Matthew 4:7 "Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the LORD thy GOD."
Christ did what the children of Israel couldn't in the wilderness. They tempted GOD ten times coming out of Egypt, beginning at the Red Sea. The children of Israel were disobedient, carnally minded and lacked faith. Even after firsthand experience of GOD'S awesome power, with miracle after miracle, they still favored the days of slavery and eating heavily spiced foods in Egypt. The Egyptians must have had some very effective indoctrination programs for Israel to be so blind, doubtful and subservient to oppressors. Let's see here, enslavement and indoctrination or Almighty GOD'S protection, blessings, promises, deliverance and miracles? It shouldn't be a difficult choice. GOD even fed them with manna, angel's food, and the hidden manna, His WORD, promises and commandments, but Israel lusted for enslavement and indoctrination. It's not much different today, friend. The hidden manna and all of GOD'S promises are right there in the Holy Bible, His Letter to you. If you're literate and a Christian, you cannot claim ignorance for accepting man's words and traditions as Truth and not studying the WORD yourself.
Exodus 14:11-12 "And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness."
Numbers 11:4-5 "And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: "
Numbers 14:22 "Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;"
Israel and their lust for meat reminds me of the character, Cypher, in the movie, The Matrix. Hmm, I wonder where Hollywood got the name and plot for the movie?
"I know this steak doesn't exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize? Ignorance is bliss."
"I'm tired, Trinity. I'm tired of this war, tired of fighting, tired of this ship, being cold, and eating the same goddamn goop everyday (Cypher; The Matrix).
Cypher didn't read his Bible concerning Israel's wandering in the wilderness. He also missed a great proverb.
Proverbs 15:17 "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox [fatted calf] and hatred therewith."
Real Christians know that the things of the flesh are not that big of a deal. The carnal mind is enmity against GOD (Romans 8:7). The children of Israel, in Egyptian captivity, were born into bondage; that's what they knew or understood. Today, many individuals are born into indoctrination and they're quite comfortable believing lies, false doctrines and propaganda. They've grown up with mainstream television and media, music, entertainment, sports and the traditions/words of men. Instead of doing things GOD'S way, they put their trust in men and their systems. Men are tempting GOD with doubt, double-mindedness, idolatry and choosing bondage over freedom in Christ. They only care about feeding their physical stomachs and lusts, while allowing their spiritual bodies to starve.
Have you ever noticed someone at the gym just going through the motions in a workout? Physically, he's there but doesn't put in much effort. There are also guys who take ten minute breaks, between sets, to play on their smartphones. They tie up a bench or machine for over half an hour just to perform three sets. The really obvious ones (as in physically there but mentally somewhere else) use their smartphones while working out on machines, throughout entire sets. It doesn't seem to cross their minds that using an exercise machine is already easier than using freeweights. An educated guess to what they're thinking is the "do enough to get by" philosophy, or being at the gym is better than not showing up at all, for physical health. It might not be a big deal to just go through the motions with fitness. However, many folks do the same thing regarding their spiritual health and that is a big deal.
There are people who take better care of their cars, clothes and homes, than their own physical bodies. Wash, wax and polish the new ride; buy the newest gadgets; take fancy clothes to the dry cleaner; but eat crap for food. If only they knew about the importance of physical health, and of even greater importance, spiritual health. Plenty of Christians tell themselves that they've gone to church every week for years, but in reality, they were just going through the motions and listening to the words and traditions of men. They substituted the WORD of GOD with organized religion and traditions. Christ said, "Thou shalt not tempt the LORD thy GOD."
What's the point of following GOD through the wilderness, but being doubtful of Him during the entire journey? GOD took care of Israel the entire time, fed and clothed them, led and protected them in a pillar of cloud, from the blistering sun and elements by day, and with a pillar of fire as light in the night.
Exodus 13:21 "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:"
If you recall from the last study, the devil took Christ onto a pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem, the holy city (Matt 4:5). Jerusalem is where the antichrist, satan, will stand, in the temple he will sit, and declare himself to be God. Afterward, the devil takes Christ up into a very high mountain to show him the "kingdoms of the world". The kingdoms are of the material, created world and comprise the world systems of that time. Even then, the prince of this world, satan, had control over the four hidden dynasties.
Matthew 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;"
In this day and age, the kingdoms are merging into one worldism, a one world system and government. GOD is telling us what will happen in the final generation. Satan will come to deceive the world into thinking he's Christ. The serpent will be the "last dead president" of the new world order. The indoctrination, lies and false doctrines go toward setting up the new world order. The indoctrinated, with their double-mindedness, will accept laws, systems and all of the structures needed to bring it into fruition. The synagogue of satan will push the form of one worldism to mankind as the solution to poverty, wars, financial crisis and other problems, when in fact, manufactured financial collapses, wars and terrorism were planned out in order for the masses to accept the new form of government. The ones that are not indoctrinated, GOD'S elect, will know that the false christ, satan, will come first with deception, lies and wonders to deceive the world.
Matthew 4:9 "And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me."
Often, at the beginning of your Christian journey, satan will hit you with everything within his power and material world. The devil's calculated your weaknesses even before you knew of them yourself. He will offer you what you desire of the carnal heart, but it will be twisted and riddled with sin, indoctrination and problems, basically, a basket full of leavened bread and circus. The devil will find out if you have a price and he'll try to get you cheap, just to fully shame you in the end. So the clever ones sell a little higher, perhaps for first or business class tickets, that's all. Whether riding first class or coach, the trains all lead to the same destination, the lake of fire with the devil. And at every stop, you'll be selling yourself a little here and a little there, until there's nothing left of you. A large majority of people who have wealth and power in the world are those who have sold out and accepted satan's bargains. They have given their minds and hearts over to indoctrination (Babylon = confusion) and the way of Cain, and by choice have rejected Truth, renouncing the possibility of eternal life, the salvation of their souls through Jesus Christ. The devil's gold is purely fool's gold... temporary as can be.
GOD'S WORD is showing you the devil's tactics, including the twisting of Scriptures, and offers. Satan will look for your weaknesses and offer you a price. It doesn't just happen once; it can happen many times. And once you sell by getting on that train to hell, you will be asked to sell yourself little by little at every stop along the way. Don't be so easily deceived by the media personas of our time. For fame and fortune, many individuals sell themselves over and over again.
It's not your soul that you sell, for all souls belong to GOD (Ezekiel 18:4). It's your mind and heart. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of GOD is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). The devil buys you with sin. By partaking from the cup of devils, the mind and heart rejects Truth - Jesus Christ. Many indoctrinated Christians will commit apostasy in the final generation. Some believers have one foot standing in the body of Christ, while the other one's in the ways of the world. These folks are going to be spit out of Christ's mouth. The only time the word, "lukewarm", is mentioned in the Bible is in Revelation 3:16 - "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." Study to know why.
Luke 22:31 "And the Lord [Jesus] said, Simon, Simon [Peter], behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:"
To "sift you as wheat" means satan will find and exploit your every weakness, whether it be materialism; pride; power; status; or recognition from men, etc. Satan's world system never sleeps and its illusions are loaded with all the bells and whistles to turn your heart and mind away from CHRIST. If you think that happiness comes from the fulfillment of desires, within the self man, rather than through trusting, loving and serving the Living GOD, the devil's already sifted you.
Revelation 3:15 "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot."
Revelation 3:16 "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
The evil one allows them worldly comfort, stability and/or wealth in his world system, and the reprobrate Christians think they have things made. So double-minded, they didn't realize that they sold out for satan's bargains. Their cups don't runneth over with Truth but with indoctrination and lies. Jesus is the Bread of Life. Your mind is what you feed it with and just a little bit of leaven spreads, or propagates, through your entire mind.
The pretend Christian is like the man beholding his natural face in a mirror. He projects to others the image of being a Christian, but like the image in the mirror, there's no action or works following it. There's only a reflection, an image, but not the real thing. He may hear the WORD but he doesn't follow GOD'S Instructions. The man looks in the mirror and sees what needs work on his face and hair, a bit of cleanup here and there, but doesn't actually do it. Once he's away from the mirror, he forgets about the shave, or the speck on his face, meaning everything about being a real Christian is forgotten. The works don't transfer into the image or the individual's life.
James 1:22 "But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
James 1:23 "For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:"
James 1:24 "For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
Merely being the man in the mirror is not enough, you need to back it up in every area of your life. Pretending only works for so long, because it will all come to an end. The only thing this man is demonstrating to others is his double-mindedness and hypocrisy. He's spends too much time noticing the speck in his brother's eye, when the beam in his own eye is out of sight, out of mind (Matt 7:3-5). Place the focus on yourself and be the best servant that you can be to our Heavenly FATHER. There's no grey area when it comes to loving and serving GOD. You're either for Christ or against Him.
Peace in CHRIST JESUS,
Spread-the-Truth
Mr baptist.
