Dear readers, let's start looking into the teachings and commands of Jesus, starting in Matthew 4. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, he replied 3 times to Satan with the Word. The first lesson we learn here is that we have to know the Word well enough to say it back to Satan and his minions when they throw thoughts at us. We have to ignore the "fiery darts" or thoughts they throw at us and remember what God's Word says about whatever they throw at us.
For example: "You're not worth anything."
Answer back what God's Word says about you, "Yes I am, I am "fearfully and wonderfully made." Then disregard the lie from the dark forces.
Another example: "You're losing your mind."
Answer: "He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and a sound mind." Or "we have the mind of Christ."
See? When they attack with thoughts, we counter-attack with the truth of God's Word. We use God's Word just like Jesus did in the wilderness. God's Word is truth. God cannot lie, so we should build our lives on the truth of His Word.
Having said that, we have to know God's Word in order to use it when the attack comes. So you want to spend a lot of time in God's Word learning these things. There is no substitute for just staying in the Bible, learning these things. Learning the Word brings peace and happiness too. For example:
Psalms 121:7-8 NIV
[7] The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; [8] the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
See? Just off the top of my head. This verse is a comfort, knowing God is right here with us, watching our "coming and going" all the time. He is right here with us. We trust Him at His Word, believe what He says, and it comforts.
So, a great lesson from Jesus right off the bat is using scripture to fight off the dark forces that attack us in our minds. However, if you don't have scripture to fight with, remember, Satan and his minions cannot tell the truth. Everything they say are lies. So, if you don't know the scripture to fight with, think just the opposite.
For example: "Go ahead and drink alcohol. It won't cause any trouble." LIE.
Answer: "I won't drink."
In the temptations of Jesus, Jesus shows us to depend on the Word of God as we live out our lives. We feed our spirits with the Word, just like we feed our bodies with food. That's what he told Satan.
Matthew 4:4 NIV
[4] Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
So to start, He shows the value of reading and staying in the Bible. It feeds our spirit and fills us with the truth, and gives us what we need to stand against Satan's lies when they come to us as thoughts.
Reading and retaining the Bible is how God transforms our spirits. If you've read through the entire Bible already, keep reading it. Over and over again. This is renewing your mind everyday. You are "transformed by the renewing of your mind."
Romans 12:2a NIV
[2] Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...
Never think you know it all. Never think you've already read this or that. You are renewing your mind every time you read something again. You are reminding yourself of what God has shown you. Never think, "I already know that," or "I've read that a thousand times already." That's a person's pride talking. Paul advises the same way...
1 Corinthians 8:2 NIV
[2] Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.
We will always learn from the Word. We'll never know it all. So, stay humble, stay hungry for the Word, and keep reading the Word.
Spend time in the Bible everyday to feed your spirit. Just like you eat everyday to feed your body, read the Bible everyday to feed your spirit.
So, that's a great start to learning the commands and teachings of Jesus. Make reading the Bible the top priority in your life and you'll be blessed by it.
Matthew 5:6 NIV
[6] Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Love you all dear readers,
Jecfrey Post
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