"IT IS WRITTEN..."


As we  get this new year rolling, I felt a stirring in my spirit in the form of a warning. Christians know that their enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) That "The Thief", another name for our enemy, comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) A good example of how Satan tries to do this is found in the account of the Temptation of Christ - Matthew 4:1-11.

Temptation has at it's core doubt in something or someone. The challenge to turn the stones into bread doubted God's Provision. The dare to jump from the top of the Temple doubted God's Protection. The invitation to worship Satan for all the earthly kingdoms doubted God's Promises about the Christ. In addition, all of the tempting was targeted at two vulnerable points - (1) when Christ was alone and (2) at Christ's supposed weaknesses.

The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to experience these temptations, and possibly other trials during His forty day fast, on our behalf. However, the answer always was the same - "It is written....". The Word of God, which was Himself in the flesh, now physically responds to each temptation by declaring the truth of the matter.

It is a good thing to sure-up the areas in our life we know are weak and guard to the best of our ability, with God's help, against temptation. However, I encourage you and me this year, should we find ourselves alone and our weak points being targeted with temptations by the enemy - the answer is always the same and always available - research it, read it, and recite it. Whatever "it" is, the start of resisting the devil and seeing him flee is - "It Is Written...".

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