Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 5 Then the Devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test." 8 Again, the Devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." 11 Then the Devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Our Spiritual walk is a daily battle with the flesh, and if we are not prepared in full body armor, we are fighting unprotected. We must study God's Word daily to be victorious in battle, Jesus had to rely on His Father's Word, and we must also rely and stand on His Word. The only way we can defeat the Devil is through Scripture, but to use the Word, we must know the Word, and the only way to know the Word is through study.
Father, we ask that You remove all from us that is not of You, so we may come boldly to the throne in prayer with a clean heart so that You will hear us. Lord, fill us with the Holy Spirit so that we will be compelled to Your Word and stand on Your promise with obedience. Lord, give us the wisdom and understanding of Your Word so that the knowledge will nourish our fruit of the Spirit and help us become Christ-like. Father, Your Word tells us in Matthew 5 that blessed are the poor, the grieving, and the mistreated; please keep us as the poverty of life teach us to trust in You. Father, fill our children and us with the hope of a better tomorrow so we may stand on Your Word without wavering. Lord, give us Your strength when we are weak and patient when we are anxious; so that we will wait for You to order our steps in Your will. Father, Jesus is our mentor and our Savior, so help us deny ourselves; as He denied Himself in the wilderness, as we draw near to Thee. Lord, teach us how to say no to sin, and help us exercise Your teachings; so the Devil will flee from us, as he did Jesus. Lord, help us become one in unity through worship, praise, and prayer; and let us not test You, in Jesus' name Amen.
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