Matthew 4:1-4
Then was JESUS led up of THE SPIRIT into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
And when HE+ had fasted forty days and forty nights, HE+ was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to HIM+, he said, If thou be the SON+ of GOD, command that these stones be made bread.
But HE+ answered and said,
It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every Word that proceedeth
out of the Mouth of GOD.
+ + +
Q. 1: WHO led JESUS into the wilderness? __________
YES, the HOLY SPIRIT . That tells us that GOD allowed HIS Beloved SON+ now clothed in Adamic flesh, to be tested.
Q. 2: Who did the testing of JESUS ? _______________
YES, the devil. GOD does not tempt any one to do evil.
Q. 3: If JESUS was tested, do you think that we will be tested also ? __________________________
YES, every day we are tested. It happens when we are led by our own Adamic nature, our Self. We are then tested to either serve “it” or turn away from Self and serve The LORD.
This peculiar temptation of CHRIST had to do with bread.
Bread is very central in Scripture to things pertaining to GOD.
Exodus 25:30
And thou shalt set upon the table
shewbread before me alway.
In Exodus 25:30 is the FIRST TIME we see the record of the “showbread” put upon the Table in the Sanctuary.
The showbread was very special bread. Some translators called it “the Bread of (HIS) Presence.”
Q. 3: The tempter touched The LORD JESUS at His+ physically weakest point, at His+ greatest immediate need following ___ days and ____ nights of __________.
YES, HE+ fasted all through those 40 days and all through those 40 nights to prepare HIMSELF+ for the temptations .
Q. 4: How then should we prepare ourselves to face testings and temptations when we are sore pressed ? _______________________________________________
YES, we follow our LORD’S Example and fast.
After the 40 days and 40 nights of fasting, The LORD may have been close to death at that point. To eat was His+ greatest need.
“Feed Your+ flesh !” the tempter said.
“YOU+ can do it !” the tempter said.
“YOU+ have the power !” the tempter said.
“And PROVE YOU+ are the SON+ of GOD,” he said
. . . knowing FULL WELL that JESUS would fail if HE+ listened to his tempting lies to feed His+ flesh; the tempter would have conquered the SON+ of GOD.
+ + +
THE HIDDEN LESSON
But The LORD JESUS knew something . HE+ knew how to beat the satan on his own turf.
For, the only way to beat satan is to come against our own flesh. Each time. Every time. Whenever he lures us to Feed our Flesh, our lusts, and yes, even our needs in an ungodly, unsanctified way.
If we accept the tempter’s lie “ to sin in order to meet our need”, the satan has conquered us.
We have fallen. We have fallen prey to satan’s lures. We have sold our Godly-birthright for a mess of pottage that spoils even as we swallow it.
UP !
REPENT !
Never to walk that way again !
Behind EVERY sin is a lie of satan.
Call upon The LORD Who+ stood against His+ own flesh’s true, physical need.
When JESUS stood
against His+ own human flesh,
HE+ won the battle against satan.
No matter the press, no matter the great need: The LORD JESUS never met His+ own physical needs by changing Realms. HE+ remained in the realm of all the Adams.
HE+ did not use His+ great power for Himself+. HE+ did not use His+ great power to conquer satan.
HE+ conquered satan by denying
His+ own Adamic nature.
SO CAN WE.
LET US PRAY:
LORD JESUS CHRIST, I have been self-indulgent.
I have avoided denying my flesh, my Adamic nature.
I have justified my “need” because it is real.
I have NOT followed Your+ Example when YOU+ denied Your+ hungry and needy flesh.
I have NOT followed Your+ Example in order to STAND FIRM against my own Adamic nature and conquer my temptations.
I see YOU+ won and satan did not conquer YOU+ , not at any point in time.
Help me, LORD JESUS, to stand FIRM against my own Fleshly nature.
I lay it down at Your+ Feet, O KING+ of my LIFE.
Worthy is the LAMB+
that was slain
to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing.
Blessing and honor and glory and power
be unto HIM that sitteth upon the Throne
and unto The LAMB+
forever and ever. Amen.
+ + +
No comments:
Post a Comment