#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 13 What is the cost?

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Matthew 4:8-10 NKJV

Now, this is the ultimate temptation- worshiping Satan to gain the world and its glory but at what cost? The level of material possessions and position of authority in this world measure the glory and honour of humankind. Material riches is the measure of self-worth. Many people think they are nobody without money.

We live in a materialistic world and it will continue to be until Jesus return. It is sad to see that many Churches are also measuring salvation through number of members; the blessings of Elohim God through the wealth of the pastors and the bigger the church building.  People are seduced by what they see leading to a wrong concept of life as a Christian.

Satan took Jesus to an exceeding high mountain and showed him the glittering glory of the world. “All these belong to me”, said Satan. “I will give them all to you if you would bow to me”. As a believer what are the desires in our heart? To gain the whole world and lose your soul? Or to gain eternity by bowing only to The Almighty God, even if in this world people ‘see' you as poor.

Ministers of the gospel, what are you pursuing? Is your ministry about glitter and gold? Those things that will perish? If you want to sell your soul to Satan to gain the world, do not deceive innocent hearts and take them to Sheol with you.

The devil is a liar and father of all liars. Do not be deceived brethren. Pattern your life and lifestyle after Jesus not anyone in our generation. Be wary of anyone who is all about themselves rather than Yeshua Jesus. Your eternal salvation is not about worldly riches, glory or honour. It is about righteousness, holiness, truth, love, mercy, peace, gentleness, humility, kindness – things money cannot buy.

Jesus will expose every congregation of satanic worshippers masquerading His church. Your soul is worth eternity.

#prayerfortheweek

Almighty Father, thank You for delivering me from the power of darkness and conveying me into the kingdom of Your Son. Help me to worship and serve only You. Amen

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

#AdeolaAkintoye ©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 12 You are a #son

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1

It was interesting how the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. Jesus heard and responded to the leading of the Spirit, even if that meant a period of forty days fasting in the wilderness. At the end, he also had to endure temptation.

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. I used to think you evidence that you are a son of God by how you are led by the Spirit. However, Jesus was first declared the Son of God, and then led by His Spirit, according to our passage, into the wilderness. You do not have to be led by the Holy Spirit before you become a son of God. It is the other way round - you are led because you are a son. This revelation just changed my perspective in so many ways.

The Holy Spirit leads me because I am a son of Elohim God by adoption through Christ Jesus. This gives me the confidence and courage to take steps or actions that might not make sense to people. I have the faith and trust in God to know that the Spirit of Almighty Elohim lives in me.

Many believers still struggle with fully understanding their identity as a son of God. As son of the Most High God, His Spirit gives you direct access to His manifold wisdom. You tap into the abundance of grace because you are led by Elohim.

The Spirit of Elohim will lead you only into those things that are of God - righteous and holy. Do not misuse the privilege but maximize the power to bring forth the Kingdom of God here on earth.

Remember you are not alone.

#prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You for adopting me as your son. I pray for the sensitive heart to hear and listen to Your Spirit. May I be led by Your Spirit in every area of my life in Christ Jesus. Amen

I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.

#AdeolaAkintoye ©

#ajourneytospiritualmaturity

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 11 #Heart of it all

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Matthew 4:5-6 NKJV‬‬

Satan took Jesus to the top of the Temple, the centre of religiosity for the Jews. How dared he! Of course, he dares, the tempter will test you anywhere and in any place. The fact that you are an Apostle, a Prophet, an Evangelist, a Pastor or a Teacher of the word is irrelevant. It is most likely your test will be more frequent and most challenging because of the work Elohim God has committed to you.

Again, we see the tempter, challenging the identity of Christ for his own devilish purpose. ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down,’ to test if the angels of God would indeed bear Him up. This is not about identity but testing Elohim God. We must be mindful that to satisfy our own insecurities, we are not tempted to test the Lord’s word. Remind yourself; ‘It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ And all will be well.

Why did Satan ask Jesus to cast himself down from the top of the Temple? A place of faith, a place of trust? To test if God would do what He said in His word. He tried to sow the speed of doubt in the word of God, going right to the heart of faith. 

We learnt from the second temptation that Satan is no respected of the structures on this earth (even in heaven). He uses where you are, what is important to you and twist it for his own evil goal.  He will try to put a hole in your faith. He will do all he can to destroy your relationship with God.

In this world there are only two kingdoms – one of light belonging to Elohim God and the other of darkness ruled by Satan. You belong to one or the other. There is no in-between kingdom citizenship. Wherever and however you are tempted, the overall goal of Satan is to get you into his. 

Your actions manifest where you belong.  Are yours in line with the principles and standards of Elohim God and a reflection of Christ? 

Whoever directs your actions determines where you belong. Are you led by the Spirit of God? Do you apply His words to your life all the time? Or do you let your lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life dictates your actions.

You must know the word of God and apply it to every situation of your life.

#prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of my life and salvation. Help me not to live on bread alone but to feed on Your word in every areas of my life. Give me wisdom to resist temptation and the tempter so that he flees from me. In Christ Jesus I pray Amen
I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). 

Spend this week meditating on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.
#AdeolaAkintoye ©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity‬‬‬‬

#Wordfortheweek 2019 Week 10 #Hunger for what?

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:1‭-‬4 NKJV‬

The devil is a liar and the father of liars.  The first of the three temptations of Christ in the wilderness is very illuminating and a lesson for us believers.  Satan started with “If you are the Son of God...’ He knew who Jesus was – the Son of God, there was no dispute about that but what was he trying to do?

Satan came at a point of need. Jesus was hungry after a period of forty days fasting. He did not come when Jesus was not hungry. We must be particularly alert when there is a hunger in us for something. When we are hungry for something we want to feed it. Some people become desperate and would do anything. Esau sold his birth right to feed his hunger. Desperation and hunger are a destiny changing combination.

"If you are the Son of God command these stones become bread". 

Satan knew the identity of Christ and the power in Him, but he wanted to corrupt the use of this power. In our quest to fill our hunger do we mis-use our identity? In the world people will use their fathers name to get what they want. As believers do we use the name of the Lord for selfish reasons? What do you decree and declare as a child of God – to push back darkness? Or to meet your freshly desire?

It started with a case of bread to fill a physical hunger, but Christ pointed out a deeper hunger that is most important to fill. Many believers are consumed with making a living that there is little or no time to feed on the Word. They live to feed their physical desires neglecting their spiritual needs.

In our hunger for worldly desires, have we neglected our eternal needs? Our identity in Christ requires us to feed on the word of Elohim God. Do not be consumed by your physical desires that you would be willing to sell your soul to the devil.

#prayerfortheweek
Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of my life and salvation. Help me not to live on bread alone but to feed on Your word in every areas of my life. Give me wisdom to resist temptation and the tempter so that he flees from me. In Christ Jesus I pray Amen
I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ). Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out your faith.
#AdeolaAkintoye ©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity‬‬‬‬