Brother Gary Sunday Morning 4/17/16

Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

We will all be tempted.  Jesus was sorely tempted yet without sin.  The Holy Spirit of God inspired James to use the word, “Blessed.” 

Jesus used this word early in his sermon on the mount. 

Mat 4:1  Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Mat 4:2  And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

Mat 4:3  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The enemy always likes to attack an individual that has made a choice to serve God at the weakest time of their strength.  We have found that when we are tired, weak, or emotionally drained when we have had a crisis in our own life the enemy comes with a temptation to see if in our weakness, he can change our course.

If He cannot get your soul, he would like to get your mind and sidetrack you off of keeping your mind stayed on Jesus.  Isaiah said that God would keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him. 

We may not know the degrees of peace, but we all know the degree of not having peace.  We have all encountered something and felt our peace slipping away from us.

God allowed His son to be sorely tempted so that you could grasp about temptation and understand when you are tempted how Jesus handled this. 

Mat 4:5  Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

Mat 4:6  And saith unto him, 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.

Mat 4:7  Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

The enemy came, “If you are…”  The enemy likes to put a question mark, “If you are…”  We need to know where we are spiritually.  We need to have it clear between us and God, “I know that I was a sinner and that I confessed, repented, and turned to God with all my heart.  I have this attitude toward God, “God I will follow you.”” 

The enemy presented himself to Jesus, “If.”  We need to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that our name is written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life. 

This is not by baptism.  Baptism is an outward work of what was done on the inside.  You and I are buried in the water and recognize that we are being buried to the old life of sin never to go back to it again and rising to newness of life. 

If you owe anyone an apology then clear it up.  Life places some in a position where they have restitution to make.  If you do, then make it. 

An individual that was in the armed services in Hawaii stole a tape recorder while he was there.  He got saved and then it came to him that he needed to clear up what he owed there.  He wondered how he could possibly do that. 

God witnessed to his heart that unless He made a way that it would not be able to happen.  Brother Wince did everything that he could.  He told the Lord, “If I am ever in the Hawaii then I will do everything that I can to take care of it.” 

One day he was traveling from wherever to the Philippines and landed in Hawaii.  God witnessed to him, “This is the time.”  I can see him running into the shop, “I stole a tape recorder back when; God forgave me, and I want you to forgive me.  Here is some money to take care of my debt.” 

Because we are human, there will be times that we need to make an apology.  It is better to have a tender conscience and take care of things rather than cover them over.

Jesus was hungry, the enemy came and said, “If.”  For everyone that is here that is saved.  A low blow is for the enemy to come by and say, “If you are saved.”  This is the first indication, resist what he has to say.

“You have fasted for forty days, you are hungry, command that these stones be made bread.”  Never go the first step with what the enemy offers you.  Don’t take a chance.  Don’t go there. 

Jesus already knew about God providing manna in the wilderness.  God knows how to provide for every need.  He is God.  Jesus knew the enemy was trying to work him into a position to literally destroy him.

Jesus used the Word of God.  We need to not only have a bible but read it.  “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Mat 4:8  Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

Mat 4:9  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Mat 4:10  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

The enemy took and placed him on a high place and said, “Jump off the cliff.”  Jesus said, “It is written, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”” 

We know that there are boundaries that God has set that we should never go beyond.  As we were going to Kalispell yesterday, both coming and going we had people passing us on a double yellow line.  Don’t tempt God.  Don’t drive crazy on black ice.  You drive carelessly and you will wreck.  If you jump off a cliff, you will not only need paramedics, you will need an undertaker.

Jesus the very son of God was tempted in what was actually ridiculous things.  It doesn’t matter what age you are, the enemy will tempt you. 

The enemy took him to a high mountain and promised him everything that was in the world.  It is normal to have desires, to desire to be loved and have comforts.  They are normal within us.  The greatest lie that anyone has ever believed is that the devil can give them something more than what God can give them.

I remember Sister Martin’s testimony that she chose to serve God and her choice opened Heaven to her.  When you serve God then Heaven is open to you.  It will not withhold what you need but it will not give you more than what God has chosen to make your life beautiful. 

Sister Martin lived into her eighties and traveled to many countries and helped many congregations.  When she was escorted out of Cuba and brought back to the USA God laid it upon her heart to teach Spanish speaking people how to speak English.  Today there is a congregation in Tampa that has a Cuban pastor.  There is a congregation in Miami that has a Cuban pastor.

Sister E Faith Stewart went to camp meeting in 1950.  By that time she was sick at heart with the church in the USA.  She was praying, “God help me to find a mission somewhere; open a door for me.” 

A couple of ministers asked her where she was headed next.”  She told them.  I am headed south in the USA, when I get to the furthest point south I am taking a boat to the first country that I get to.  They told her that would take her to Cuba.  She said, “That is where I am going.” 

When she got there she built a work that has many congregations there now.

When the enemy tried to get Jesus to jump off of the cliff, he said, “Get thee hence Satan.”  He overcame those three things and then said this:  “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve.” 

Mat 4:11  Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Then the devil left him.  There is something to look forward to in temptation. When you resist then the angels will come and minister to you. 

This happened many times in Jesus’ life I am sure.  Remember when he was baptized and told John, “I need to fulfill all the requirements.”  John had told him, “We need the baptism that you will bring.”  Jesus was obedient.  After He was baptized, the heavens opened.

I am glad that each one that is here is here.  It is one of your privileges as a child of God to have the heavens opened.  We live in a world where if you are not careful your mind will become negative.  You will wonder, “What is going to happen to us?  There are dangers and perils on every side.”

If you are having trouble reading and memorizing scriptures or reading in the morning or night then I encourage you to get unhooked from Modern technology and spend time alone with God.

The Holy Spirit witnessed to Jesus and we need Him to come down.  It is a wonderful thing for the Holy Spirit to come down and witness that we are His child.  It is wonderful that He comes down and teaches us. 

When heaven opens then there is no interference.  Heaven opens to wherever you are.  You may live on a mountain top and you may live down in the valley.  You might have neat things, but when heaven opens, it is altogether different.  We don’t want to live without heaven open.  We don’t want to take chances.  It is after we are tempted that heaven opens.

Being tempted is a part of the journey.  Everyone is tempted.  But Jesus was not moved by the temptation. 

There was a man that was tempted and ended in writing the book, “Farwell to God.”  I honestly believe that my blood temperature dropped when I read that.  It all started with unbelief. 

Temptation comes to see if the devil can trip you up into believing that you cannot overcome whatever it might be.  I don’t plan to ever say farewell to God.  I wouldn’t consider it.  I don’t want you to consider it. 

Jesus was not moved away by temptation.  If there is anything in your life where you say, “If this happens then I will distance myself.”  It will happen.  We all want to have it settled, “I am going to serve God no matter what happens.” 

God always knows best.  There will never arise an opportunity that is otherwise.  The only way to deal with temptation is to resist it. 

Standing Firm:

In the time of sore temptation
Standing firm
Grace will be thy sure salvation
Standing firm
Virtue crown thy soul with honor,
Sin resisted tempts no longer
Faith in conflict waxes stronger
Standing firm 

Fear not brethren firm and true
Whate’er thy foe may be,
Jesus fought the battle through
And gives to us the victory.

Isn’t it wonderful how God comes to our rescue?  After Jesus resisted temptation the heavens opened.  The greatest thing that can happen in your life is to have the heavens opened.

After the heavens opened He walked among people where men sat in darkness.  That is in sin.  When they saw Jesus they saw a great light.  When the heavens open, light comes into our life.  Our countenance changes.  We are from a different country:

I am just passing through life lights of home I do see. 
Turn to the savior and journey with me. 
You can have the assurance that your soul cries for
That your sins are not there anymore.

Jesus went a little ways and began to preach “Repentance.”  After repentance he said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  There is something within every one of us that we really want to help someone.  “I want to do something to help.”  First you must be saved. 

The results, “Peter and Andrew were fishing and remember they left their nets and followed Jesus.  Jesus went a little further and called James and John.  Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 

If God has been dealing with you on anything then take action immediately.  Even if you don’t have the full picture, then take action on the portion of the picture that you have.

The Spirit and the Bride say come.  Temptations are common.  We will be tempted but we can overcome temptation and be visited by angels.