Matthew 4: 3- 9 Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted….

STORY

Matthew 4: 3- 9

"Matthew 4: 3- 9"

Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted….

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become 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.’

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.’

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’

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.”

At the end of power there is praise.  Power summons applause, acknowledgement and authority.  The Almighty God is a jealous God. HE demands the glory. Everything thing we do should point back to HIM.  It’s a boomerang of a world that we live in. God made all things to praise HIM, even the demons.  They were kicked out of heaven because they tried to usurp HIS supremacy. The devil tried to deflect, to revert some of God’s glory to himself.  That’s it right there, EGO. The moment we begin to make it about us we begin to loose. Jesus often always reverted back to the Father, HIS father.  We need to discipline ourselves to do the same. We need to review our motives continuously. Who are we trying to impress? Who are we trying to please? Whose agenda are we on?  We should be careful not to loose sight of the mission. What does God require of me? Am I pleasing HIM? Am I in sync with the leading of HIS Holy Spirit?

It was not an accident...

 Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  It was an important part of the agenda.  The wilderness established HIS allegiance.  It prepared HIM for the road ahead. It was HIS starting line to identify the temptations that the devil would throw at HIM; and the mission HE was on.  Jesus declared from the get- go that HE was not about to give the devil any glory for any ‘fame/ fortune/ or misfortune’ that could lie in front and/ ahead of HIM. 

• Bread – referred to strength – physical sustenance i.e. emotional appeal.The devil appealed to Jesus’ nature – the biggest physical threat at the time; the thing which would have been on HIS mind – food. Jesus had just completed 40 days of no food.  HE was famished. The 1st obstacle/ thing in HIS human experience to overcome would have been his physical desire – hunger. Hunger makes us weak. It’s a natural response of the body. When we are weak it interferes with our focus. For Jesus, it was food.  But what is my biggest physical desire? What do I crave? What am I hungry for? It will interfere with my focus. It will make me weak if I don’t address it dead on.

• Performance – referred to psychology – i.e. mental appeal.  We act according to our beliefs. The quality of our performance is based on the standard of our perception.  What does the best look like and whose standards are those? An excellent performance warrants praise. Who are we trying to please or impress.  If I’m trying to please you then am I doing what is on your agenda? If I’m trying to be popular then I’m swayed by the crowd. Our performance is always in comparison to something/  Performance – referred to psychology – i.e. mental appeal.  We act according to our beliefs. The quality of our performance is based on the standard of our perception.  What does our best look like and whose standards are those? An excellent performance warrants praise. Who are we trying to please or impress.  If I’m trying to please you then am I doing what is on your agenda? If I’m trying to be popular then I’m swayed by the crowd. Our performance is always in comparison to something/ someone else – a challenge.  The devil was calling Jesus to a challenge.  He did the same thing with Eve in the garden of Eden.  God calls us to obedience not comparison. Our roles are specific based on HIS ordinance.  God created man. Performance should be derived from purpose.  I am a car hence I drive.  I am a boat hence I sail. I am a man hence I’m obedient. I worship.  I need to be careful not to be influenced by my own opinion nor any other person's opinion but God's.
  

• Praise – referred to power i.e. spiritual appeal.  Life and death is in the power of the tongue. The devil wanted Jesus to praise him.  He was willing to trade power for praise. The power is in the praise.  What we say has an adverse effect on our environs.  There is a spiritual world/ realm that exists simultaneous to the physical world.  The spiritual world is of more significance than the physical world i.e. more powerful. Both worlds have a ruling powers who dominate each territory. Both territories are at war with each other. The fight happens in the spiritual realm and then manifests itself in the physical realm.  Genesis 1 Originally God gave man power to dominate the physical territories.  But then man was deceived by the devil and gave/transferred that power to the devil.  So the devil continues to controls the physical realm if and when man allows him to.  This is because After Jesus Christ came to earth HE gave man the power to take back his authority from the devil.  At the end of the day, it's man's decision.
  

Galatians 5: 16 - 18

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

There is a conflict of interest....

The thing about the fight is that humans are the conduits/ vessels – used. Romans 6 We allow/ choose which god we will allow to use us. We choose which god to serve. That choice dictates our agendas. Each god has his own agenda. Both gods are enemies.  The god of the physical world is satan, and the God of the spiritual world is the Almighty God. The spiritual world/ realm also requires strength to focus and fulfill an agenda; primarily God’s agenda. 

 

Bread is the physical food that gives physical strength; and the Word Of God is the spiritual (bread) food that gives spiritual strength.

Matthew 4:4

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.

Authority is reflected in speech. The more we speak the word of God in our circumstances, the more spiritually fit we become. And like Jesus, when the devil comes to tempt us we impress and please God with our response. We fight spirit with spirit.  Pay attention: Like Jesus, it is important that you be led by the Holy Spirit.  Do not attempt the wilderness in your own strength.  Do not attempt life in your own strength.  Also, it is imperative that you know The Word.

Psalms 119:11 

Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against THEE. 

All of God’s word from Adam and Eve to Revelation has one aim which is to give glory to The Almighty God. Everything that has breadth was made to praise the Lord! Everything that God made, HE made it to worship HIM.  You cannot worship God and mammon, either you will love one and hate the other.  I pray that like Joshua you will be able to say: Choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house we will serve The Lord. Joshua 24

TESTIMONY:  Miracles After Fasting | Storytime | The Power of God Through Fasting | Healing Testimony

WORSHIP: Come Holy Spirit // House of Heroes Worship // GMF Netherlands & Myanmar Choir

When you are tempted use God's word as your weapon, not your emotions!