LED BY THE SPIRIT (PART 2)

LED BY THE SPIRIT (PART 2)

Matthew 4:5-10

The second way the devil tempted Jesus was by saying:

Tempt God

Show the world the stuff you're made of.

This is called presumptuous lifestyle (could also be seen as pride). It is also called spiritually unhealthy and ungodly lifestyle...playing God!

He took Jesus into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written...’ (Matt. 4:5-6).

The devil quoted the Scriptures, Psalm 91:11-12, for Jesus.

He still uses the same gimmick for Christians today...Beware!
Don’t just read the Scriptures blindly, without the inspiration of the Author (the Holy Spirit).
Receive with meekness, the implanted Word of God into your heart…(James 1:21).

No prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation…(2 Peter 1:20-21).

Jesus said to him, "It is written AGAIN, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God'".

Deut. 6:16; Ex. 17:2, 7; 1 Cor. 10:9; Numbers 21:5-6

How can we tempt the Lord?

Through murmuring and complaints

By hardening one's heart - doubt, unbelief or lack of faith

Pride/arrogance

Presumptuous living

Glorifying self (self-confidence, self-conceit), fulfilling the lust of the flesh, living in sin, etc.

Through His leading, the Holy Spirit reminds you that you're still an earthen vessel. He teaches you to humble yourself under the hand (processing) of God.
He reminds you that you still need to continually give yourself to prayer and the ministry of the Word of God (Acts 6:4).

It's natural for the flesh to want to show off...but the Holy Spirit teaches you to remain in the wilderness until the day (time) appointed by the Father, for you to show forth His glory...

John the Baptist was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel (Luke 1:80).

Willingness to show off is an indication that one lacks the power of the Holy Spirit.
You don’t need any approval of men for the fulfilment of your God-given mandate. Don’t try to please or impress anyone, rather, ensure that you please God in all your ways.

The Bible says in 2 Tim. 2:15:
‘Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth’ (NKJV).

‘Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth’ (KJV).

For everyone that is experiencing (or wants to experience) the leading of the Holy Spirit, He is speaking to us today, saying ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God’, ‘Do not harden your heart against the LORD’ (Hebrews 3:7, 15).

PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA

Resident  Pastor

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