One thing that Jesus was NOT - was flashy. When He cured someone, it was with a touch. When He spoke, the crowds came to Him. And when He resisted the Devil - it was through the simple mechanisms of fasting, prayer, and Scripture. These are things each of us can do daily or weekly, which fits completely with Jesus's advice to not put on a public display. Your life - your resistance to temptation - will be all the display you need.
In the Gospels, the best known examples of Jesus facing and resisting temptation are the 3 tests in the desert at the very beginning of His ministry. Just after His baptism by John, Jesus was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit, where He fasted for 40 days. At the end of that time, the Devil came and tempted Him 3 times. The first was the request to turn stones into bread. For the second test, the Devil took Jesus to the top of the Temple and bade Him leap off, and be protected by the angels. The third test was the presentation to Jesus of all the world's empires, in exchange for Jesus worshipping the Devil. What is notable about all three examples - and the most applicable to your life - is that Jesus had the strength to resist these powerful and almost overwhelming temptations by His fasting and praying for 40 days, and by quoting Scripture.
Another example is Jesus's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus never asked to be let out of His mission. He simply asked if there were an alternative. Jesus always recognized that God's will must be done. Jesus berated the apostles who accompanied Him for falling asleep, explaining that the time could be better spent in prayer, the better to strengthen themselves against temptation.
Jesus faced several temptations during His trial before Pilate and Herod, including the mocking by the soldiers and the physical and emotional torture He faced by the whipping, crowning with thorns, and humiliating slaps from the guards. Jesus resisted the temptation to either quit His ministry or retaliate (remember, He had told Peter in the Garden at his arrest that He could summon legions of angels to His side). Jesus resisted the temptation by remaining true to His mission.
The final temptation of Jesus was when He was hanging on the cross, dying from blood loss and suffocation. The crowd and the thief to his side mocked Him, calling for Him to come down from the cross. Again, Jesus resisted the temptation by focusing on His mission, even granting eternal life to the thief who praised Him.
Jesus throughout the Gospels emphasized connecting with God, but nowhere was that more obvious than these incidents where He was tempted. He repeatedly explained that prayer and fasting were paramount in strengthening yourself to resist temptation, and quoted Scripture to answer the Devil.
A copy of "The Six Temptations Of Jesus Christ" can be purchased at: http://www.knowledge-download.com/Six_Temptations
Erik Carter is an experienced computer programmer and attorney. He has written SIX TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS CHRIST (http://www.knowledge-download.com/six_temptations) and AGGRESSIVE PLEADINGS FOR THE NON-CUSTODIAL FATHER (http://www.knowledge-download.com/six_temptations).
detailed home cleaning Lake Forest ..We are apart of all that is, our consciousness spring... Read More
"Quantum Physics is the science of gods? Newtonian Physics is... Read More
In our fast paced society we often want everything done... Read More
Many of our great religions hold that numbers contain hidden... Read More
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the... Read More
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,... Read More
Religion is "absolute truth of life" of the physical manifested... Read More
What does it mean to be comfortable in your own... Read More
A while back the Lord had given me this message... Read More
THE GNOSTICS, ESSENES AND THE 'OCCULT':Throughout this book I have... Read More
The Tarot is not just a divinatory tool, but it... Read More
An Illuminatus Speaks:You will have to decide if this Illuminatus... Read More
I am disturbed by the tendency of some people to... Read More
Life is like an obstacle course in which we run... Read More
Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the... Read More
Make no mistake about it, change is challenging whether it... Read More
I have been counseling people on weight loss, exercise efficiency... Read More
Want more peace and joy in your life? Daily stress... Read More
Maybe once in a lifetime, we find ourselves seeking spiritual... Read More
Everything in the entire universe, big and small, visible and... Read More
Just for a moment think of what is stopping you... Read More
Do you have a dream, but are waiting for "just... Read More
Everybody knows that if you stick your hand in a... Read More
When I was a child, I thought as a child,... Read More
Would you like an exciting and wonder-full resolution for the... Read More
trusted cleaning company Des Plaines ..The Bible tells us that we must be led by... Read More
It's real easy to look at the physical world around... Read More
"Everything in the universe is a pitcher brimming with wisdom... Read More
"It's a big challenge. It's a journey into the unknown.... Read More
After first seeing my photography, people... Read More
My mentor, a brilliant Ph.D, with a powerful marriage counseling... Read More
I have sent out hundreds of press releases for my... Read More
Before the movie "Finding Nemo", came out Steve Jobs the... Read More
I'm weary of saying No to my children. Not just... Read More
I thought for sometime that I was hard done bye... Read More
"Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as... Read More
Spiritual growth is the process of inner awakening, and becoming... Read More
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself... Read More
The world's idea of justice and freedom fall short of... Read More
Karen was the name of the reception person, who sat... Read More
His name sounds as Finn. He has beautiful blue eyes... Read More
In a recent case study which I also summarized in... Read More
On reading Susan Cato's Time Magazine Canada piece titled, "In... Read More
One of the first steps toward understanding the Tarot lies... Read More
Charity isn't the easiest virtue to master. And with St.... Read More
The human nature means the soul and the body. A... Read More
An acrostic prayer poem.The Lord loves me and is gracious... Read More
There is no such thing as a coincidence. Albert Einstein... Read More
Do you spend your time working towards that "one day... Read More
What purpose does keeping a journal serve?Do you write down... Read More
Spirituality |