April 4, 2019 Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional : TOPIC - VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION
THE DAILY FOUNTAIN
DAILY DEVOTIONAL OF THE
CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DAILY DEVOTIONAL OF THE
CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DATE: THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019
TOPIC - VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION
READ: MATTHEW 4:1-11
1. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
3. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4. But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
5. Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,
6. and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
7. Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
8. Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
10. Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
11. Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
2. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
3. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4. But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
5. Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,
6. and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
7. Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
8. Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
10. Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
11. Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
THE MESSAGE:
Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (verse 1). It would seem that to the Holy Spirit, the journey to temptation is an upward journey whereas in the mind of the devil, it is a journey downwards. God allows temptation for our promotion while Satan tempts us for our demotion.
Jesus, our Master, was tempted by the devil and hence, none of His disciples is exempt from temptation. We must approach temptation as an opportunity for growth or promotion as James observed, calling it “the trial of faith.
Satan tempts us most in the area of our greatest hunger/desire (verses 2-3). James affirms this truth (James 1:13-14).
It is also important to note the nature of temptation from the passage: temptation is progressive, if the devil fails at the first attempt, he tries the second and the third and when these fail, he waits for an opportune time. Hence, one does not outgrow temptation nor does one gain victory over temptation once and for all (verses 3-10). Moreover, the temptation of Jesus reveals the three natures of Satan's temptation of man: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. The instrument Jesus used to defeat the devil and overcome temptation is the word of God. The word of God and prayer are the two key instruments for fighting temptation (Psalm 119:11; Matthew 6:13).
PRAYER: Father, grant me grace to be victorious over temptation.
April 4, 2019 Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional : TOPIC - VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
April 04, 2019
Rating:
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
April 04, 2019
Rating:
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