eight. Temptation is a medicine for carnal security.

That which makes us pray more works for good, and so he says that by having these temptations, we, as saints, would be praying more, trying to resist the devil. We would be looking to the Lord to give us grace, and so anything that causes us to pray more is working to our benefit.

It's a medicine for carnal security, trusting in ourselves, thinking that we're okay. Number two. Temptation to sin is a means to keep from the perpetration of sin. The more a child of God is tempted, the more he fights against the temptation.

The more Satan tempts to blaspheme, the more a saint trembles at such thoughts, and says, get you hence, Satan. When Joseph's mistress tempted him to folly, the stronger her temptation was, the stronger was his opposition.

That temptation, which the devil uses as a spur to sin, God makes a bridle to keep back a Christian from it, and so that's another interesting thing, the idea that the more that we are tempted, the more severe the temptation, the more that we resist it, the more we recognize the weakness of it and we want nothing to do with it, and so we see an example of Joseph and Potiphar's wife that he would resist, and when she just grabbed him, he'd rather run out naked than fall into sin with her, and so our call is to flee when temptation comes.

Yes, sir.

What is that word, perpetration?

To actually act on it, we call it a perpetrator, someone who has done the evil deed, right? Number three, temptation works for good as it abates the swelling of pride. Lest I should be exalted above measure, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me.

The thorn in the flesh was to puncture the puffing up of pride. Better is that temptation which humbles me than that duty which makes me proud. Rather than a Christian shall be haughty-minded, God will let him fall into the devil's hands a while to be cured of his swelling pride.

Again, we have Paul with the consideration of that thorn in the flesh, a temptation, he calls it, or that might lead to a temptation in response to it, but the temptation has the ability to be good for us.

It humbles us where our accomplishments, we see our growth, we see our fruit, and we might start to get full of ourselves and think, oh, look at me, look how good I am, and then when the temptation comes, it reminds us, this is still a temptation, I'm still in the flesh, I'm still struggling, I'm not perfected in Christ, and so we should be humbled, and that is for our good.

We are not useful to the Lord, proud and arrogant. Okay, any questions or comments about that? We need to remember that the good that we have is from the Lord and not, and our hope for not sinning is found in him and not ourselves.

Number four, temptation works for good as it is a touchstone to try what is in the heart. The devil tempts that he may deceive, but God allows us to be tempted to try us. Temptation is a trial for our sincerity.

It argues that our heart is chaste and loyal to Christ when we can look temptation in the face and turn our back upon it. Also, it is a trial of our courage. Ephraim is a silly dove without heart. So it may be said of many that they are without a heart.

They have no heart to resist temptation. No sooner does Satan come with his bait, but they yield like a coward who, as soon as a thief approaches, gives him his purse. But he is the valorous Christian who brandishes a sword of the spirit against Satan and will rather die than yield.

The courage of the Romans was never seen more than when they were assaulted by the Carthaginians. The valor and courage of a saint is never more seen than on a battlefield when he is fighting the red dragon and by the power of faith puts the devil to flight.

That grace is tried gold, which can stand in the fiery trial and withstand Satan's fiery darts. A touchstone, that standard by which something is judged. Thomas Watson says that the devil's motive is to deceive, but God wants us to, he's allowing the temptation to try us, to examine our sincerity.

This is for our benefit to encourage or to convict, perhaps to prove us to others as well. Our heart is chastened and loyal to Christ when we look temptation in the face and turn our back. He mentions the trial of courage and he mentions Hosea 7, it's a seven, verse 11, and not whatever I was on there.

Ephraim is a silly dove without heart. That's the King James Version, ESV NASB states without sense and the rest of the verse is talking about they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. Both translations can capture the essence.

They're unwise to look to either and his point about there's many without heart, no heart to resist temptation. As soon as Satan comes with the bait, they yield like a coward. But if we are going to be courageous Christians, we would be brandishing the sword of the spirit.

We would rather die than yield to understand that yielding to temptation is to dishonor the Lord and Savior. And so our courage is demonstrated on the battlefield and of that temptation. Remember Pastor Jensen talking a while back about being on the police force and saying there's a lot of guys who would talk big, but when the bullets started flying, then you knew who was real and who wasn't, right?

So that's when we find where our real courage is, where our real loyalty is. When we're faced with temptation, are we fighting it? Are we putting the devil to flight? Or are we just giving in like that coward who sees a thief come and says, here, have it?

Are we just giving in to that temptation that quickly? So the saint manifests his valor and courage on the battlefield, fighting the dragon, and by faith, putting him to flight. Any questions or comments?

Number five, temptations work for good as God makes those who are tempted fit to comfort others in the same distress. A Christian must himself be put under the buffetings of Satan before he can speak a word in due season to him that is weary.

Paul was versed in temptations. We are not ignorant of his devices. Thus, he was able to acquaint others with Satan's cursed wiles. A man that has ridden over a place where there are bogs and quicksands is the fittest to guide others through that dangerous way.

He who has felt the claws of the roaring lion and has lain bleeding under those wounds is the fittest man to deal with one who is tempted. None can better discover Satan's self devices than one who have been long in the fencing school of temptation.

Watson.

A Christian must know the battle if he's able to encourage others in it. And so that's one of the good, the way that temptation can be overruled for good is that though we have struggled with it and it's been difficult, we are able to encourage others to help see them through, to know the territory.

Says Paul is very familiar with the devil's schemes, right? But the, and the last point, the one who's best able to lead and guide others, someone who knows the territory. If you're going to a strange land, if you're going to a dangerous land, you want a guide.

You want someone who knows the terrain, will be able to guide you through it. And so as fellow believers, if we've been through temptation, we can encourage others likewise. No questions, comments?

Moving along.

Number six, temptations work for good as they stir up fatherly compassion in God to those who are tempted. The child who is sick and bruised is most looked after. When a saint lies under the bruising of temptations, Christ prays and God the father pities.

When Satan puts the soul into a fever, God comes with cordial, which may Luther say, the temptations are Christ embraces because he then most sweetly manifests himself to the soul. And this is a, you know, we think of God as the father, as he is, and he is the perfect father.

And so we know in parenting, and you see, you know, the child who is sick, the child who is struggling, that's the one who's getting the attention. That's the one that's getting the eye of the parent.