Tag: tempted
“It is written”
Scripture reading for March 7: Luke 4
“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, He was hungry. The devil said to him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.'” Luke 4:1-4
Immediately after Jesus’ baptism by John in the Jordan, the Holy Spirit descended on Him and God confirmed His Sonship and pleasure. The Holy Spirit then led Jesus into the wilderness for a forty day period of testing. These forty days mirrored the forty years of Israel’s testing in that same wilderness and the forty days of taunting by Goliath. During these forty days of isolation in the Judean wilderness, Jesus ate no food. He voluntarily fasted and purposely drew near to His Father and meditated on His Word. The power and comfort of the Holy Spirit and the spiritual manna of God’s Word provided all that was needed for Jesus to maintain strength and health.
It is recorded that after the forty days, Jesus was hungry. At this point, the devil called out to Him with a taunt: “If You are the Son of God . . .”. The devil was tempting Jesus to use His position and supernatural power to meet His need in contradiction to God’s Word: “Man shall not live by bread alone.” (“but by every Word that comes from God’s mouth.” Deuteronomy 8:3) Jesus chose to live by God’s Word and refuse the devil’s suggestion. Unlike the Israelites, Jesus did not succumb to Satan’s temptation. Unlike the Israelites who cowered for forty days because of Goliath’s taunts, Jesus stood on God’s Truth. Jesus’ world view put God first and not His own needs or desires. His fasting and focus brought God’s Word out of His mouth.
Have you or are you currently going through a time of testing? Are you currently filled with the Holy Spirit or just depending on your own strength? What priority does God’s Word have in your handling of this testing? How does this passage give you tools to help you overcome all temptations and fear?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for testing our faith and trust in You and Your Word. Thank You for the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Father’s Gift, to empower each person to draw near to God and meditate on His Word. Bring overcoming power to each one going through testing that they may declare: “It is written!” Amen!
Our merciful and faithful Priest
Scripture reading for August 9th: Hebrews 2
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 2:14-17 “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that He helps, but He helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
Mankind is flesh and blood, created in the image of God. Because of this, Jesus Christ came to earth and took on flesh and blood to fully identify with mankind, yet without their sin nature. He did this that He might suffer and die for our sins and lift the curse of sin and death from all who would believe in Him. He was made like the offspring of Abraham and fully identified with them, suffering temptation but remaining in obedient love of His Father and serving Him in the process of offering His body and blood as propitiation for the sins of His people. Those under the fear of death because of sin found deliverance and the one holding them in fear, the devil, was destroyed by the obedient sacrifice of the Son. Hallelujah! We are set free by the merciful and faithful Priest, Jesus Christ our Lord!
Hebrews 2:18 “For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father, Your amazing Son and His faithful and obedient love for You and for us brings me to my knees! What love is this? Greater love has no man than that he give his life for his friends! I am thankful that Jesus Christ understands my weakness and temptations and is able to come to my aid today! He is worthy of all worship and honor and praise!
Psalm 22:22-23 “I will tell of Your Name to My brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise You: You who fear the Lord, praise Him, and stand in awe of Him, all you offspring of Israel.” (Hebrews 2:12)
Jesus shared our humanity!
Scripture reading for October 14th: Hebrews 2
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Hebrews 2:14-18 “Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death–that is the devil–and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels He helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Jesus was God in the flesh. He shared our humanity and felt and understood what it is like to be tempted and to suffer. He had a real human body and real feelings and emotions. He suffered temptation just like we did but in contrast to us, He did not yield to temptation. His goal was to fulfill the Law by perfect obedience so that He could die in our place and cover our sins with His perfect blood! He is able to help His brothers in their sufferings and temptation because He identified with them! Praise the Lord!
Observations for over-comers: God met our deepest need by sending His own Son in a human body. Jesus Christ perfectly kept God’s law after being tempted and suffering like us and offered His own body and blood to cover our sin! “I will declare Your Name to My brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing Your praises.” (Psalm 22:22) (Hebrews 2:12)