Temptation...The hardest test you will ever take-Matthew 4:1-11
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In almost every area of modern life there comes a moment when u have to take a test, an examination of some sort, and d results of that test determine whether or not you can continue along d path you are following
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In almost every area of modern life there comes a moment when u have to take a test, an examination of some sort, and d results of that test determine whether or not you can continue along d path you are following
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The challenge of taking tests starts rather early in life.
From d very early stages of a kindergarten class to d university level, students must pass proficiency exams in school before they can proceed to higher levels of learning.
The challenge of taking tests starts rather early in life.
From d very early stages of a kindergarten class to d university level, students must pass proficiency exams in school before they can proceed to higher levels of learning.
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There is an exam in every class you take. There is a test required for any profession or vocation you may want to pursue.
Whether you want to be a plumber, a barber, a physician, a lawyer or a preacher there comes a moment when you must take and pass a test before you
There is an exam in every class you take. There is a test required for any profession or vocation you may want to pursue.
Whether you want to be a plumber, a barber, a physician, a lawyer or a preacher there comes a moment when you must take and pass a test before you
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can proceed any further.
Many people are not doing what they really wanted to do in life because they failed one of these exams.
They took the bar exam, but they did not pass.
They took the WAEC exam, but their grade was not high enough to allow them entry into
can proceed any further.
Many people are not doing what they really wanted to do in life because they failed one of these exams.
They took the bar exam, but they did not pass.
They took the WAEC exam, but their grade was not high enough to allow them entry into
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the school they wanted to attend.
They took a typing exam, but they were not fast enough.
They wanted a certain job, but they could not pass the reading or writing exams.
the school they wanted to attend.
They took a typing exam, but they were not fast enough.
They wanted a certain job, but they could not pass the reading or writing exams.
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There are all kinds of exams that we have to take over the course of our lives, and if we do not pass them there are many things we are prevented and even prohibited from doing.
However, it is important to note that there are two different types of tests we will be called upon
There are all kinds of exams that we have to take over the course of our lives, and if we do not pass them there are many things we are prevented and even prohibited from doing.
However, it is important to note that there are two different types of tests we will be called upon
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to pass as we move through this world.
#One of those tests is to measure the content of your knowledge; that is a head test.
#The other kind of test measures the content of our character; it is a test of the heart.
to pass as we move through this world.
#One of those tests is to measure the content of your knowledge; that is a head test.
#The other kind of test measures the content of our character; it is a test of the heart.
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Sometimes the tests we must face will have to do with knowledge & information, & other times they will have more to do with our character & our moral convictions.
To put it another way, some exams are designed to find out what you know, but just as important are those exams
Sometimes the tests we must face will have to do with knowledge & information, & other times they will have more to do with our character & our moral convictions.
To put it another way, some exams are designed to find out what you know, but just as important are those exams
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that are designed to find out “who you are?”
Two words are important here.
One of those words is aptitude; which points to knowledge and what a person knows how to do.
Aptitude is a skill of the hand or the head; it is a matter of ability.
that are designed to find out “who you are?”
Two words are important here.
One of those words is aptitude; which points to knowledge and what a person knows how to do.
Aptitude is a skill of the hand or the head; it is a matter of ability.
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The other word is attitude; which points, not to what you know, but to who you are as a person..
The other word is attitude; which points, not to what you know, but to who you are as a person..
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TEMPTATION-THE ATTITUDE TEST
I want to take this issue of having to pass a test before you can proceed with your career goal, & this matter of being tested both on your attitude and your aptitude, & apply all of that to Jesus as he is being tested by Satan in Matthew 4:1-11.
TEMPTATION-THE ATTITUDE TEST
I want to take this issue of having to pass a test before you can proceed with your career goal, & this matter of being tested both on your attitude and your aptitude, & apply all of that to Jesus as he is being tested by Satan in Matthew 4:1-11.
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This story occurs at a critical moment in the life of Jesus, immediately after his baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan and immediately before he begins his ministry of preaching and healing.
This story occurs at a critical moment in the life of Jesus, immediately after his baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan and immediately before he begins his ministry of preaching and healing.
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Jesus has just experienced the exultant moment when d voice of God declared, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17
Jesus had just seen d heavens open and he saw a dove descend from heaven & rest upon him as a sign of his ordination & consecration for ministry
Jesus has just experienced the exultant moment when d voice of God declared, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17
Jesus had just seen d heavens open and he saw a dove descend from heaven & rest upon him as a sign of his ordination & consecration for ministry
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But he did not move from that moment directly into his ministry in Galilee.
#First he “was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan” (4:1).
It was as if the Holy Spirit was saying to Jesus that even He could not proceed with his career, his calling,
But he did not move from that moment directly into his ministry in Galilee.
#First he “was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan” (4:1).
It was as if the Holy Spirit was saying to Jesus that even He could not proceed with his career, his calling,
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his ministry until he took & passed a test of both his aptitude & his attitude, of how much he knew & of what kind of person he really was. AN EXAMPLE TO US
#Let me begin by talking about d attitude test that Jesus had to pass, or about Satan’s attempt to find out
his ministry until he took & passed a test of both his aptitude & his attitude, of how much he knew & of what kind of person he really was. AN EXAMPLE TO US
#Let me begin by talking about d attitude test that Jesus had to pass, or about Satan’s attempt to find out
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what kind of person Jesus really was.
After having fasted, or gone without food and probably without much water for a period of forty (40) days Satan tests the character of Jesus in three ways.
what kind of person Jesus really was.
After having fasted, or gone without food and probably without much water for a period of forty (40) days Satan tests the character of Jesus in three ways.
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#First he tests Jesus with meeting a physical need that was hunger; turn these stones into bread.
#Second, he tests Jesus with a psychological challenge that involves humility; jump frm d temple & make God dispatch angels to catch u b4 u fall & kill yourself on d rocks below
#First he tests Jesus with meeting a physical need that was hunger; turn these stones into bread.
#Second, he tests Jesus with a psychological challenge that involves humility; jump frm d temple & make God dispatch angels to catch u b4 u fall & kill yourself on d rocks below
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#Finally, Satan tests Jesus over proper religious practice that involved honoring nothing more than you honor God.
_The very first of the commandments given by God to Moses says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” That was the test Jesus faced when Satan said to him
#Finally, Satan tests Jesus over proper religious practice that involved honoring nothing more than you honor God.
_The very first of the commandments given by God to Moses says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” That was the test Jesus faced when Satan said to him
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Bow down and worship me and I will give you all the wealth of the world.”
Consider these three areas of testing in d life of Jesus - recognize that when Satan comes to tempt u - i and he surely will, it will occur within one or more of these three areas.
Bow down and worship me and I will give you all the wealth of the world.”
Consider these three areas of testing in d life of Jesus - recognize that when Satan comes to tempt u - i and he surely will, it will occur within one or more of these three areas.
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You and I will be tempted by Satan to find out what kind of people & what kind of Christians we really are.
#The first test will involve what you and I are willing to do to satisfy some physical need that we experience.
You and I will be tempted by Satan to find out what kind of people & what kind of Christians we really are.
#The first test will involve what you and I are willing to do to satisfy some physical need that we experience.
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Would we be willing to steal, or lie, or cheat or practice some form of discrimination or persecution if we thought it would help us meet some urgent physical need?
One clear test of our character as human beings and especially as followers of Jesus Christ involves the
Would we be willing to steal, or lie, or cheat or practice some form of discrimination or persecution if we thought it would help us meet some urgent physical need?
One clear test of our character as human beings and especially as followers of Jesus Christ involves the
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things we will not do no matter how much it might benefit us if we did.
things we will not do no matter how much it might benefit us if we did.
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Character involves the restraints and the restrictions that we impose on our own behavior as we seek to be faithful to God.
We will not steal in order to get ahead, because the Bible says, “You shall not steal.”
Character involves the restraints and the restrictions that we impose on our own behavior as we seek to be faithful to God.
We will not steal in order to get ahead, because the Bible says, “You shall not steal.”
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We will not condone discrimination or bigotry or exploitation of any kind, because the Bible says, “You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
We will not condone discrimination or bigotry or exploitation of any kind, because the Bible says, “You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
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We will not engage in adultery or any other form of illicit sexual activity in order to satisfy some burning, lustful passion within us because the Bible clear speaks against such conduct no matter how “good” it may feel or how “satisfying” it may seem.
We will not engage in adultery or any other form of illicit sexual activity in order to satisfy some burning, lustful passion within us because the Bible clear speaks against such conduct no matter how “good” it may feel or how “satisfying” it may seem.
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The devil wants to test and tempt us at the level of our hungering for the pleasures of this world, because he wants to find out what kind of people we are. It is an attitude test.
The devil wants to test and tempt us at the level of our hungering for the pleasures of this world, because he wants to find out what kind of people we are. It is an attitude test.
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The 2nd test will involve what we are willing to do in order to make God prove Himself to us.
In this 2nd test u & I are assigning to God a task or a test dat God must pass in order for us to believe dat God is really there.
If you are God then heal my body b4 2mrw morning
The 2nd test will involve what we are willing to do in order to make God prove Himself to us.
In this 2nd test u & I are assigning to God a task or a test dat God must pass in order for us to believe dat God is really there.
If you are God then heal my body b4 2mrw morning
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If you are God then meet my need for a job or a spouse.
We put God to the test by asking God to do whatever it is that we ask God or perhaps even tell God to do in order for us to continue to believe in God.
“Lord, I know that you can heal me, so do it!”
If you are God then meet my need for a job or a spouse.
We put God to the test by asking God to do whatever it is that we ask God or perhaps even tell God to do in order for us to continue to believe in God.
“Lord, I know that you can heal me, so do it!”
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“Lord, I know you can give me this blessing I desire, so do it!”
"Lord, I know you can answer this prayer, so do it!”
We need to learn to come before God like Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane.
“Lord, I know you can give me this blessing I desire, so do it!”
"Lord, I know you can answer this prayer, so do it!”
We need to learn to come before God like Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane.
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There was something that Jesus desperately and urgently wanted God to do for Him; “Let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39). Jesus knew that unless something happened, He would soon be handed over to His enemies who would condemn Him to death by the cruel process of
There was something that Jesus desperately and urgently wanted God to do for Him; “Let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39). Jesus knew that unless something happened, He would soon be handed over to His enemies who would condemn Him to death by the cruel process of
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crucifixion; being nailed to a cross and left to die from exposure, asphyxiation and horrendous physical pain and trauma.
Even in the face of that prospect Jesus did not put God to the test; He did not tell God to do something as a way of proving that God was real.
crucifixion; being nailed to a cross and left to die from exposure, asphyxiation and horrendous physical pain and trauma.
Even in the face of that prospect Jesus did not put God to the test; He did not tell God to do something as a way of proving that God was real.
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After He told God what He wanted, He ended His prayer by reminding Himself that what He wanted was not the most important thing.
He ended His prayer with the ultimate words of humility of one’s self and the ultimate exaltation of God: not my will but your will be done.
After He told God what He wanted, He ended His prayer by reminding Himself that what He wanted was not the most important thing.
He ended His prayer with the ultimate words of humility of one’s self and the ultimate exaltation of God: not my will but your will be done.
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Whatever it is you may be asking from God, remember that Satan is testing you to find out whether you are willing and able to end that prayer by saying these words of Jesus: “Not my will but your will be done.”
Whatever it is you may be asking from God, remember that Satan is testing you to find out whether you are willing and able to end that prayer by saying these words of Jesus: “Not my will but your will be done.”
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#The third test we will surely face some day involves whether there is anything of this world that comes to mean more to us than our relationship and our obedience to God.
Satan told Jesus that he would give Him all the wealth of the world if Jesus would only bow down and
#The third test we will surely face some day involves whether there is anything of this world that comes to mean more to us than our relationship and our obedience to God.
Satan told Jesus that he would give Him all the wealth of the world if Jesus would only bow down and
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worship him. Satan will tell us the same thing; you can have everything this world has to offer if you just turn your back on God and worship some politician or some political ideology.
worship him. Satan will tell us the same thing; you can have everything this world has to offer if you just turn your back on God and worship some politician or some political ideology.
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You can have it all if you just turn your back on God and model your life after Snoop Doggy Dog, whose musical lyrics debase and degrade women.
Or you can worship the value system found on the TV shows like Desperate Housewives or Trading Spouses, where marital vows are
You can have it all if you just turn your back on God and model your life after Snoop Doggy Dog, whose musical lyrics debase and degrade women.
Or you can worship the value system found on the TV shows like Desperate Housewives or Trading Spouses, where marital vows are
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ridiculed and the gods of popular culture are honored and adored.
Never mind trusting and believing that God will provide for your needs; worship the gods of this world and trust them to provide the things you need.
ridiculed and the gods of popular culture are honored and adored.
Never mind trusting and believing that God will provide for your needs; worship the gods of this world and trust them to provide the things you need.
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Life is a series of attitude tests designed to find out what kind of persons we are.
We will be tested at the level of physical pleasure and desires.
Life is a series of attitude tests designed to find out what kind of persons we are.
We will be tested at the level of physical pleasure and desires.
38.
We will be tested at the level of placing God’s will above our own. And we will be tested at the level of whether we will ever love and respect anyone or anything more than we love and revere God.
(Join me again tomorrow for part 2. Stay strong)
We will be tested at the level of placing God’s will above our own. And we will be tested at the level of whether we will ever love and respect anyone or anything more than we love and revere God.
(Join me again tomorrow for part 2. Stay strong)
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