More Trials Are Given

We have been in the wilderness with our Lord and have been enlightened beyond measure about temptations or trials and how, with the examples of our Lord Jesus, we too can come through with triumph. No temptation of the crafty one is to teach us how to stand firm and not yield; in the same way no sheep–stealer comes to give life to sheep, only to kill, steal and destroy. We have been enlightened with the experiences of Jesus and our Holy Spirit is faithfully continuing to do so.

I know that many of you, as is with me, have been victorious over persistent temptations, not giving into the deceiver’s fancies, no matter how appealing. I also know that each and every victory has been won through the abiding presence of the One and Only Holy Spirit.

Thank You, our Heavenly Father, for our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, and for our Helper, the Holy Spirit. We are here, where we are, because of Him. All Praise to the Holy Abiding, Working Holy Spirit. Amen!

Now, we must face more trials as we remain with Jesus in the wilderness. Our present company is Jesus and the devil. What are we seeing and hearing? The devil has tried on two Big Trials to get Jesus to obey him in simple matters. We heard him say these to Jesus.

• If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. 

We heard Jesus’ prompt, stern and unwavering response. It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Matthew 4: 4 NKJV.

• 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.

Once again, we heard Jesus’ commanding, and firm voice, when He said to the devil It is written again, You shall not tempt the LORD your God. Matthew 4: 7 NKJV

The Third Big Trial given, is found in Matthew 4: 8 – 11. NKJV. 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 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. Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

As with the First and Second Big Trials, many tributaries of this one Sea Of Trial, are embedded in these verses. However, we are facing four of them and shall carry on referring to them as Trial A, B, C and D. We need always to seek the help of our Holy Spirit, to keep our hearts and minds stayed on our already Victorious Lord, who is with us.  We must remember that the devil is real and that he is no walkover. In our Lord’s field we will not fall prey to the devil, so that even now as we march on resolutely in these trials, we receive the Holy Spirit’s enlightenment so that the devil becomes less powerful, scary and taunting to us. We face each temptation with our Jesus - with victory.

As I am writing and learning, into my remembrance comes this verse of a well-loved and well-known standard: Stand Up Stand Up for Jesus. I was made to listen to this verse which I sing lustily, but without meaningful evidence in my life.  Where are you with this?

Stand up! Stand up for Jesus! Stand in His strength alone;

The arm of flesh will fail you; You dare not trust your own.

Put on the Gospel armour, and watching unto prayer,

Where duty calls, or danger, Be never wanting there.

As we wait to be led into more trials, know that we are standing up for Jesus in His strength and His alone. Did you know that strength, refers to the Holy Spirit? Did you know that Jesus, in His human weakness, got His strength from the Holy Spirit, who never ever left Him alone in the wilderness? The Holy Spirit never ever led Jesus into the wilderness and dropped Him off, promising to come back for Him at a later date. Be not deceived in any way, about this. The Holy Spirit, Jesus’ Strength, was with Him all the time, to help Him to overcome every single temptation. Jesus knew that the arm of flesh would fail Him, the arm of His total and perfect humanness. He knew that nothing in His humanness, no matter how strong, could enable Him to overcome temptation.

Did you know that Jesus wore the full Gospel armour, for He was a Man, subject to human failure and failings as you and I? Do you know that He was never found wanting or lacking, because He looked only and always to His Heavenly Father, who is Spirit?

With the Gospel armour donned, and watching unto prayer, we are ready to face these final trials. However and whatever the experiences of these Lenten Enlightening Trials, whether they are dangerous or not, we shall not ever be found wanting in our victorious Jesus.