Matthew 4:1-11, Doubt versus Fact
© 2013 Debbie Turner Chavers
Matthew 4:1-11, "If Thou Be" and "It Is Written"
Sometimes in life we are led up and sometimes there is a set up. As children of God it is necessary to learn the difference. In Matthew 4, Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness and after his long stay and fasting in the wilderness of 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus was hungry.
The denial of earthly pleasure aka fasting can bring to surface "the tempter" or temptation. The ability to overcome is always "The Word," your confession and the authority given by Christ unto his own.
Luke 10:17-20 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Revelation 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
When you are seeking God or are going through a wilderness experience it is common for someone or a situation to question you, to tempt you, to question who you are in life and in Christ.
Jesus knew who He was and He knew why He had come to the earth. We have need to establish our place in Christ in our own hearts and minds. Christ has already settled our place in him and in heaven.
Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The flesh is weak...but the Spirit is strong. Our identity is found in and through Christ Jesus and His obedience to obtain for us what we did not have the strength, obedience, or perfection to obtain. Salvation.
Romans 8:3-4 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
In Matthew 4:3 the devil attempts to make Jesus prove that he was the Messiah by an act of creating.
Each time doubt was injected with "if thou be' it was an attempt to cast doubt, and an attempt to make Jesus prove he was the Son of God.
Christ always pointed back to his Father and so should we.
The first thing in the temptation that the devil said to Jesus was "If thou be the Son of God." Doubt is presented to question identity and obedience.
Not only is this doubt presented by the devil, it also manifests as an antichrist spirit in this world.
Strong's Concordance definition " antichrist;G500" defines antichrist: as the adversary of the Messiah.
The devil is subversive and attempts to twist the meaning of 'It is written."
The goal is always to cast doubt within the mind of man and to cast a stumbling block in his path.
Adam fell and failed. Jesus did not fall or fail. Satan attempted to make Jesus fall.
In Matthew 4:6, the devil says to Jesus, "If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down:" and in verse 9 "All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me."
The devil tries to reason with Jesus in Matthew 4:6 by casting doubt and a false form of truth. Satan twisted the meaning of Psalm 91 and Christ corrected the devil swiftly.
After each unsuccessful attempt, Jesus said unto him,"It is written." The third attempt met with prompt dismissal of the wicked one. Jesus quickly made Satan leave him and angels came and ministered unto Jesus.
Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
So lift up those heavy hands and cast aside any doubts. Praise God, our Redeemer has overcome and we have been equipped to overcome also.
~Debbie
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All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2015 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James bible. Would you like to see what I am currently painting? Click on these links http://artparables.com or http://debbieturnerchavers.com
