"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 t/Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. ..." (Matthew 4:1)
Continuing from the last post, wherein we shared the example of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness, know that there is so much more to learn herein. First and foremost, understand that Jesus is the Bread of life, and in Him do we find all the wisdom and knowledge needed to instruct us in the day to day.
As Jesus said, "I AM the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)
Continuing from the last post, wherein we shared the example of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness, know that there is so much more to learn herein. First and foremost, understand that Jesus is the Bread of life, and in Him do we find all the wisdom and knowledge needed to instruct us in the day to day.
As Jesus said, "I AM the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)
As Jesus also said, "For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world." (John 6:33) And again, Jesus said, "I AM that bread of life." (John 6:48)
Further, Jesus is the Light of the world. For Jesus said, "I AM the light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)
Continuing, it is important to note that Jesus was tempted "after" He became hungry -- after fasting forty days and forty nights. As the scripture saith, when Jesus was afterward hungry, this is when the tempter showed up, trying to outwit the Lord of glory -- as if that were even possible. Still, what did Jesus repeatedly say to the devil? That thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God! (Matthew 4:7)
Even when "the devil [took] Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and shewed 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" ... Jesus said, "Get thee hence, satan: for it is written -- "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." (Matthew 4:8-10)
Even when "the devil [took] Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and shewed 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" ... Jesus said, "Get thee hence, satan: for it is written -- "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." (Matthew 4:8-10)
It is herein that the message is so compelling -- for we live in a world wherein (sadly!) we have become increasingly willing to sell our souls for much less than the thirty pieces of silver that Judas coveted. As the world darkens from the void of his Word in the land, we who profess to believe in Him are listening more to those speaking with forked tongues, or even worse, out of both sides of their mouth rather than every Word which proceeds out of the mouth of God.
This should not come as a surprise because both Jesus and the apostles prophesied of the rise in false prophets in these last days. In fact, the Bible states that in the time of the end, men and women would be lovers of pleasure, more than lovers of God. Thus, more now than ever, we need to look to Jesus for our salvation, making Him the Author and Finisher of our faith. Jesus -- the One and Only God who loved us enough to become our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7; Isaiah 9:6; I Timothy 3:16; Matthew 1:21-23; Revelation 1:8)
But because of the times in which we live, many do not understand what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Neither do they understand that the Lord thy God is One Lord. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31; Ephesians 4:5-6) As apostle Paul writes, this is to our shame. Nevertheless, it is at this juncture that Jesus being tempted in the wilderness has significance because His desire from even before the world was formed is for you and I -- His beloved creation -- to know Him, and in knowing Him understand that His Name (in this dispensation of grace) is JESUS.
As the angel declared, "for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23)
It is for this reason -- "give us this day our daily bread!" We need to understand that the same Spirit of the Lord that moved upon the face of the waters in the beginning loved us -- even then, as His beloved. This is why we who believe should not compromise the good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather feed daily from the Bread of life. In this current dispensation, His Name is JESUS -- the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. The Light of the world!
Stand in the offering plate.
But because of the times in which we live, many do not understand what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Neither do they understand that the Lord thy God is One Lord. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31; Ephesians 4:5-6) As apostle Paul writes, this is to our shame. Nevertheless, it is at this juncture that Jesus being tempted in the wilderness has significance because His desire from even before the world was formed is for you and I -- His beloved creation -- to know Him, and in knowing Him understand that His Name (in this dispensation of grace) is JESUS.
As the angel declared, "for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23)
It is for this reason -- "give us this day our daily bread!" We need to understand that the same Spirit of the Lord that moved upon the face of the waters in the beginning loved us -- even then, as His beloved. This is why we who believe should not compromise the good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather feed daily from the Bread of life. In this current dispensation, His Name is JESUS -- the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. The Light of the world!
Stand in the offering plate.
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