Living As Light

Tag: #repentandbelieve

  • It is Written! The temptations of Jesus in the wilderness

    Jesus victory is our victory

    Matthew 4:1-11

    The living power of God’s word in delivering us from the oppression of the enemy

    There is always a divine purpose in being tried and tested. God ordains every fiery trial and allows Satan to tempt us. But He is with us through it all. God uses these periods in our lives  to refine and purify us, making us fit for the Master’s use. As we endure through prayer, fasting and meditating on the word of God, He gives us faith, patience and guidance to stand up under Him, covered under the shadow of His wings.

    In the temptation of Jesus, we see that He was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness. To be tempted by the devil. Testing and temptation are necessary. Jesus had to be tempted in every way that mankind is tempted, yet without sin, because, He who knew no sin became sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God through Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

    How could Jesus be qualified to be our eternal, atoning sacrifice; the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, unless he had endured everything we go through as men and women, created in the image of God?

    With every temptation, Jesus used the living power of God’s word to counter Satan’s attacks and attempts to separate Him from the will of God.

    “It is written” appears along with each area of testing; lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. These are the three categories or areas of temptation the devil attempts to conquer us with and master in our lives. But Jesus pointed Satan back to the Father, who is God over all, including the devil. The devil cannot operate outside of the boundaries God alone has set up. God Almighty is our Master. Those who are in Christ belong to Him.

    In the same ways Jesus was tempted, you and I are tempted every day. Our victory comes, not in our own best efforts to be good, or to do the best we can, but to abide in God’s word and let Him, through the living power of His word and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, to deliver us from every evil intention of the enemy to trip us up and gain influence over us, causing division in our hearts, and separating us from the love and care of God.

    Two equally important actions appear and precede the use of Scripture in Jesus’s encounter with Satan; fasting and prayer. When we go through these fiery trials, prayer and fasting are necessary. By doing these two things, we’re preparing our body and soul to receive the living power of God’s holy word, which will deliver us from the devil. This is the formula; the secret to overcoming the devil’s wicked schemes;

    Prayer

    Fasting

    Meditating on the Scriptures; the living power of God’s word!

    Do this regularly and The Holy Spirit will equip you with the full armor of God and you will be able to stand firm under the mighty hand of God.

    Each test and fiery trial that you endure will further prepare you for service in the Kingdom of God. Thank God for each and every time you have been enabled by His grace and power, and delivered. You are better equipped to minister to others who are experiencing similar trials in their own lives.

    Matthew 4:1-11 ESV
    [1]  Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. [2] And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. [3] And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” [4] But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” [5]  Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple [6] and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” [7] Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall 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 glory. [9] And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” [10] Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” [11] Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.4.1-11.ESV

  • Bear fruit in keeping with repentance

    Matthew 3:8 NLT
    [8] Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.3.8.NLT

    Your religion or family heritage and cultural upbringing can not save you. Only as one repents of their sins and believes in the name of above all names, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, can one be saved and bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

    Luke 3:8 NLT
    [8] Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.3.8.NLT

    Being baptized in the name of Jesus is in keeping with repentance.

    Baptism is the first act or sign of repenting of our sins and turning to God through Jesus Christ. The believer is identifying with Christ and taking His name. Bearing fruit in keeping with repentance starts with this obedient step of faith. The repentant believer is declaring the he belongs to Christ

    Acts of the Apostles 2:38 NLT
    [38] Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/act.2.38.NLT

    Paul declares to all that repenting and turning toward God is necessary, in order to perform the good works or deeds that will prove we belong to Christ. Bearing fruit in keeping with repentance is the result of a heart fully surrendered to God through Jesus Christ. The living power of God’s word lives in them through His Holy Spirit.

    We can’t do enough good things on our own to earn salvation. The good things or deeds are the proof or evidence that we belong to Him, that our lives are under His name and control. We are no longer our own, for we have been bought with a great price. Our lives become His testimony of salvation. We now live as citizens of His Kingdom. As such, we are to share this good news with others. In this way, we are bearing fruit in keeping with repentance, by loving and serving others in His name.

    Acts 26:20 ESV
    [20] but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/act.26.20.ESV