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THERE ARE THOSE WE TRUST, AND THERE ARE THOSE WE HAVE NO TRUST IN. MANY TIMES WE TRUST PEOPLE AND FIND OUT LATER THEY ARE NOT TRUST WORTHY. HOW CAN WE AS BELIEVERS KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?
MOST OF THE TIME IT’S THROUGH A PROCESS OF WAITING TO SEE IF THEY BETRAY OUR TRUST, OR HOLD TO THE TRUST WE PLACED IN THEM IN AN ADMIRABLE WAY.
TRUST IS FAITH IN ACTION. TRUST MEANS: TO PUT ONE’S CONFIDENCE IN.
IN THE WORD OF GOD, WE FIND INSTRUCTIONS IN WHAT NOT TO PUT OUR TRUST. I WILL LIST THEM: WEAPONS (PS. 44:6); WEALTH (PS.49:6,7); LEADERS (PS. 146:3); MAN (JER 17:5); WORKS (JER. 48:7); OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (EZEK. 33:13).
THIS SHOWS US WE CAN’T PUT OUR TRUST IN THINGS, PEOPLE, NOR OURSELVES. WELL, THAT COVERS ALMOST EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING BUT GOD, THAT IS.
WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE, MUCH OF THE TIME, PUT THEIR TRUST IN THINGS, PEOPLE, AND THEMSELVES, BEFORE THEY PUT THEIR TRUST IN GOD?
BELOVED, THIS IS THE WAY OF THE WORLD. WEAPONS, WEALTH, LEADERS, MANKIND, OUR WORKS, AND EVEN OUR RIGHTEOUS- NESS CAN FAIL US AT ANY TIME.
THE WORLD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE GOD AS THEIR SOURCE OF TRUST, BUT WE AS CHRISTIANS TRUST GOD FOR EVERYTHING, EVERYDAY.
OUR TRUST IS TO BE PUT IN GOD’S NAME: PSALM 33:20-22 – OUR SOUL WAITETH FOR THE LORD: HE IS OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD.
FOR OUR HEART SHALL REJOICE IN HIM, BECAUSE WE HAVE TRUSTED IN HIS HOLY NAME.
LET THY MERCY, O LORD, BE UPON US, ACCORDING AS WE HOPE IN THEE.
OUR TRUST IS TO BE PUT IN GOD’S MERCY: PSALM 52:8 – BUT I AM LIKE A GREEN OLIVE TREE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD: I TRUST IN THE MERCY OF GOD FOR EVER AND EVER.
OUR TRUST IS TO BE PLACED IN GOD’S WORD: PSALM 119:41 – LET THEY MERCIES COME ALSO UNTO ME, O LORD, EVEN OUR SALVATION, ACCORDING TO THY WORD.
SO SHALL I HAVE WHEREWITH TO ANSWER HIM THAT REPROACHETH ME: FOR I TRUST IN THY WORD.
WHEN GOD’S FAVOR IS MANIFESTED TO US, WE CAN SUFFICENTLY ANSWER OUR ENEMIES WITH THE WORD. WE TRUST IN GOD’S WORD: WE TRUST IN HIS PROMISES THAT ARE CONTAINED IN HIS WORD, FOR HIS SERVANTS.
MATTHEW 12:17-21 – THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY ISAIAH THE PROPHET, SAYING,
BEHOLD MY SERVANT, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN: MY BELOVED, IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL PLEASED:
I WILL PUT MY TRUST UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL SHOW MY JUDGMENT OT THE GENTILES.
HE SHALL NOT STRIVE NOR CRY; NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.
A BRUISED REED SHALL HE NOT BREAK, AND SMOKING FLAX SHALL HE NOT QUINCH, TILL HE SEND FORTH JUDGMENT INTO VICTORY.
AND IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES TRUST.
THIS IS DESCRIBING WHAT JESUS DID FOR OUR SALVATION; AND WE CAN PUT OUR TRUST IN HIM AND WHAT HE DID FOR US. ALL OF US, GENTILES AND JEWS ALIKE, CAN PUT OUR TRUST IN HIM FOR ETERNAL LIFE.
THIS BEING THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL, THERE ARE MORE WONDERFUL BENEFITS TO TRUSTING CHRIST: BENEFITS OF JOY: PSALM 5;11 – BUT LET ALL THOSE THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN THEE REJOICE: LET THEM EVER SHOUT FOR JOY, BECAUSE THOU DEFENDEST THEM: LET THEM ALSO THAT LOVE THY NAME BE JOYFUL IN THEE.
IT’S EASY TO HAVE JOY WHEN THINGS ARE GOING GREAT, BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE STILL PUTTING OUT TRUST IN GOD AND THINGS ARE NOT SO GREAT?
I EXPERIENCED THIS ONE DAY A WHILE BACK, AND THE DAY BEFORE THAT.
FIRST, MY MOTHER HAD CANCER IN HER ARM, AND IT WAS REMOVED. THANK GOD, THE DOCTOR THINKS HE GOT IT ALL. THIS WAS HARD FOR ME AND MY SIBLINGS BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR MOTHER AND HAD ALREADY SEEN OUR DADDY, WHO WE LOVED DEARLY, PASS WITH LUNG CANCER BECAUSE OF SMOKING.
I DROVE BACK HOME TO BE COMFORTED BY MY HUSBAND WHO WAS WAITING FOR ME: AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE TOLD ME, WAS OUR PET, ROSIE, WAS VERY SICK AND SHE WAS TO BE PUT TO SLEEP THE NEXT DAY. I WAS CRUSHED. THIS WAS JUST TOO MUCH.
I WAS STILL DEALING WITH MY TRUST IN GOD TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER, NOW THIS. ROSIE WAS OUR SPRINGER SPANIEL, WHO WAS QUITE A PERSONALITY, BUT VERY OLD AND WEAK. I LOVED HER SO MUCH.
I JUST HAD TO GET ALONE WITH GOD. I DIDN’T WANT MY HUSBAND TO DO THIS, BUT HIS MIND WAS MADE UP, AND IN THE END, I KNEW I HAD TO SURRENDER TO THIS. IT WASWHAT WAS BEST FOR ROSIE.
I CRIED AND CRIED, IT WAS SO HARD. I POURED OUT MY HEART TO THE LORD. HE BEGAN TO COMFORT ME WITH HIS WORD. THE SCRIPTURES BEGAN TO COME THROUGH MY TEARS. GOD INSTRUCTED ME WITH THAT STILL SMALL VOICE TO TURN TO PSALM 34 AND 44. ALL OF IT MINISTERED TO ME, BUT ONE VERSE IN PSALM 34, VERSE 18, GAVE ME THE GREATEST COMFORT OF ALL – THE LORD IS NIGH UNTO THEM THAT ARE OF A BROKEN HEART; AND SAVETH SUCH AS BE OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT.
I WAS THINKING, WHAT IS CONTRITE? THE DEFINITION IN STRONG’S IS: CRUSHED, AND POWDER.
THIS BROUGHT ME BACK TO A SERMON, IN FACT IT WAS THE FIRST SERMON I HEARD TD JAKES PREACH. IT WAS CALLED “ASHES.” HE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE CAN COME TO THE PLACE THAT WE ARE SO CRUSHED THAT WE BECOME THE POWDER FROM THE FIRE, WE CALL ASHES.
AS WE SERVE THE LORD, AND CONTINUE TO TRUST HIM THROUGH THESE HARD PLACES. HE BEGINS TO ELEVATE OUR FAITH, BECAUSE WE KNOW, WITHOUT A DOUBT, WE WILL NEVER COME THROUGH THESE THINGS ALONE.
I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE WHO DON’T KNOW THE LORD, GET THROUGH THESE HARD TO UNDERSTAND THINGS. A DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, OR A LOSE OF A CHILD. THEY CAN’T GET HELP THEY NEED FROM THE WORLD THAT BRINGS JOY.
WELL, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME: THE LORD RESTORED MY JOY AND GAVE ME PEACE AS I BEGAN TO WORSHIP HIM IN IT.
* PART 2 COMING UP.
AS I MOVE ACROSS THIS EARTH AND GATHER MY PEOPLE FROM NATION TO NATION, YOU WILL SEE A GREAT AFFLICTION AGAINST THEIR ENEMY. HE WILL LOOSE GROUND AS THE TIME COMES FOR MY RETURN. I HAVE ALL YOU NEED AND YOUR SAFETY IS SECURE, BUT GREAT DEPTHS OF MY OWN JUDGMENT IS ON THE HORIZON. YOU WILL SEE IT AND WILL FROWN AT MY WORK, BUT YOU WILL KNOW IT IS ME. I AM NOT HERE TO DESTROY, BUT I AM HERE TO SECURE YOUR SAFETY. GO AHEAD AND DO YOUR DAILY TASKS AND WATCH AND PRAY. MY TIME IS UPON ALL WHO WOULD TURN THEIR BACK UPON ME. YOU WILL SEE ME AND KNOW I HAVE COVERED YOU. YOUR BACK IS PROTECTED BUT YOU WILL KNOW ALSO THAT I AM LEADING NO MATTER WHAT YOU SEE.
(This was given to me as I sought the Lord in my “secret place” this morning)
HEBREWS 13:21
MAKE YOU PERFECT IN EVERY GOOD WORK TO DO HIS WILL, WORKING IN YOU THAT WHICH IS WELL PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST; TO WHOM BE GLORY FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN
AS WE YIELD OUR LIVES TO THE LORD, HE DOES A PERFECT WORK IN US, MAKING US PERFECTLY WHAT HE PURPOSED YOU AND I TO BECOME. OUR LIVES ARE DIRECTED TO GOD GIVEN PURPOSE.
THIS IS THE COURSE WE RUN, HE LAYS IT OUT FOR US. HE SETS US APART FOR HIS DESTINY FOR OUR LIVES.
WE SURRENDER TO HIS WILL, THE LORD PERFECTLY DIRECTS OUR LIVES INTO THE GOOD WORKS OF HIS WILL. WE PERFECTLY BECOME THAT WHICH HE INTENDED US TO BE. WE ARE SURRENDERED TO HIS PURPOSE, HIS WILL.
FOR THIS TO HAPPEN THERE MUST BE TOTAL SURRENDER TO HIS WILL, NO REBELLION. OUR COMMITMENT TO HIS PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES, MUST BE AS OUR LORD SURRENDERED TO THE FATHERS WILL IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE.
THE FATHER WANTS TO USE US TO BEAR FRUIT, MORE FRUIT, MUCH FRUIT FOR HIS KINGDOM. AS WE LIVE IN HIM HE MAKES IT HAPPEN. IT IS A WORK OF FAITH AND OBEDIENCE. WE ARE A LIVING SACRIFICE, COMMITED TO HIS PERFECT WILL.
ACTS 1:8 – BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDEA, AND IN SAMARIA, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.
THE NEW BIRTH IS A WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
JESUS SAID IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN – JOHN 14:17 – EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH; WHOM THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE, BECAUSE IT SEETH HIM NOT, NEITHER KNOWETH HIM: BUT YE KNOW HIM: FOR HE DWELLETH WITH YOU, AND SHALL BE IN YOU.
THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS WITH THE DISCIPLES, BUT AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, HE CAME INSIDE THEM, AND AT PENTECOST HE CAME UPON THEM WITH POWER.
THE BIBLE TEACHES US, AT THE NEW BIRTH, THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN US. WE CAN SEEK THE LORD AND AND GET FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, BUT WE CAN GO A STEP FURTHER AND BE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
POWER FROM ON HIGH.
WE DON’T CHOOSE OUR MINISTRY, BUT WE DO CHOOSE THE LEVEL OF ANOINTING WE WALK IN.
IN THE BOOK OF LUKE, CHAPTER ELEVEN, VERSE THIRTEEN, JESUS TAUGHT US TO ASK FOR MORE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE CAN HAVE ALL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WE DESIRE. IF WE WILL ASK, SEEK AND KNOCK. PENTECOST WILL COME UPON YOU WITH POWER. JESUS SAID IF ANY MAN THIRST LET HIM COME UNTO HIM AND DRINK, AND OUT OF YOU INNERMOST BEING WILL FLOW A RIVER OF POWER AND BLESSING.
JOHN18:36-37 JESUS ANSWERED, MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD, IF MY KINGDOM WERE OF THIS WORLD, THEN WOULD MY SERVANTS FIGHT, THAT I WOULD NOT BE DELIVERED TO THE JEWS: BUT NOW IS MY KINGDOM FROM HENCE.
PILATE THEREFORE SAID UNTO HIM, ART THOU A KING THEN? JESUS ANSWERED , THOU SAYEST THAT I AM A KING. TO THIS END WAS I BORN, AND FOR THIS CAUSE I CAME INTO THE WORLD, THAT I SHOULD BEAR WITNESS UNTO THE TRUTH. EVERY ONE THAT IS OF THE TRUTH HEARETH MY VOICE.
JESUS CAME WITH A MISSION, HE CAME TO REDEEM AND TO RESTORE.
HE CAME TO RECLAIM DOMINION LOST BY THE FIRST MAN ADAM.
GOD BECAME FLESH AND LIMITED HIMSELF ON LEGAL TERMS, NOT VIOLATING HIS OWN AUTHORITY, BUT LIMITED HIMSELF TO THE ANOINTING AND THE POWER OF A SINLESS LIFE.
HE PREACHED THE TRUTH, BUT HE WAS AND IS TRUTH.
JESUS RESTORED THE KINGDOM RULE OF GOD ON THIS EARTH IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM.
HE RULES THROUGH A BODY OF BELIEVERS IN ALL NATIONS.
JESUS’ FIRST PHASE OF KINGDOM RULE IS THRU BELIEVERS BY THE POWER OF HIS WORD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
WE ARE LED BY HIS SPIRIT THROUGH THE LIVING WORD OF GOD, WE TRUST AND OBEY AND WE RELEASE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AS WE PREACH, TEACH, WITNESS AND PRAY THE GOSPEL INTO THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
SATAN’S KINGDOM IS COMING DOWN, BY THE POWER OF THE KING, JESUS, AND HIS KINGDOM.
THE CHURCH IS PROCLAIMING THE KINGDOM IN THIS WORLD, THE POWER OF SATAN IS BEING BROKEN AND DESTROYED BY THE ANOINTING OF GOD.
THE DEVIL’S DOMINION IS BROKEN OVER THE LIVES OF PEOPLE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
PROFF OF THIS FACT, I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, FORGIVEN, AND EMPOWERED THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS PRESENT NOW AND YET TO COME.
JESUS IS NOT ONLY THE KING OF THE JEWS, OF WHOM WE HAVE GREAT LOVE, BUT HE IS THE KING OF PEOPLE OF ALL NATIONS WHO KNOW HIM IN THEIR HEART.
SATANS POWER IS BEING BROKEN THROUGH THE POWER OF KINGDOM SAINTS WHO PRAY FOR NATIONS, CITIES AND LANDS. WHO BOLDLY WITNESS FOR JESUS.
SATAN WANTS TO BLIND THE SPIRITUAL EYES OF SAINTS AND MAKE THEM BELIEVE THEY HAVE NO DELEGATED AUTHORITY, BUT THIS IS NOT TRUE. WE HAVE AUTHORITY DELEGATED TO US BY OUR KING JESUS.
JESUS RESTORED HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH AND IS COMING TO RULE AND REIGN A THOUSAND YEARS ON THIS EARTH AND THEN GOD WILL RULE FOR ETERNITY. WE WILL RULE ALSO UNDER HIS KINGDOM AUTHORITY.
THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
WE ARE NEAR THE RETURN OF THE LORD TO CATCH HIS BRIDE AWAY, WORK TILL HE COME.
SECOND PHASE IS ON THE WAY.
1ST PETER 2:24 WHO HIS OWN SELF BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE, THAT WE , BEING DEAD TO SINS, SHOULD LIVE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS: BY WHOSE STRIPES YE WERE HEALED.
WHAT A POWERFUL VERSE, JESUS BORE OUR SINS ON THE CROSS.
THE POWER OF THIS ACT ON THE CROSS GAVE US POWER OVER SIN.
WE WERE OFFERED FORGIVENESS OF OUR SIN,IF WE ACCEPTED BY FAITH, WE WERE GIVEN GRACE TO BE DEAD TO SINS. SIN WILL NO LONGER HAVE POWER OVER US.
THIS GRACE THROUGH RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LIVING CHRIST GIVES US STRENGTH TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION.
EVER MAN IS TEMPTED WHEN HE IS DRAWN AWAY WITH HIS OWN LUST.
THERE IS A CURE FOR THIS, AS OUR MIND IS RENEWED BY THE WORD OF GOD AND A CONTINUAL FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
JESUS HUNG ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS.
HE DID THIS FOR US BUT WE MUST STUDY THE WORD OF GOD, PRAY, WORSHIP AND PRAISE WITH A THANKFUL HEART, THATS OUR PART OF THE BLESSING OF RELATIONSHIP.
WE THROUGH HIM CAN NOW LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE.
YOU SEE, THE CROSS WAS ALL ABOUT US, JESUS CAME FOR US TO REDEEM US AND LIVE IN US.
BUT NOW ITS NOT ALL ABOUT US, BUT FOR ME ITS ALL ABOUT HIM.
HED PURSUED ME AND CAUGHT ME, NOW I AM PURSUING HIM EVERYDAY AND CATCHING HIM.
WHAT A BLESSING TO PURSUE GOD.
NOTICE THIS, THE WORD OF GOD CONNECTS SALVATION OF THE SOUL TO HEALING.
NOT ONLY DID JESUS DIE FOR OUR SINS, HE WAS WHIPPED AND BRUISED TO TAKE AWAY SICKNESS.
SURELY HE HATH BORNE OUR SICKNESS AND CARRIED OUR PAIN.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A THEOLOGIAN TO UNDERESTAND THIS CONNECTION.
JESUS IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER.
WHAT HE DID ON THE CROSS WAS NOT TEMPORARY, IT WAS A COMPLETE WORK.
SALVATION IS ALL INCLUSIVE , SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY.
JESUS FILLS OUR SPIRIT WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE FILL OUR MIND WITH THE WORD OF GOD, HE FILLS OUR BODY WITH HEALING.
I HAVE BEEN HEALED MANY TIMES, MY WIFE AND I HAVE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE HEALED BY THE POWER OF GOD.
YOU CAN PREACH SALVATION AND NOT ONLY TO PEOPLE GET SAVED, MANY WILL GET HEALED.
YOU CAN PREACH HEALING AND NOT ONLY DO PEOPLE GET HEALED, BUT PEOPLE GET SAVED.
THE GOSPEL IS GOOD NEWS NOT ONLY TO THE UNSAVED BUT TO THE SAVED.
JESUS LOVES US WHY LEAVE HALF OF THE BENEFITS OF SALVATION ON THE TABLE.
TAKE ALL HIS BENEFITS, DROWN YOUR RELIGIOUS IDEAS THAT CAME FROM THE PITS OF HELL.
WHO GAVE MAN THE AUTHORITY TO DENY THE POWER OF GOD .
HEALING IS CONNECTED TO THE CROSS.
GLORY BE TO GOD, BE HEALED IN THE NAME OF JESUS. IF YOU WILL BELIEVE IT GOD WILL DO IT, ITS ALREADY PAID FOR.
RECEIVE IN JESUS’ NAME, BE HEALED. CLAIM IT AND ENJOY THE BLESSING.
MAY GOD BLESS THIS MESSAGE AND YOU
MARK 1:10-13 – AND STRAIGHTWAY COMING UP OUT OF THE WATER, HE SAW THE HEAVEN’S OPENED, AND THE SPIRIT LIKE A DOVE DESCENDED UPON HIM: AND THERE CAME A VOICE FROM HEAVEN, SAYING,THOU ART MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED. AND IMMEDIATELY THE SPIRIT DRIVETH HIM INTO THE WILDERNESS FORTY DAYS, TEMPTED OF SATAN; AND WAS WITH THE WILD BEASTS; AND THE ANGELS MINISTERED UNTO HIM.
OUR MESSAGE, TODAY, WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF VERSE 13: TEMPTED OF SATAN. JESUS WENT FORTH WITH DIVINE POWER, THE HOLY SPIRIT COMPELLED HIM, WITH GREAT ENERGY; SO THAT OF HIS OWN ACCORD HE WENT FORTH, ARMED WITH DIVINE POWER, IN THE DESERT. IT WAS A WRESTLING PLACE WITH SATAN.
THERE, CHRIST AND ANTICHRIST MET AND ENTERED INTO A CONFLICT ABOUT THE ISSUE ON WHICH OUR SALVATION DEPENDED.
I KNOW THROUGH EXPERIENCE, WHEN A CHRISTIAN IS JUST ON THE THRESHHOLD OF THEIR MINISTRY, THEY MEET SATAN, OR HIS DEMONS, HEAD-ON. THERE IS A TIME OF TESTING.
CHRIST, OUR EXAMPLE, SHOWS US HOW TO DEAL WITH SATAN’S ATTACKS, IN THIS SAME ACCOUNT, IN MATTHEW AND LUKE, WHERE HE USED THE SCRIPTURES AGAINST SATAN.
WE COULD LEARN MUCH FROM THIS STORY, AS TO BE PREPARED BEFORE THE ATTACKS COME. JESUS’ MINISTRY WAS ON THE EDGE OF BEGINNING IN FULL POWER, AND THEN THE ATTACKS CAME.
IT SEEMS TO ME, JESUS COULD HAVE SKIPPED THIS PROCESS, BUT I BELIEVE HE DID THIS FOR YOU AND ME. HE COULD HAVE SPOKEN TO SATAN, BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS, AND SATAN WOULD HAVE HAD TO TURN-TAIL-AND-RUN. THIS MAY SEEM STRANGE TO YOU, BUT LOOK WHAT HE DID ON THE CROSS FOR US: HE WENT WILLINGLY, OF HIS OWN ACCORD. HE DID THIS FOR YOU AND ME. HE MET SATAN HEAD-ON. HE KNEW HE HAD THE ADVANTAGE, BUT SATAN’S DEFEAT WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. THREE YEARS, OR SO, LATER, SATAN’S WORK AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD WAS DEFEATED ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY; AND JESUS’ RESURRECTION.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER JESUS: AS THE WORD, WAS THERE IN HEAVEN WHEN SATAN AND A THIRD OF THE ANGELS WERE CAST OUT OF HEAVEN.
WHY HE THINKS HE CAN STILL WIN, I DON’T KNOW.
SATAN WAS NO MATCH FOR JESUS, THERE IN THE WILDERNESS. WE KNOW, IN HUMAN FLESH, HE SUFFERED AS MAN; BUT HIS MIND DID NOT HAVE TO BE RENEWED TO THE WORD OF GOD, LIKE DOES OURS, BECAUSE HE WAS AND IS THE WORD. HE DID STUDY THE SCRIPTURES FROMT THE TIME HE WAS A CHILD, BUT HE KNEW HIS DESTINY. AND HE KNEW HE HAD THE SPIRIT WITHOUT MEASURE. IT MAY BE HARD FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT HE WAS GOD IN HUMAN FLESH.
WHEN WE ARE SERVING GOD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS; AND THE ATTACKS COME AGAINST US,WE GO TO THE WORD OF GOD FOR HELP. WE MIGHT READ JAMES 1:2-4 – MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS: KNOWING THIS, THAT THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKETH PATIENCE. BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK, THAT YE MIGHT BE PERFECT AND ENTIRE, AND WANTING NOTHING.
IF WE DON’T GO THROUGH THESE ATTACKS, KNOWING, THROUGH CHRIST, WE WILL WIN, WE WILL NOT HAVE LEARNED ANYTHING; AND THE NEXT ATTACK WILL DESTROY WHAT CHRIST IS TRYING TO TEACH US.
WE CAN ONLY COMBAT THIS TYPE OF ATTACK, WITH OUR KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF THE SCRIPTURES. IT’S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO KNOW WHAT THE WORD SAYS, WE HAVE TO PRACTICE USING IT. SATAN WILL THEN KNOW WHERE WE STAND, AND FLEE. ALTHOUGH, HE DOES COME BACK AFTER A WHILE, AND TRY IN ANOTHER AREA.
WE THEN, STAND STRONG, AND THIS NEW ATTACK WILL NOT TROUBLE US, AS MUCH AS THE LAST ONE; BECAUSE EACH TIME, WE GET STRONGER, MORE MATURE IN THE LORD, AND WILL COME TO THE PLACE THAT WE LACK NOTHING. PRAISE GOD!
MOST OF OUR BATTLES ARE IN THE MIND, SO WE HAVE TO REMEMBER: THE BATTLE IS THE LORDS.
IN THE WILDERNESS, JESUS ALSO ENCOUNTERED WILD BEASTS (MARK 1:13). THIS SHOWS THE EXTREME SOLITUDE OF THE PLACE. IT SHOWS ALSO THE INNOCENCE OF OUR LORD, THAT THERE IN THAT WILD DESOLATE DISTRICT, AMONGST LIONS, AND WOLVES, AND LEOPARDS, AND SERPENTS, HE NEITHER FEARED THEM NOR WAS HE INJURED BY THEM. HE DWELT AMONGST THEM AS ADAM LIVED WITH THEM IN HIS STATE OF INNOCENCE IN PARADISE. THESE WILD BEASTS RECOGNIZED AND REVERED HIM AS THEIR CREATOR, AND THEIR LORD (PULPIT COMMENTARY).
CHRIST HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY TO USE HIS NAME, SO WE NOW HAVE MORE AUTHORITY THAN WE HAVE EVER TAPPED INTO,
MISSIONARIES HAVE TOLD STORIES ABOUT THEIR ENCOUNTERS WITH WILD BEASTS. I REMEMBER ONE, WHERE, IN INDIA, THERE WAS A MAN WHO GOT SAVED, AND TRAVELED INTO THE VILLAGES OF THE JUNGLES TO SHARE THE GOSPEL. ONE DAY HE WENT INTO A VILLAGE WHERE HE SHARED THE LORD, AND AS HE WAS BEGINNING TO LEAVE THE AREA, HE REALIZED HE WAS LOST. HE ASKED DIRECTIONS, AND TWO MEN SPOKE-UP AND INTENTIONALLY, GAVE HIM INCORRECT DIRECTIONS. THEY WERE HEATHEN, AND DIDN’T LIKE HIM SHARING THE GOSPEL IN THEIR VILLAGE, AND SEEING THEIR PEOPLE COME TO JESUS. THE MINISTER, ALONE, AND UNKNOWINGLY, WENT THE WAY THEY SAID AND GOT LOST. HE WANDERED AROUND AND AROUND UNTIL IT GOT DARK. WHEN IT GOT DARK, IT WAS COLD. HE WAS SO TIRED, HE SAID, “LORD, I CAN’T GO ANY FURTHER. MAKE ME WARM.” HE LAY DOWN AND WENT TO SLEEP. HE THOUGHT HE WOULD GO TO SLEEP AND FREEZE TO DEATH. THE NEXT MORNING, HE AWOKE WITH WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A WARM BLANKET OVER AGAINST HIM, BUT WHEN HE OPENED HIS EYES, IT WAS A BENGAL TIGER. AT FIRST HE WAS FRIGHTENED, BUT HE REALIZED, GOD HAD SENT THIS TIGER TO KEEP HIM WARM AND ALIVE. HE REMAINED STILL AND WAITED. THE TIGER GOT UP AND WALKED AWAY; BUT AS IT WAS LEAVING, IT STOPPED, AND TURNED AROUND; LOOKED AT THE MISSIONARY, AS TO SAY, “YOU’LL BE ALRIGHT NOW”, AND THEN DISAPPEARED OUT OF SIGHT. THE MISSIONARY SAID, GOD SENT HIM A STRIPED BLANKET TO KEEP HIM ALIVE.
WE DON’T KNOW ALL THAT HAPPENED TO OUR LORD JESUS IN THAT WILDERNESS, CHILD OF GOD, BUT OUR GOD CAN AND WILL DO ANYTHING!!
WE DON’T THINK THE ANGELS HELPED JESUS THROUGHOUT THE TEMPTATION. ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE, IT WAS AFTER THE TEMPTATION AND THE WILD BEASTS. IT WAS THEN THE ANGELS APPEARED TO HIM. HE HAD SAID HE COULD HAVE CALLED DOWN TWELVE LEGIONS OF ANGELS AND STOPPED THE CRUCIFIXION, BUT HE DIDN’T (MATTHEW 26:53).
HE DID ALL THIS FOR US, TO SAVE US AND TAKE US TO A HIGHER UNDERSTANDING OF HIMSELF AND TO A HIGHER LEVEL OR PLACE WITH HIM.
GOD COULD HAVE DONE IT ANOTHER WAY, BUT HE CHOSE TO DO IT THIS WAY. FOR US. PRAISE GOD!
