Temptation and Wisdom

Jesus was tempted in 3 areas. So are you.

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman

06-22-2011

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matt 4:1).


Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan! After 40 days of fasting, when Jesus was at his weakest physically, Satan came to Him. He tempted Him in 3 areas where you and I are most tempted. Why would the Father require this? Jesus needed to affirm to Satan who He was and from whom He gained His authority and provision.




1) Our identity
"'If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: "He shall give His angels charge over you," and, "In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone."' Jesus said to him, 'It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'" Jesus understood His identity and refused to allow Satan to redefine Him. Do not allow Satan to define your identity from anyone or anything other than God.


2) Our authority
Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. "And he said to Him, 'All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.' Jesus said to him, 'It is written again, "You shall not tempt the LORD your God."'" Jesus' authority was rooted in doing only what He saw the Father do. He did not use fleshly authority.


3) Our source of provision
"And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, 'If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.' But He answered and said, 'It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."'"




Today, realize your identify resides in being a son or daughter of your Heavenly Father. Your authority resides in being led by the Holy Spirit. Your provision comes from your Heavenly Father.


Today's Prayer
God, I realize that because I am a Christian, I am in "Full-Time" Christian service. Some Christians are called to foreign lands. Others are called to minister in the workplace or on the home front. I am called to minister and to worship you where I am. Please, God, help me to see my work and my daily activities as a means to worship to you. Demonstrate your power through my life so that others might experience you through me today. Thank you, my loving and all-powerful God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.




Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.

Nothing Less Than God’s Optimum for Your Life

Pastor Adrian Rogers

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11


Do you love Christ? Do you long to please Him with all your heart? Then remember this: God’s delays are not God’s denials.

Many a Christian feels he is out in the wilderness — that all he is doing is being led about in circles. Maybe God is grooming you. He is not ready to thrust you into heavy responsibilities as yet. He has you in a holding pattern for His holy purpose. Life is a journey that does not end. God is preparing something wonderful for you. He doesn’t want you to settle for less than His optimum for your life and your work.


Commit Jeremiah 29:11-13 to memory this week, then share this truth with a friend!


For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit http://www.lwf.org/.

Passing the Test of Your Faith

Bayless Conley

In yesterday's devotional, we saw how God desires for us to be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing; but the road to that is the testing of our faith.


The natural question is, "What does it take to succeed when the test comes?" There are two cooperating forces which must be at work. James 1:4-5 shows us what those two forces are,


But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.


The first force is patience. James' point is, "Don't quit before the answer comes. Let patience have full play, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."


Hebrews 10:36, says it this way,


For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.


You and I may actually have done the will of God, done what God wants us to do, but if we don't exercise endurance, we won't receive the promise. That is the importance of patience.


The second cooperating force at work to pass the test of your faith is wisdom. If you lack wisdom, if you can't see the forest for the trees in the midst of your trial, you can ask God and He will give it…liberally and without reproach.


God delights when you ask for wisdom. And He won't belittle you or find fault with you for asking.


So if you find your faith on trial, if you are being sorely tested, ask God for wisdom and patiently endure. Without these two forces, you will never know victory!


Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God


Today's Scripture Reading:

"If you have been foolish and proud,
of if you have planned evil, shut your mouth.
Just stirring milk makes butter,
and twisting noses make them bleed,
so stirring up anger causes trouble."
Proverbs 30: 32-33

Speak up for the those who cannot speak for themselves;
defend the rights of all those who have nothing.
Speak up and judge fairly,
and defend the rights of the poor and needy. 
Proverbs 31: 8-9

The Good Wife
"She is strong and is respected by the people
She looks forward to the future with joy.
She speaks wise words over her family
and never wastes her time..."
Proverbs 31: 26-27


 

Prophecy in the News