FROM THAT TIME… JESUS BEGAN…
What time preceded the preaching ministry of Christ?
The answer...
A time in the wilderness where He did not eat for 40 days.
A time in the wilderness where the devil tempted Him.
A time in the wilderness where He overcame temptation. [2]
The devil’s strategy is to tempt his prey to sin. Sin is his trap.
Captive people and governments corrupted by the devil replace God’s law with corrupt laws that reward sin and punish goodness, but no one except God can change the consequences of sin. As gravity yields a consistent result, so does God’s principle of sowing and reaping...
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” [3]
The devil’s words are seeds that yield curses.
God’s words are seeds that yield blessings.
Jesus refuted the devil’s words with God’s Word (the Bible). He told the devil that people LIVE by God’s Word. He told the devil, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” He told the devil, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” [4]
“The devil left Jesus, and angels came and ministered to Him.” [5]
By way of example, Jesus teaches us to:
Know the Word of God – read it, study it, quote it, hold to it
Be Holy Spirit led – the Spirit was with Him in wilderness
Be prayed up – Jesus is often praying in the Gospels
Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The kingdom of heaven wins. The devil loses.
Now, is the time to repent of sin and to profess faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Jesus overcame the devil in the wilderness. He helps us who believe in Him to do the same. But even when we fall to temptation and repent, He graciously forgives us.
“Thank You Lord Jesus!”
[1] Matthew 4:17
[2] Matthew 4:1-2
[3] Galatians 6:7-8
[4] Matthew 4:3-10
[5] Matthew 4:11
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