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Luke 4:1-2 - Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. NASU
Once a person is baptized into Christ they can expect the devil to bring all types of temptations before them for the sole purpose of getting them to give up on their faith in Jesus.
Praise God for His strength to overcome every temptation. There is only one way people were going to be able arrive safely on Heaven's shores and that was if Jesus could remain sinless. He is the world's perfect sacrifice because He never sinned.
You and I do not have to go through our trials and temptations alone. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and He will bring scripture to our memories to help us fight off the temptations the devil brings our way. It was with scripture that Jesus defeated the evil one and so it will be with us. We also have Christians we can call when we are being tempted and share with them what we are presently going through. It is during these times other Christians will pray with and for us. They will also share scriptures with us to give us strength and encourage us just by their being there. I John 4:4 says, "…greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." When Moses was leading the children of Israel out of the Egypt God protected them with a Pillar of Fire and a Pillar of a Cloud. Exodus 14:13 - Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. NIV We know how this story ends. God parted the Red Sea and they walked across on dry land and after all the Israelites were safe the seas collapsed and killed the Egyptians. God had saved the Israelites. God will save us.
Think About These: By yielding to temptation one may lose in a moment what it took a lifetime to gain. Few speed records are broken when people run away from temptations. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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1 Samuel 2:6-8 “The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world.”
One family is financially poor and has absolutely nothing except a remarkable faith in God. Another family is wealthy and has every convenience known to man yet they are void of knowledge of God. The text says, “The Lord sends poverty and wealth.” What is your situation today? Would you identify with those living in poverty or wealth? You are in one state or the other because God has placed you there. How are you honoring God in your condition is the question that needs to be answered?
While serving as a minister at Christ’s Church of the Valley in AZ (CCV) I led a group of people to Mexico to build houses on numerous occasions. The house’s dimensions were 11’ x 22’ and they had a concrete floor, flat roof, two windows, one door and the outside was covered with stucco. There was no electricity and no plumbing. The people who received the houses on those weekends had their lives changed and I had my life changed as well. They were exalted with their new houses and I was humbled by seeing their new houses.
If God can lift the earth on its pillars I am pretty sure he can lift your burdens. God can change your life and I hope you will trust Him enough to allow Him to change your life. Think About These: It is better to appreciate something you have than to have something you can't appreciate. Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Acts 9:23-25 - When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket. NASU
There were some Jews who had listened to him for a few days and now they have heard enough. There is only one thing to do with Saul and that is kill him. It is quite evident that he has lost his mind according to them. They liked Saul when he was persecuting those who believed Jesus to be the Messiah, but now they see him as a traitor. Their plan was to kill this new messenger of Jesus the Messiah. Yet, on the other hand, there were some Jews who had listened to him preaching about Jesus and they were glad to hear his conversion story and accept Jesus as the Messiah. What about you? Is it time you listen to Paul's conversion story and follow his example of giving your life to Jesus Christ?
They were bewildered and embarrassed by Saul's knowledge of the scriptures. Maybe you have gone through a conversion to Jesus and people are bewildered by it. This happens to a lot of Christians. Your goal is to grow closer to the Lord regardless of what other people think of you. Don't let this surprise you nor deflate you spiritually. Your plan needs to continue to study God's Word and help those who will listen to you.
Can you see all of these disciples working together for a common goal? We have to save the life of Saul because he definitely believes like we do that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. They get Saul to get in the basket (how much faith did that take) and while men lift up the basket with Saul in it there are men holding the ropes as they let go of the basket. These rope holders are heroes. Can you imagine for a second if they would have dropped the basket and Saul would have died once he and the basket hit the ground? Thirteen books of New Testament that were written by Paul would be non-existent and it would be 14 books if you believe Paul is the author of the book of Hebrews, like I do. These roper holders were playing a bigger part in history of Christianity than they could ever have imagined. Are you playing a bigger part in Christianity than you are imagining today?
Do you think that any of these rope holders knew that Saul would become the Apostle Paul and write over half of the New Testament that you and I can read everyday? Whatever you are doing today to expand the Kingdom of God you need to see yourself as a roper holder. Vision what you are doing everyday is going to be used by God to make a huge difference in Christianity. Think About These: People may doubt what you say, but they'll believe what you do. Some people entertain ideas; others put them to work. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word James 4:2 - "…You do not have because you do not ask." NASU
So what happened? What changed our way of thinking? When did we start thinking that we could go it all alone?
I really didn't see what the big deal was at the time. Needless to say my parents were not happy with my behavior and they enrolled me in a military academy in Staunton, Virginia. My dad said the military helped him grow up and this is what I needed. I remember watching my parents and siblings drive away and I was left behind on that blacktop driveway. There was an emptiness in the pit of my stomach for about 30 seconds and then my mind entertained this question, "Now what are you going to do?" That is when I said, "It is me against the world." I said some other things but I would not put them in print. There wasn't any emptiness in my stomach now. It was filled with determination that I will show them. I will show the world. I can survive. I can go it on my own. That is when I started avoiding asking anyone for anything. If I wanted something I would get it. If I couldn't get it without asking someone I would do without it. My life plan became plain and simple. If you can't get it by yourself do without it.
So I confessed Jesus to be my Lord and Savior and was baptized into Christ. I have never regretted making that decision. I have made plenty of bad decisions that I have regretted making, but asking for God's help has never been one of my regrets. So as the scripture says, "…You do not have because you do not ask." So I asked for Jesus to be the Lord of my life. Since I became a Christian on that day I have been asking for help ever since. It really is the better way to live. When I need something I ask God for His help to acquire it. If I am supposed to have it God will see to it that I receive it. If He doesn't want me to have it I will not get it. I know He will supply me with what I need. If He doesn't give it to me there is a reason. I can better serve Him without it. So is there something you don't have? Then ask God for it. If He wants you to have you will. If He doesn't want you to have it this is for your own good. Think About This: You can buy education, but wisdom is a gift from God. God often tries us with a little to see what we would do with a lot. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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