The Tempter

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King James Bible StudyAnd when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Friday, April 30, 2021
Chapters: Psalms 102-104
Message: The Tempter

Hello My Friend,

God led me to start today’s devotional with this passage, [Matthew 4:1-10  Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.  2  And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.  3  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.  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.  5  Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,  6  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.  7  Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.  8  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;  9  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.  10  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.]

When Jesus descended to earth through man, He lived here thirty years just like you and I, He experienced everything that we do in our flesh, yet without sin. That does not mean that He was never tempted nor that Satan did not try to halt His purpose for coming here in the flesh. In fact, the second Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit came upon (it came down in the form of a dove), Satan tempted Jesus. Well, he watched Him for forty days and nights while He was in the wilderness, and after he was hungry and weak in the flesh, and then he came to Him. Notice that it begins by saying that THE tempter came to Him, a tempter is one that solicits or entices someone to commit evil, [Matthew 4:3-4  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.  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.]

Satan was definitely tempting God when he said, “If thou be the Son of God,” Satan’s biggest tactic to get us to go against God’s is to get us to doubt Him, and he waits until we are weak in the flesh to tempt us. Doubt often comes when we are afflicted, overwhelmed with the burdens of life, and cannot see God. Not only does our flesh become weak, but our spirit, heart, and soul as well. Then we are reminded that God keeps His promise to never leave nor forsake us, and when we turn to Him, even addressing our complaints to Him, He listens.

[Psalms 102:1-4,9-13  A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.  2  Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.  3  For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.  4  My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. 9  For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,  10  Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.  11  My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.  12  But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.  13  Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.]

[for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.] This a great reminder that everything that we go through has a season, happiness, prosperity, famine, sorrow, temptation, chastening, all of these things have a set time, a purpose, and all done by the grace of God, because He does favor all who come to Him through His Son, [Ecclesiastes 3:1-4,10-11,14  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  2  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;  3  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;  4  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 10  I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.  11  He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. 14  I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.]

[whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever:] We do not like affliction, but it is affliction that one, gets us to draw near to God, two, find Jesus as we draw near to God, and three, accept Him as our Saviour. It is only when we accept the truth that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, hung on the cross, died, was buried in the grave for three days and three nights, and arose to redeem all who believe in Him that God hears us. In fact, He changes us.

[Psalms 102:16-22,25-27  When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.  17  He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.  18  This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.  19  For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;  20  To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;  21  To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;  22  When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD. 25  Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.  26  They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:  27  But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.]

[and they shall be changed:] God’s people, Christ’s anointed, from the second they accept and receive Christ as their Saviour are stripped from their filthy sin stained rags and given the new garments of Christ’s righteousness. On top of that, when He returns, in the twinkling of an eye, every believer will be changed, whether we are in heaven or earth we shall be changed as we put off this mortality and put on immortality, [I Corinthians 15:51-53  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.]

Do not underestimate Satan, he knows the Scriptures, he knew from the second he deceived Eve that God would destroy him for what he did to His most precious creation. That does not stop him from trying to overthrow the Scriptures. First, he tempted Jesus by trying to get Him to doubt who He is, then he tempts Him by getting Him to doubt the Scriptures, [Matthew 4:5-7  Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,  6  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.  7  Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.]

If Satan can get us to doubt one word, even a “thee” or a “thou”, then we would start to doubt not only what God can do for us, but our salvation as well. And let me tell you, there is not one of us who has not had some doubt, not in God’s Word per say, rather that He can do for us what He says. With that in mind, and the Holy Spirit knocking some some sense into our heads, we are reminded that God never changes, He has not since He created the earth and He will not, [Hebrews 13:8-10  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.  9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.  10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.]

Oh, did you notice that how Jesus responded this time, [Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.] Right there, Jesus is saying that He is God. Another tactic from Satan to cast doubt in our minds that Jesus is not only the Son of God, but God in the flesh. And, if God can create the heavens, earth, and man as we know it, all in six days, then He can certainly be in heaven and on the earth at the same time. It all comes down to our faith, David and all the men and women of faith did not even know the name Jesus, but they did know Him as the LORD, and knew very well that it is truly only by His mercies that we are saved.

[Psalms 103:1-11  A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:  3  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;  4  Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;  5  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  6  The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.  7  He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.  8  The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.  9  He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.  10  He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  11  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.]

[He hath not dealt with us after our sins;] Considering the fact that God gave His Law, and we are not even capable of keeping the first ten, God is very merciful. Yes, there are times when He does set an example and strike someone down in an instant, such as Ananias and his wife [Acts 5:1-11], but that was because they tempted Him. There is a difference between tempting God and proving Him, God loves to show us that by our faith in Him, He can move mountains, but He will not tolerate our tempting Him for one second. [Matthew 4:8-10   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;  9  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.  10  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.]

[Hence; From this place; From this cause or reason, noting a consequence, inference or deduction from something just before stated.] After the third try, Jesus finally tells Satan to get lost, to get away from Him and stop causing interference in what He was sent here to fulfill. That really did not stop him from trying, even when Jesus was hanging on the cross and in the grave for three days and three nights, Satan thought he won. Then on that third day, I imagine he was having a tempter tantrum, especially after all who believed in Him increased their faith and accepted Him as their Saviour. And that is exactly why God keeps His promise of eternal life through our faith in His Son alone. Since we are the most precious living creatures that He created, naturally, He is going to He is going to save those who have faith in all that He is.

[Psalms 104:1,9-15,31-34  Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 9  Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.  10  He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.  11  They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.  12  By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.  13  He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.  14  He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;  15  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart. 31  The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.  32  He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.  33  I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.  34  My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.]

[Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over;] This reminds me of the most powerful parable that Jesus spoke, [Luke 16:19-20,22-26  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:  20  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,  22  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;  23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.  25  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.  26  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.]

[so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot;] There is that word “Hence” again, those who never received Christ, have something that will torment them so much more than the burning fire of pain, it will be the fact that they can see those whom they have wronged, those whom have witnessed the Gospel to them, and the fact that they cannot reach their loved ones,. who are headed right there with them. On the other hand, those whom have accepted Him, while they will have to deal with the tempter tempting them, as long as they have not believed in vain, they will endure it all. And do not discredit all those who lived by faith before Christ’s passion, they too believed in His promises until their dying breath and are with Jesus today, [Galatians 3:4-9  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.  5  He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  6  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.  7  Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.  8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.  9  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.]

Jesus Christ Magnified: [Psalms 103:19  The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.]

Today’s Prayer: God, Everything You created has a purpose and is often used to show us that You love and care for us. The grass, the flowers, the animals, and even the planets know their place and let You guide them in they way they should go, and they do it naturally because they trust You. We too have a purpose, and since we are much more valuable than the sparrows, we must face affliction so that we need Jesus, not only to save us, but to get us through each and every day that we are here. By our faith, You show us that only by trusting You we might receive the promise, and much more than we ever dreamed, even eternal life with You. That does not stop Satan from attempting to get us to doubt You, and lose our faith through those afflictions, which tend to weaken our mind, body, and spirit. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your Holy Spirit power, let not one thought of doubt cross my mind, only trust that You will not only show me how to face every affliction, but to endure it. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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