October 2012
The message for this month is about "Temptation" and how and what God's Holy Word says we can do during the difficult times in our lives. May God bless this message and bless those that read it.
IN TEMPTATION
WHAT DO WE DO
The Holy Spirit is saying that God's Word the scriptures in the Bible are to be used in times of temptations through what we call valleys, test, trails or "just having a bad day". It is so easy to be tempted in today’s world. There are so many things that can tempt us or distract us each day.
In Matthew chapter 4 verses 1 thru 10 Jesus was tempted by the devil. As you take the time to read verses 1 thru 10 think about how we are tempted by the devil to do things that are not right in the sight of God or how we may even tempt God. When the tempter comes to tempt us, we can speak as Jesus spoke three times to the devil, "IT IS WRITTEN", "IT IS WRITTEN", "IT IS WRITTEN". This is the Word of God.
MATTHEW CHAPTER 4:1-6
1Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Matthew 4:1 (KJV)
I ask God why the Holy Spirit would lead Jesus into the wilderness; and the Lord said that if I lead you into the wilderness, I will lead you out; If you allow the tempter (devil) to lead you into the (wilderness, test or valleys etc.) you will be led astray. It could take you 40 years instead of 40 days to spend in the wilderness. God’s leading will bring us victory and His power when we walk with God in the difficult times.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. Matthew 4:2 (KJV)
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Matthew 4:3 (KJV)
4 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. Matthew 4:4 (KJV)
The Holy Spirit showed me in verses 2, 3, and 4 that when we are hungry “not necessarily food only but needing help in time of trouble and no way out of a situation, a test, valley etc.” that is when the tempter will want you to do as he says and tell you that if you do this, then I will do this for you, he will tempt you to focus on the situation and not stand on the word of God. We must look upon Jesus for our help in time of need and seek God’s face and ask God to feed us with the Bread of Life the very Word of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, Matthew 4:5 (KJV)
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Matthew 4:6 (KJV)
Notice what Psalm 91:11 scripture says; For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. The devil did not quote the word of God correctly, in Matthew 4:6 the tempter (devil) said this to Jesus “He shall give his angels charge concerning thee”he changed the word “over thee” to concerning thee and left out; to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Psalm 91:12 (KJV)
Psalm 91 is God's Word of protection over us and our families if we abide in Him and believe, trust and have faith in God and His Word.
The Holy Spirit said that in Matthew chapter 4 verses 5, 6, and 7 that even the tempter will try and speak scripture verses to us that may sound correct even as he tried to speak in Matthew 4 verse 6 to Jesus but the verses are not correct. We as God’s people need to question and be able to discern in the Spirit when we hear a voice speaking a scripture to us in our minds, is it the tempter or is it God speaking to us.
In 1 John 4:1-3 the Lord gives us a way to discern spirits. You can question the spirits of what is being spoken to us, we must not believe every spirit.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1John 4:1 (KJV)
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 1John 4:2 (KJV)
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1John 4:3 (KJV)
MATTHEW CHAPTER 4:7-11
7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Matthew 4:7 (KJV)
8Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; Matthew 4:8 (KJV)
9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Matthew 4:9 (KJV)
10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Matthew 4:10 (KJV)
11Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. Matthew 4:11 (KJV)
The Holy Spirit said that in Matthew chapter 4 verses 8, 9, that just because the tempter (devil) says that he will give us all things that we see, it is only a trap or even temporary, a snare to us to believe anything that the devil would say to us or offer us such lies. Remember Satan has come to steal, kill and destroy the works of Jesus. When we are at our lowest in doubt, unbelief, confused, fear etc. then the devil will say to us that he will give us all things, but it ends up only trouble and pain and ending with nothing. There is a valuable lesson to be learned in Matthew chapter 4 verses 1 thru 11 for each one of us; no matter what we are going through the answer is the word of God.
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. I John 4:4 (KJV)
I read the following sometime back and it is so true if we will apply it to our lives every day. GOD IS GREATER than anything.
GOD IS GREATER
I believe God, the greater one is in me.
I believe God is greater than the devil.
I believe God is greater than the tests and trails I may face.
I believe God is greater than the storm I may be facing.
I believe God is greater than the problems that may be confronting me.
I believe God is greater than the circumstances that seem to have me bound.
I believe God is greater than sickness and disease.
I believe God is greater than anything and everything, AND GOD DWELLS IN ME!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
DO YOU BELIEVE THIS? THEN IF YOU DO START CONFESSING IT. AMEN
Conclusion
I heard a preacher one day say this, don't wait till you are being tempted or sickness and disease comes upon you and speak scripture, GET THE WORD OF GOD in you FIRST and then when you are being tempted or sickness or disease tries to come against you, have the Word of God "the sword of the Spirit" to speak "IT IS WRITTEN".
Learn to use the word of God and to stand on His Word, it is the answer to every problem or situation that may come our way in life. It is our prayer that God’s word will be deep in your spirits, so when the tempter comes against you, all you have to do is just speak the Word of God.
ISAIAH 50:4
The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. Isaiah 50:4 (KJV)
EPHESIANS 6:13-17
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13 (KJV)
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; Ephesians 6:14 (KJV)
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Ephesians 6:15 (KJV)
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesiaans 6:16 (KJV)
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Ephesians 6:17 (KJV)
JOY IN LIFE = SERVANTHOOD
REMEMBER THIS “JOY” = JESUS ALWAYS FIRST, OTHERS SECOND AND YOU LAST; WHICH = BEING A SERVANT.OF GOD.
If you would like to have a relationship with Jesus Christ in your heart and life, please take the time to pray this prayer.
It is our prayer that this message of "Temptation" has brought comfort, hope and help to your life, to continuing to go forth with what God has called you to do with Him.
May God's riches and blessings be poured out on your life.
In His Service and His Love,
William & Susan
Note: Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.