Date: Thursday, 26th October, 2023
Text: Matthew 4:1-11
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Exhortation:
The strategies of the serpent over the millennia and centuries have not changed. One of his modes of operation is to plant the seed of doubt into men’s hearts. He raises faith-quenching questions in the minds of God’s people, like, “Are you sure God has not abandoned you?” “Are you sure the word of God is true?” “Don’t you think you are over doing this holiness thing?” All in all, his target is to water down your faith and uproot the seed of God’s word from your heart.
He told the Son of God, “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread” Matthew 4vs 3. Again in verse 6, he said, “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down.” Did Jesus have to prove to Satan that he is the Son of God in order to maintain his identity as the Son of God?
Another strategy of the enemy is to twist the word of God and quote it out of context. If he knows you to be a man conversant with the word of God, from that same word, he will mislead you if you are not firmly rooted. Don’t forget that the devil spent billions of years with God as a holy angel, so he knows the word of God very well. He can quote the Bible from Genesis to Revelation without missing a line.
In verses 6 to 7 of Matthew 4, he said unto the Lord, “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Jesus said unto him, “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
Many have been technically knocked out of the faith by the serpent using the above religious strategy. The word of God can never contradict one another. If anyone seems contradictory, it is the work of the tempter; beware because God is not an author of confusion. Spend quality time digging deeper into the word of God and you will find out that the word of God is perfect, complementing one another.
Daily wield the sword of the Spirit in your mouth, which is the word of God and place the serpent where it rightfully belong- under your feet.
Reflective Nugget: The serpent is very religious. Your victory over it is rooted in your willingness to obey the word of God and to do His perfect will.