Encourage Yourself: Matthew 4:1-11

Satan Tempts Jesus- The devil has no new tricks! Temptation comes when "we are" or are "thought to be* spiritually/mentally deficient

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by "every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

**The Pride of life: temptation speaks to the human need to "prove" how saved we are.
Notice the devil consistently starts with: If you are the Son of God....Matthew 7:15, 1 John 4:1-3, Galatians 5:22-26.

5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,
6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:
‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

**The Lust of the Flesh: God will not be mocked. Matthew 6:1. Galatians 6:7-8
Notice the devil can quote scripture too.

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, [b]“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

**The Lust of the Eye: This temptation craftily ensnares many with the promise of more stuff, self-image, etc.: God prospers us but so does the devil. Ask yourself: What did you have to do to get it? or to fit in with those who sign your paycheck, so you could get it? What do you have to turn a blind eye to in order keep it? What character assassination schemes have you participated in for that feeling of power and control or "out of fear" to falsely justify the wrongdoings of another? Acts 10:34, Psalms 37: 12-16, Proverbs 1: 10-33, Matthew 16:25-27.

**2 Peter 2:11-12-Most certainly, once a person has stood accountable for their own misdeeds before God and man, those deeds are thrown into the sea of forgetfulness. (Micah 7:19). We are to be the hands and feet of Christ. i.e.- from whatever position of authority THE LORD has placed you in, help restore the person with prayer, employment, housing, etc. The devil is the accuser of the brethren, he and those who operate by his authority, seek to bind us to those things we have already stood accountable for. They do this to justify and distract from the things they themselves are afraid to stand accountable for, before God or man. This spirit is rooted in the many faces of fear: un-forgiveness, insecurity, jealousy, false humility, greed, etc. The devil sees your potential to do great things for the Kingdom of God (not just for your benefit)-God is using everything in your life that was meant to destroy you to build the foundation and endurance for where HE is taking you (Genesis 50:20) - it's "often" why the devil has dispatched his legions to attack and discredit you-the devil doesn't care if we start a good thing, his goal is to cause us to faint, in our minds before we finish* 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Hebrews 11. So, dust yourself off, get back in there, you were made for this! The Lord Jesus rebuke you satan!

God resists the proud. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. Ask God to show YOU the error of YOUR WAY often, so YOU KNOW the "reason for the attack" and therefore, what to pray.

As God was with His children in times past, so is He with us today: Exodus 14:13- "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians (whatever group has gathered against you) you see today, you will never see again. Jeremiah 29:11, Psalms 23:5-6.

11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
**Resist the devil with the Word of God, and he must flee. James 4:7-12**

Comfort during COVID: Put God in remembrance of HIS WORD with this and all things.
2 Timothy 2:15-16
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain ramblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Psalms 91 in its entirety reveals that God was not caught by surprise by this virus or any other pestilence, He has already promised protection (reminded us of the vastness of Jesus' Victory at Calvary).

Verse 1-Instruction: "He that dwells in the secret place of the most High", Result: shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

**Line up with the instruction: Dwell in the secret place of the most high, Wash hands, wear mask, gloves, social distance, be mindful of what enters your house-even on clothes and shoes.
**Speak God's Word about it: Father, you promised.......
**Count it done, God is not a man that He should lie.
*Faith without works is dead*

Joshua 24:15: And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
**See: Revelations 3-We all fall short in some area...God corrects those He loves. Harden not your heart.**