Go, Satan, go! ~ A Post By @Lori_Kennedy

Go, Satan, go!

ByLori Kennedy 

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 4:4 (NIV) 

Please pull out your bible and read Matthew 4:1-11.  It is about when Satan tempted Jesus at the end of His forty-day fast.  There are some interesting facts that I would like to share with you about this event and how it applies to our lives today. 

• A person has not shown true obedience if they haven’t had an opportunity to disobey.  If you have never been tempted, then you have overcome nothing.
• Remember that we are all tempted (even Jesus) and that temptation itself is not sin.  We sin when we give in to the temptation.
• We will be tempted where we are vulnerable.  Jesus was tempted with:
• Physical needs – Food when hungry
• Emotional needs – Security when feeling abandoned
• Psychological needs – Significance, power, achievement, as we all struggle with pride
• Temptation may be perfectly normal desires, twisted for personal gain instead of God’s glory.  Eating is good and right and normal, but not when you are fasting per God’s request.
• Memorizing scripture is a great way to stay strong.  It is the tool that Jesus used to abolish Satan from His presence.
• Notice that Satan also used scripture (verse 6).  Knowing scripture is a very different thing than obeying, believing, living, and realizing scripture.
• Talking TO Satan is very different than talking WITH Satan.  Eve talked with Satan in the Garden of Eden, but Jesus, who is a model for our lives, talked to Satan to give him a command to leave His presence and based his command on scripture.
• Satan, however, twisted scripture in his attempt to make Jesus fall prey to sin.  There are many out there that will try to take a verse out of context for their personal gain.  Taking scripture out of context is dangerous.  We, as believers, must read and study the WHOLE WORD of GOD so that we can recognize those that don’t give a complete and true message.  We cannot allow ourselves to be swayed by the world.
• Finally, remember that God calls us to be IN the world but not OF the world.  Make sure that you don’t misunderstand what God is calling you to do versus what the world or Satan is requesting of you.  God’s “greater” plan for you and your life will always focus on eternal significance and may or may not fit into the model of success as understood by the world.  Always be prepared to re-align your viewpoint to include the backdrop of the cross.

Jesus spoke directly to Satan to get him to leave His presence, so that He was able to carry out the task the Father had given to Him.  He did much of this with scripture.  As we try to model our lives after Jesus, please make the time and effort to memorize scripture and be willing to be bold enough to tell Satan to directly “leave your presence” so you may live your life in the glory and grace of the Father.  This model of a victorious life is one where you are continuing to be molded by the Potter on a daily and ongoing basis.

Photo by Lori Kennedy

Lori Kennedy

ALPHA OMEGA MINISTRIES

www.lorikennedy.com

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Zephaniah 3:17, "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love.  He will rejoice over you with singing."