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Luke 4:1-2
[1]Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness [2]for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and yet He was tempted. 1. Temptation often comes upon a believer with its strongest power when he/she is nearest to God. Why does God allow temptation for a believer?. Look at a tree...storms make roots go deeper and deeper and enable to stand even greater storms. Oak trees don't become strong within a day or two; they go through different seasons and heavy storms. 2. Another example: Fire makes paintings on ceramics permanent and beautiful. Take examples of any missionaries, John Bunyan, William Tyndale or William Carey and many saints, who were going through temptations and testing and became a model for us. 3. When the devil tries to distract us from following the Lord, we need to overcome by the Word of God. Then we can feel the touch of our Lord Jesus Christ in the middle of the storms sufferings (Heb. 12:11). There are many examples from the Bible of people who overcame. 4. Our Lord Jesus stood the test and came out victorious, defeating the devil. Jesus said "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." We may experience various tribulations and temptations, but we have a victorious Lord in everything. Praise the Lord, let's follow His steps.
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This devotion was sent to us from a friend who trains pastors in India.
Isaiah 54:5 [5]"For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the Lord of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth. Our meditation today: This is a wonderful verse which has very rich meaning of each of the attributes of our Lord. 1. Husband 2. Maker 3. The Lord of hosts 4. Redeemer 5. Holy one of Israel 6. God of all the earth. There is a rich meaning of all the above attributes. We were meditating, He is our Redeemer. This redeemer aspects has relationship to all other attributes. 1. The Redeemer concept developed from Exodus onwards. The Lord redeemed Israel from their physical bondage which has a direct implication of our redemption from sin and death, spiritual. 2. No redemption possible without shedding of blood. Hebrews chapter 9 specifically deals with the issue of redemption, comparing OT verses NT redemption ( 9:9 & 14). 3. We were under the bondage of devil and his power (Colossians 1 13,14). Jesus Christ our Lord paid it by His precious blood and redeemed us. 4. Christ is our Redeemer, like Boaz became the redeemer of Ruth. Ruth symbolizes the church and Boaz as Christ. 5. We are redeemed to be His, His alone. Complete recovery to be used by Him, to be His servants. Compared the following points and added into our meditation: The purpose of God redeeming the people of Israel. This is a wonderful imagery of the real lifestyle of Israel and the New Israel, we the church and each one of us. The people of Israel are redeemed by God: 1. To dwell among them (Ex.25:8;29;46; Deut. 23:14; Jn.1:14) 2. To be their God (Lev. 25:38; 26:12,13; 2 Cor. 6:16) 3. To sanctify them for Himself, a special people for Him (Lev. 22:32,33; 1 Thess. 4:3) 4. To be His servants (Lev. 25:42,55; isa.41;8;42:1;43:10; Rom. 1:2) 5. To separate them from the Gentiles (Lev. 20:24, 26; Deut.26:18,19; 1 cor. 10:20,21; 2 cor.6:14-17) 6. To be a Priest and a Holy nation for the Living God (Ex. 19:5,6; 1 Peter 2:9,10). The redemption brings a special privilege for a special responsibility to perform. Our prayer today Lord discipline us, help us, give your grace to be used by you. We're yours, your servants alone. Give us a single eye devotion towards you and to live in your presence eternally. Amen. |
This is the blog of Tyler Shepard, the Associate Pastor for Centre Union Church in Yeagertown, PA.
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February 2023
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