Matthew 4
Rebecca Lightfoot
Jesus had gone n2 the wilderness 2 face every temptation that Satan could throw at him(Matt4:1-11).N God’s great wisdom HE tells us of only 3 temptations.These 3 might represent Satan’s most effective “weapons/temptations” n his battle 4 our hearts/lives.Each one of these temptations has an “IF” that challenges what we think/believe about the God of the Bible/God of Creation,the ONE TRUE GOD!It might b that during the previous 39 days,Satan threw all the temptations at Jesus that r common 2 all people,then after Jesus had fasted a full 40 days Satan tempts Jesus w the most effective “weapons” he also uses on “believers”.N each of these 3 temptations of Christ,Satan uses an “IF” that challenges God’s Promises,God’s Word,God’s Character,&God’s Sovereignty!N the 2nd temptation Satan even “atTEMPTS” 2 misuse God’s Word by taking scripture out of context.During each of these 3 temptations,Jesus confronts the “IF” w God’s Word-“it is written...”!N our lives,when stressed,hungry,envious,tired,etc.,we who desire 2 follow Christ r “prime targets” 4 Satan 2 use these same tactics on us!Satan has done his “reconnaissance” of our lives,& knows when&how 2 most effectively attack our faith,&our walk w Christ.Satan will make us question God &His Word by throwing “IF’s” at us when we r “fatigued”;”hungry”;or “battle warn”.All of these “IF’s” will boil down 2 our hearts&minds asking,”does God really say?”!When we don’t address these “IF’s” w the RIGHT answers,we begin down a slippery slope that leads away from God’s True Expressions of Love,& HIS desires 4 our lives(desires for our GOOD).This is why it is critically & “strategically” important for us 2 be regularly digging n 2 know God’s Word,so we can TRULY know HIS HEART,&HIS instructions 4 our GOOD!So we can definitively know what God would really say about a circumstance or situation n our lives!Satan’s great desire is 2 lure us away from what God Truly Says,so he can also lure us away from God’s Heart & what only God knows r the best plans 4 our lives(Jeremiah 29:11,”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”).We must dig n2 God’s Word so we will know HIS Voice/What HE says about all things.Then,when we “know”,we must “do” as HE “leads”(James1:22-25,”Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror,and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do”).Satan does NOT want us 2 b blessed n any good way(The Ways of God!).We must always b prepared 4 the sneaky clever ways of Satan,by “digging n2 God’s Word”,& following HIS Word/His Voice n our lives.Lord,I have been misled many times bcuz of letting my heart/life b lured away by the question “did God really say”?!Please help me 2 b motivated 2 earnestly seek 2 TRULY know Your Word&Your Voice,& then by Your Grace&Power help me 2 follow only You!