Luke 4:1-4Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone.'"
 
            Scriptures reveal that temptation comes from the world, the flesh and the devil – it never comes from God (James 1:13).  Victory over temptation comes through a faith in Christ that resists the devil with the Word and obedience to the Spirit.  1 Corinthians 10:13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  Hebrews 2:18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”  Our Savior successfully overcame every temptation the devil could throw at Him.  As a result, He is more than capable of assisting us when we face any temptation.  Hebrews 4:15,16For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Temptation from the WORLD is overcome by cultivating our knowledge and love of God the Father in our hearts and lives.  1 John 2:15-17“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” James 4:4-8 also points out the conflict between worldly attraction and loving God.  Scriptures make it clear that if we choose to embrace worldly lusts and ambitions we become God’s enemy!  You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God… "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
James 1:14 recognizes the problem of the FLESH – “…but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.”   Galatians 5:16 instructs us on how to deal with FLESHLY temptations  So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”  1 Peter 5:8,9 gives direction for dealing with temptation of the DEVIL – “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith…”  The devil uses his own dark powers to tempt and destroy the people of God, but "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." (1 John 3:8). Christ assured Satan’s defeat when He paid for our redemption on the cross. "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." (Colossians 2:15).  The good news is that each Person of the Trinity is on our side. The Father is opposed to the world, the Spirit to the flesh, and the Son to the devil, and they are more than able to give victory.
 
Thursday:                   
  • Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
  • Join our 6:00pm Thursday night prayer team.         
Friday:                                    
  • Thank God for providing a way out of temptation through His Son!
  • Pray for the Good News families of the week: Jim & Carol DeYaeger (Stephanie), Frank & Anna Diehl, Phil DiMora
Saturday:       
  • Praise God that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear.
Sunday:                                  
  • Thank God for sending His Son to destroy the devil’s work! 
 Monday:                                 
  • Give thanks that God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are on our side to give victory over sin.
  • Attend “In Touch” Prayer meeting at GNCC at 10:30am or join in prayer at that time.
 Tuesday:       
  • Pray that you will not be led into temptation but delivered from evil.
Wednesday:   
  • Pray that you will be victorious over the world, the flesh and the devil!
 
Prayer Challenge: Take heart in the fact that our Lord Jesus has overcome the world, the flesh and the devil!

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