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Victory in Jesus…

Victory in Jesus…

Hear some instructions and encouragement from the New Testament of Christ which is the New Agreement between God and creation to be saved…


2Co 2:14 AFV But thanks be to God, Who always leads us triumphant in Christ, and manifests the fragrance of His knowledge through us in every place.

Php 4:13 AFV I can do all things through Christ, Who empowers me.

Php 4:19-20 AFV But my God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory into the ages of eternity. Amen.

Mat 5:6-9 AFV Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall find mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.

Eph 6:13-18 AFV Therefore, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having worked out all things, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girded about with truth, and wearing the breastplate of righteousness, 15 And having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. 16 Besides all these, take up the shield of the faith, with which you will have the power to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one; 17 And put on the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; 18 Praying at all times with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and in this very thing being watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;

Rev 21:1-8 AFV Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. 2 And I, John, saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice from heaven say, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men; and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people; and God Himself shall be with them and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall not be any more death, or sorrow, or crying; neither shall there be any more pain, because the former things have passed away." 5 And He Who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." Then He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." 6 And He said to me, "It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts, I will give freely of the fountain of the water of life. 7 The one who overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone; which is the second death."


Father thank you for all the victories You see in us…please heal our soul’s deepest wounds and forgive the unforgiven that we may learn the Truth and make things right with You…In Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.


Try…A…Daily Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend...



Victory in Jesus…

Devil’s Temptation of Jesus…

Devil’s Temptation of Jesus…

Mat 4:1-11 AFV Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit in order to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, afterwards He was famished. 3 And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. 4 But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.


Jesus was human…and was very hungry…each of these temptations has the lust of the eyes and flesh and the pride of life…notice Jesus had fasted…the devil appeals to Him to use His God given Authority for personal gain instead of waiting on God to feed Him…Also the appeal to see bread in a desert would be appealing to the eyes…and the flesh to eat and be satisfied. Jesus did not fall to this temptation.


5 Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him upon the edge of the temple, 6 And said to Him, If You are the Son of God, cast Yourself down; for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning You, and they shall bear You up in their hands, lest You strike Your foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said to him, Again, it is written, You shall not tempt the Lord your God.


Again all three lust of flesh…lust of eyes…and pride of life are present in this second temptation of the devil. The Authority to be on top of the temple and fly or have angel save Him…would have been like jumping into the fire then saying God keep from burning…He did not fall to the pride of life thinking Angels are supposed to protect me I can jump and be ok…Appealing to the flesh to be carried by angels and appealing to the eyes to something Holy in middle of a temptation…Jesus did not fall to this temptation.


8 After that, the devil took Him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, 9 And said to Him, All these things will I give You, if You will fall down and worship me. 10 Then Jesus said to him, Begone, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone shall you serve. 11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.


Again the devil tempts the Lord our God with the pride of life (I am the only Son of God…) saying you do not have to die but I will make all these kingdoms do Your will if you serve me instead of Your Father…Appealing to the flesh not having to die…appealing to the eyes…seeing all the good or glory the kingdoms could do without Him dying….Jesus offered satan a fallen angel repentance and said worship the Lord your God and Him only serve…but satan did not repent…and Jesus did not fall to this temptation.


1Jn 2:15-17 AFV Do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him 16 Because everything that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pretentious pride of physical life—is not from the Father, but is from the world.


Father…please meet our soul’s deepest needs and lead us not into temptation in Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.


Try…A…Daily Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend...



Devil’s Temptation of Jesus…

God verses Science...

God verses Science...


A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students, "Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.


"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"


"Yes sir," the student says.


"So you believe in God?"


"Absolutely."


"Is God good?"


"Sure! God's good."


"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"


"Yes."


"Are you good or evil?"


"The Bible says I'm evil."


The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"


"Yes sir, I would."


"So you're good...!"


"I wouldn't say that."


"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."


The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"


The student remains silent.


"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.


"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"


"Er...yes," the student says.


"Is Satan good?"


The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."


"Then where does Satan come from?"


The student falters. "From God"


"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"


"Yes, sir."


“Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"


"Yes."


"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."


Again, the student has no answer. "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"


The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."


"So who created them?"


The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"


The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do."


The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"


"No sir. I've never seen Him."


"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"


"No, sir, I have not."


"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"


"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."


"Yet you still believe in him?"


"Yes."


"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"


"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."


"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."


The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"


"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."


"And is there such a thing as cold?"


"Yes, son, there's cold too."


"No sir, there isn't."


The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees."


"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."


Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"


"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"


"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word."


"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"


The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"


"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."


The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought."


"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."


"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"


"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."


"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"


The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.


"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"


The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.


"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."


The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter.


"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir."


"So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"


Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.


Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."


"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"


Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."


To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."


The professor sat down.



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