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Monthly Message
Do You Know Who You are in Jesus Christ?
REV. GORDON WILLIAMS, March 2011
The first time that I read about Jesus being tempted by the devil, I was surprised that "Jesus was led up by the Holy Spirit” I questioned, "How can that be?” It sounded as if the Holy Spirit was cooperating with the devil. And, indeed, He was! Most people do not understand that Satan/Devil has been appointed by God to tempt & test His people. The name, "devil” is a legal term that means "prosecuting attorney for the state”. In other words, the devil is the head of God’s F.B.I. agency. Even in spite of his sin (Jn. 8: 44) and defeated in his rebellion to take over heaven (Lk. 10: 18; Rev. 12: 7 - 12), he must carry out his appointed duties. It is his responsibility to test or tempt God’s people, not to cause them to sin, but to see if they are ready to be used by Jesus in ministry. So, we must take it as a compliment when he comes to us. Unlike God, who is omnipresent, he can only be in one place, at one time, dealing with one person. As James explains, most of our temptation comes from inside of us from our own desires. Before Jesus could begin His ministry, He had to be tempted by the devil. The same applies to us.
The good news is that the devil always uses the same temptations. First of all, he questions who we are "If you are the son or daughter of God.” In other words, "Do you know who you are in Jesus Christ? Are you really a Christian? Have you really been adopted into the family of God?”(Gal. 4: 5; 1 Jn. 3: 1). He gets most people with this one. The proof is that we are saved and Baptized with the Holy Spirit with the signs following (Mk. 16: 17 - 20). The answer is unquestionably, "Yes!” Then he command us to "command these stones to become bread.” Jesus knew that problem in the world is not a shortage of bread or food. The problem is sin which results with greedy people who will not share food resulting in hunger & starvation.
As Mark Buntain, missionary in Calcutta, India, explained, when a starving person receives Jesus as his/her Saviour, the next day he/she had food on his table to eat(Philip. 14: 19). Then, the devil tempts Jesus to jump off the pinnacle of the temple and let the angels catch him. Jesus is not in the circus business and neither are his angels. We need to know that we cannot substitute the "activity of Satan”....”with power and pretended signs & wonders”....."with wicked deception” for the authentic "signs, wonders and miracles” which are recorded in the Bible. Jesus said, "Again it is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Jesus knew that He is the Lord your God (Jn. 1: 1, 14; Col. 1: 15 - 20). Then the devil shows Jesus all of the kingdoms of the world and said to Him, "All these I will give to you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus knew that all those kingdoms already belonged to Himself. He knew that He was: "the Most High God” (Lk. 8: 28). After all any demon knows that!
Today, we are tempted to worship gods in different religions, occult practices, eastern oriental defense practices who have bowed their knees to the devil in his many disguises (2 Cor. 6: 16). This is the reason why Peter said, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4: 12). And, when tempted to believe that all other gods are really the same one God, pass your temptation, by saying, "Begone Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Then, the devil will leave you & angels will minister to you. Remember:"Resist the devil & he will flee from you” (Jas. 4: 7).
Yours in Jesus,
Rev. Gordon Williams
http://www.gordwilliams.com/
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