Jesus: The Glory of the Desert .... Part 2

Jesus:  The Glory in the Desert  .... Part 2

Fighting the Temptations of Evil in Our Lives

                                              Click here for
                                              Part 1 Glory in the Desert 
                                              Part 3  Glory in the Desert

                                                                       Return to Main Menu

Matthew 4:3-10

3: The tempter came to him and said, ....
4: Jesus answered, "It is written ...
5: Then the devil took him ...
7: Jesus answered him, "It is also written: ...
8: Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain 

and showed him ...
10: Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! ...

Click here for the full scripture.

In Part 1 of this series on "Glory in the Desert"  it was discussed as to why Jesus went into the desert.   There were other important reasons for this experience that will be discussed in Part 3.  For now, here is a thought about how to battle our temptations.

Seemingly, Mary, the mother of Jesus, had a difficult responsibility.  As a parent waiting for a child to be born, we often wish we had a True guide book on how to raise our children.  After a short period of time, having been in a church all my life, I remembered and realized the moving wisdom of Proverbs 22:6... "Raise up a Child...".  One of the behaviors Mary presented to Jesus was the same... the importance of scripture in our lives.  Just as I was taught by my mother so too did Mary teach Jesus.  She taught him to memorize scripture.  Very likely, just as Mary's mother taught her.


By the time Jesus reached the age of 12, it is recorded that He knew there was special opportunities ahead for Him.  He learned in memorizing and knowing scripture what He must do.  He even made sure that He demonstrated that He fulfilled the scriptures as predicted by the prophets of old.  In knowing the scriptures He had, He could better see the vision for His life.  In the passages quoted for this reading, we see Jesus quoting scripture to defend Himself against the temptations of the devil.

The devil knew Jesus well, he knew that Jesus could withstand temptations even in his weakened state of being hungry and thirsty. But the devil fled after only three temptations. We too must follow the example of Jesus of knowing the scriptures. As our temptations come, as with Jesus, we too will be able to send the devil away with scripture.... but we have to know the scriptures.... just like Jesus.


Knowing, memorizing, and Trusting scripture, especially the words of Jesus is perhaps our greatest key to following Jesus' example.  In doing this as Jesus did we too will be Glorified by God.... just as God did with Jesus.

Thanks Be to God

© lonnie coggins

Please Join 'A Daily Thought Group' on Facebook.  
It is designed to be an uncluttered library of only ‘A Daily Thought’ postings.  

 Thanks and God Bless.

Click Here to go to  "A DAILY THOUGHT GROUP"   

Return to Main Menu

==============================

And about that guide book for raising children, the Bible has survived as the best guide book for any behavior we need assistance with. We just need to read, study and pray for guidance of the Holy Spirit. That is the best guidance we can have.

Click here for
Part 1 Glory in the Desert

Click here for
Part 3  Glory in the Desert
What was the real purpose of the Desert experience?

  

Sharing these messages

You are welcome to share these messages.  You can send the links to your friends,  copy and insert the link on FB or you can print the message and share it with your friends.

You can print the message including this sharing message only for your friends and for non-profit.  You will have to copy and paste the message to a word processing document.   After you copy and paste add the following at the end of the message:

© Lonnie Coggins

ldcoggins@gmail.com

If you desire to use any of these messages in a For-Profit manner you must contact me (email) for permission.  Typically, I will most likely give permission.

Please email me if you find any broken links in this message.

lonnie

Publication  0052

Introduction
FIGHTING TEMPTATION, EVEN KNOWING THE FACE OF TEMPTATION is sometimes so very hard for us.  Here is a simple powerful method for surviving the test of temptations.  Trust is the Key, but there is more.  Please share the message on your Fb page as you like, and if you like, click the FB 'Follow' button to have notifications of these publications.  For other messages like this, visit my FB page, or on FB visit-"A Daily Thought Group".
http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2012/01/jesus-glory-of-desert-part2.html

Jesus: The Glory of the Desert .... Part 3

Jesus:  The Glory in the Desert  .... Part 3

                                                                     Return to Main Menu

                                     Click Here for 

                                            Part 1 - The Glory in the Desert

                                            Part 2 - Glory in the Desert

The Devil Attacks Jesus

Matthew 4:3, 5-6, 8-9

3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.6"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' "
8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."




When are we most tempted?

Answer- when we are most venerable to influence, when we are depressed, or when we allow the world to push us away from God.



The devil, evil in our lives, is very sneaky just as he is presented here. After fasting for forty days in the desert, Jesus becomes being venerable to outside influence. Now, some would say that Jesus had special powers that he could resist the influence of the devil. But, that is not Jesus' way. To be the example to us, He had to experience life as we do. He experienced pain, happiness, and temptations, just as he knew we do.

A look at how the devil came to Jesus:

First, Jesus had to be in a weakened state of hunger and thirst.   vs 2

Second, he issues a challenge to Jesus, "If you are the Son of God...".  vs 3, 5

Third, the devil challenges Jesus to use His powers to help himself.  vs 3

Fourth: the devil challenges Jesus to use His powers to do magic.  vs 6

Finally: the devil challenges Jesus with the possibility of riches.  vs 8,9

In our most vulnerable moments, emotional lows, or feeling down, the devil, evil, seeks us out when we are weak in our needs and especially when he feels us babbling about our wants.  In subtle ways, the evil around us challenges our needs and wants.  The real challenge is, as in all the challenges to Jesus, is not to rely on God, but to selfishly try to solve our all our problems ourselves without God.  These challenges come to us from all sides, in many different and simple ways.

Evil often comes from friends, they tempt us with doing something wrong, "come on my friend, doing it just this one time will not hurt anybody, and we cannot get caught." or "Well, if you are my friend you will not tell on me." Just one step out side the path of God, and life begins a slippery slope from God. In a similar manner, the Devil challenged Jesus with, "If you are the Son of God...".  The devil knew Jesus was God and could execute the challenge with perfection.  As we should, Jesus would not fall into the devil's tricks.

The devil or the evil of this world, is always challenging us with our wants. We cannot let our wants overcome us, but it happens all the time. We want a larger TV screen, out comes the plastic. We want a bigger boat than our neighbor's boat, out comes the plastic. We want the latest phone... out comes the plastic. Then to pay for all this plastic money, we want a better job with more money.... and there goes to time with raising a Godly family. Just what the devil wanted, us satisfying our wants.

Friends, we have to constantly be on guard for the glancing blows the devil and evil sends our way. The best way to resist?... a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, asking God to provide His guidance through the Holy Spirit IN EVERYTHING WE THINK, SAY, AND DO.

Jesus, in the desert was with the Holy Spirit to Guide Him, Jesus knew and used the scriptures in the devils face, and finally, and easily, Jesus did cast away the devil... and the devil was gone very quickly.  We too, must resist and as with Jesus, the evil will fade until another moment of weakness.

Jesus is the Great Example, and with the Holy Spirit as our Guide, we must follow His example. It is the first Commandant, we must love God.... love Jesus. In doing this, we must follow Him. 

Thanks be to God
lonnie

Follow 25 people are following Lonnie Coggins. Be the first of your friends.

                                                                     Return to Main Menu

======
Click Here for 
Part 1 - The Glory in the Desert

Click Here for 
Part 2 - Glory in the Desert

Thanks Be to God

© lonnie coggins

Please Join 'A Daily Thought Group' on Facebook.  
It is designed to be an uncluttered library of only ‘A Daily Thought’ postings.  

 Thanks and God Bless.

Click Here to go to  "A DAILY THOUGHT GROUP"   

Return to Main Menu

==============================

And about that guide book for raising children, the Bible has survived as the best guide book for any behavior we need assistance with. We just need to read, study and pray for guidance of the Holy Spirit. That is the best guidance we can have.

Sharing these messages

You are welcome to share these messages.  You can send the links to your friends,  copy and insert the link on FB or you can print the message and share it with your friends.

You can print the message including this sharing message only for your friends and for non-profit.  You will have to copy and paste the message to a word processing document.   After you copy and paste add the following at the end of the message:

© Lonnie Coggins

ldcoggins@gmail.com

If you desire to use any of these messages in a For-Profit manner you must contact me (email) for permission.  Typically, I will most likely give permission.

Please email me if you find any broken links in this message.

lonnie

Publication  0053

INTRO

In this Part 3 of Glory in the Desert, WE LEARN FROM JESUS HOW TO CHALLENGE EVIL IN OUR LIVES just as Jesus did.   Links to Part 1 and 2 are found in Glory in the Desert Part 3. Please share the message on your Fb page as you like, and if you like, click the FB 'Follow' button to have notifications of these publications.  For other messages like this, visit my FB page, or on FB visit-"A Daily Thought Group".

http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2012/02/jesus-glory-of-desert-part-3.html

Jesus: The Glory in the Desert Part 1

Jesus:  The Glory in the Desert  .... Part 1

                                     

                                                                                         Return to Main Menu

                                                           To follow A Daily Thought click>>>

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  

2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.  

In everything Jesus did, He showed us…

….The way to behave,

……..leadership skills,

…………..and how to depend on God.

In our time, when we want to get away, we often go to the beach, the mountains, or some entertainment park.  But, we never hear, “I have to get away…. I think I will go to the desert.”  But, this is what Jesus did!  He went to the desert…. And fasted!  He is Setting the Example of how to prepare and pray for the full advantage of receiving answers to our prayers.

The desert has some advantages for getting close to God.  In the desert fasting comes easier, little there to create distractions, and prayer comes easier in the silence.  But, a desert does not have to be a place in a big sand box.  For guidance of the Father, Jesus often went to the mountains… quiet mountains.  

The main issue for Jesus’ get-away was, be it the desert or later many times in the mountains….

................  Jesus wanted quiet solitude 
................     in being with God.  

In this solitude, prayerful thoughts came in being apart from others, clearness in listening came in solitude, vision of mission came with God’s whispers, understanding came in these stillness of those moments with the Father, and finally Guidance was felt through the Holy Spirit.  

As Jesus found His Vision of His Mission in the desert, My greatest desert, yet my greatest of time with God, the most abundant visible answer to my most needful prayer was found in the aloneness of a blacked out room.  Being full of meekness, my most humble time, in the darkest of nights, and in a most dangerous far away place from home… I found the fullness of God and the Guidance of the Spirit.  The place- Saigon, Vietnam.

When we seek in meekness, humility, and solitude with God our Abba Father, away from all distractions, and humbly seek the presence of God in our lives then we are following Jesus’ example for our lives and our prayers.  In this, we are being dependent on God, behaving as Jesus, and practicing the Perfect leadership skills of our Savior.

In our "desert", a place of solitude for introspection, we find not only the best place for praying…..

……but also  we find

…..…. It is also the best place for listening.

God gives us two ears and one mouth…. Maybe….

…..........we should listen more and talk less.  In listening, we just might find ourselves in a closer relationship with God.

Thanks be to God

© lonnie coggins

Please Join 'A Daily Thought Group' on Facebook.  
It is designed to be an uncluttered library of only ‘A Daily Thought’ postings.  

 Thanks and God Bless.

Click Here to go to  "A DAILY THOUGHT GROUP"   

Return to Main Menu

==============================

Coming next:
Click Her for:

Part 2 of Glory in the Desert

The very real importance of scripture in our lives

Click here for 

Part 3  of Glory in the Desert

What was the real purpose of the Desert experience?

  

Sharing these messages

You are welcome to share these messages.  You can send the links to your friends,  copy and insert the link on FB or you can print the message and share it with your friends.

You can print the message including this sharing message only for your friends and for non-profit.  You will have to copy and paste the message to a word processing document.   After you copy and paste add the following at the end of the message:

© Lonnie Coggins

ldcoggins@gmail.com

If you desire to use any of these messages in a For-Profit manner you must contact me (email) for permission.  Typically, I will most likely give permission.

Please email me if you find any broken links in this message.

lonnie

Publication  0051


intro

GLORY IS FOUND IN MANY PLACES- Sports, politics, and movies just to name three. There was one man who looked IN SEEMINGLY A STRANG PLACE,  to the DESERT. There is no question who will still be remembered 100 years from now? Please share the message on your Fb page as you like, and if you like, click the FB 'Follow' button to have notifications of these publications.  For other messages like this, visit my FB page, or on FB visit-"A Daily Thought Group".

http://lonnieadailythought.blogspot.com/2012/01/jesus-glory-in-desert.html