And that can cause many to feel alone, afraid, even in despair, to feel you haven't any resources in which to fight with.
I want to talk a bit about isolation from a spiritual stand point.
Jesus had a period of 40 days of isolation....but He wasn't alone. He had no food or drink...but wasn't without resources.
Matthew 4:1-17 (Click on link to read the account)
I think it is important to read the scripture from Matthew 3:13-17 that comes right before;
📖 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Jesus was being obedient to His Father by being publicly baptized. He was completing His preparation for what was to come....
📖 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1
He fasted (going without food or water) for 40 days, BUT I said He wasn't with out resources?
It is because when satan comes and starts to tempt Jesus with bold statements and promises....
Jesus quotes scripture...it is the only resource He had and the only one He needed at that moment.
He obviously didn't need even His physical strength for this "battle".
Jesus quotes scripture...it is the only resource He had and the only one He needed at that moment.
He obviously didn't need even His physical strength for this "battle".
📖 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12
You ever wonder what He was doing for the 40 days prior to the devil showing up, while He was fasting?
He would have learned about fasting throughout biblical history during His study of the scriptures all His growing up:
📖 Ezra 8:21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
📖 Nehemiah 9:1 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads
📖 Esther 4:16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
📖 Daniel 9:3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
📖 Jonah 3:5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
Maybe the most influential might have been from the life of Moses;
📖 Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. Exodus 34:28
My guess as to what He was doing?...praying, talking with His Father, who had just revealed the Holy Spirit to Him (just as side note in reference to last weeks post; the Matthew 3 scripture, when Jesus was baptized, is when all 3 of the trinity (Son, Spirit of God and the Father) are mentioned being together!)
He would have learned about fasting throughout biblical history during His study of the scriptures all His growing up:
📖 Ezra 8:21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
📖 Nehemiah 9:1 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads
📖 Esther 4:16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
📖 Daniel 9:3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
📖 Jonah 3:5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
Maybe the most influential might have been from the life of Moses;
📖 Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. Exodus 34:28
My guess as to what He was doing?...praying, talking with His Father, who had just revealed the Holy Spirit to Him (just as side note in reference to last weeks post; the Matthew 3 scripture, when Jesus was baptized, is when all 3 of the trinity (Son, Spirit of God and the Father) are mentioned being together!)
and meditating on the Holy Scriptures ...no bible, no e-bible needed, no scrolls...just what He had been taught and learned throughout His life!
How much scripture can we recall? Any scripture?
How about scripture to address a particular situation?
How much scripture can we recall? Any scripture?
How about scripture to address a particular situation?
If we can't, then I challenge us (including myself in this) to study...read...memorize scripture.
📖 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:9-11
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:9-11
God will help us, and once it is "in our hearts" He will help us to recall it when we need it. But we can't recall something that hasn't been put there.
That is what Jesus did, He recalled and used God's word...for every enticement that Satan came up with:
For basic need...food
📖 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
📜 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3
For physical safety...protection
📖 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Matthew 4:7
📜 Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. Deuteronomy 6:16
📖 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
📜 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3
For physical safety...protection
📖 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Matthew 4:7
📜 Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. Deuteronomy 6:16
For power...to rule the world
📖 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Matthew 4:10
📜 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Deuteronomy 6:13
Jesus countered with scripture. He KNEW it, and HE knew how to use it.
Satan never really had the power to grant any of these offers. But Jesus knew that the only way to crush each offer was to combate it with the word of God.
And as enticing as it might have been to entertain the thoughts, or argue that satan had no power to offer these, or even to try and debate....He did not.
He simply gave reference to scripture He had heard, learned and "hidden in His heart"
There was a purpose in Jesus isolation. It was a time of reflection and meditation, for some of it I believe. But it was preparing for a time of spiritual warfare....a battle for His very soul.
📖 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Matthew 4:10
📜 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Deuteronomy 6:13
Jesus countered with scripture. He KNEW it, and HE knew how to use it.
Satan never really had the power to grant any of these offers. But Jesus knew that the only way to crush each offer was to combate it with the word of God.
And as enticing as it might have been to entertain the thoughts, or argue that satan had no power to offer these, or even to try and debate....He did not.
He simply gave reference to scripture He had heard, learned and "hidden in His heart"
There was a purpose in Jesus isolation. It was a time of reflection and meditation, for some of it I believe. But it was preparing for a time of spiritual warfare....a battle for His very soul.
📖 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Joshua 1:5-6
🎵 The Lord Is Your Keeper
No matter how isolated we have to be, we are never alone!
🙏I pray that you find purpose in this time and use it to draw closer to God and to "hide His word in your heart"❤
No matter how isolated we have to be, we are never alone!
🙏I pray that you find purpose in this time and use it to draw closer to God and to "hide His word in your heart"❤
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