ttob6

The Testimony of Believers

Lesson Six: by turtle

This is an odd message to begin with at Christmas, but we must remember one reason Christ came is to defeat the enemy in our
hearts and minds. It would be much easier to skip a week and start again fresh right before New Year, yet the truth of the
matter, these studies can and will be read by others after the Christmas season, and to delay would also mean the devil won for
a week and I am not about to let that happen if I personally can prevent it. I know some churches have closed until Christmas is
over with and that is fine, that is there choice. However you have to wonder why is a church closed for Christmas after all it is
the Lord’s Day not ours. Each ministry makes there choice whether people will show or not and yet it is sad when a minister
says Christmas is on Sunday so our doors are closed. It is true in some areas even the gas stations are closed on Christmas,
which to me is a good day to be closed. Yet our hospital are still open for those new arrivals of life as well as the psychological
problems of Christmas, as well as them heart attacks. How you spend Christmas may or may not be your choice, but in all truth
it is your choice whether you worship Jesus on Christmas day or all that you can find under that tree. In truth Satan says much
to Jesus will you worship me if I give you the world, or make you king. Satan wants to know if Christ willingness to serve God
as His Son was because of the power God gave Him, or for another reason.

Every child wants to know if they are loved because of that tax refund, or because they are cherished for who they are in the
family. Just because they are part of the family. And yet some parents use money to lord over their kids. And their kids learn
that money has much value to will being and riches, but never about love. Satan clearly believes he is on the throne in the story
of the temptation of Jesus, yet Christ knows His Father is. Yet even still it not about the riches, but because He loves His
Father, proof is if one obeys God it is a sign of love to God. It is true it is not the ultimate sign for God knows the heart desire
behind the actions, but it is proof of obedience dispite one’s heart. Satan biggest lie as a deceiver his ability to give anything for
obedience to God, for Satan created nothing, and yet made the choice to deceive many people knowing that he only had the
power God gave him. Jesus on the other hand knew the power God gave Jesus and Jesus responded in like manner to this fact
that God’s power is in control. Let us look at the temptation of Jesus.

Luke 4:1-13 KJV
(1) And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
(2) Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward
hungered.
(3) And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
(4) And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
(5) And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
(6) And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to
whomsoever I will I give it.
(7) If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
(8) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,
and him only shalt thou serve.
(9) And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God,
cast thyself down from hence:
(10) For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
(11) And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
(12) And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
(13) And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

We would like to think God’s people are the only people that witness the things of God and who God is, but it is not so.
Everyone is given opportunity to testify of God’s word and who Christ is, yet some are much like Satan in the since of testing
God’s people. Jesus tells Satan man can not live on bread alone, but on every word of God. God’s word has always enabled
people to stand in difficult times as well as in good times. Without the hope of God many succumb to a life a prostitution and
drugs all which lead to the mighty dollar. Yet some never reaching the top of their greed, but the bottom of the pit. It is that one
slip up of no condom that gives a person aids or other stds. It is that wrong drug deal that lands a person in a early coffin. Yes
early coffins and life threatening diseases happen to godly people too, but the difference is who is with them and has the power
to deliver in these circumstances. The law of God is to worship God only. Yet Satan encourages Christ to bow to Him if he
would give him everything. Christ had everything already what did Satan have to offer. The most valuable thing in life is not
what one can see with the eye, but who one has in the heart. The last temptation Jesus tells Satan not to tempt the Lord, and
this demonstrated the power Christ already had through the Father, for this power never changed. We all bow at the word of
God and the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among men. Yet the God’s word always had power from the beginning
starting with let there be light. Christ returned to region of Galilee to teach in the same strength He left in. What no weakness
after the time of temptation, no because of who Christ is. In the same power of God Christ, would walk carrying His cross to
die for you and me after a cruel mocking and beating.

Luke 4:14-15 KJV
(14) And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round
about.
(15) And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

Christ own strength because He was the word of God strengthen not only himself but those He taught in the synagogue. God’s
word either strengthen you or you fall away from the Word, because you believe it not. God’s word is meant to strengthen us in
our battle against Satan, and his angels as well as the hardships in life. Take a look at the reason Christ came this is Jesus’ own
words.

Luke 4:16-22 KJV
(16) And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the
sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
(17) And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place
where it was written,
(18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal
the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are
bruised,
(19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
(20) And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the
synagogue were fastened on him.
(21) And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
(22) And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not
this Joseph's son?

Jesus’ words not only strengthen but amazed those around about Him. Because Galilee and Nazareth grew up this would leave
many wondering about these things He said and also the miracles he performed. Yet Christ is quick to point to the physician that
they were to continue there work. All prophets did healing, but not always healing all. The purpose of miracles is to increase
faith to those on earth it is not for everyone to be healed instance us until we are heaven with Him. Physicians are known to
search out the claims of miracles, but not the miracle giver. Yet many physicians do believe in God. Yet Christ came to heal, but
healing was not just a physical but spiritual healing. Many looked for signs and missed the boat, looking for the miracles and the
healing spiritual.

Luke 4:23-30 KJV
(23) And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done
in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
(24) And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
(25) But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six
months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
(26) But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
(27) And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the
Syrian.
(28) And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
(29) And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they
might cast him down headlong.
(30) But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

Jesus honest also caused people to be angry with Him and would cause this crowd to desire to throw Him from their town, but
Jesus walks through the crowd. There are many people who desire to be angry not only at Jesus but those that bring forth the
word of God and many of God’s people are delivered by the Spirit of God even in the presence of their enemies. It takes faith
to believe God is able to deliver in the presence of their enemies. I think of Corrie Ten Boom and her imprisonment in
concentration camps, only to be delivered, yet her sister passed away. Nothing happens to us that is not common to others, but
God delivers us so we are able to glorify Him.

Jesus time had not come to be destroyed, in fact this began in ministry in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus went to the next village and
preached and His words penetrated the people’s heart and they were amazed and while there He rebukes a devil and cast it out.
Take a look He cast out the devil that declared who He was. Even devils testified, but the fact is, it was not God’s timing for the
declaration of who Jesus truly was.

Luke 4:31-37 KJV
(31) And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
(32) And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
(33) And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
(34) Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee
who thou art; the Holy One of God.
(35) And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst,
he came out of him, and hurt him not.
(36) And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he
commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
(37) And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.

Jesus ministry flourished with the casting out of devil. Jesus began to do many more miracles. Yet He would go back to Galilee
to continue to teach, yet He was surrounded for days in the land of the Gentiles.

Luke 4:38-44 KJV
(38) And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great
fever; and they besought him for her.
(39) And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
(40) Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his
hands on every one of them, and healed them.
(41) And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered
them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
(42) And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed
him, that he should not depart from them.
(43) And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
(44) And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

People seek the miracles but in truth if they will only seek the word of God and trust in Jesus then primary healing will take
place which is spiritual, the secondary healing is physical. When I think of some of the healing that was miracles in my life it
came by seeking Christ and not the miracle. What are you seeking proof of God through miracles or are you seeking God
because of who He is. It is your choice, This season is a reminder of Jesus, yet it should not be our only reminder of Christ. Are
we looking for the Messiah because we desire to know Him or what He can give. God desires people to seek Him not for what
He gives because they love Him, yet the benefits are will worth the seeking