|
REAL POWER: MAXING OUT ON GOD'S LOVE |
ONE STRIKE AND YOU'RE OUT
When did Jesus realize that he was
the Son of God and that God was his Father? After reading the Bible I
can’t say exactly when it happened. I don’t know if he knew it from
the time he was a child, or if there was a gradually increasing
awareness as he grew into manhood. No matter when it came to pass, by
the time Jesus started his active ministry, he clearly understood that
he was God’s Son.
It would not be surprising if the
full magnitude of this discovery wasn’t apparent to him until he
started his ministry. The Bible teaches that Jesus experienced three
temptations at the start of his ministry, and these temptations are
squarely aimed at Jesus to test if he really believed that he was
God’s Son.
If the devil could convince Jesus
that he was not the Son of God, then his ministry would instantly
implode. It isn’t surprising that the first two temptations focused
on his identity. Was he really the Son of God, or was he a Great
Pretender, an imposter who was committing blasphemy, or was he simply
mad?
If he was anything other than the Son
of God, we can safely ignore his message. If he was a Great Pretender
or insane, then his words about God and about himself are only his
private delusion. But if he is the Son of God, our life depends on
what he has to say. If he is the Son of God, the devil would come out
blasting with his heaviest artillery in an attempt to destroy him.
The temptations Jesus faced are the
same types of temptations you will face when you dare to call God your
Father, and you have a personal relationship with him based on love.
When you claim to be a child of God, you will get hit right between
the eyes by the same temptations.
Many people gain strength from the
fact that Jesus faced the same temptations that we face each day.
An even more important fact is that we face the same temptations Jesus
faced, because we too are the sons and daughters of God.
At the start of Jesus’ ministry, he
was baptized by John the Baptist. Immediately after his baptism,
Jesus heard a voice from heaven that said, “You are my Son in whom I
am well pleased.” That personal message from God told Jesus beyond
all shadow of doubt that he was the one who was the Messiah, the Son
of God.
Immediately after God spoke those
fateful words, Jesus was taken into the desert and tempted by the
devil. Satan would quickly find out whether Jesus heard God’s voice
and believed the message. This was the devil’s big chance to destroy
Jesus at the beginning of his ministry, and the devil didn’t waste
time starting his assault. Nip Jesus in the bud now, and Jesus is
down for the count. One strike and Jesus is out.
THE FIRST TEMPTATION
The first temptation Jesus faced was
a direct attack on his identity. The devil challenged him to perform
a miracle to prove he was the Son of God. Jesus was fasting in the
desert and was extremely hungry. The devil told him that he didn’t
need to be hungry. In fact, if he was really God’s Son, he could
command the stones of the desert to be transformed into bread so he
could have something to eat. That would fill his stomach and at the
same time prove he was God’s Son. It was a clever test with a lot of
common sense appeal. After all, why should he go hungry when he
didn’t need to, and why didn’t he just do a magic trick that proved he
was God’s Son?
Jesus saw through the deception, and
said “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes
out of the mouth of God.” Jesus hit the nail on the head. He didn’t
need to do a magic trick to prove he was God’s Son. God had just said
that Jesus was his Son. If God said it, he believed it, and he didn’t
need to work a miracle to prove it. God already was his witness.
Jesus didn’t need to do anything to prove who he was.
BE READY WHEN THE FIRST TEMPTATION
COMES YOUR WAY
When you dare to call God your
Father, the devil will come to you with the same temptation. He will
say, “Who do you think you are? A child of God? Give me a break. I
just don’t believe it. Look at your miserable life. How could God
love you? God wouldn’t even give you the time of day if you asked
him. Why don’t we run a little test? If you are a child of God, you
should at least be able to perform some type of miracle that proves
it. Any miracle would be fine. Even a tiny one would be adequate. If
you can’t do a miracle, then there is no way you are one of his
children. Give it up. Get out of fantasyland. You can’t do
miracles. You’re nothing. Get out of here!”
That’s a pretty big test for you to
take right after you have been born spiritually. But that is the kind
of test you will face when you dare to call God your Father. The
answer to the test is the same answer that Jesus gave. God said that
I am one of his children, and if God said it, I believe it. If it’s
good enough for God, it’s good enough for me.
When you come alive spiritually and
God is your Father, this test will be coming your way. Don’t be
caught off guard or too worried when it happens. If you take God at
his word, you will be fine. You don’t have anything to prove. God’s
words are to be trusted.
THE SECOND TEMPTATION
The second temptation Jesus faced was
another direct assault on his identity, but the attack came from a
different direction. This time the devil demanded that God work a
miracle to prove Jesus was his Son. The devil was getting desperate
because the first temptation was a dismal failure. If he could beat
Jesus with this new temptation, he still had a chance to take Jesus
out.
The devil tested Jesus on a pinnacle
of the temple in Jerusalem. He told Jesus to jump off the pinnacle so
God could send his angels to catch him in their arms to keep him from
hitting the ground and being killed. What a clever test. The devil
was saying, “If you are the Son of God, surely God would be willing to
do a magic trick to prove the point. What could be better than
jumping off the top of the temple in Jerusalem? Everyone would see
God rescue you, and with powerful magic like that, you would have
hundreds of followers in no time. After all, if you really are God’s
Son, that isn’t asking too much of God. I am sure He would do it for
you. Don’t you want to find out if God really is your Father?”
Jesus’ reply was simple. He said,
“Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” Jesus didn’t need to put God
to the test. Jesus knew that he was God’s Son, and he didn’t need a
magic trick from God to prove it. God said it, he believed it, and
that was good enough for him. He didn’t need to twist God’s arm into
performing a miracle to validate the fact that he was his Son.
BE READY WHEN THE SECOND TEMPTATION
COMES YOUR WAY
When you dare to call God your
Father, the devil will come to you with the same temptation. He will
say, “You must be crazy to believe that God is your Father. Maybe you
are emotionally unstable and are having a nervous breakdown. You are
going overboard believing God loves you and has a positive plan for
your life. You have been out in the sun too long. Why don’t you see
a psychiatrist or get professional help so you can get rid of these
persistent delusions that are taking over your life? Why don’t we
make a test? Why don’t we have God perform a miracle as proof
positive that you are one of his children? That wouldn’t be too much
to ask. He is all powerful, and it won’t take much of his time to
work just a small miracle to prove He loves you. If God won’t do
something special, then you have no reason to believe that you are one
of his children.”
The answer to the test is the same as
Jesus’ answer. God doesn’t have to do any magic tricks for me to
believe I am one of his children. If God said it, I believe it. If
it’s good enough for God, it’s good enough for me.
GO TO NEXT PAGE
THE POSITIVE WEB RING
The Positive Web Ring has twelve positive web
sites. Each site lifts you up, pushes your mind in a positive
direction, and makes it easier to live your dreams. The
Positive Web Ring has something positive for everyone. There's
adventure,
positive
self-talk,
positive
spirituality,
positive
graphics,
positive music,
positive
podcasts, and much more.
If you are fighting against depression, visit
EradicateDepression.com.
If you struggle with negative thinking, visit
NoNegativeThinking.com.
The wheel of change always turns in the direction of what you put into
your mind, and the Positive Web Ring fills your mind with good things.
Give your mind a push in a positive direction today. Cruise your way
to a positive life. If you really want to be positive, nobody
can stop you.
PositiveWebRing.com
PositiveSelfTalk.com
PositiveThinkingRadio.com
PositiveGraphics.com
PositiveChristianRadio.com
PositiveButterflies.com
EradicateDepression.com
MaximumStrength PositiveThinking.com
ZeroToleranceToNegativeThinking.com
TooManyDrummers.com
GodLovesU.com
Maxingout.com
NoNegativeThinking.com
RED SEA CHRONICLES DVD
When Dr. Dave isn't working as a flying doctor for the Indian Health
Service, He is sailing around the world on his sailboat. Find
out what it's like to sail on the ocean of your dreams by watching
Captain Dave's DVD.
Red Sea
Chronicles DVD Previews |
