BE GUIDED BY GOD’S WORD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2020.

SUBJECT: BE GUIDED BY GOD’S WORD!

Memory verse: "Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." (Psalm 119 vs 105.)

READ: Matthew 4 vs 7 - 10: 

4:1: Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
4:2: And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was an hungry.
4:3: Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4:4: But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
4:5: Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,
4:6: and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written, ‘He shall give His angels charge over You,’ and, ‘in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
4:7: Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
4:8: Again, the devil took Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory,
4:9: And said to Him, “All these things will I give You, if you will fall down and worship me.”
4:10: Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shalt worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”
4:11: Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

INTIMATION:

It is not within man to direct his own behavior in order to be pleasing God. Therefore, the word of God is the Map by which man directs his life. Being guided by the Word of God is the sure and shortest way to your ‘Promise Land.’ God’s guidance or direction is contained in His Word. Not adopting God’s guidance nor recognizing them, is the cause of your delay in arriving at your God ordained promise land and achieving His purpose for your life on earth, and consequently, not receiving His promise. Satan, God's greatest enemy, and the accuser of brethren, is a master at turning us away from God’s guidance or turning them around to deceive us, thereby keeping us away from receiving God’s provisions for us. 

To walk safely in the woods at night we need a light so we don’t trip over tree roots or fall into holes. In this life, we walk through a dark forest of evil. But the Bible can be our light to show us the way ahead so we won’t stumble as we walk. It reveals the entangling roots of false values and philosophies. Study the Bible so you will be able to see your way clear enough to stay on the right path. 

The travail of Jesus Christ, in the passage we read today, clearly illustrates the concept of Satan's plan of action. Satan tried to twist the word of God when Jesus was in the wilderness through a series of temptations. Each time Satan tempted Him, Jesus responded, "It is written." Satan twisted the Scripture, trying to keep the Son of God from fulfilling His mission at the cross. If Satan twisted Scripture with Jesus Christ, he will most assuredly twist Scripture with you. The false doctrine taught in many churches today is nothing less than the prince of darkness turning the word of God around using willing preachers to lead people away from God's purpose, and prevents them from entering into His provision for their lives.

If you will follow God's word, you will shorten the time it takes to reach your promise land. The word clearly gives the road map for our travail on earth, and our preparation for our union with Christ in eternity. How you conduct and direct ourselves with the road map, determines how well you navigate yourself through life’s challenges and how long you stay in them. 

The children of Israel were in their problem for forty years. Jesus was in the problem for forty days. What made the difference? The answer is this;  Jesus walked straight through the wilderness by following the guiders found in the Words of His Father found in Scripture. The children of Israel made a career of their wilderness experience by refusing to obey the Lord's direction. Even after they walked out of the land of their captivity, their hearts remained full of idolatrous habits and negative attitudes, formed by four hundred and thirty years of slavery. They were out of Egypt, but Egypt was still in them.

Jesus said the following statements of Himself: "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner" (John 5 vs 19). "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me" (John 5 vs 30). "....When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as the Father taught Me, I speak these things" (John 8 vs 28).

Jesus never failed to look at God’s word. He obeyed fully, without equivocation, the words of His Father. He stayed focused and the Scripture said this of Him, “...He humbled Himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2 vs 8.) And as Christians we should be like Christ.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to function in all my ways being lead by Your word, in the mighty Name of Jesus I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!