Ministering: Pastor Shola Awobajo (Senior Pastor).
Text: Matt. 4:1-11.
” 1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”
We are hopeful and expectant of God’s visitation upon the completion of the RCCG 63 Days of Fasting and Prayer Program. Our above Text reveals how Satan came to tempt The Lord upon the completion of His Fasting and Prayer. This means at the end of every great spiritual exercise, be ready for war as Satan normally appears with diverse temptations. Fasting and Prayer is a preparation for a greater move of God’s Power.
What is Temptation? It is the desire to engage in short-terms urges for enjoyment that threatens long-term goals. Temptation is also taking manipulative short-cuts to achieve a goal. Never take hasty steps to force a promise of God to come to past. Habakkuk 2:3 enjoins us to wait for it even though the vision appears to be tarrying.
Jesus did not allow His temporary hunger make him turn stones into bread as tempted by the devil. Satan’s strategy is to get us to move ahead of God by using cunny means to fulfil whatever we have asked of The Lord. Though the Fasting and Prayer is over, we should not let down our guards spiritually as Satan is usually around the corner.
You have to know who you are to overcome the Devil whenever he shows up. Jesus knew Who He was when Satan came to tempt Him. It is the knowledge of who you are in God and what has been written in His Word that give you victory over the enemy. Gal. 4:1 – “Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.” God is calling up to higher grounds, we can no longer be acting like children under tutors when God expects us to have come to maturity.
In these days you cannot afford to be ignorant of who you are in Christ Jesus. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 2 Tim. 1:12
How to Circumvent all Satan’s Obstacles & Temptations
1. Depend on God through Prayer and Meditation. Matt. 4:1-2, Joshua 1:8
2. Walk in The Spirit – Gal. 5:16
3. Put on all the Armor of God – Eph. 6:10
4. Be dedicated to doing The Will of God – John 4:34
5. Persevere in the midst of any challenge (Prayer is not an exemption from challenges)
6. Understand that no temptation will come your way that The Lord will not provide a way of escape – 1 Cor. 10:13
7. Stay focused on The Lord – Heb. 12:2
8. Protect your integrity at all costs regardless of the circumstance. Don’t let anyone (wolf) toss you here and there.
In closing, be expectant for the harvests of the 63 Days of Fasting are coming, do not fall to the devil’s liars. Step your gaze of God and not the situation. Grow in your knowledge of God and a greater realm of His Glory will come on you.
God Bless You!
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