Temptation of Jesus

STUDY: #957(before 242)-CHURCH IN THE HOUSES

PASTOR: EDITH CRUZ

FROM: NOVEMBER 21-27, 2017

TOPIC: “Temptation of Jesus” Luke 4:3-13 Temptation does not mean that we are going to remain in defeat. We can be fighting for many years and some are not able to get rid of it. For Jesus it was not easy, but he overcame all temptations. We do not have another teacher. Instead of living a triumphant life, will you live subjected to temptation? We have to succeed; here in Mega Zoe everyone succeeds, the children, the young people, the adults and the elderly. If God called us, we all have to succeed. The temptation cannot be forever. Jesus had just arrived from being baptized in the Jordan river. There the Holy Spirit was seen descending upon Him like a dove. The baptism marked the beginning of the Master's ministry and there is also a beginning for us when we are baptized. We see that some stand firm and others walk away. In the Lord one cannot live a lukewarm life. Do not think that if you pray one day, the other you do not have to pray. We have to be filled with the Spirit to be able to conquer. If Jesus was tempted, imagine how it will be with us! If we yield in some temptation, we will always drag it hidden. The Church is God's chosen to do His will here on Earth. Remember that you are also a child of God. This path is not a game, it is something serious. Well-armed are those who have been filled with the Holy Spirit. It has to be this way to be able to conquer. Do not settle for crumbs; do not let the time pass without having fought and grown in the Lord, that after the years have passed by you realize that you have not done anything with your spiritual life. God has made a promise with you. We have to understand what God's will is in us and not allow ourselves to be submitted to something low. Satan always has a similar work style. He watches when you have received a blessing to assault you, so you cannot use and enjoy the talent that God has given you. Suddenly he attacks you and sows doubt in you. Satan begins to take your courage away. We invent reasons to try to excuse our attitude to temptation and you do not understand that it is an assault by Satan. Each day we lose the strength and the power to succeed, instead of multiplying what we have acquired. It is the custom of the believer to bury his talents. Satan knew that Jesus had a great blessing and although he knew that he was not going to defeat Him, he tried to overthrow Him. He thinks everyone is like him, mediocre. The believer, instead of making sure where the temptation comes from, yields, and does not face it. We are afraid to face temptation, to fight. Beware of what the devil steals! We have many reasons to fight. Satan assails you because you are lack of prayer. You have a ministry and you want to sustain it with ten minutes of prayer. The son of God was fasting. Did He have the need to do this? Jesus did not need to fast. The angels served Him. What company! Why don't you fast? Give me a reason. Even an impious man knows what fasting is. You are a slave to food, pills and coffee. To fast is to stop to eat and you take a day to be with God, to have the power. Find the time to be with God, so that you can overcome the temptations. Jesus spent forty days fasting and sustained Himself. He forgot about the world and separated with the Father. He only had communion with the Spirit, He let go of everything. But we do not want to let go of anything. Jesus was going to begin a ministry of miracles and salvation and needed to separate with God, the Father. Jehovah is Rafah, the Healer; death may be very close, but the day you decide to seek God, that death lets go of you. Can you imagine God working half the time? You know, I (the pastor) believe that you are not reading the Scriptures. Jesus did not give crumbs, He gave His life for you, and not only when He conquered on the cross, but after His death. Everything that you possess today, your children, your marriage, your work, was granted to you by the sacrifice of the cross. Everything you have is because Jesus did it with His death. You will conquer according to how you give yourself to God. Jesus was about to finish fasting and became hungry. Then Satan redoubled his attacks. Satan says to Jesus, "If you are the son of God." What did he think, that Jesus was going to doubt? Or was it that he

wanted to sow doubt? He wants to test you in everything. He said to the Lord: "If you are the son of God, tell this stone to become bread." Jesus was under the will of the Father. He was not going to doubt, even if He was weak. Never trust your strength. It is not our own strength what will help us to conquer, it is that Jehovah has become our provider. That is why you have to be powerful in the Word. How did Jesus answer? "It is written..." If you do not know the Scripture you begin to invent. Jesus refused Himself again and answered, "Man does not live by bread alone." Satan continues the game and takes Him to a high mountain and presents the kingdoms to Him. How did he take Him? This is a very spiritual dimension, they are secrets that do not correspond to us; I (the pastor) only believe in the Word. Satan proposed to Jesus to govern under the command of the enemy, so that He would adore him. He shares what he has if you worship him. Wealth does not bring happiness. The devil will dictate your path if you accept his offerings. Jesus did not let him accommodate any temptation. If you allow him he will accommodate the temptation in you day by day. And you will be blinded and those who are by your side will be blinded. He will even give you friends which you never had. Don’t you realize that he is giving you to later take it away and leave you with nothing. Be careful with your life, if you made a pact with the devil you must be delivered. What he offered you one day you will not have and you will have lost what God had for you. Satan takes Jesus to the top of the Mount of Olives. But Jesus knew that He was the son of God. Satan showed Him all of Jerusalem, offering Him possessions. He said to Jesus: "If you are the son of God." Can you see how he sowed doubt! With Jesus he did not achieve it, but with us he did, we doubt everything. If Jesus had accepted, He definitely would not have overcome the temptation. Jesus had a great war, a great battle face to face with the devil. Jesus representing all that is good, just and honest, and Satan representing evil, treachery and cheating. But Jesus did not yield to temptation; He conquered a great triumph for you and for me in that war. The word says: "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Only if you resist he will flee, because it is in the Scripture. In this church there are three rules which are fasting, praying and reading the Word. If you turn away from temptation you will be a conqueror. We cannot be columns if we give in to temptation. Our foundation has to be very strong and we will achieve it by reading the Word, fasting and praying. We need firm and secure people, ready to lose everything for the love of Jesus. Amen!