Fullest Potential – Overcome Temptation (2)

potential temptationTemptation doesn’t end. It keeps on pursuing you, hunting you down, and trying to persuade you to fail.
For Jesus it did not end either.

Satan then moved to a different location – the Temple!
Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, Matt 4:5

This was the most holy place in Jerusalem. It was the center of praise, worship, and study of Holy scripture. It was where sacrifice took place for the sins of the people. It is where the people gathered to celebrate holy days and Festivals of God.

Temptation doesn’t just happen in the bad part of town. It doesn’t take place just in the bars. It doesn’t just happen in the mall. It can happen right where you worship and praise God – in your church.

It was the prodigal son that decided to leave while living in the Father’s house.
Jesus would later overturn tables in the same Temple because of the greed and sin that it brought. (John 2:13-16)

And to top it off, Satan decides to use scripture.
“If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.'” Matt 4:6 (Notice once again the use the word “if” to try to cast that bit of doubt into Messiah’s mind.)

Satan quoted the scripture correctly! Does that surprise you? Satan knows scripture but he is a liar. Even when he quotes scripture it is for his own selfish purpose and is a lie.
To prove this let’s look at the scripture in context.
If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. Ps 91:9-12
Satan only partially quoted scripture. And his quote is way out of the purpose for which it was given. He failed to mention the very first part about keeping the Lord as a refuge and a shelter.
Of course he would leave that out. His purpose was to entice Jesus to leave behind Father as his refuge; to make Him rebel and sin against Father.
Reminding Him of the protective grace of Father just isn’t going to help!

As a Christian trying to live to your fullest potential in Christ, you will run into others that will throw scripture into your face. One that seems to have heard the most is “Judge not!” I can tell you it is always taken out of context just like Satan did.

Jesus once again fought temptation and badly quoted scripture with the real, true word of God.
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.'” Matt 4:7 a quote from Deuteronomy 6:16.

This temptation shows the importance of knowing the scripture. Reading and studying the Bible is a very important part of reaching your fullest potential in Christ.
Your knowledge of the Word of God is a must!
You will not be able to withstand false teaching without knowing the genuine word of God.

4 thoughts on “Fullest Potential – Overcome Temptation (2)

  1. Pingback: Decisions for Christ | Step Ahead

  2. Pingback: Get thee behind me, you stupid Satan | You want me to do WHAT?!

  3. Pingback: Man Shall Not Live By Bread Alone, But By Every Word That Comes From The Mouth Of God. Where You Can Find Strength To Overcome Any Temptation. | GodLovesBummyla

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