Snakes in your ear…… Temptation

From the very beginning, Satan in the form of a snake came and questioned God’s word. (Genesis 3:1)

"Did God actually say ?"

So, let me ask you a question: Who in this fast are you allowing to whisper into your ear? Who is asking you:

"Can you really go 40 days without food?"

"Why don’t you just eat a little something? no one would know, it’s just between us."

Loved ones may mean well, however, don’t be deceived like Eve, the devil can use anybody for the purpose of questioning God’s breakthrough and purpose in your life in this fast.

Saints, don’t let the enemy rob you of what God has in store for you in the next chapter of your life.

Jesus Christ our precious Lord and Saviour was tempted in the wilderness after he did this very 40 day fast. (Matthew 4:1-11) So, temptation WILL definitely come.

All I ask is that you be wise to discern it. More than likely, just like Jesus, the Devil will tempt you at any time, so just be mindful and keep this in the back of your mind. At this point it is important to remember that just as God has a plan to give life and life abundantly, Satan also has a plan to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10)

So let’s look at the three ways Satan tempted Jesus, so that we can see the enemies tactics.

The first temptation:

Matthew 4:3 says the Jesus was hungry, so the first tactic Satan used was food to tempt him to satisfy his flesh (the physical). So for you, temptation could present itself in the form of food or a sexual act. Each person’s temptations will be different. Temptation will be specific to you, just like a custom made snare.

So what did Jesus do? Jesus’s defence was that he used scripture as his weapon to fight back (Deuteronomy 8:3) 

The second temptation - the pride of life:

Satan is cunning. He tried to tempt Jesus to listen to his words “if you are the son of God…”.

He proceeds to switch tactics, by using scripture as his attack, by twisting and mixing a little truth with a lie. (Psalm 91:11-12) But Jesus being God, who knows and sees all things. overcomes Satan by using a contrary scripture (Deuteronomy 6:16).

Saints, it is important that you know your Bible. The word of God is a firm foundation. Know God better than your enemy, and this will give you victory.

The third temptation of control and power - is the lust of the eyes.

Satan's ultimate desire from the beginning was that he wanted to be like God and receive worship. We must be careful of the idols in our life. Again, this can come in the form of relationships, activities, food and vanity, the list goes on.

Ask yourself the question: What is consuming your time? If anything is pulling you away from worshipping God, do what Jesus did, and with full authority, cut Satan off! Cut off that idol. Be intentional. Reroute yourself back to God, he should be your priority above all things. Also, take comfort in the knowledge that our God wouldn’t tempt us beyond what we can bare (1 Corinthians 10:13) So saints, its time to pick up your tools and defeat the whispering snakes trying to deceive you. Start thinking of your prayers as weapons and your scriptures as your bullets. You shall surely enter another day victorious in this fast. Amen.

Daily manna to meditate on….

Read Matthew 4:1-11.

”If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—“Mark 9:43 NKJV

”No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it " I Corinthians 10:13 NKJV.

Food for thought……

Who is the snake in your ear? What temptations or distractions are taking you away from God in this fast? Write them down and be intentional on how you will tackle the temptation. Cut it off, flip the script, and make sure that God is in his rightful position in your life, up front and centre.