Love you all, praying for you,
Have you ever noticed the power of one word? It can change everything. Have you ever noticed that one word can mean two or more different things? The word - also. It could delineate something else about the same thing, something different, or something opposite. I just love God’s Word. And I’m so thankful that He sent His Holy Spirit to help us understand it. God said no temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. You aren't the first one to face it. Others have faced it and have overcome it before you. I love that the Bible talks about temptation – because everyone of us faces it. In Matthew 4 – Satan tempted Jesus three times – when he was at his weakest point physically. Temptation #1 was Stones to Bread – the temptation to get physical needs met outside of God’s leading or God's will. Temptation #2 – Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down.” (There he goes again, the devil or those used by him, will always tell you what you should do. If you really loved God, or were a good leader or a moral or honorable person you would do or say or believe this. He is always trying to get you to do something that he wants you to do – instead of asking and doing what God wants you to do.) Then the devil doubles down… he tells Jesus – “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.’” Wow. Since meeting physical needs didn’t work, the devil offered that chance to meet the human need for attention, recognition, fame, notoriety - outside of God’s leading. Think of all the followers Jesus could have gained, by jumping off the temple. The devil wants you to call attention to yourself - to put the spotlight on you. The devil was right, Jesus would have landed ok, because of the promise of God, but He would no longer be sinless. Jesus only did what His Heavenly Father told Him to do. This is not it. The devil wants to get you - if he can – to misapply God’s promises for your own gain or glory. The best defense learned from the stones to bread temptation – “It Is Written.” The second best defense is found in Jesus reply… “It is also written. Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” In other words don’t pick and choose promises, and act in such a way that obligates God to respond. Anything we do on our own, that’s someone else leading, not God leading. It’s not obeying Him, it’s obeying something else, and putting God to the test. God’s promises are given for God to lead you in them, not for you to lead God in them. Jesus said “It is written” – the first time, so the devil took His own line and doubled down on the deception. Jesus isn’t the only one who says “It is written,” even the devil knows God’s Word – he just never obeys it. He is actively against it, that’s why his destruction is sure. “It is written” is for temptations against what God said, “It is also written” is for temptation that uses a part of – or twists what God said - to get you to do something God didn’t say, or what God said not to. Like David faced when Saul and his army were chasing him and encamped for the night with Saul in the middle, and his army around him. David asked ‘Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?’ And Abishai volunteers. I Samuel 26:7 - So David and Abishai went into the camp by night, and there was Saul lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him. (Here it comes…) Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands, now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won’t strike him twice.” Wow – Abishai was right – God did say that – and this sure seems like an answer to that promise. But David knew what God also said… so “David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the LORD lives, he said, ‘the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed. Now get the spear and the water jug that are near his head and let’s go." Wow. Temptation to do something wrong is bad enough, but when tempted to do something – based on the Word of God and a promise of God, just not of the Spirit of God – that’s a far more deceptive temptation. Just because someone quotes scripture doesn’t mean it’s God speaking. The devil will even try to use what God said, to get you to do something outside of His will or leading. That’s why you need to know – It is written – and you need to know - It is also written. Praying that PRISM is your daily priority. It’s how you know what is written, and what is also written. It’s how you learn to discern – by the Holy Spirit – not only what God says, but what is a misapplication of what God says. It’s why PRISM is so important in your life - so what God says isn’t just written in the pages of Scripture – but becomes written on your heart by the Holy Spirit. You can trust Him to bring it to mind at the time you need it – the Word of Truth that He leads you in. It’s what it was written for! Praying that you won't miss PRISM today - or any day. God has instruction just waiting for you that you need for your success - today! And that you'll need to overcome tomorrow. Love you all, dad
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