As I read my bible this morning following my chosen plan I read in Matthew 4:1-11
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
As you would suppose, I've read this passage many time before but what really stood out this morning is that the devil said, "IF you are the Son of God.", not once but twice. Now, he KNEW absolutely who Jesus was but he waited till he was at his weakest after forty days of fasting and said, "IF", trying to sow seeds of doubt in Jesus' mind.
If he will do this to Jesus, then he will do it to us, and we may not feel as strong as Jesus was even at his weakest moment, but scripture tells us;
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
As you would suppose, I've read this passage many time before but what really stood out this morning is that the devil said, "IF you are the Son of God.", not once but twice. Now, he KNEW absolutely who Jesus was but he waited till he was at his weakest after forty days of fasting and said, "IF", trying to sow seeds of doubt in Jesus' mind.
If he will do this to Jesus, then he will do it to us, and we may not feel as strong as Jesus was even at his weakest moment, but scripture tells us;
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
