Matthew 4:11…….Ready

Matthew 4:11…….Ready

11 Then the devil left him, (Jesus was never free from temptations, nor will we.) and angels came and attended him. (For expository Notes see Companion Book)

 Continued From Book

“Shows how when we abide in God’s Word & Will Satan will flee from us”. ⇒ Satan flees not because Jesus quoted scripture, but because He submitted Himself to God and His Word. (James 4:7, Eph. 6:13-18)

“Displays how Satan will pick on us when we’re weak, but flee when we’re strong.” ⇒ Satan knows there are plenty of easier targets out there than a Christ follower who stands up to him with God’s word.

“Even today temptations & trials do not last forever. If we will stay the course and not give in God’s help is on the way”. ⇒ GOD IS SAYING – trust me in your trial, trust me in your struggles… I’m sending help. SO…Hold on to your marriage, help is on the way! Have faith in that financial hardship, help is on the way! Fight through that depression help is on the way! Don’t surrender to that drug addiction, that pornography addiction, that cross-dressing addiction, help is on the way! Don’t give into homosexuality, help is on the way! Don’t give into bitterness and hate, help is on the way. Don’t grow weary in doing good, help is on the way! Don’t give up even though the devil is trying to take you out, help is on the way! (Note: God may not send us angels, but He can send us strength, comfort, encouragement, and fellowship of other believers.)

Additional Notes & Applications

Teaches how were never alone, that God will be there for us, honoring our faith through every trial & difficulty, seeing to your comfort and relief. (cf. Rom. 8:26)

Teaches how believers can take heart, that no matter how weak we are or how intense the battle grows, the same God who led Jesus to victory in His conflict with the devil, will also lead us to victory over our trials and temptations. (cf. 1-Corn. 10:13)

Teaches if God sent angels to minister to Jesus after this wilderness season, how much more should we need ministering to in our wilderness seasons!

Teaches how God will be there for us, honoring our faith through every trial & difficulty. Seeing to our comfort and spiritual relief. (God is not only understanding of our humanity, but compassionate to our spiritual pain as well.) (cf. Rom. 8:26)

Displays the power of God’s Word. Jesus answered Satan every time from the Word of God and the devil seemed to think that they were good answers, because he did not argue, he just left. (cf. James 4:7)

Teaches those who hunger and struggle to follow God’s will, will be rewarded when they, in due course, chose the correct path.

Displays how Satan is unable to compete with a righteous life that consistently confronts him with God’s Word.

Teaches how believers can take heart, that no matter how weak we are or how intense the battle grows, the same God who led Jesus to victory in His conflict with the devil, will also lead us to victory over our trials and temptations. (cf. 1-Corn. 10:13)

Note: In the end Jesus gets from His Father exactly what the devil promises and yet cannot deliver himself. The devil tempts Jesus to eat bread, and God provides Him with bread from heaven. The devil tempts Jesus to summon angels from heaven, and God sends angels to minister to Him. What about the last one though? Satan promises Jesus authority over the whole world. This too is not his to deliver, but God does crown Jesus the beloved Son with authority over all things. Just not yet.

Note: According to Luke’s account of the temptation says; “The devil left Him until an opportune (convenient)  time”.-(Luke 4:13) Which goes to show Jesus was never free from temptation, nor will we. We can win battles, but that does not mean the war is are over! One victory never guarantees freedom from temptation; if anything, each victory we experience only makes Satan try that much harder. Satan will flee from us. But he doesn’t stay gone. He is just looking for the next opportunity. So stay alert. Be on guard, because Satan is always looking for an opportunity to trip us up and make us fall. [Note: The scriptures never record another direct assault on Jesus by Satan. That is, we cannot find the devil directly speaking to Jesus again. However, the gospels do tell us that the devil attempted to undermine Jesus’ plans by causing people to doubt what Jesus was speaking. That is, the devil attacked Jesus’ teachings and words. Satan also attacked Jesus through the Jewish religious leaders, where the religious leaders accused Jesus of performing exorcisms in cooperation with Beelzebul or Satan.-(Matt. 12:22-30) Sometimes Satan finds opportunities through the words of friends. Satan attacked Jesus through His own disciples where he spoke through Peter, and Jesus rebuked him saying “get behind me Satan”.-(Matt. 16:21-23) And again though Judas Iscariot. Where Satan entered Judas and agreed to betray Jesus to the Jewish leaders.-(Luke 22:1-6)

(For more Applications get the whole Book) 

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