Welcome to A Journey through the New Testament! In this series, we will systematically journey through every chapter in the New Testament, unveiling the marvelous insights that can be found in the scriptures.
There is a revelation that the Lord gave me about Jesus' temptation in Matthew 4:1 and it totally reshaped my understanding of our Lord. Traditionally, I envisioned a physical encounter between Jesus and the devil in the wilderness, yet a deeper understanding emerged. The scripture reveals that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, but, then the devil took Him to Jerusalem? This puzzled me until I realized that the temptations were actually happening in Jesus' mind! This insight revolutionized my perspective of the things Jesus experienced. I did not realize that He truly was like us in every single way, as the Word states in 1 John 4:17, "As He is, so are we in this world."
There is a particular phrase from the temptation that stood out to me, "If thou be the Son of God." How often have we heard similar doubts about our identity? Questions like, "If you're a child of God, why don't you know certain things or work miracles all the time?" These doubts, aimed at challenging our sonship, can be disheartening. However, Ephesians 6:16 encourages us to take up the shield of faith to quench the enemy's fiery darts, because it is our faith in who we are that the devil is after! Once you waver in who God says you are, you have made yourself susceptible to the enemy.
Moreover, the revelation that Jesus, a perfect example of a son of God, didn't need to prove His identity resonated deeply. We, too, don't need to prove ourselves; we are what we are. The true proof of sonship lies in having the Holy Spirit within us, empowering us to obey God's Word. Just as Jesus overcame, so can we by believing in our sonship and adhering to God's teachings. Let's embrace our identity in Christ, turn from darkness, and follow the example set by our high priest, Jesus, who was tempted in every way yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
Written by Kareem Flowers, Sunrise with Jesus
In the comments, please share a moment when something Jesus said or did profoundly reassured you that you can make it in God.
The above was taken from Hearing God 2: How to Know the Will of God, written by Mary Banks.