King
James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning
Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Thursday, October 01, 2015
Chapters: Matthew 4-5 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-274.html
Message Title: Satan's Manipulation, God's Strength To Overcome
Hello My Friend,
There is a culprit behind every sin that is committed, and that is Satan, while he cannot forcibly make us commit sin no more that God can make us not, he is very good at manipulating us to think that we must do it. There is no temptation that we cannot get out of, the only way we fall is when we allow Satan to manipulate us through our desires, lusts, fears, or tears. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” - James 1:13-15.
As I was reading these verses this morning something hit me, I have come a long way since having dedicated my life to Christ. Oh, Christ still has much work to do in me, but at least I am more accountable for my actions than I was when I did not allow Christ to be a part of my life. Everyone gets tempted, God exempts no one from allowing Satan to tempt us, but He does give us a way to keep from falling into the temptation. Jesus was no exception either, Satan did everything he could to try and stop the prophecies from being fulfilled. After Jesus got baptized He was led into the wilderness. It was there that He was tempted by Satan. “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.” - Matthew 4:1-4.
He was afterward an hungred, the easiest way for Satan to tempt us is to get us when we are weak, he cannot tempt us while we are strong so, he waits until we are tired and weak in spirit. Many times we fall into sin out of fear that we are not going to get the things we need. Money, food, clothes, shelter, love, all of these things play on our spirit and it weakens us. God strengthens us only if we turn to Him, and He gives us the very things we need. Another way Satan tempts us is by deception. Satan tempts Jesus again, this time leading Him up to the top of the temple. “Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 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. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” - Matthew 4:5-7.
For it is written, another way that Satan tempts us is by deceiving us into believing that it is God speaking, he knows Scripture, and he will use it try and manipulate us into believing that it came from God. Anytime we use God's Word as a means to do wrong, it is not right, and we better think about what we are doing because it's God we are tempting and have to answer to. When Satan cannot get us through weakness or deception he will try one last thing, lust. Satan tempts Jesus one more time, this time showing Him the kingdoms of the world. “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then 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. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.” - Matthew 4:8-11.
Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, perhaps the biggest downfall of man is power, they want to be on top of the world and everything in it, they will literally sell themselves to the devil to get it. That is where the power of God must and will intercede. We can be prosperous, very prosperous, the key, we must only worship God, He must be at the center of all that we do. When everything we do is for God's glory, we can expect great things to happen, yes, we can expect some persecution too, but it all comes with the territory. As Christians, everything we do must show Christ in us, and in doing so we will be blessed. Jesus stresses the importance of glorifying God in all that we do.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 5:16-20.
That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, these were the richest, most religious and influential men in all of Israel, yet they we no more closer to God than the poorest person that did not know Him. Serving God and following a bunch of religious rules has nothing to do with our salvation, we must receive Christ as our Saviour for that. Being obedient to God, except for getting saved, has nothing to do with our salvation, but it has everything to do with our thankfulness and gratitude for the sacrifice Jesus made in giving His life to save us. As Jesus continues speaking He stresses the importance of going above the commands of God. “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” - Matthew 5:43-45.
Even those who do not know Jesus or to follow Him see the light of Him in those who know Him personally. Some will embrace it right away and follow Him as well, others will observe a bit until they know for sure it is Jesus, then will follow Him too. Some will run, make fun of us, and never follow Him. Either way we are His light, the more we do what He did the more we shine, the more we shine, the more blessed we become. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” - James 1:12,17.
Today's Prayer: God, Help me to walk faithfully with You day by day. As I earnestly seek You I will receive the reward You promise to those who do. Daily temptations, doubts, and distractions seek my heart’s affection, but I will remain faithfully committed to You, my Lord and Saviour. Though I’ve not seen You physically Your Spirit indwells me and I am filled with Your joy. No matter what circumstances I face I believe in You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. I know that I can do and endure all things through You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Subscribe To Our Devotions: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
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Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Date: Thursday, October 01, 2015
Chapters: Matthew 4-5 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-274.html
Message Title: Satan's Manipulation, God's Strength To Overcome
Hello My Friend,
There is a culprit behind every sin that is committed, and that is Satan, while he cannot forcibly make us commit sin no more that God can make us not, he is very good at manipulating us to think that we must do it. There is no temptation that we cannot get out of, the only way we fall is when we allow Satan to manipulate us through our desires, lusts, fears, or tears. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” - James 1:13-15.
As I was reading these verses this morning something hit me, I have come a long way since having dedicated my life to Christ. Oh, Christ still has much work to do in me, but at least I am more accountable for my actions than I was when I did not allow Christ to be a part of my life. Everyone gets tempted, God exempts no one from allowing Satan to tempt us, but He does give us a way to keep from falling into the temptation. Jesus was no exception either, Satan did everything he could to try and stop the prophecies from being fulfilled. After Jesus got baptized He was led into the wilderness. It was there that He was tempted by Satan. “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.” - Matthew 4:1-4.
He was afterward an hungred, the easiest way for Satan to tempt us is to get us when we are weak, he cannot tempt us while we are strong so, he waits until we are tired and weak in spirit. Many times we fall into sin out of fear that we are not going to get the things we need. Money, food, clothes, shelter, love, all of these things play on our spirit and it weakens us. God strengthens us only if we turn to Him, and He gives us the very things we need. Another way Satan tempts us is by deception. Satan tempts Jesus again, this time leading Him up to the top of the temple. “Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 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. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” - Matthew 4:5-7.
For it is written, another way that Satan tempts us is by deceiving us into believing that it is God speaking, he knows Scripture, and he will use it try and manipulate us into believing that it came from God. Anytime we use God's Word as a means to do wrong, it is not right, and we better think about what we are doing because it's God we are tempting and have to answer to. When Satan cannot get us through weakness or deception he will try one last thing, lust. Satan tempts Jesus one more time, this time showing Him the kingdoms of the world. “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then 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. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.” - Matthew 4:8-11.
Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, perhaps the biggest downfall of man is power, they want to be on top of the world and everything in it, they will literally sell themselves to the devil to get it. That is where the power of God must and will intercede. We can be prosperous, very prosperous, the key, we must only worship God, He must be at the center of all that we do. When everything we do is for God's glory, we can expect great things to happen, yes, we can expect some persecution too, but it all comes with the territory. As Christians, everything we do must show Christ in us, and in doing so we will be blessed. Jesus stresses the importance of glorifying God in all that we do.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 5:16-20.
That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, these were the richest, most religious and influential men in all of Israel, yet they we no more closer to God than the poorest person that did not know Him. Serving God and following a bunch of religious rules has nothing to do with our salvation, we must receive Christ as our Saviour for that. Being obedient to God, except for getting saved, has nothing to do with our salvation, but it has everything to do with our thankfulness and gratitude for the sacrifice Jesus made in giving His life to save us. As Jesus continues speaking He stresses the importance of going above the commands of God. “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” - Matthew 5:43-45.
Even those who do not know Jesus or to follow Him see the light of Him in those who know Him personally. Some will embrace it right away and follow Him as well, others will observe a bit until they know for sure it is Jesus, then will follow Him too. Some will run, make fun of us, and never follow Him. Either way we are His light, the more we do what He did the more we shine, the more we shine, the more blessed we become. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” - James 1:12,17.
Today's Prayer: God, Help me to walk faithfully with You day by day. As I earnestly seek You I will receive the reward You promise to those who do. Daily temptations, doubts, and distractions seek my heart’s affection, but I will remain faithfully committed to You, my Lord and Saviour. Though I’ve not seen You physically Your Spirit indwells me and I am filled with Your joy. No matter what circumstances I face I believe in You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. I know that I can do and endure all things through You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Subscribe To Our Devotions: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Do You Know For Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://godsprice.com/
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I'm Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
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