And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17.
Nimes 01 – 05- 2021
 
Christ temptations on earth and his unfinished work in heaven for his persecuted saints on earth. Matthew 4: 1-11.
 
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17.
 
Note: let no man be troubled or afraid that they are tested harder and confronted aggressively by the enemy because of their increasing faith and devotional love or consecration before the Father as the devil is trying to stop them from going deeper in love and move higher in the realm of the spirit and glory as God intends growth from grace to grace, and from glory to glory: but as our determination is solid, we will discover that proportional grace and power is given unto us to overcome any threat, temptation and opposition from the enemy because we must grow from grace to grace and from glory to glory in Christ Jesus: blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ.  2 Corinthians 1:3-5.
 
The trial of faith is a reality in the kingdom (in the time of temptation he falls away. Luke 8:13) to show (a) us that our weaknesses or infirmities are seen and known by Christ who can also be identified with us in our trials, himself has once gone through them while he was in the world: for we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin (Heb. 4:15): though in heaven seated at the right hand of God, he is praying for our victory over every temptation and trial, sending us help (counseling, supportive prayers etc) through godly men, and by his holy angels, for us to have victory over our trials: Heb: 2:18: (b) temptations shows the strength of our faith, serving as the ladder for spiritual growth and promotion – but he knows the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Job 23:10-11: (c) temptations are also designed to qualify us for different prizes or reward such as the crown of life (blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12) reserved in heaven for those who shall be faithful and loyal in submission to God to the end, just as Christ was during the days of his flesh on earth.
 
Temptations are of various dimensions and levels, but they are not beyond the measure or the level of our faith: for God is faithful, who will not allows the tempter to tempt (1 Thessalonians 3:5) us beyond our faith in what we are not capable to endure, bear or handle victoriously; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13.
 
We understand from the scriptures that the temptations of Christ reveals his unaffected love, submission, devotion and loyalty to his Father who sent him into the world to fulfill his will, even unto the death of the cross – his greatest trial. Note: just as Christ was tried unto the death of the cross, so likewise has he warned and prepared the hearts of certain in the church to remain faithful unto the end because Satan will try some of them unto death, but they will receive the crown of life in heaven if they will be steadfast and unmovable to the end. Revelation 2:10.
 
We read from the scriptures that the angels ministered unto Jesus immediately after he successfully completed his temptations (Matthew 4:11), let each bear it in mind that each trial we overcome should bring us into an increasing spiritual experience of increasing grace to another height, which at the same time opens a new door for greater spiritual responsibility and opportunity for stewardship before God in the kingdom – trial passed is faithfulness before God proven to be true: whosoever is found faithful in a little thing, shall be entrusted with much treasure: much more of the winner’s takes it all of the prizes awaiting us (he that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Revelation 21:7), though those rewards are little in comparison to the biggest prize given to Christ – the exalted, most powerful and honorary name given unto him by the Father, a name which is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee must bow, of things in heaven and things on earth, and that every tongues should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:9.
 
We also read that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil as Christ prepared for the face-off with the devil in his built up towards the temptation by fasting and praying before the arrival of the tempter. Has the Lord not warned you to prepare yourself by watching and praying at all times, lest you fall not into temptation? Any failure in the time of temptation should be as the result of your unpreparedness and un-watchfulness against the prowler because you will not be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8): though grace is given and extended to repent of the past and present failures and failings in your temptations (my little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2) so that you might pass the same temptation whenever it present itself again, that you might learn the wisdom of the just by it (Luke 1:17): until then, you are not going to make any spiritual progress in your sanctification and holiness for heaven in your walk with God as you continue to sow to the flesh – lusts: let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither did he tempts he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. James 1:13-15.
 
There is no such thing as ‘this is the toughest and special trial like any other’ or to say, ‘I’ve never seen or heard of this kind of temptation’ we might be going through in life which is not happening to other faithful brethren in the Lord (1 Peter 5:9) in all the world, and of which the Lord our Savior has not gone through on earth to overcome in the spirit of submission to the Father, so as to have power to resist the devil and to overcome him. Resolution to submit under Christ yoke and burden (teachings and lifestyles) should be the top agenda and priority in our trials before we go boldly before the throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy to find grace to help in time of need (Heb.4:16): only Christ can rebuke the tempter for our sake, and to tell him hitherto shall you come, and shall not exceed, but if we do not submit under the mighty hand of God, this is not going to be done. Job 38:11. Revelation 2:24.
 
If we won’t submit to the will and word of God (James 4:7), we can’t have power over the tempter to claim any victory over his temptations. We shall always be the servant to whomsoever we obey – Satan or God. Behind your thoughtful and practical submission to the word of God is the power to resist the devil, so he can flee from you. Without submission to the written word and the will of God, repeated failure and defeat before the enemy is inevitable, we must therefore submit to God before we take it upon us to resist the devil: this is the spiritual order by which we must order our battle against the enemy of our soul who is roaming about, seeking whom he may devour. The devil knows what is written, and he’s not going to bow or depart from us if what we are saying is not corresponding to what we are doing. What is written is written, and by those things that are written, our Lord was able to confound the enemy by the scriptures before Satan’s final disgrace on the cross, where the Lord finally spoiled the principalities and powers, triumphing over them in it.
 
We must be determined to do the will of God at all cost (and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Hebrews. 11:36-38): to resist and reject any ungodly demand of man, or of a nation, and of whosoever for whatsoever is demanded upon us which is against the word and the will of God, even as Joseph’s ground of argument to disobey his master’s wife ungodly sexual demand’s from him was ‘I can’t do this great wickedness before God! Genesis 39:9. Though, our present victory over sin and over any temptation might increase our pain, grief or regret for any outward gain or favor from man because we will not join them: it is also likely to lose job or position in the world by false accusation or deformation because the enemy is out there to intensify his attacks to break our resolve to get us compromise to deny Christ in any way (blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:10-12) possible, it is better, if the will of God be so, that we suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:17-18.
 
The Lord know how to deliver the godly from temptation, but to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be tormented (2 Peter 2:9): the trails of anyone among our brethren in the Lord is their affliction: though many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all (Psalms 34:19): though the enemy repeatedly assaults them in order to destabilizes them; let us show strong spiritual solidarity with our brethren suffering affliction, let us not despise them for their sufferings (he that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease. Job 12:5), lest the Lord should visit and punish us as those who are glad at the calamities and sufferings of others (Proverbs 17:5): but to show an humble spirit before them, by identifying ourselves with their plights (Hebrews 13:3) as the expression of the comfort of love we relate from Christ (therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love. Philippians 2:1) unto them, not as hypocritical mockers in feasts (Psalms 36:15) who is ignorance of the truth that the believers should pass through many tribulations and trials before they can inherit the kingdom of heaven (Acts 14:22): neither should anyone of us act or speak like Job’s evil hearted friends who were describes as miserable comforters, for they behaved themselves strangely (Job 19:3) and spoke harshly to wound him like the piercing of a sword, and to add to his grief in his trials ( I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you. But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief. Job 16:4. Prov. 12:18), but to be like the faithful disciples of Christ who were supportive of him to continue and to stand by his side throughout his temptations (you are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke 22:28-30. Note: if we insults, disrespect, take advantage of, despise or desert our brethren in the Lord because of their trials, we have equally insulted, disrespected, taken advantage of, despised and deserted Christ who is presently afflicted with his brethren in all their trials and affliction (Isaiah 63:9): whatever we have done against the brethren during the time of their trials, troubles and afflictions shall likewise be fully meted back to us from the Lord to whom pertain vengeance: but you should not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither should not have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither should have spoken proudly in the day of distress. Thou should not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou should not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity; neither should not have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither should thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress. For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon your own head. Obadiah 1:11-15. Matthew 25:40-45.
 
Pastor Luc Warnon of mission Timothy at Nimes was very right three Sundays ago in his preaching by saying that God decides on the type of miracle (s) he will perform or show to glorify his name; that any miracle man controls or do at his own will is magic because genuine miracles from God cannot be monopolized by man – nobody knows what is in the way of the Spirit of God. Magic is condemnable work of the flesh, but the devil tempted Christ, seeking to bring him into it by asking him to turn a stone into bread – which also have to do with the lust of the flesh as understood from the Lord’s response that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word coming out from the mouth of God, must he live.
 
This intimated that though bread is good for the soul of man as provided by God (Psalms 104:14) for his sustenance, that it is also good for a man to eat when he is hungry, though Christ was actually hungry at that point in time, having finished his forty days fast, but it is not good for a man to eat the bread of him that is evil with his evil monitoring eyes, especially the devil’s proposed bread: eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: for as he thinks in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, says he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. The morsel which thou hast eaten shall thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words. Proverbs 23:6-8. Note: if we overcome the lust of the flesh, it is sure that we shall overcome the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Had the Lord turned the stone into bread, though he may not have eaten it, but that would have made him altogether a failure for the rest of the trials because the victory over the first trial should pave the way for the next to take place.
 
After the devil was defeated by Christ in the second trial at the pinacle of the temple, he takes him up into an exceeding high mountain, and shows him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. If we can’t solve the simplest math problem, how can we solve the biggest?
 
The kingdom of God is not meats and drinks (Rom. 14:17): there should be a time to get any assignment done with God, afterward, we can have a good and agreeable time to rest, eat and drink with thanksgiving before him, even as Christ taught his disciples by the well of Jacob that his priority (John 4:31-34) is to do the will of him that sent him and to finish his work as they earnestly and persistently seek to influence him to eat while he was still ministering to the Samaritans. Though Jesus was the Son of God in the world, but he was to operate as the Son of man in the flesh – the second Adam. The nature he shared with us (flesh and blood. Heb.2:14) was to subject himself to God’s will and purpose, and not otherwise, lest any should think more highly of themselves than they ought to think as the result of any special relationship with God, or of any special gifts or spiritual power or authority from him. 1 Cor.4:7.
 
Though Christ will later on go a-head to make draught of fish to influence Peter’s faith to follow him for discipleship – go a – head to bring money out of a fish mouth to pay for tax levy on him and Peter – go a-head to multiply five loaves of bread and two fishes to feed five thousands souls, nothing should be done for vain glory: but everything we do, in word or deed, should be done for the glory of God ( then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for whatsoever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. John 5:19: to exercises any spiritual power outside the realm of God’s timing and will is to become God’s impostor – and when the tempter came to him, he said, if thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:3-4.
 
Then the devil takes him up into the holy city, and sets him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, it is written again, thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God. Matthew 4:5-7.
 
If we don’t search and study the scriptures day and night as required (Psalms 1), that we might become wise by it unto salvation (2 Tim.15), and that we might be able to do according to everything that is written therein (Joshua 1:8) for a good success, how do we think we can overcome Satan who will come to twist the scriptures to us to ensnare us? If we should misquotes or misapply the word as the result of any carnal private wisdom, or of our own understanding, or by ignorant of it, is this not to our own destruction? Hosea 4:6. Shall not the enemy mock and laugh at our ignorance of the scriptures (study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim.15) if we wrongly misquote the word for any wrong cause of defense or action, and be defeated by him if we wrongfully misapply the scriptures for a wrong remedy? How can we avoid tempting God (neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 1 Corinthians 10:9) as we walk daily with him in our trials, while at the same time we are winning and overcoming the wicked one if the word of God is not abiding in us? I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 1 John2:14 b.
 
Again, the devil takes him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and said unto him, all these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then said Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and him only shall thou serve. Mathew 4:8-10
 
We should be very careful of the cares of this world, and deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things which are capable of destroying the present and future works of God in our lives, capable to derail us from the straight gate and narrow way leading up to heaven into the broad way and the wide gate leading up to destruction, lest we forget that the life of a man, especially a child of God, does not consists in the abundance of the things he possess. Though Christ promised an hundred fold reward unto everyone who has forsaken father, mother, brethren, lands for the kingdom of heaven’s sake…let us be careful to live in the life of godliness with contentment, lest our hearts be carried away, or is filled with the spirit of materialism in the pursuit of an unending possession of riches which drown men in destruction and perdition, instead of laying hold on eternal life we are called to pursuit after in love, righteousness, peace and faith with them that calls on the Lord out of a pure heart.1 Tim. 6:1-12.
 
If riches increases, do not set your heart on them, but by laying up treasure for yourself in heaven, you can serve God in spirit and in truth, lest your heart be divided from the singularity of your devotion and adoration of God, and you should be found faulty before him as one raising a strange altars of the love of money, and insatiable materials, and of worldliness in your life. Godliness is not gain and gain is not godliness: whatever financial and material and other physical blessings it seems good unto God to give or to add unto us in the pathway of righteousness should be considered as blessings to enjoy moderately before him that gives us richly all things to enjoy, which at the same time should be considered as working materials to promote the kingdom of God: to show forth his goodness as his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he has ordained for us to walk therein before the foundation of the world.
 
Some of the prosperity preachers were sometimes faithful children of God but refused to resist Satan’s proposal to bow before him in exchange for wealth and riches of the world. Some of them are even running after Satan for power, wealth and fame, directly involves themselves in rituals and other diabolical practices in exchange for wealth, fame and power for miracles through the spirit of devils, working miracles, but those who are lacking the courage of what it is to eat with Satan, and to bow before him are adulterating the word of God (2 Corinthians 2:17) for the bleating of sheep. 1 Samuel 15:14.
 
Believers should let the word of Christ dwell richly in them in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another (Colossians 3:16): filled with all knowledge, able to admonish one another (Romans 15:14) by comparing spiritual things with spiritual, not with the word taught by human wisdom, but by knowledge given by the spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:13), even by the anointing that abides in us, which we  have received of him from the beginning, which teaches us into all truth, as is truth, and as teaches us, we should remain in it. 1 John 2:26-27.
 
Satan twisted the word of God before Eve and she played into it, but Christ would show us by example that submission to the word of God through accurate interpretation of the scriptures (not to add or remove) is our only safeguard to resist and to defeat Satan who also possesses a good knowledge of the word of God because by it he also fight his evil cause to persecute us: but if we know the truth as we ought to know it, and rightly dividing the word of truth, he will be left with no other choice than to leave us alone even as he departed from Christ. Matthew 4:11 a.
 
Temptation is everywhere, both in the world and in the church – fight without, and fears within. 2 Corinthians 7:5.We must overcome the confrontation of sinners by drawing or having strength and courage from Christ endurance of the contradiction of sinners against himself, lest we be wearied and faint in the mind. Hebrews 12.3. The worst aspect of our temptation is to be offended in Christ as the results of any likely terrible situation of trial we least expected: blessed is he, whosoever is not be offended in our Lord Jesus Christ (Mt. 11:6): whatever the case, either because of the negative lifestyles, or the unruliness and discourage behaviors or betrayal of the false brethren in the Lord (Mat.10:21), we should not be moved: If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trusted, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? Jeremiah 12:5. 
 
Christ came, died and rose again from the dead: he was received up into glory where he is seated at the right hand of God in heaven interceding for us: at the same time, he is now preparing a place for us, that we may shortly be with him in heaven of eternal glory. John 14:1-2. Meanwhile, there is the peril of false brethren, the snares of false teachers and their deception with the false miracles and visions of false prophets, and the dangers of the tares among the wheat to overcome, lest a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the daylong; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:35-39.