King
James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning
Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Thursday,
October 01, 2015
Chapters: Matthew 4-5
https://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-274.html
Message
Title: Satan's
Manipulation, God's Strength
To Overcome

Hello
My Friend,

There is a culprit behind every sin that is
committed, and that is Satan, while he cannot forcibly make us commit
sin no more that God can make us not, he is very good at manipulating
us to think that we must do it. There is no temptation that we cannot
get out of, the only way we fall is when we allow Satan to manipulate
us through our desires, lusts, fears, or tears. “Let
no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be
tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is
tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then
when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is
finished, bringeth forth death.” - James 1:13-15.

As
I was reading these verses this morning something hit me, I have come
a long way since having dedicated my life to Christ. Oh, Christ still
has much work to do in me, but at least I am more accountable for my
actions than I was when I did not allow Christ to be a part of my
life. Everyone gets tempted, God exempts no one from allowing Satan
to tempt us, but He does give us a way to keep from falling into the
temptation. Jesus was no exception either, Satan did everything he
could to try and stop the prophecies from being fulfilled. After
Jesus got baptized He was led into the wilderness. It was there that
He was tempted by Satan. “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 thou be the
Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 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.” - Matthew 4:1-4.

He
was afterward an hungred, the easiest way for Satan to tempt
us is to get us when we are weak, he cannot tempt us while we are
strong so, he waits until we are tired and weak in spirit. Many times
we fall into sin out of fear that we are not going to get the things
we need. Money, food, clothes, shelter, love, all of these things
play on our spirit and it weakens us. God strengthens us only if we
turn to Him, and He gives us the very things we need. Another way
Satan tempts us is by deception. Satan tempts Jesus again, this time
leading Him up to the top of the temple. “Then
the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a
pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of
God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels
charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up,
lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto
him, It is written again, Thou shalt
not tempt the Lord thy God.”
- Matthew 4:5-7.

For
it is written, another way that Satan tempts us is by
deceiving us into believing that it is God speaking, he knows
Scripture, and he will use it try and manipulate us into believing
that it came from God. Anytime we use God's Word as a means to do
wrong, it is not right, and we better think about what we are doing
because it's God we are tempting and have to answer to. When Satan
cannot get us through weakness or deception he will try one last
thing, lust. Satan tempts Jesus one more time, this time showing Him
the kingdoms of the world. “Again, the devil
taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth 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. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get
thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy
God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered
unto him.” - Matthew 4:8-11.

Thou
shalt worship the Lord thy God, perhaps the biggest
downfall of man is power, they want to be on top of the world and
everything in it, they will literally sell themselves to the devil to
get it. That is where the power of God must and will intercede. We
can be prosperous, very prosperous, the key, we must only worship
God, He must be at the center of all that we do. When everything we
do is for God's glory, we can expect great things to happen, yes, we
can expect some persecution too, but it all comes with the territory.
As Christians, everything we do must show Christ in us, and in doing
so we will be blessed. Jesus stresses the importance of glorifying
God in all that we do.

“Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come
to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to
fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one
jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in
the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the
same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto
you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of
the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom
of heaven.” - Matthew 5:16-20.

That
except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the
scribes and Pharisees, these were the richest, most
religious and influential men in all of Israel, yet they we no more
closer to God than the poorest person that did not know Him. Serving
God and following a bunch of religious rules has nothing to do with
our salvation, we must receive Christ as our Saviour for that. Being
obedient to God, except for getting saved, has nothing to do with our
salvation, but it has everything to do with our thankfulness and
gratitude for the sacrifice Jesus made in giving His life to save us.
As Jesus continues speaking He stresses the importance of going above
the commands of God. “Ye have heard that
it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine
enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse
you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children
of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on
the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the
unjust.” - Matthew 5:43-45.

Even those who do
not know Jesus or to follow Him see the light of Him in those who
know Him personally. Some will embrace it right away and follow Him
as well, others will observe a bit until they know for sure it is
Jesus, then will follow Him too. Some will run, make fun of us, and
never follow Him. Either way we are His light, the more we do what He
did the more we shine, the more we shine, the more blessed we become.
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:
for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the
Lord hath promised to them that love him. Every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of
lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
- James 1:12,17.

Today's
Prayer: God, Help me to walk faithfully with You day by
day. As I earnestly seek You I will receive the reward You promise to
those who do. Daily temptations, doubts, and distractions seek my
heart’s affection, but I will remain faithfully committed to You,
my Lord and Saviour. Though I’ve not seen You physically Your
Spirit indwells me and I am filled with Your joy. No matter what
circumstances I face I believe in You with all my heart, soul, mind
and strength. I know that I can do and endure all things through You.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for
you,
Christina

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