Tuesday, April 12, 2016

The Original Loaf of Wonder Bread

"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “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.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him." Matthew 4:1-11



Pride entered the world largely because of a lust for three things (if even to varying degrees); 
power
prestige
possessions

Any one of those alone can tempt you toward pride. The combination of one or two more is deadly.

Lucifer couldn't resist their attraction. Neither could Adam or Eve.

You must kill your pride before it kills you! 

If you are going to kill it you must learn how to resist the powerful lure of those temptations.

The temptation to pride is very strong in all of its forms. But we have a Savior Who is stronger than the temptation to power or prestige or possessions! We know that because we have the Biblical record to prove it!


At the beginning of His earthly ministry Jesus withdrew to a remote wilderness location to fast, pray and prepare for temptation.

Forty days later, when the Tempter showed up, notice what he used to tempt the Savior.

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

What is this temptation?

Is it not the temptation of power?

Jesus had power. A lot of power! He could have spoke the word and the stone would have become the original loaf of "wonder bread"!

But, the lure of the Tempter was the misuse of His power for selfish purposes.

Jesus WAS hungry and He WAS able but He chose NOT to be self-serving with His power. 

To overcome the power of this temptation Jesus leaned on the power of the Scripture, "Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

You too will be tempted with power. You will be offered power or to misuse your power in exchange for what the devil may offer.

Today, will you follow Jesus' example and resist the temptation to abuse power or to be tempted by power by depending on Scripture?







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