As long as we live on this planet, we will face challenges and temptations. Some challenges make us angry. Others make us upset. Some bring us really down, while others offer a 'screen-saver' dream beyond our imagination.
It's important for us to know, which is the test from the Devil, and which is the opportunity from God. Sometimes, it's very difficult to differentiate. The Devil will always intercept, at any moment, using things which appear very good and noble. That's why we need to pray & continually ask God for direction.
One point to remember : God is NOT the one testing you. It’s the Devil who does all the tempting!
Even Jesus himself was tempted!
The greater your FAITH, the greater your challenge and tests!
When situations or people in your life, bring temptations and troubles – don’t be angry with the people! It’s NOT them! It’s the DEVIL!
A spiritual war is going on. The Devil (powers of darkness) are using people & situations to tempt you.
Those people who tempt you are just weak puppets who are being used by the Devil, to carry out the mastermind plan.
Let’s look at how temptations come, and how the Man Himself handled it, with the real spiritual Devil.
Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil.
2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
How the Devil tempts? – The Devil looks for something you need, & then offers it with an evil motive. He makes you think it's your right to fulfill that need. The Devil knows your weakness and will use it. He will make you think it's your right to take the solution. But his purpose is evil. The Devil knew Jesus was hungry, because he was fasting. So, He tempted Jesus to turn the stone into bread.
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”
How Jesus overcame? – Using the Word (God). Jesus tells the Devil, he doesn’t just survive on physical food, so he doesn’t need the food, even when He has the power to turn stones into bread. Jesus is telling the Devil, he has God’s power. Jesus is telling the Devil that God can take care of him! He doesn’t need the solution offered by the Devil.
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
How the Devil tempts? – The Devil offers you unwarranted risks with potential gain, hoping you will fall. The Devil knows your mission for God, and wants you to fail. The Devil will ask you to do things you know how to do. He won't ask you to do something you can't do! The Devil knew that Jesus’ mission was to die on the cross for the world’s sins – to save the world from hell. Fasting was to prepare Jesus to bear the suffering that was going come on the cross. The Devil knew Jesus had the power jump off a building, and instruct angels to catch him (but perhaps the Devil was not sure if the angels will really catch Jesus). The Devil probably wanted Jesus to ‘test power’ (hoping he would commit suicide), and fail his mission.
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”
How Jesus overcame? – Using the Word (God). Jesus saw through his tricks and told him it’s wrong to test God.
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
How the Devil tempts? – The Devil offers you money, power & pleasure in EXCHANGE for your soul. The Devil wants your soul to suffer with him in Hell, once you die. When you are a Christian, you pursue high standards of holiness. The world may offer you money, power and pleasure – but it may mean, you have to lower your standards of holiness. Maybe you won’t have time for God and church anymore. Maybe, in your job, you’ll have to drink & party, and follow the ways of SIN (Devil). When you love SIN, it automatically means, you are worshipping the Devil. This means you’ll have to go against your values and stop following God.
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’
How Jesus overcame? – Using the Word (God). Jesus tells the Devil, in life, we must worship only God. We must pursue holiness in every way of life (personal or job). We must love God more than anything else in this world. Jesus chases the Devil away, and the devil gets lost!
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
It's important for us to know, which is the test from the Devil, and which is the opportunity from God. Sometimes, it's very difficult to differentiate. The Devil will always intercept, at any moment, using things which appear very good and noble. That's why we need to pray & continually ask God for direction.
One point to remember : God is NOT the one testing you. It’s the Devil who does all the tempting!
Even Jesus himself was tempted!
The greater your FAITH, the greater your challenge and tests!
When situations or people in your life, bring temptations and troubles – don’t be angry with the people! It’s NOT them! It’s the DEVIL!
A spiritual war is going on. The Devil (powers of darkness) are using people & situations to tempt you.
Those people who tempt you are just weak puppets who are being used by the Devil, to carry out the mastermind plan.
Let’s look at how temptations come, and how the Man Himself handled it, with the real spiritual Devil.
Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil.
2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
How the Devil tempts? – The Devil looks for something you need, & then offers it with an evil motive. He makes you think it's your right to fulfill that need. The Devil knows your weakness and will use it. He will make you think it's your right to take the solution. But his purpose is evil. The Devil knew Jesus was hungry, because he was fasting. So, He tempted Jesus to turn the stone into bread.
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”
How Jesus overcame? – Using the Word (God). Jesus tells the Devil, he doesn’t just survive on physical food, so he doesn’t need the food, even when He has the power to turn stones into bread. Jesus is telling the Devil, he has God’s power. Jesus is telling the Devil that God can take care of him! He doesn’t need the solution offered by the Devil.
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
How the Devil tempts? – The Devil offers you unwarranted risks with potential gain, hoping you will fall. The Devil knows your mission for God, and wants you to fail. The Devil will ask you to do things you know how to do. He won't ask you to do something you can't do! The Devil knew that Jesus’ mission was to die on the cross for the world’s sins – to save the world from hell. Fasting was to prepare Jesus to bear the suffering that was going come on the cross. The Devil knew Jesus had the power jump off a building, and instruct angels to catch him (but perhaps the Devil was not sure if the angels will really catch Jesus). The Devil probably wanted Jesus to ‘test power’ (hoping he would commit suicide), and fail his mission.
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”
How Jesus overcame? – Using the Word (God). Jesus saw through his tricks and told him it’s wrong to test God.
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
How the Devil tempts? – The Devil offers you money, power & pleasure in EXCHANGE for your soul. The Devil wants your soul to suffer with him in Hell, once you die. When you are a Christian, you pursue high standards of holiness. The world may offer you money, power and pleasure – but it may mean, you have to lower your standards of holiness. Maybe you won’t have time for God and church anymore. Maybe, in your job, you’ll have to drink & party, and follow the ways of SIN (Devil). When you love SIN, it automatically means, you are worshipping the Devil. This means you’ll have to go against your values and stop following God.
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’
How Jesus overcame? – Using the Word (God). Jesus tells the Devil, in life, we must worship only God. We must pursue holiness in every way of life (personal or job). We must love God more than anything else in this world. Jesus chases the Devil away, and the devil gets lost!
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
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PRAY for yourself, and those around you. PRAY, even for the people whom the Devil uses to tempt you. Pray that they will wake up and stop being used by the Devil.
If something is from God, it will be clear, with nothing to hide. It will not take you away from God, or your values. There will be no hidden agenda.
DEAL WITH the REAL SOURCE OF TEMPTATION, in the SPIRITUAL WORLD. Deal with the spiritual devil itself!
Don’t hate the person, but be very careful with them.
Say to the Devil, “Away from me, Satan!” and he will get lost! Don't say it direct to people's faces. Talk to people with wisdom, but say it strongly in your PRAYER.
The Devil will come back again, with new challenges, using the same or new people & situations, after you pass each test. But his TECHNIQUE IS ALWAYS THE SAME, as what the mastermind used on Jesus.
See, Jesus already showed us.BE STRONG IN THE LORD & follow Jesus’ example. It's not easy, but don’t give in to the Devil.
Instead, chase the Devil away with GOD'S WORD, continue to live holy - then, you can win – EVERY TIME.
If something is from God, it will be clear, with nothing to hide. It will not take you away from God, or your values. There will be no hidden agenda.
DEAL WITH the REAL SOURCE OF TEMPTATION, in the SPIRITUAL WORLD. Deal with the spiritual devil itself!
Don’t hate the person, but be very careful with them.
Say to the Devil, “Away from me, Satan!” and he will get lost! Don't say it direct to people's faces. Talk to people with wisdom, but say it strongly in your PRAYER.
The Devil will come back again, with new challenges, using the same or new people & situations, after you pass each test. But his TECHNIQUE IS ALWAYS THE SAME, as what the mastermind used on Jesus.
See, Jesus already showed us.BE STRONG IN THE LORD & follow Jesus’ example. It's not easy, but don’t give in to the Devil.
Instead, chase the Devil away with GOD'S WORD, continue to live holy - then, you can win – EVERY TIME.
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