Part B When I think from what evils the Lord has freed me, I am nourished by incorruptible food, and I cover my shoulders with the hope of my salvation. I feed upon and cover myself with the Word of God, who contains all things. Mary of Egypt In Scripture, we find that the former tax-collector, Matthew, records that early in Jesus ministry, He was, led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tested (tempted) and tried by the devil (Matthew 4: 1, Amplified Bible). I dont know exactly how you would have felt if you were led into the wilderness, knowing full well that a vicious fight would take place. I think I would have been afraid. And we must make no mistake -- this was not some phony wrestling match. This was good facing evil. This battle was between the Son of God and the fallen angel - Lucifer. No longer the great Son of the Morning, this once regal being confronted Jesus when He was tired and hungry, hoping to show the Son of God that purity of heart was only a fantasy. Matthew says that after Jesus had gone without food for forty days and nights the evil one pounced. As Matthew portrays, the temper came and said to (Jesus), If You are Gods Son, command these stones to be made loaves of bread (Matthew 4: 3, Amplified Bible). However, this earthly appeal to the senses wasnt the devils only attack. Matthew records that then the devil took (Jesus) into Jerusalem and placed Him on a pinnacle of the temple where he again questioned Jesus origin with the words, If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, He will give His angels charge over you. And then as a last test, we read that, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world...and he said to Jesus: If you will prostrate Yourself before me and do homage, I will give you all of this (Matthew 4: 1-10, Amplified Bible). As we read about these temptations, it becomes evident that the tempter isnt a one trick pony. He doesnt just hit us with the same temptation over and over again. Instead, he strikes us in moments of weakness. When we are not suspecting anything --hell launch an assault. If you are anything like I am, youll say, Where did that temptation come from? I thought God had given me victory over my impatient spirit! But then in a moment when Ive been lazy, thinking I can get along on my own, that old wily serpent, goes for my spiritual jugular, trying to defeat me when and where Im most vulnerable. My inability to handle the tempters sneaky attacks would seriously depress me if it werent for the fact that while Matthew 4 gives us the evidence that Satan comes to us in varied ways - what gives me such great encouragement is that no matter how the devil approached Jesus - His response was always the same. If we read through Matthew 4: 1-11, every time the tempter changes his tactics - Jesus firmly responds with the same words: It is written. Three different temptations and only one constant response. As I was preparing todays devotional, it became clear as I studied that we have been left with a prescription for handling the tempters trickery. There are two pieces of heavenly advice written on the prescription Jesus left for you and me: 1. Stand on Gods written Word. It is written in His Word that Jesus, Himself, has suffered being tested and tried. He is able to immediately run to the cry of those who are being tested and exposed to suffering (Hebrews 2: 18, Amplified Bible). 2. Keep in constant communion with Jesus. And (Jesus) said to Peter, are you asleep? Have you not the strength to keep awake and watch with me for one hour. Keep awake and watch and pray (constantly) that you may not enter into temptations (Mark 14: 37, 38, Amplified Bible). We live in a world where the devil may change methods - trying to trip us up in any way he can. Just think what it would be like if we had to plan a different way to fight the battle every time we are hit in a way we werent expecting. Praise the Lord that I dont have to come up with a new method of attacking the devil. Just because culture changes and just because temptations vary - Gods Word is still the same. What I stand on - the foundation of Gods Word - still fights evil the same way down through time. If I keep my communion constant with my Father as I faithfully read His word, I wont have to focus on the devils changing tactics. Gods prescription in the battle against evil still stands. It is the same forever! I absolutely love the words from the Apostle Pauls pen to the young Christian believers in Corinth. These words are just as applicable to you and me today as they were hundreds of years ago: No temptation or trial regarding as enticing to sin, no matter how it comes or where it leads has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man or woman that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as (you) can bear. But God is faithful to His Word and to His compassionate nature, and He can be trusted not to let you be tempted and tried beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will always provide the way out - the means of escape to a landing place, that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently (1 Corinthians 10: 13, Amplified Bible). You know why I love studying the Bible? While there are many important reasons for studying Gods Word, one of the most important in my life is that I enter the battle against sin, armed with prayer and Gods Word. I dont enter the war unequipped. Praise God! Of all Jesus followers, the Apostle Peter stands out as an individual I can really relate to. His desire and longing to follow Jesus was something not to be denied. But like so many of us, when under the pressure of the battle, Peter struggled. This is the reason though, that the words recorded in Scripture by none other than Peter, touch my heart, The Lord knows how to rescue the godly out of temptations and trials (II Peter 2: 9). Words spoken by one who knew from experience that Gods Word is faithful to deliver us from evil.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 19:52:56 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015